A new chapter in the legacy of Historically Black College and University (HBCU) baseball will soon be written with the announcement of a Black College World Series. The event will serve as the stage for an annual postseason invitational tournament to determine a national champion for HBCU “small school” baseball programs.
The inaugural series will feature eight HBCU baseball teams, made up of four from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II and four from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). School baseball programs from these two athletic governing associations constitute the “small school” division.
The Black College World Series will take place on April 28, 2021 – May 1, 2021 and will allow HBCU baseball programs to write the next chapter of a much needed showdown to determine a national champion of black college baseball.
The particulars…
- Who: NCAA Division II and NAIA Baseball Programs
- What: Inaugural Black College (Small School Division) World Series
- When: April 28 – May 1, 2021
- Where: Riverwalk Stadium (home of the Tampa Bay Rays Double-A affiliate Montgomery Biscuits)200 Coosa Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104
- Format: Two divisions (one division of four NCAA Division II teams/one division of four NAIA teams) with each division playing a double-elimination format and winners of each division face off in a one-game playoff to determine a champion.
- Events:
- Black College World Series Press Conference (Virtual)
- Opening Pitch Reception/Luncheon TBA
- The HBCU Experience (Virtual)
- Black College World Series – Riverwalk Stadium
More on ticket information to come.
The world series invitational is organized by Erwin Prentiss Hill, Executive Director of BCSG 360, a 501(c)(3) organization which is a global advocate of the Historically Black College and University experience. Technical assistance and development of the tournament has been provided by HBCU baseball guru Michael Coker, lead writer at BlackCollegeNines.com. Black College Nines is an organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of HBCU baseball through current and historical news reporting.
The mission of BCSG 360 is…
Educate students of the value and benefits associated with attending and graduating from Historical Black Colleges and Universities.
Provide engaging historical content, programming and curriculums to middle and high school systems to teach students about the history and pride associated with HBCUs.
Connect students and community to HBCUs using engaging events and programming to create awareness and participation in the admittance and scholarship process.
Serve as a clearinghouse of qualitative and quantitative information to be used to educate communities on the outcomes associated with HBCU and the HBCU experience.
Selection and seeding for the tournament will be based upon Black College Nines’ weekly HBCU small school division national baseball poll of April 22, 2021. Pollsters come from a diverse group of informed and impartial individuals who follow college baseball on all levels, including HBCU baseball. Included in the group are college athletic administrators and educators, college baseball writers and other sports journalists and broadcasters, former HBCU and other college ballplayers and above all else… college baseball enthusiasts who have an interest in promoting HBCU baseball.
The Black College Sports Network, who has teamed with BCSG 360 to live stream the Jax Diamond Classic and the Lonestar Diamond Classic previously this year, will once again stream the Black College World Series. Games will be available live on the Black College Sports Network at www.mybcsn.net/diamond. Game will also be available on the BCSN YouTube channel (myjbnonline) and via the MyJBN/My BCSN App, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
BCSN will also carry live coverage of the release of the final rankings and selection show.
About The Black College Sports Network: The Black College Sports Network is the first online media outlet dedicated to LIVE coverage and broadcasting of HBCU sporting events on a weekly basis. The BCSN is the flagship product of the JERICHO Broadcast Networks (JBN).
Arrangements for the Black College World Series were made in conjunction with guidelines provided by administrators of both the NCAA and NAIA, as well as with school officials and coaching staffs.
For more information about BCSG 360, visit www.bcsg360.org, for more information about Black College Nines, visit www.blackcollegenines.com. and for more information about Black College Sports Network, visit www.mybcsn.net/diamond.
This is great for the small hbcu schools that continue to promote their programs.
This will be released shortly.
What the spectator situation likely to be?
Great ideal I’m Loving it.