May 8, 20006

KINGSPORT, Tenn. — As the temperature outside rises, Kingsport is heating up as it prepares for the Hardee's Summer of Baseball .  The first of three baseball events sponsored by Hardee's begins Wednesday, May 10 with the NAIA Region XII College Baseball Championship. 

Six teams will compete for the National title at Hunter Wright Stadium May 10 – 13 .  The top two teams from the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the top four teams from the Appalachian Athletic Conference will come together in Kingsport to compete for the championship.

“We're looking forward to hosting this exciting tournament for the second year.  It will feature region XII's superior baseball talent right here in Kingsport ,” said Frank Lett, KCVB Director of Sports Marketing.

This is the second sporting event of a record 6 events this year for Kingsport and the first of 3 baseball tournaments. After NAIA, baseball action will continue on July 14-21 with the 2006 AAU Baseball 15 & Under National Championship and returning once again is the USSSA Baseball 14 & Under 60'/90' World Series to be held at Weyerhaeuser Park & Area Schools July 22-28 .  All three events are sponsored by our good friends at Hardee's of the Tri-Cities.

The projected economic impact of this year's sporting events is more than $7,000,000.  T hese events will also add funds to local athletic programs.  All proceeds from the tournaments will be returned to host schools and their athletic programs.  Since 1989, the tournaments have returned more than $700,000 to area schools. 

The action will begin Wednesday May 10, with three games, 11 a.m. , 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Hunter Wright Stadium.   There will be three games on Thursday and Friday as well at the same time slots.  The Championship game will be held on Saturday with the time to be announced. 

Tickets are $7 for a day or $20 for the entire tournament.  They can be picked up at the park or by calling the KCVB at 423-392-8820 .

The KCVB is a partnership between the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce and the city of Kingsport .  Its mission is “to market the city and provide services to meeting and convention planners, tour operators, and business and leisure travelers by serving as a tourist development program of the Kingsport Chamber in partnership with the city of Kingsport .”  For more KCVB news, visit www.kcvb. org .