ERIE, PA — A torrential downpour that began approximately 12:30 p.m. (EDT) and lasted for more than an hour forced postponement of Thursday's opening games at the NCAA Division II North Central Regional Baseball Tournament.
     Regional chairman Tim Selgo, athletic director at Grand Valley State University, made the announcement at 2 p.m. after meeting with the Games Committee.
     "After meeting with the grounds crew, the committee determined that it would take more than 10 hours to make the field playable," said Selgo, who was using the latest technology, including internet satellite and radar pictures, national weather service and local media meteorologists to track the storm. "The forecast looks good for the next three days so we will move all the scheduled games back one day."
     No. 2 seed Saginaw Valley State University (38-9-1) will play No. 3 Ashland University (40-16) at 2 p.m. Friday. Top-seeded Mercyhurst College (35-16-1) plays No. 4 University of Indianapolis (37-21) at 6 p.m.
     Losers will play at 11 a.m. Saturday, followed by the winners bracket game at 3 p.m. and the loser's bracket final 50 minutes following the fourth game. The first championship game will be played Sunday at 2 p.m. with the "If Necessary" game 50 minutes after its conclusion.
     Mercyhurst is hosting the four-team, double-elimination tournament at Jerry Uht Park, with the winner joining seven other regional winners at the NCAA II Championships May 27-June 3 in Montgomery, AL.

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