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Shriners College Classic
SportCollege baseball
Founded2001
No. of teams6
TV partner(s)ROOT Sports Southwest
MLB Network
Official websitehttp://www.astros.com/collegeclassic

The Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic is an annual six-team college baseball tournament held in Houston and hosted by the Astros Foundation. The 15th annual tournament was held at Minute Maid Park in March 2015.[1][2] It was initially called Astros College Classic from 2001 through 2002, the Minute Maid Park College Classic from 2003 through 2007,[3] and the Houston College Classic from 2008 through 2015. In December 2015, the Astros Foundation and Shriners Hospitals for Children announced a multi-year naming rights agreement for the tournament,[4] rebranding the event the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic.

As part of the agreement with Shriners Hospitals for Children, the Astros Foundation announced that the 2016 Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic would be nationally televised for the first time in history on MLB Network.

In December 2015, the Astros Foundation and Shriners Hospitals for Children announced a multi-year naming rights agreement for the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic at Minute Maid Park.

The College Classic is seen as the start of the college baseball season in Texas.[5] At the end of the tournament, a Most Outstanding Player and an All-Tournament Team are announced.[6][7]

Competitors

The Houston Cougars of the American Athletic Conference and Rice Owls of Conference USA who hold a rivalry, compete in the tournament annually.[8] The other four teams invited to the tournament alternate by year.

"The intensity level is higher in practice because you know you're going to play quality people. I don't have to do much motivation to get the guys up to play three teams like this and in Minute Maid Park -- it's a major league park and guys are excited."

– Rod Delmonico, coach of the Tennessee Volunteers[5]

Often, teams competing in the Classic are highly ranked. In 2002, the Classic involved three teams that ended the preceding season ranked in the top 25 of the Baseball Weekly/ESPN, Baseball America, and Collegiate Baseball year-end polls: the Rice Owls, Texas Tech Red Raiders, and Baylor Bears.[9] The 2005 Classic included four top ranked teams: the #11 Baylor Bears, #13 Texas A&M Aggies, #19 Rice Owls, and #23 Oklahoma State Cowboys.[5] Collegiate Baseball ranked all six teams competing in the 2007 Classic: they ranked the Rice Owls the top team in college baseball, and also ranked the #8 Vanderbilt Commodores, #14 Arizona State Sun Devils, #21 Baylor Bears, and #33 Houston Cougars.[10][11] The Texas Longhorns and Rice Owls participated in the Classic when they won the College World Series championship in 2002 and 2003, respectively.[5] The Texas Tech Red Raiders have appeared in the Houston College Classic seven times: in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012.[12]

Most Outstanding Players

Kelly Shoppach was the tournament's first MVP
Year Winner Team Position Ref
2001 Kelly Shoppach Baylor Bears Catcher [13]
2002 Tim Hartshorn Baylor Bears Outfielder [14][15]
2003 Michael Griffin Baylor Bears Outfielder [16]
2004 Seth Johnston Texas Longhorns Third baseman [17]
2005 Josh Geer Rice Owls Pitcher [18]
2006 Brad Lincoln Houston Cougars Pitcher [19]
2007 Matt Spencer Arizona State Sun Devils Outfielder [20]
2008 Diego Seastrunk Rice Owls Catcher [21]
2009 Ryan Berry Rice Owls Pitcher [22]
2010 Bryan Holaday TCU Horned Frogs Catcher [23]
2011 Austin Kubitza Rice Owls Pitcher [24][25]
2012 Jordan Stephens Rice Owls Pitcher [26]
2013 Cal Towey Baylor Bears Third baseman [27]
2014 Aaron Garza Houston Cougars Pitcher [28]
2015 Grayson Long Texas A&M Pitcher [29]
2016 Michael Bernal Arkansas Shortstop [30]

Teams by number of appearances

Team Appearances Years
Houston 16 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001
Rice 15 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001
Baylor 9 2015, 2013, 2011, 2009, 2007, 2005, 2003, 2002, 2001
Texas Tech 9 2016, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2001
Texas 8 2014, 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2001
Texas A&M 8 2015, 2013, 2011, 2009, 2007, 2005, 2003, 2002
TCU 6 2016, 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002, 2001
UL Lafayette 3 2016, 2003, 2002
Tennessee 3 2012, 2008, 2005
Arkansas 2 2016, 2012
Alabama 1 2003
Arizona State 1 2007
California 1 2013
Hawaii 1 2015
Kansas State 1 2004
Kentucky 1 2011
LSU 1 2015
Missouri 1 2010
Nebraska 1 2015
North Carolina 1 2013
Ohio State 1 2004
Oklahoma 1 2008
Oklahoma State 1 2005
Sam Houston State 1 2014
Tulane 1 2006
UCLA 1 2009
UC Irvine 1 2009
Utah 1 2011
Vanderbilt 1 2007

See also

References

  1. ^ "Houston College Classic returns for 12th year | MLB.com: News". Houston.astros.mlb.com. January 18, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  2. ^ "Fans' guide to the 2012 Houston College Classic | Owls | a Chron.com blog". Blog.chron.com. March 1, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  3. ^ "Records (9 pages).pmd" (PDF). Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  4. ^ "Shriners Hospitals for Children". www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d "Minute Maid field includes four ranked teams - College Sports - ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. February 11, 2005. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  6. ^ MLB.com. "2008 Houston College Classic All-Tournament Team announced". Houston.astros.mlb.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  7. ^ MLB.com. "The University of Houston finishes undefeated at Houston College Classic". Arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  8. ^ "Houston College Classic tickets on sale Monday, Jan. 24 | astros.com: Official Info". Mlb.mlb.com. January 21, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  9. ^ "Astros College Classic Returns in February — Baylor Bears Official Athletic Site". BaylorBears.com. December 13, 2001. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  10. ^ Alyson Footer / MLB.com. "Houston College Classic, FanFest on tap | astros.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  11. ^ "Houston College Classic returns in February | astros.com: Official Info". Houston.astros.mlb.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  12. ^ http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/text/sports/m-basebl/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/BB2012GameNotes030212.pdf
  13. ^ "Baylor University || The Lariat Online || News". Baylor.edu. February 6, 2001. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  14. ^ "Baseball Preview: Baylor vs. UTSA - Baylor Bears Official Athletic Site". BaylorBears.com. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  15. ^ "By The Fans, For The Fans!". BaylorFans.com. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  16. ^  Michael Griffin (October 1, 1983). "Michael Griffin Profile - Baylor Bears Official Athletic Site". BaylorBears.com. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
  17. ^ [1] (subscription required)
  18. ^ [2][dead link]
  19. ^ "#1 in College Sports". CSTV.com. February 13, 2006. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  20. ^ "#1 in College Sports". CSTV.com. February 14, 2007. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  21. ^ "Owls fly through Houston College Classic unscathed - College Sports - ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. March 3, 2008. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  22. ^ "Berry Named Most Outstanding Player of 2009 Houston College Classic - RICEOWLS.COM - The Rice Official Athletic Site". Riceowls.Com. March 1, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  23. ^ Sports, Wfaa (July 1, 2010). "Holaday Wins 2010 Johnny Bench Award | wfaa.com Dallas — Fort Worth". Wfaa.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  24. ^ "Kubitza Named Most Outstanding Player At Houston College Classic - RICEOWLS.COM - The Rice Official Athletic Site". Riceowls.Com. March 6, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  25. ^ Houston Astros. "Houston College Classic concludes at Minute Maid Park". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  26. ^ Duarte, Joseph (March 4, 2012). "Stephens makes his case as Rice downs Tennessee - Houston Chronicle". Chron.com. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  27. ^ "All-tournament team named at Astros Foundation College Classic | astros.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. March 3, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  28. ^ "Houston College Classic concludes, Texas named tournament champions". Houston Astros. March 2, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  29. ^ Houston Astros (March 8, 2015). "Four Aggies Make Houston College Classic All-Tournament Team". kbtx.com. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  30. ^ King, Tyler (March 1, 2016). "Shriners Hospital for Children College Classic Recap". thearmchairallamericans.com. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
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