Panama City Beach’s premier sports and recreation venue, Frank Brown Park, is host to the 2010 NFCA Division III Collegiate Fastpitch Leadoff Classic. The event takes place Friday March 12 through Sunday March 14, at the park. Pool play begins Friday at 11:00am and bracket play concludes Sunday afternoon. There will also be pre-tournament games being played Tuesday and Wednesday beginning at 11:30am and concluding at 4:00pm each day. The Leadoff Classic features 24 teams from across the country, with 10 of the teams Currently ranked in the top 25 season polls.
The NFCA and the Panama City Beach CONVENTION & Visitors Bureau, on behalf of the City of Panama City Beach, entered into a three year agreement to host the Leadoff Classics for Division III (2007), Junior College (2008) and NAIA (2009). After the completion of the three year agreement, both parties mutually agreed to a new three year agreement starting with the Division III event again in 2010 followed by Junior College (2011) and NAIA (2012).
Frank Brown Park features a full weekend of competition. Parking is $5.00 for the weekend, and daily admission is $8.00 for adults, $6.00 for students, and $5.00 for youth groups of 10 or more. Weekend passes are $20.00 for adults and $15.00 for students. Pre-tournament games are free. Frank Brown Park is located at 16200 Panama City Beach Parkway, Panama City Beach, Fl 32413.
TEAMS PARTICIPATING & NATIONAL RANKING
Alma College-Alma, Michigan
Central College-Pella, Iowa #20
Christopher Newport University-Newport News, Virginia #11
Cortland State-Cortland, New York #4
Denison University-Granville, Ohio
East Texas Baptist University-Marshall, Texas #2
Emerson College-Boston, Massachusetts #18
Farmingdale State College-Farmingdale, New York
Gustaus Adolphus College-Saint Peter, Minnesota #10
Ithaca College-Ithaca, New York
Lake Forest College-Lake Forest, Illinois
University of La Verne-La Verne, California
Louisiana College-Pineville, Louisiana #14
Lynchburg College-Lynchburg, Virginia #25
Methodist University-Fayetteville, North Carolina
Moravian College-Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Mount Union College-Alliance, Ohio
Muskingum University-New Concord, Ohio
Ramapo College-Mahwah, New Jersey
University of Saint Thomas-Saint Paul, Minnesota
University of Texas at Tyler-Tyler, Texas #5
Transylvania University-Lexington, Kentucky
Willamette University-Salem, Oregon
University of Wisconsin Eau Claire-Eau Claire, Wisconsin #19
For more information, call Frank Brown Park at (850) 233-5045 or visit www.playpanamacitybeach.com or www.nfca.org. The NFCA is the professional growth organization for fastpitch coaches in all levels of play.
