BENNINGTON, Vt. - Southern Vermont College has claimed the top seed for the 2009 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Baseball Championship, which begins the morning of Friday, May 1 in Bennington, Vt.  The Mountaineers (11-24 overall) earned the top spot in the upcoming NECC tournament after posting a 7-3 conference record. 

Elms College (16-16  overall) claimed the #2 seed going 7-3 in conference play, while Becker College (13-13-1, 7-3) will be the #3 seed.

NECC tiebreaker procedures were used to determine the #1, #2 and #3 seeds. All three teams were tied in NECC play at 7-3. In the next criterion of comparing records against higher ranked teams, there were none. In the fourth criteria, there were no common opponents amongst all three teams.

The seeding order was resolved in the fifth criterion of comparing winning percentages against opponents with a .500 or better winning percentage.

"Southern Vermont College Athletics hasn't hosted anything this big since 2002-03 so this is quite the accomplishment," said Head Coach Don Schaffer. "I am proud of the team and how they played hard all season despite a tough schedule."

Mitchell College (10-18, 5-5) has claimed the #4 and final seed. 

In quarterfinal action on Friday, May 1  #4 Mitchell will face #1 Southern Vermont at a 11:00 a.m. in game one, while #3 Becker will face #2 Elms at  3:00 p.m. in game two.

In Saturday's semifinals, the losing team from game one and the losing team from game two will meet at 10:00 a.m. in game three. Game four will see the winners of game one and game two at 1:00 p.m. Game five will have the winner of game three playing the losing team from game four at 4:00 p.m.

Sunday's action will begin at 11:00 a.m. with the winner of game four facing the winner of game five in game six for the championship title. If an upset occurs, there will be a game seven involving both teams scheduled at 3:00 p.m. 

"This is going to be an exciting weekend," added Coach Schaffer. "This being the NECC's inaugural year a few rivalries have been made and that makes for great baseball."

2009 NECC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

Quarterfinals • Friday, May 1

Game 1- #4 Mitchell (10-18, 5-5) at  #1 Southern Vermont (11-24, 7-3), 11:00 a.m.

Game 2- #3 Becker (13-13-1) vs. #2 Elms (16-16, 7-3), 3:00 p.m.

Semifinals • Saturday, May 2

Game 3-Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2, 10:00 a.m.

Game 4-Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2, 1:00 p.m.

Game 5- Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4, 4:00 p.m.

Semifinals and Championship Game • Sunday, May 3

Game 6-Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of game 5, 11:00 a.m.

Game 7- If necessary,  3:00 p.m.

For more information on NECC Baseball: http://www.neccathletics.com/sports/bsb/index

Founded in 1926, Southern Vermont College offers a career-enhancing, liberal arts education with 20 academic degree programs for approximately 500 students. Southern Vermont College recognizes the importance of educating students for the workplace of the twenty-first century and for lives as successful leaders in their communities. SVC is part of the New England Collegiate Conference out of Attleboro, Mass. that is made up of nine institutions participating in 14 NCAA Division III sports. The college is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.