For Immediate Release                                                  Contact: Scott Lowe
February 25, 2009                                                            scott@api-mgmt.com
410.472.3500

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – The inaugural BIG EAST-Big Ten Baseball Challenge, hosted by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission, concluded Sunday to rave reviews from fans, participants, coaches and elected officials in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area. Approximately 17,000 spectators turned out over three days to watch as eight teams representing the BIG EAST squared off against all 10 of the Big Ten’s baseball-playing institutions in NCAA Division I baseball’s first conference challenge event.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with how the event turned out,” said Scott Lowe, president and CEO of API Management & Marketing, the event organizer. “We surpassed our attendance expectations, provided the local community with some outstanding baseball to kick off the season and allowed two great conferences to escape the cold of the Midwest and Northeast to compete head-to-head in major league facilities. This event has enormous potential, and we are excited to begin the planning process for 2010.”

The BIG EAST-Big Ten Challenge featured nine games per day in major league-caliber venues across the Tampa Bay area. Nightly doubleheaders took place at McKechnie Field, the spring home of the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton; Dunedin Stadium, the Toronto Blue Jays’ spring home; and Bright House Field, the spring home of the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater. Games also were played at Jack Russell Stadium, the former training facility of the Phillies; Red McKewen Field at the University of South Florida and the Raymond A. Naimoli Complex, the former spring training headquarters of the Tampa Bay Rays, in St. Petersburg.

“It took the cooperation of six venues and local government officials, along with the support of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission, to pull this event off at such a high level.” Lowe said. “To be able to execute an event such as this, which was spread out across so many facilities, took an amazing amount of hard work, understanding and patience among all parties – including the participating teams and conferences. We are thankful to everyone who contributed in some way to this groundbreaking event.”

The Big Ten came out on top in the Challenge, compiling a record of 15-9. Michigan and Ohio State completed the Challenge with perfect 3-0 marks, with Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Penn State each finishing 2-1 for the Big Ten. Notre Dame, St. John’s and Seton Hall led the BIG EAST with 2-1 records. Michigan won in a showdown of unbeatens Sunday at the Naimoli Complex, defeating St. John’s, 4-2.

The inaugural BIG East-Big Ten Baseball Challenge culminated in spectacular fashion with six games at the Naimoli Complex Sunday that were attended by nearly 5,000 spectators. Results and box scores for the event can be found at www.BIGEASTBigTenChallenge.com. The final standings and All-Challenge Team, as selected by Baseball 360, can be found below.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT SCOTT LOWE AT: 410-472-2555.

Final Standings: Michigan 3-0, Ohio State 3-0, Illinois 2-1, Indiana 2-1, Minnesota 2-1, Notre Dame 2-1, Penn State 2-1, St. John’s 2-1, Seton Hall 2-1, Connecticut 1-2, Iowa 1-2, Northwestern 1-2, Michigan State 1-2, Purdue 1-2, USF 1-2, West Virginia 1-2, Cincinnati 0-3, Georgetown 0-3.
Standings in Head-to-Head Games: Big Ten wins Challenge 15-9
(There was one non-conference game daily played between Big Ten schools, but not counting in conference standings – 24 games total in the Challenge).


2009 BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge All-Tournament Team