Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament
Conference baseball championship
SportBaseball
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
Number of teams12
Format4 group, 3 team round-robin tournament and
championship game
Current stadiumDurham Bulls Athletic Park
Current locationDurham, NC
Played1973–1978, 1980–present
Last contest2023
Current championClemson Tigers
Most championshipsClemson Tigers (11)
TV partner(s)FS South, Sun Sports, CSN Mid-Atlantic, NESN, SportSouth, ACCN
Official websiteTheACC.com Baseball
Host stadiums
Louisville Slugger Field (2017)
Durham Bulls Athletic Park (1996, 1998–99, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015–16, 2018-2019, 2023)
Truist Field (2021–2022)
First National Bank Field (2010, 2012, 2014)
Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville (2005–08)
Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium (2003–04)
Florida Power Park (1997, 2002)
Knights Stadium (2000–2001)
Greenville Municipal Stadium (1987–95)
Durham Athletic Park (1984, 1986)
Russ Chandler Stadium (1985)
Boshamer Stadium (1973, 1975, 1981–83)
Doak Field (1974, 1980)
Beautiful Tiger Field (1976–78)
Host locations
Louisville, KY (2017)
Charlotte, NC (2021–2022)
Durham, NC (1984, 1986, 1996, 1998, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015–16, 2018-2019, 2023)
Greensboro, NC (2010, 2012, 2014)
Jacksonville, FL (2005–08)
Salem, VA (2003–04)
St. Petersburg, FL (1997, 2002)
Fort Mill, SC (2000–2001)
Greenville, SC (1987–95)
Atlanta, GA (1985)
Chapel Hill, NC (1973, 1975, 1981–83)
Raleigh, NC (1974, 1980)
Clemson, SC (1976–78)

The Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament, sometimes referred to simply as the ACC tournament, is the conference championship tournament in baseball for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). In 2017, the event adopted a modified twelve-team pool play format. The winner receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

History

The ACC has a history of odd formats for its baseball championship. Since 1973, the first year of the tournament, the format has changed six times. The current format is a four-group, three-team round robin tournament with the winner of each grouping playing in a single-elimination tournament for the semifinals and final.

1973–78

See Example: 1976 Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament

For the first six seasons of the tournament, the ACC had seven members, resulting in a format where the #1 seed received a bye to play the winner of the #4 v #5 match-up. The first round of the tournament was single-elimination with the losers going home. After the first round, the remaining 4 teams played a traditional double-elimination-style tournament.

1979

Due to conflicts with exams, the ACC opted to not hold a tournament. Instead, the regular season winner Clemson was given the conference's automatic bid to the 1979 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

1980–2003

Example: 1981 Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament

Beginning with the addition of Georgia Tech to the conference in 1980, the ACC began using a format closer to that of a true double-elimination tournament with a few exceptions.

  • The winner of the Winner's Bracket Quarterfinal match (Game 12) would play the winner of either Quarterfinal match of the Loser's Bracket (Game 10 or 11). The decision of which teams faced each other was determined by whether or not they had already faced each other in the tournament.

From TheACC.com Archived 2012-11-11 at the Wayback Machine:

On Saturday (The Semifinals) of the ACC Baseball Tournament, the match-up between the four remaining teams is determined by previous opponents. If teams have played previously in the tournament, every attempt will be made to avoid a repeat match-up between teams, regardless of seed. If it is impossible to avoid a match-up that already occurred, then the determination is based on avoiding the most recent, current tournament match-up, regardless of seed. If no match-ups have occurred, the team left in the winners bracket will play the lowest seeded team from the losers bracket.

  • If the winner of the Winner's Bracket Quarterfinal match (Game 12) loses in the Semifinal match (Game 13), that team will receive a bye and play the winner of the Finals match in a winner-take-all championship game.

1991–2003

With the introduction of Florida State into the ACC to bring the total teams to nine, the baseball tournament added a Play-In game where the bottom two teams in the conference regular season standings played in a winner-takes-all game for the 8th spot in the regular tournament.

2004

In 2004, the ACC began using a true eight-team double-elimination tournament with the bottom two teams in regular season conference play facing each other in a single-elimination game where the winner got the #8 spot in the regular tournament.

2005

In 2004, the conference expanded to 11 teams with the addition of Miami and Virginia Tech. Beginning with the 2005 Baseball Tournament, the tournament switched from a true eight-team double-elimination to two four-team double-elimination brackets with winner of each side playing in a winner-take-all championship game. The bottom four teams in conference play faced off in a single-elimination bracket, with the winner earning the #8 spot in the tournament.

2006

In 2005, Boston College joined the conference, bringing the total number of members to 12. Instead of adjusting the tournament yet again, the tournament would remain the same format as was developed in 2005, but the ACC eliminated the play-in round.

2007–2013

See Example: 2007 Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament

Beginning in 2007, the ACC developed a new tournament format that eliminated the brackets altogether. This new format was a two-group, four-team round robin tournament with the winner of each grouping playing in a winner-take-all championship game. Only the top eight teams in the regular season conference standings were invited to play in the tournament. On July 6, 2009, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced a decision to move three future baseball tournaments out of Myrtle Beach, citing miscommunications with the NAACP concerning the display of the Confederate flag in South Carolina. (Charlotte was included in the NAACP Boycott because Knights Stadium was in York County, South Carolina, less than five kilometers from the state line.) The 2010 ACC tournament was initially scheduled to take place at Fenway Park, but cost-containment for schools (most of whom would have to fly to Boston) was cited for moving the tournament to Greensboro.[1][2]

2014–2016

Beginning in 2014, with the expansion of the conference, the tournament expanded to ten teams. The four lower seeds (7 vs 10 and 8 vs 9) played a one-game play-in game to participate in pool play with the 6 higher seeds.[3]

2017

On September 14, 2016, the ACC announced that the 2017 tournament slated to be played in Durham, NC, along with neutral site championships for seven other sports, would be moved out of the state of North Carolina due to the controversial NC House Bill 2.[4] On October 4, 2016, it was announced that Louisville Slugger Field in Louisville, Kentucky, would be the new host venue for 2017.[5]

On October 6, 2016, the ACC announced that the tournament would expand to twelve teams and have a new format. The regular season winners of the Atlantic and Coastal divisions claim the top two seeds, while the remaining seeds are determined by conference winning percentage. The teams are split up into four pools of three teams each. The pools are a round robin format, with each team in the tournament guaranteed a minimum of two games. If a pool fails to produce a team with two wins, the top seed automatically advances.[6] The four winners of pool play then advance to a four team, single-elimination bracket to determine the conference champion.[7]

Champions

By year

Year School Site MVP
1973 NC State Boshamer StadiumChapel Hill, NC None Selected
1974 NC State Doak FieldRaleigh, NC
1975 NC State Boshamer StadiumChapel Hill, NC
1976 Clemson Beautiful Tiger FieldClemson, SC
1977 Wake Forest Beautiful Tiger Field • Clemson, SC
1978 Clemson Beautiful Tiger Field • Clemson, SC
1979 No tournament due to conflict with exams
1980 Clemson Doak FieldRaleigh, NC
1981 Clemson Boshamer StadiumChapel Hill, NC
1982 North Carolina Boshamer Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC
1983 North Carolina Boshamer Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC Scott Bankhead, P, UNC
1984 North Carolina Durham Athletic ParkDurham, NC Todd Wilkinson, OF, UNC[8]
1985 Georgia Tech Russ Chandler StadiumAtlanta, GA Scott Jordan, OF, GT
1986 Georgia Tech Durham Athletic ParkDurham, NC Jeff Distasio, 1B, GT
1987 Georgia Tech Greenville Municipal StadiumGreenville, SC Todd Shiver, P, GT
1988 Georgia Tech Greenville Municipal Stadium • Greenville, SC Ty Griffin, 2B, GT
1989 Clemson Greenville Municipal Stadium • Greenville, SC Brian Barnes, P, CU
1990 North Carolina Greenville Municipal Stadium • Greenville, SC Steve Estroff, 1B, UNC
1991 Clemson Greenville Municipal Stadium • Greenville, SC Michael Spiers, OF, CU
1992 NC State Greenville Municipal Stadium • Greenville, SC Matt Donahue, P, NCSU
1993 Clemson Greenville Municipal Stadium • Greenville, SC Jeff Morris, 2B, CU
1994 Clemson Greenville Municipal Stadium • Greenville, SC Shane Monahan, OF, CU
1995 Florida State Greenville Municipal Stadium • Greenville, SC Jonathan Johnson, P, FSU
1996 Virginia Durham Bulls Athletic ParkDurham, NC Seth Greisinger, P, UVA
1997 Florida State Florida Power ParkSt. Petersburg, FL Jeremy Morris, OF, FSU
1998 Wake Forest Durham Bulls Athletic ParkDurham, NC John Hendricks, P, WF
1999 Wake Forest Durham Bulls Athletic Park • Durham, NC Andrew Riepe, C, WF
2000 Georgia Tech Knights StadiumFort Mill, SC Jason Basil, OF, GT
2001 Wake Forest Knights Stadium • Fort Mill, SC Dave Bush, P, WF
2002 Florida State Florida Power ParkSt. Petersburg, FL Stephen Drew, SS, FSU
2003 Georgia Tech Salem Memorial Baseball StadiumSalem, VA Brian Burks, P, GT
2004 Florida State Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium • Salem, VA Shane Robinson, OF, FSU
2005 Georgia Tech Baseball Grounds of JacksonvilleJacksonville, FL Tyler Greene, SS, GT
2006 Clemson Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville • Jacksonville, FL Tyler Colvin, OF, CU
2007 North Carolina Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville • Jacksonville, FL Josh Horton, DH, UNC
2008 Miami (FL) Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville • Jacksonville, FL Dave DiNatale, OF, UM
2009 Virginia Durham Bulls Athletic ParkDurham, NC Dan Grovatt, OF, UVA
2010 Florida State NewBridge Bank ParkGreensboro, NC Harold Riggins, 1B, NCSU
2011 Virginia Durham Bulls Athletic ParkDurham, NC Steven Proscia, 3B, UVA
2012 Georgia Tech NewBridge Bank ParkGreensboro, NC Jake Davies, 1B/DH/UT, GT
2013 North Carolina Durham Bulls Athletic Park • Durham, NC Cody Stubbs, 1B, UNC
2014 Georgia Tech NewBridge Bank Park • Greensboro, NC Dusty Isaacs, P, GT
2015 Florida State Durham Bulls Athletic Park • Durham, NC Boomer Biegalski, P, FSU
2016 Clemson Durham Bulls Athletic Park • Durham, NC Mike Triller, DH, CU
2017 Florida State Louisville Slugger FieldLouisville, KY Jackson Lueck, OF, FSU
2018 Florida State Durham Bulls Athletic ParkDurham, NC Cal Raleigh, C, FSU
2019 North Carolina Durham Bulls Athletic ParkDurham, NC Michael Busch, 1B, UNC
2020 Cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic
2021 Duke Truist FieldCharlotte, NC Joey Loperfido, OF, DUKE
2022 North Carolina Truist FieldCharlotte, NC Vance Honeycutt, Inf/OF, UNC
2023 Clemson Durham Bulls Athletic ParkDurham, NC Caden Grice, Utility/P, CU

By school

All current ACC members with baseball programs have appeared at least once in the tournament. Syracuse, which joined the conference in 2013, has not sponsored varsity baseball since 1972.

School Appearances W L Pct Titles Title Years
Boston College 6 6 8 .429 0
Clemson 49 118 75 .611 11 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 2006, 2016, 2023
Duke 39 30 63 .323 1 2021
Florida State 30 83 43 .659 8 1995, 1997, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2018
Georgia Tech 43 82 69 .543 9 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2012, 2014
Louisville 7 7 11 .389 0
Maryland 33 19 54 .260 0
Miami (FL) 18 25 26 .490 1 2008
NC State 48 92 84 .523 4 1973, 1974, 1975, 1992
North Carolina 47 89 72 .553 8 1982, 1983, 1984, 1990, 2007, 2013, 2019, 2022
Notre Dame 7 4 12 .250 0
Pittsburgh 4 6 4 .600 0
Virginia 49 61 80 .433 3 1996, 2009, 2011
Virginia Tech 7 6 9 .400 0
Wake Forest 44 55 75 .423 4 1977, 1998, 1999, 2001

Italics indicate school is no longer a member of the ACC.
Updated through 2023

References

  1. "2010 ACC Baseball Championship moves to Greensboro, N.C.'s NewBridge Bank Park - the Official Athletic Site of the Atlantic Coast Conference". Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2013-03-17.
  2. "ACC moves 3 future baseball tourneys". Associated Press. 2009-07-06. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
  3. "Atlantic Coast Conference".
  4. "Statements from the Atlantic Coast Conference | News". Archived from the original on 2016-10-06. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
  5. "ACC Announces Sites for Eight 2016–17 Championships | News". Archived from the original on 2016-10-08. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
  6. Luke DeCock (May 22, 2017). "New ACC baseball format unsatisfactory, yet unavoidable". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  7. "ACC Announces Baseball Championship Expansion, Format Change | News". Archived from the original on 2016-10-09. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
  8. UNC Athletic Communications staff; et al. "All-Atlantic Coast Conference" (PDF). 2014 North Carolina Baseball Media Guide: 72.
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