Thursday, April 25, 2019

PORTLAND, Ore. – With a weather forecast calling for wet weather much of the week, combined with challenges with field conditions at Avitus Group Stadium, the 2019 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Softball Championships is being moved from Billings, Montana to Portland, Oregon.

The annual tournament, featuring the four top teams in the GNAC’s regular season standings, will be played at Porter Park on the Concordia University campus. The Championships will retain the May 2-4 schedule.

The decision to change the Championships venue was made in consultation with administrators from Montana State Billings and the athletic directors from the eight schools sponsoring softball.

“After consulting with Montana State Billings, it became clear that we would risk not being able to complete the tournament if we remained in Billings,” said GNAC commissioner Dave Haglund. “I am grateful to Concordia athletic director Lauren Eads and her staff for stepping up to host the GNAC Softball Championships on short notice. We are also grateful to athletic director Krista Montague and the Montana State Billings staff for working with us on the best solution for our softball student-athletes.”

The tournament will begin on Thurs., May 2, with games at noon and 2:30 p.m. Three games will be played on Friday beginning at 10 a.m., with the championship game scheduled for Saturday at noon. If necessary, a second game will follow on Saturday at approximately 2:30 p.m.