Martinsville to Host 2012 NCBA Tournament

The Martinsville-Henry County EDC's Tourism & Film Division and the Martinsville Mustangs are pleased to announce that our community has been selected as host destination for the National Club Baseball Association's (NCBA) 2012 Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament.

The NCBA contacted the EDC's Tourism Division, which markets Martinsville-Henry County to sports event planners, in early September. After learning about the various venue options from the Tourism Division, NCBA officials selected Hooker Field for their tournament and began negotiations with the EDC, Martinsville Mustangs and City of Martinsville. This past week a contract was signed to bring the three-day tournament to Hooker Field on May 11-13, 2012.

According to Christian Smith, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director for NCBA, "The National Club Baseball Association is excited to bring the Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament to Martinsville, Virginia at Hooker Field. The Mid-Atlantic Region features the most competitive collegiate club baseball teams in the country, including East Carolina University, who is the defending NCBA Division I National Champion. For those not familiar with the NCBA or the concept of club baseball, collegiate club baseball allows students the opportunity to continue playing competitive college baseball after high school."

"The beauty of club baseball is that these organizations are student run," Smith added. "Scheduling, travel planning, equipment purchasing, fundraising, and the rest of the off field management falls directly upon the shoulders of the elected student officers. When young motivated college students put forth the required effort to run a successful club baseball program just for the opportunity to continue playing, what you end up with are perfect ball players. By that we mean those who play for the sheer excitement of the game."

Four college club teams will participate in the double-elimination tournament. Contenders in the Mid-Atlantic region that may come to Martinsville are: Wake Forest, NC State, UNC Charlotte, UNC Chapel Hill, Elon, East Carolina University, University of Kentucky, Vanderbilt University, University of Tennessee, Appalachian State, Belmont University, University of Maryland, George Washington University, Virginia Tech, James Madison University and University of Virginia

According to Jennifer Doss, Director of Tourism, "It is exciting to bring a tournament of this caliber to Martinsville-Henry County and we are pleased to partner with The City of Martinsville and Martinsville Mustangs to host the event."

The NCBA requires, all four teams including coaches, umpires and officials to stay in a Martinsville-Henry County host hotels. "Each player will receive a MHC welcome packet showcasing the many interesting things to see and do in our community and the additional revenue generated from hotel room-nights and teams dining out in the community will be a nice economic boost for Martinsville-Henry County," said Doss.

"We are honored and excited to be the host for the 2012 NCBA Regional Tournament," said Martinsville Mustangs General Manager Jim Taipalus. "This will give our local baseball fans the opportunity to see some great spring baseball before the Mustangs come to town. Additionally, this is part of our joint efforts to bring great affordable family entertainment to Hooker Field."

Baseball fans and community supporters are encouraged to come out, cheer for your favorite college and support baseball played in its purest form.

Additional information about this and other events is available online at www.VisitMartinsville.com and at the MHC Visitor Center at 54 West Church Street in Martinsville.

Any business or organization wishing to donate coupons or other promotional items for the players' welcome bags may contact the Tourism Division at 276.403.5940.

The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.

The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.