Planning is underway for the 2018 USCAA City of DuBois Small College World Series baseball and softball national championships for next May. The Host Committee held their first major planning session in October and has announced some updates and events planned for the week championships.
In 2018, Championship Week is scheduled from Monday, May 14 through Thursday, May 18. Ticket information for both championships, including an extremely affordable day pass for residents of Clearfield County, will be announced later in the spring.
The night before Championship Week, on Sunday, there will be a kickoff event at Showers Field including a welcome parade for all 20 teams, 10 baseball and 10 softball, a home run derby for both softball and baseball players, a music concert, and a fireworks show capping off the night. More festivities and details for the event will be announced later in spring.
“As everyone gets ready for winter, we’re still excited to be hosting the first Small College World Series here in DuBois for both baseball and softball,” said city Manager John “Herm” Suplizio. “As everyone knows, the fields are being worked on every day and we are extremely excited about having this event — not only Pennsylvania but having this event in DuBois. We think it’s going to be great for the entire area.”
Suplizio said the host committee wants to keep the public updated on everything that’s happening with the event and continue to update moving forward.
The Host Committee also made the following announcements:
• Hotel and lodging contracts have been signed and completed. The championships will total an estimated 750 room nights, the largest number of room bookings by a single event in county history.
• Sponsorship packages and opportunities were finalized for regional businesses and organizations. If a business is interested in sponsorship or advertising opportunities, they may contact the City of DuBois at 814-371-2000, Magnus Marketing at 814-299-7041 or info@showersfield.com
• The contract for umpires for both events has been signed as well. The New England Collegiate Umpires and Collegiate Softball Umpires Association won the bids to officiate the championships for baseball and softball, respectively.
“We’re excited to bring our baseball and softball National Championships to DuBois,” said USCAA Executive Director Matthew Simms. “The City of DuBois has embraced the championships with open arms. This level of enthusiasm is what the USCAA looks for in host cities, and we’re very pleased with the progress made by the planning committee.”
The tournaments will bring an estimated 500 student-athletes to DuBois and Clearfield County. The USCAA will be utilizing multiple hotels, restaurants, and shops throughout the nearly weeklong duration of the championships. The United States Collegiate Athletic Association is a national organization dedicated to providing opportunities for small colleges to compete against like institutions for national-championships and student athlete recognition. The 84-member organization is headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, and has been in existence since 2001.
“We want the whole community to come out and enjoy it,” Suplizio said.
