MASON, Ohio - Before a pitch could be made there are changes in the 2017 National Christian College Athletic Association Baseball World Series.
Due to anticipated bad weather in the Cincinnati area, a shift has been made in the schedule. Games originally scheduled for Friday, will now be played Thursday at Legacy Field, one of two fields at Prasco Park, home of the NCCAA World Series. Legacy Field has an artificial surface, whereas Prasco Park is a natural playing surface.
With the change, Bluefield College will now play a familiar foe in its first game in the tournament. The Rams will face Alice Lloyd College, who they faced twice last week in regional play and also during the regular season, at 1 p.m., Wednesday, May 24.
The Rams are the Mid-East Region runner-up and eighth seed in the 10-team tournament. Alice Lloyd, the Mid-East Region champion, is the fourth seed. The Eagles took both games in last week's regional but during the regular season the Rams claimed a 12-2 win on April 19 at Bowen Field.
After Wednesday's opening game, Bluefield will play twice on Thursday, at 10 a.m. vs. #5 Campbellsville (Ky.) and at 4 p.m. against #9 Ecclesia. The Rams finish pool play on Friday at 2 p.m. against #1 Oklahoma Baptist.
Bluefield, winners of the 2009 NCCAA National Championship, enters the tournament with a 30-29 record.
Below are the tournament seeds:
#1 Oklahoma Baptist
#2 Emmanuel (Ga.)
#3 Bethesda (Calif.)
#4 Alice Lloyd (Ky.)
#5 Campbellsville (Ky.)
#6 Southwestern Christian (Okla.)
#7 Oakland City (Ind.)
#8 Bluefield (Va.)
#9 Ecclesia (Ark.)
#10 Hiwassee (Tenn.)