This Day in UK Athletics History: Baseball to Host NCAA Regional (2006)
LEXINGTON – The University of Kentucky has been selected as one of 16 hosts for regional play in the 2006 NCAA Baseball Tournament beginning this weekend, it was announced Sunday, May 28, 2006, by the NCAA.
It is the first time in school history UK has been chosen to host an NCAA Baseball Regional. Kentucky, the Southeastern Conference champion, and Pepperdine are the only two teams to hold that distinction this year.
“We’re very excited to be chosen as a host site,” Kentucky head coach John Cohen said. ?It?s a great reward for our players and our fans and we’re looking forward to having a great atmosphere at the ballpark all weekend.”
The four-team, double-elimination regional at Cliff Hagan Stadium begins on Friday, June 2. There are two games scheduled per day through Sunday with the possibility of a final game Monday, if necessary. Game times have not been announced and will be based on the possibility of television coverage.
“This weekend, I expect us to have a great crowd to really support not only our team, but also the NCAA Tournament in general,” Cohen said. “Lexington is a great baseball town and I’m sure the baseball fans in the city will come out and provide a tremendous atmosphere for the entire weekend.”
Tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday, May 29. A reserved seat package, covering all games of the regional, costs $60. A general admission package, covering all games of the regional, costs $42. Fans desiring to guarantee a seat throughout the regional should purchase a ticket package.
If available, single-game tickets will go on sale Thursday, June 1. Single-game tickets cost $10 for reserved seats and $7 for general admission.
Prior to Friday, tickets may be purchased in-person at the Memorial Coliseum Ticket Office or by calling the ticket office at (859) 257-1818 or 1-800-928-CATS. Beginning Friday, tickets will be available at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
By virtue of being awarded a regional, nine of the host institutions also have been selected as at-large teams to the 64-team field. Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia, have made the field as at-large selections. Clemson, Ole Miss, Nebraska, Pepperdine, Rice, would clinch automatic berths by winning their conference tournament championships, which are scheduled for Sunday afternoon. A loss in those tournament championship games makes them an at-large selection. Cal State Fullerton and Oregon State already have clinched automatic berths by virtue of winning the Big West Conference and Pacific-10 Conference, respectively. Each regional field features four teams, playing a double-elimination format. All 16 regionals are scheduled to be conducted from Friday, June 2, to Monday, June 5.
The remaining at-large teams, top-eight national seeds, first-round regional pairings and site assignments will be announced at 12:30 p.m. Eastern time, Monday, May 29, during a live, half-hour program on ESPN. The committee will set the entire 64-team bracket through both the super regionals and the first round of the Men’s College World Series, and will not reseed the field after play begins. Selection of the eight super regional hosts will be announced on www.ncaasports.com, Monday, June 5 at approximately Midnight (ET).
The 60th Men’s College World Series begins play Friday, June 16, at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska.
