University Park, Pa. — Penn State has been awarded bids to host the PIAA State Championships in baseball, softball and boys’ volleyball, as announced by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association on Friday. All three bids will run from 2011-14.
"Penn State is thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase the state’s best high school competition in the best facilities in the state," said Penn State Director of Athletics Tim Curley. "The Multi-Sport Facility is incredibly fan friendly for the boys’ volleyball championships and Medlar Field at Lubrano Park and the new Nittany Lion Softball Park were planned with just these type of events in mind. "
The baseball and softball championships will run on the same days – June 17, 2011; June 15, 2012; June 14, 2013 and June 13, 2014 – while boys’ volleyball will take place one week earlier – June 10 & 11, 2011; June 8 & 9, 2012; June 7 & 8, 2013 and June 6 & 7, 2014.
"We are ready to welcome the baseball, softball and welcome back the boys’ volleyball student-athletes, coaches, officials and fans to Happy Valley for what is sure to be many years of outstanding state high school championships," said Curley.
Penn State has hosted numerous PIAA events in the past, including the PIAA Boys’ & Girls’ Basketball Championships this past in March at the Bryce Jordan Center.
"We’re really excited for the opportunity to host all three of these events and showcase the area," said Betsey Howell, Executive Director of the Central Pennsylvania Convention of Visitor’s Bureau. "State College was named Sports Town USA for Pennsylvania, so this is one more example why we’re awarded that title. We have wonderful facilities and great hospitality."
PIAA Boys’ Volleyball returns to Happy Valley, where it has taken place the past six years.
"As far as boy’s volleyball is concerned, this is just a continuation of a long-standing relationship and tradition," said Penn State men’s volleyball coach Mark Pavlik. "We are thrilled to host again."
The excitement of the new Nittany Lion Softball Park translates into hosting such a first-class event as well. Combining with baseball, fans will have the unique opportunity to experience both sports’ championships in one centralized location.
"It’s an opportunity for the high schools in the PIAA playoffs to pool all their resources and come to one place and not have divided support for their teams," said Penn State head softball coach Robin Petrini. "It’s fitting that the Pennsylvania State University will host three of the major championships."
"You look at our facilities [which are] second to none collegiately in the state," said Pavlik. "This seems to me to be the natural partner for the PIAA in holding their championships. We’re centrally located. I think everyone realizes what Penn State means; they want to be on the field where the best athletic events are held."
PIAA is a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation organized on a membership basis. All of its members are schools. They include almost all of the public and many of the private junior high/middle schools and senior high schools in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Generally stated, the purpose and function of PIAA is to develop and enforce rules, which are authorized or adopted by the member schools, regulating interscholastic athletic competition.
BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park
June 17, 2011
June 15, 2012
June 14, 2013
June 13, 2014
SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS at Nittany Lion Softball Park
June 17, 2011
June 15, 2012
June 14, 2013
June 13, 2014
BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS at the Multi-Sport Facility
June 10 & 11, 2011
June 8 & 9, 2012
June 7 & 8, 2013
June 6 & 7, 2014
