Valparaiso University will open the 2010 Horizon League Baseball Championship on Wednesday morning playing in game one of the tournament at U. S. Steel Yard in Gary as the Crusaders face longtime rival Butler.  First pitch is slated for 11 a.m.

The Crusaders, the tournament’s fourth seed, finished the regular season 22-30 overall and 9-10 in Horizon League play.  Valpo dropped two of three during the year against Butler (21-27, 11-13) though, falling 8-7 and 2-1 in 10 innings while winning the series finale 7-2 on May 7-8 at Emory G. Bauer Field.  The other doubleheader slated between the two teams was cancelled due to rain on May 17 in Indianapolis, Ind.

The other game taking place on Wednesday pits number three seed UIC (22-28, 15-9) against the sixth-seeded Youngstown State Penguins (21-32, 9-17).  First pitch in that contest is set for 3 p.m.

Wednesday is Senior Citizens Day at the Horizon League Championship, with those 65 and older admitted for just $3.  Tickets for each day of the tournament are regularly $8 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under as well as seniors 65 and older.  An entire tournament pass, good for each day Wednesday through Sunday, is $20 for adults and $15 for children and seniors.

The tournament’s top seed, Wright State (29-23, 17-6) will open championship play on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. while second-seeded Milwaukee (29-23, 17-8) will hit the diamond at 3 p.m. on Thursday.

Every game of the 2010 Horizon League Baseball Championship can also be viewed live online through the Horizon League Network.