Fullerton to Host NCAA Softball Regional
April 28, 2003 – Fullerton, Calif.
For the first time seven years, the road to
Oklahoma City and the Women's College World Series will run through Cal
State Fullerton.
The Titans were selected on Monday as one of eight sites to play host
to a 2003 NCAA Softball Regional to be held at the Titan Softball Complex
from May 15-18.
"I am very excited to give our players, especially our seven seniors,
the chance to compete during the postseason in front of our fans on our
home field," head coach Michelle Gromacki said following the annoucement.
"This is an exciting time for Titan softball."
Fullerton last hosted an NCAA Regional in 1996, finishing second behind
UCLA. Cal State Fullerton has played host to 11 NCAA Softball regionals
since 1982, posting a 17-13 record in those events and subsequently advancing
to the Women's College World Series five times.
Cal Fullerton will join Alabama (Tuscaloosa, Ala.), Arizona (Tucson, Ariz.),
Florida (Gainesville, Fla.), Fresno State (Fresno, Calif.), Michigan (Ann
Arbor, Mich.), Nebraska (Lincoln, Neb.) and Texas (Austin, Tex.) as regional
hosts. Each regional will feature eight teams, playing a double-elimination
format.
This is the first time regional sites have been announced in advance of
the team selections. Sites were based on geographic location, quality
of facilities and quality of experience for the student-athletes, including
attendance history. Host institutions are not guaranteed a bid to the
tournament.
The at-large teams, top-eight national seeds and first-round pairings
will be announced Sunday, May 11, at 7 p.m. PDT live on ESPNEWS. The bracket,
which will not be reseeded prior to the Women's College World Series,
will be the first to include 64 teams since the championship began in
1982. Last year's field included 48 teams.
Twenty-six Division I conferences receive an automatic berth in the field
of 64, along with 38 at-large selections.
The 22nd Women's College World Series begins play Thursday, May 22, at
ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. All of the games will be broadcast
live on ESPN or ESPN2, and the television schedule, as well as more information
on the championship, is available at www.ncaasports.com.
