Chaps Open With Familiar Foe

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the official seedings and bracket for the 2011 Avista-NAIA World Series, hosted by Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) from May 27 – June 3 in Lewiston, Idaho. No. 1- seeded Embry-Riddle (Fla.) heads the 10-team field in the double-elimination event. BRACKET

The first game of the World Series pits No. 8-seeded Faulkner (Ala.) against No. 9-seeded Concordia (Calif.) on May 27 at 8:30 a.m. PDT. The winner of that game will face Embry-Riddle on May 28.

No. 4 LSU Shreveport (La.) will battle No. 5 Lee (Tenn.) at Noon in the second game of the day. No. 3 Oklahoma Baptist and No. 6 Lubbock Christian (Texas) follow at 3 p.m. No. 7 Lewis-Clark State and No. 10 Tennessee Wesleyan face off in the nightcap at 7:30 p.m. The winner of that contest takes on No. 2 Oklahoma City on May 28.

Faulkner is making its first World Series appearance after winning the Kingsport (Tenn.) Bracket on Monday. The Eagles were the final team to punch their ticket to Lewiston. Earlier in the day, Oklahoma Baptist waited nearly 48 hours through a rain delay to win the Joliet (Ill.) Bracket. The Bison outlasted Biola (Calif.), 13-1 in the championship game.

Lewis-Clark State owns the most wins all-time in the history of the event with a 118-35 record in 29 previous all-time appearances. The Warriors own an NAIA-record 16 titles. Oklahoma City is making its 13^th trip and fourth-straight while Embry-Riddle is the other team with its 10^th-plus trip. The Eagles are 16-18 overall in nine previous appearances.

Defending national champion Cumberland (Tenn.) did not advance out of the National Championship Opening Round after losing to Tennessee Wesleyan in the Paducah (Ky.) Bracket.

The World Series is a double-elimination tournament with the winner being crowned either June 2 or June 3, dependent upon if the champion team has to play in the Loser or Winner's Bracket. For ticket information in Lewiston, Idaho, contact the Lewis-Clark State ticket booth at 208-792-2471.

The World Series will be video-streamed live by NeuLion. Users can purchase the All-Tournament pass, which includes every game for $24.95, or the day pass for $8.95.

2011 Avista-NAIA World Series Qualifiers (Listed Alphabetically)

Team (Overall Record)                   Qualification                                        Apps^      Record^   Titles^

^ Includes games in World Series only