Massachusetts Maritime and the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce have been selected as co-hosts for the 2017 NCAA Division III Baseball New England Regional Championships that will return to Whitehouse Field in Harwich, Mass. during the week of May 17-21.

The Academy will serve as a host institution for an NCAA championship for the first time in its 44-year history as a Division III member school, as the New England Regional will be contested at bucolic Whitehouse Field (home of the Cape Cod Baseball League’s Harwich Mariners) for the first time in two years and for the 16^th time overall since 2001.  Regional competition begins with first round action on Wednesday, May 17^th and will continue until a New England champion is crowned on either May 20^th or 21^st.  The winner of the New England Regional advances to the NCAA Division III College World Series in Appleton, Wis. that begins on Friday, May 26^th and continues through Tuesday, May 30^th.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for Massachusetts Maritime athletics, and the entire Academy community is honored to welcome the New England baseball regional back to Cape Cod where it has enjoyed a rich and storied tradition,” Massachusetts Maritime Director of Athletics Garin Veris said.  “I am grateful to Patti Lloyd and the entire Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce staff and volunteers who are partnering with us to make this event a most memorable one for all involved, and our entire Buccaneer staff looks forward to working hard in the coming months to ensure that everyone who competes in and attends the regional championship will have the greatest experience possible.”

“The Cape Cod Chamber/CVB Sports Advisory Panel is absolutely thrilled to partner with Massachusetts Maritime in welcoming the NCAA Division III Baseball regional back to the Cape,” Patti Lloyd, Vice President of Sales for the Cape Cod Chamber Convention & Visitors Bureau, said of the regional returning to the area.  “This event is special in so many ways for everyone involved, and I want to thank Garin Veris and his staff for helping to bring that championship experience back to Harwich for what will be a great week of competition and camaraderie.”

Teams will be selected to the 56-team championship field on Sunday, May 14^th, as eight regional championships will take place throughout the country.  Other institutions already selected to host those regionals include Webster (Central), Texas-Tyler (West), Wisconsin-Whitewater (Midwest) and Washington & Jefferson (Mideast).

Additional Information on the 2017 NCAA Division III Baseball Regional will be available in the coming weeks at Massachusetts Maritime’s official athletics website – www.mmabucs.com.  A dedicated tournament website and social media links will also be available within the coming weeks.

For more information on the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, please visit www.CapeCodChamber.org.