Valparaiso will open play as the number one seed in the 2012 Horizon League Baseball Championship which begins this week at Les Miller Field in Chicago, Ill. on the campus of UIC.  The Crusaders will play their first game on Thursday evening (May 24) at 8 p.m.

The Crusaders will face the lowest winning seed from Wednesday’s first round games.  Fourth-seeded UIC will face fifth-seeded Butler at 11 a.m. on Wednesday with third-seeded Milwaukee meeting sixth-seeded Youngstown State at 4 p.m.   Valpo will meet eight UIC, Butler, or Youngstown State in its first game.

On Thursday, the two losers from Wednesday’s contest will meet in an elimination game at 10 a.m. while number two seed Wright State will face the highest winning seed from Wednesday’s game at 3 p.m.

The double elimination tournament will continue on Friday with games at 10 a.m., 3 p.m., and 8 p.m.  Saturday’s championship game is set for 4 p.m. with the “if necessary” game slated for Sunday at noon.

Tickets are available at the gate, and are $10 per day or $25 for an all-tournament pass.  Parking is $9 and available in Lot 5 off of Roosevelt Road.

The entire tournament can be viewed live online through the Horizon League Network.