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Southeastern Conference baseball tournament

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Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament
Conference Baseball Championship
SEC Baseball Tournament Logo
SportBaseball
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Number of teams14
FormatSingle-elimination (round 1, semifinals, final)
Double-elimination (rounds 2-4)
Current stadiumHoover Metropolitan Stadium
Current locationHoover, Alabama
Played1977–present
Last contest2016
Current championTexas A&M (1)
Most championshipsLSU Tigers (11)
TV partner(s)SEC Network (all games prior to final)
ESPN2 (final)
Official websiteSECSports.com Baseball
Host stadiums
Hoover Metropolitan Stadium/Regions Park (1990, 1996, 1998-present)
Golden Park (1997)
Lindsey Nelson Stadium (1995 Eastern)
Dudy Noble Field (1979, 1981, 1983, 1988, 1995 Western)
Cliff Hagan Stadium (1994 Eastern)
Swayze Field (1977, 1994 Western)
Sarge Frye Field (1993 Eastern)
Alex Box Stadium (1985-86, 1991, 1993 Western)
Superdome (1992)
Alfred A. McKethan Stadium (1989)
Foley Field (1987)
Perry Field (1978, 1980, 1982, 1984)
Host locations
Hoover, AL (1990, 1996, 1998-present)
Columbus, GA (1997)
Knoxville, TN (1995 Eastern)
Starkville, MS (1979, 1981, 1983, 1988, 1995 Western)
Lexington, KY (1994 Eastern)
Oxford, MS (1977, 1994 Western)
Columbia, SC (1993 Eastern)
Baton Rouge, LA (1985-86, 1991, 1993 Western)
New Orleans, LA (1992)
Gainesville, FL (1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1989)
Athens, GA (1987)

The Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament (sometimes known simply as the SEC Tournament) is the conference championship tournament in baseball for the Southeastern Conference (SEC). It is a double-elimination tournament and seeding is based on regular season records. The winner receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament. The SEC Tournament champion is separate from the conference champion. The conference championship is determined solely by regular season record.

Tournament

The SEC Baseball tournament is a double-elimination tournament held each year at Regions Park in Hoover, Alabama. Twelve of the 14 SEC teams qualify for the tournament. The winner earns the SEC's guaranteed bid to the NCAA Tournament. Most of the other teams who qualify for the SEC tournament more often than not earn at-large bids to the NCAA field of 64 teams, due to the reputation of the SEC as one of the nation's elite baseball conferences. With the expansion of the NCAA baseball field from 48 to 64 teams in 1999, some teams which have not made the SEC tournament have still qualified for the NCAA tournament.

History

Pre-Tournament

Teams were split into divisions from 1951 through 1985. Each team played the other four division opponents in home-and-home three-game series. Interdivisional games were common, but did not count in the conference standings.

From 1951-1976, the division winners played a best-of-3 series to determine the SEC champion and representative to the NCAA Tournament.

1977–1986

From 1977–1986, the tournament consisted of four (out of 10) teams competing in a double elimination bracket. The top two teams in each division qualified, and the winner was declared the overall champion.

From 1977-1985, the tournament site alternated between winners of the West (odd-numbered years) and East (even-numbered years) divisions. During these seasons, Florida hosted the tournament in every even-numbered year, and Mississippi State hosted in every odd-numbered year except 1985, when LSU supplanted the Bulldogs atop the West.

In 1986, the SEC eliminated division play, adopting a full round-robin schedule (27 games), and the team with the best regular season conference record (LSU) earned the right to host.

1987–1991

In 1987, the tournament expanded to 6 teams (out of 10), while remaining a double-elimination tournament. Beginning with the 1988 season, the winner was no longer considered the conference's overall champion, although the winner continued to receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

In 1990, the conference did not accept an automatic bid after lightning and heavy rain disrupted the tournament's championship game and co-champions were declared. The teams in the cancelled championship game, LSU and Mississippi State, had already received bids to the NCAA Tournament by being selected as regional hosts before the SEC Tournament. LSU led 6-0 in the third inning at the time of cancellation.

Games on the last two days of the 1991 tournament were shortened to seven innings due to torrential rain in Baton Rouge which left standing water throughout the outfield at LSU's Alex Box Stadium.

1992

With the addition of Arkansas and South Carolina to the conference, the SEC held an eight team (out of 12) double elimination tournament. The top four teams in each division qualified. The tournament followed a format that included reseeding the teams once only four were still active in the tournament.

1993–1995

The SEC held separate tournaments for the Eastern and Western divisions in 1993, 1994 and 1995. The tournament games counted in the league standings, and the team with the best winning percentage at the end of each tournament, covering 24 regular season SEC games plus tournament games, was crowned league champion. Each division tournament consisted of all six teams in that division. The SEC devised the plan in the hopes of garnering two automatic berths to the NCAA tournament for each of the tournament champions; however, the NCAA rejected the SEC plan, instead awarding one automatic bid to the division tournament champion with the highest overall winning percentage.

1996–1997

For two years, eight teams qualified for the league tournament; however, the teams seeded fifth through eighth were forced into a single-elimination play-in round. The two winners of the play-in games advanced to the main bracket, which was a six-team, double-elimination format, same as the NCAA regional format used from 1987-1998.

1998–2007

Starting in 1998, the SEC adopted the "Omaha" bracket, splitting the eight qualifying teams into two four-team double elimination brackets. The division winners are seeded 1 and 2, while the remaining six teams are seeded 3 through 8. Seeds 2, 3, 6 and 7 form bracket one, while seeds 1, 4, 5 and 8 are in bracket two. The two bracket winners met in a winner-take-all championship game. This was the format used in the College World Series from 1988 through 2002, prior to the NCAA instituting a best-of-3 championship series in 2003.

In 1998, the top three teams in each division plus two "wild card" teams qualified for the tournament. In 1999, the qualification standards were changed to the top two teams in each division plus the next four based upon overall conference winning percentage, which remained in place through 2011.

Since 1996, SEC teams have played 30 conference games (10 three-game series). From 1996 through 2012, each team played all five of its division opponents and five of six opponents from the opposite division. With the addition of Missouri and Texas A&M to the SEC for the 2013 season, teams now play all six division opponents and four of seven from the opposite division.

During this period, the popularity of the event rose significantly. There was speculation the Tournament could move to other larger Southern cities, including Atlanta's Turner Field, but additional RV accommodations secured the event in Hoover. [citation needed]

2008–2011

In 2008, the SEC adopted a "flipped bracket" on a trial basis. The tournament still consisted of 8 teams in a double elimination bracket. However, after two days of play the undefeated team from each bracket would move into the other bracket. This reduced the amount of rematches teams would have to play in order to win the tournament. A similar format is used at the Women's College World Series, although the team which wins its second game after losing its first switches brackets instead of the 2-0 team. [1]

2012

With the addition of Texas A&M and Missouri for 2013, and the lack of any "bubble" in recent years to the tournament (in some years, all eight teams in the tournament and a team or two that does not make the tournament would qualify for the NCAA Regionals), the SEC expanded the tournament from 8 to 10 teams. The tournament began on Tuesday and concluded on Sunday. In 2012, the SEC also began a Baseball Legends Program, which will honor four former SEC baseball standouts, with schools rotating each season.[2]

Both finalists in the 2012 tournament, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt, had to play in the opening round. Since then, no team playing the opening Tuesday has advanced to the championship game.

2013–present

The 2013 format saw another expansion by two teams, bringing the total number of participants to 12. Seeds five through twelve play a single-elimination opening round, followed by the traditional double-elimination format until the semifinals, when the format reverts to single-elimination.[3]

In 2016, the SEC considered bids from Nashville and New Orleans to move to Triple-A facilities in those cities. Instead, the conference extended its contract with Hoover through 2021.

Champions

Year School Site MVP Attendance
1977 Ole Miss Swayze Field • Oxford, MS
1978 Auburn Perry Field • Gainesville, FL
1979 Mississippi State Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS Mike Kelley (Mississippi State)
1980 Vanderbilt Perry Field • Gainesville, FL Dave Nenad (Vanderbilt)
1981 Florida Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS Jeff Keener (Kentucky)
1982 Florida Perry Field • Gainesville, FL Rich Bombard (Florida)
1983 Alabama Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS David Magadan (Alabama)
1984 Florida Perry Field • Gainesville, FL Alan Cockrell (Tennessee)
1985 Mississippi State Alex Box Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA Gene Morgan (Mississippi State)
1986 LSU Alex Box Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA Jeff Yurtin (LSU) 14,240
1987 Mississippi State Foley Field • Athens, GA Dan Paradoa (Mississippi State) 5,091
1988 Florida Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS Brian Reimsnyder (Florida) 43,068
1989 Auburn Alfred A. McKethan Stadium • Gainesville, FL Roger Miller (Georgia) 22,507
19901 LSU
Mississippi State 		Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL Jon Harden (Mississippi State) 32,163
1991 Florida Alex Box Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA Herbert Perry (Florida) / Brian Purvis (Florida) 21,563
1992 LSU Superdome • New Orleans, LA Andy Sheets (LSU) 24,329
1993 Eastern: Tennessee
Western: LSU 		Sarge Frye Field • Columbia, SC
Alex Box Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA 		Todd Helton (Tennessee)
Harry Berrios (LSU) 		8,050
1994 Eastern: Tennessee
Western: LSU 		Cliff Hagan Stadium • Lexington, KY
Swayze Field • Oxford, MS 		Todd Helton (Tennessee) / Steve Soper (Tennessee)
Russ Johnson (LSU) 		6,850
1995 Eastern: Tennessee
Western: Alabama 		Lindsey Nelson Stadium • Knoxville, TN
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS 		Todd Helton (Tennessee) / Scott Vieira (Tennessee)
Rusty Loflin (Alabama) 		12,572
1996 Alabama Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL Joe Caruso (Alabama) 57,231
1997 Alabama Golden Park • Columbus, GA David Tidwell (Alabama) 42,000
1998 Auburn Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL Rodney Nye (Arkansas) 87,295
1999 Alabama Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL G.W. Keller (Alabama) 98,873
2000 LSU Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL Wally Pontiff (LSU) 85,653
2001 Mississippi State Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL Chris Young (Mississippi State) 85,771
2002 Alabama Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL Brent Boyd (Alabama) 124,440
2003 Alabama Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL Beau Hearod (Alabama) 122,393
2004 South Carolina Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL Steven Tolleson (South Carolina) / Kevin Melillo (South Carolina) 75,259
2005 Mississippi State Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL Jeff Butts (Mississippi State) 119,580
2006 Ole Miss Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL Mark Wright (Ole Miss) 108,173
2007 Vanderbilt Regions Park (formerly Hoover Metropolitan Stadium)
Hoover, AL 		Pedro Alvarez (Vanderbilt) 87,893
2008 LSU Regions Park • Hoover, AL Blake Dean (LSU) 124,139
2009 LSU Regions Park • Hoover, AL Mikie Mahtook (LSU) 86,048
2010 LSU Regions Park • Hoover, AL Austin Nola (LSU) 126,071
2011 Florida Regions Park • Hoover, AL Daniel Pigott (Florida) 97,675
2012 Mississippi State Regions Park • Hoover, AL Adam Frazier (Mississippi State) 129,112
2013 LSU Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL Chris Cotton (LSU) 134,496
2014 LSU Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL Tyler Moore (LSU) 120,386
2015 Florida Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL JJ Schwarz (Florida) 132,178
2016 Texas A&M Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL Nick Banks (Texas A&M) 150,064
2017 Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL
2018 Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL
2019 Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL
2020 Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL
2021 Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL

^1 Mississippi State and LSU were declared co-champions in 1990 when the tournament was abandoned because of weather issues.

By School

Updated as of 2016 season

School Appearances W-L Pct Tourney Titles Title Years
LSU 30 71–38 .651 11 1986, 19901, 1992, 19932, 19942, 2000, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014
Mississippi State 32 62–48 .564 7 1979, 1985, 1987, 19901, 2001, 2005, 2012
Alabama 27 47–40 .540 7 1983, 19952, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003
Florida 35 54–57 .486 7 1981, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1991, 2011, 2015
Auburn 23 29–39 .426 3 1978, 1989, 1998
Tennessee 14 25–23 .521 3 1993, 19942, 19952
Vanderbilt 19 43–33 .566 2 1980, 2007
Ole Miss 20 33–33 .500 2 1977, 2006
South Carolina3 23 24–39 .381 1 2004
Texas A&M4 4 8–5 .615 1 2016
Georgia 22 25–40 .385 0
Arkansas3 19 22–30 .423 0
Kentucky 17 16–31 .340 0
Missouri4 4 1–5 .167 0

^1 Mississippi State and LSU were declared co-champions in 1990 when the tournament was abandoned because of weather issues.

^2 The SEC held separate tournaments for the Eastern and Western divisions in 1993, 1994 and 1995. The tournament games counted in the conference standings, and the team with the best winning percentage at the end of each tournament was crowned conference champion.

^3 The 1992 season was the first in SEC play for Arkansas and South Carolina.

^4 The 2013 season was the first in SEC play for Missouri and Texas A&M

References

  1. ^ SEC BASEBALL: Tourney big for all eight teams
  2. ^ SEC Announces Format Change To Baseball Tournament
  3. ^ "SEC adds two teams, changes format for postseason conference tournament". NCAA.com. December 22, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
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