Triple Crown Sports 2017 Puerto Vallarta College Softball Challenge Triple Crown Sports
go to original February 8, 2017

Tournament officials have outlined the game schedule for the 10-team field of high-caliber D-I fastpitch programs that will make up the 2017 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, set for two sessions (February 9-11 and February 16-19).

This pre-season event brings together several of the most accomplished teams in the sport, with games to be played at the newly refurbished Nancy Almaraz Stadium (Ecuador 1566). Session 1 features 2016 NCAA champion Oklahoma and fellow finalist Auburn, top-10 RPI mainstay Washington, along with Nebraska and BYU; Session 2 will showcase Florida Gulf Coast, Fresno State, Mississippi State, Texas Tech and Cal-State Fullerton.

“The opening session is the finest five-team field of teams to ever face each other in a preseason event. Watching Oklahoma and Auburn play on the heels of their NCAA championship matchup will get your pulse racing, and fans will be thrilled to see this collection of superior athletes in such an intimate setting,” said David King, event director and CEO of Triple Crown Sports. “Session 2 is not a pushover, either. Several of those teams were factors in their conferences last season, and they will give each other a stern test at the start of the year, which is what fans and coaches love to see.”

“It’s a thrill for our program to get this unique opportunity and to experience a different culture through softball,” said Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso, who claimed her third national title with the Sooners in beating Auburn. “It’s our first time ever leaving the country, and I’m so confident in the first-class approach of Triple Crown Sports that I never hesitated in committing to the trip. The field of teams is phenomenal, and we are so excited about kicking off our 2017 season in Puerto Vallarta.”

Session #1 (all times local, USA Central Time):

February 9:
• Nebraska vs. BYU, 10:00 am
• Auburn vs. Oklahoma, 1:00 pm
• BYU vs. Oklahoma, 4:00 pm
• Washington vs. Auburn, 7:00 pm
February 10:
• Oklahoma vs. Nebraska, 11:00 am
• Auburn vs. Nebraska, 2:00 pm
• Washington vs. BYU, 7:00 pm
February 11:
• BYU vs. Auburn, 10:00 am
• Nebraska vs. Washington, 12:45 pm
• Oklahoma vs. Washington, 3:30 pm

Session #2: (all times local, USA Central Time):

February 16:  
• Fresno State vs. Mississippi State, 10:00 am
• Fresno State vs. Florida Gulf Coast, 1:00 pm
• Texas Tech vs. Cal-State Fullerton, 4:00 pm
• Texas Tech vs. Florida Gulf Coast, 7:00 pm
February 17:
• Mississippi State vs. Cal-State Fullerton, 10:00 am
• Florida Gulf Coast vs. Cal-State Fullerton, 1:00 pm
• Florida Gulf Coast vs. Fresno State, 4:00 pm
• Mississippi State vs. Texas Tech, 7:00 pm
February 18:
• Cal-State Fullerton vs. Texas Tech, 9:00 am
• Cal-State Fullerton vs. Fresno State, 11:45 am
• Florida Gulf Coast vs. Mississippi State, 2:30 pm
February 19:
• Texas Tech vs. Fresno State, 9:00 am

Three of the four games on the slate Thursday, February 9 will be aired by ESPNU/ESPN3:
 
Nebraska vs. BYU, 11:00 a.m. ET (ESPN3): WATCH HERE 
Auburn vs. Oklahoma, 2:00 p.m. ET (ESPNU): WATCH HERE
Washington vs. Auburn, 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN3): WATCH HERE
(The BYU-Oklahoma game at will not be televised)

Teams and their fans will experience a fully renovated ballpark with new lights; work on the stadium (which sits barely 1/4 a mile from the beach) was accomplished through a partnership with the city of Puerto Vallarta and Triple Crown Sports.

The inaugural Puerto Vallarta College Challenge was held in 2015, featuring the teams from BYU, Nevada, Northern Colorado and Southern Illinois. Those were the first fastpitch games in NCAA history played outside the United States.

“This unique event features a dream field of teams in a facility and community that will make the fans and players feel special,” said David King, CEO of Triple Crown Sports. “People get to experience the sun, the beach and the opportunity to enjoy authentic Mexico with the best softball teams going. What could be better?”

Based in Fort Collins, CO., Triple Crown Sports has been producing events in youth athletics and the college ranks for more than 30 years. TCS runs both the preseason and postseason WNIT basketball events and produces the men’s and women’s Cancun Challenge tournaments in November, which have been recognized by Sports Illustrated as a top-5 destination tournament for D-I basketball programs. TCS fastpitch tournaments (including the 1,000-team Sparkler/Fireworks event) draw thenation’s finest club programs, and hundreds of college coaches attend TCS events for recruiting purposes.