WICHITA, KS - The 2010 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) announced today that its Championship Baseball Tournament will return for the second straight year to Junction City, Kan. This year's scheduled dates are Wednesday, May 5 through Saturday, May 8 at Rathert Stadium following a successful 2009 tournament at the venue.

The four-day tournament will feature the top five teams from KCAC Regular Season play in a double-elimination format tournament. Tournament seeding will be based on KCAC Regular Season conference standings. The bracket for the 2010 KCAC Baseball Tournament will be announced at the conclusion of the KCAC Regular Season on May 1, 2010.

"The KCAC Baseball Tournament, players, coaches and teams all exemplify quality sportsmanship and great collegiate competition. Last year's tournament was a real success and we are very pleased that historic Rathert Stadium and Junction City will once again be their hosts." commented Connie Hall, Director of the Geary County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

University of Saint Mary Athletic Director and Baseball Coach Rob Miller said, "I think the tournament in Junction City makes perfect sense. [Rathert Stadium] is a fantastic facility, a neutral site, and is centrally located. I am glad that we have found this venue and hope to use Junction City as our tournament site for years to come."

The KCAC, comprised of ten independent liberal arts colleges/universities, has seven institutions sponsoring baseball as a varsity sport. The tournament champion will advance to the national 54^th annual baseball tournament of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics - the Avista-NAIA World Series, with Opening Rounds played May 18-21 (sites to be determined) and a May 28-June 4 Final Site at Harris Field on the campus of Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho.

Last year's tournament was a success, featuring the regular season and tournament champion Kansas Wesleyan University that advanced to the Lindenwood University Regional and was one win away from advancing to the NAIA World Series.

"As a conference, we were extremely pleased with how well the tournament played out last year," commented Dr. Scott Crawford, KCAC Commissioner. "We look forward to working with the community once again this year, reaching out to be more involved with our military families, and providing quality entertainment for everyone in the area to enjoy."

Jared Hamilton, Sterling College Baseball Coach, stated, "After 2008, my first season in the conference, the tournament was not much more than a few more games. The move to Junction has made it a respectable, legitimate postseason experience. Dr. Crawford and the City of Junction have done an amazing job creating an event that our respective teams and the community of Junction will enjoy for years to come."

This season, the Sterling College Warriors were picked by the KCAC Coaches in their preseason poll as the top team in the conference, followed by the University of Saint Mary, Tabor College, Friends University, Kansas Wesleyan University, Ottawa University, and Bethany College.

The first conference contest of the season will be on February 23, and the conference season will kick into full swing on March 18. Fans of KCAC Baseball can follow all the action and information at www.KCACsports.com