2009 STATE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
MEDIA CREDENTIALS POLICIES

DATES: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 4-6, Akron Firestone Stadium.
LOCATION/DIRECTIONS: Firestone Stadium is located at 1575 Firestone Parkway (Akron 44301). From the North: take I-77 south or State Route 8 south to the Wilbeth Road exit. Turn right (west) onto Wilbeth and follow to South Main Street (approximately 1.25 miles). The stadium is at the intersection of South Main, Wilbeth and Firestone Parkway. Turn right onto Main and then a left into the Stadium parking lot. From the West: Take I-76/I-277 east to the South Main Street exit. Turn left (north) onto South Main. The stadium is approximately one mile north at the intersection of South Main, Wilbeth and Firestone Parkway. From the South: Take I-77 north to the Wilbeth Road exit. Turn left (west) onto Wilbeth and follow to South Main Street (approximately 1.25 miles). Turn right onto Main and then a left into the Stadium parking lot. From the East: Take I-76 west to I-77 south to the Wilbeth Road exit. Turn right (west) onto Wilbeth Road and follow to South Main Street (approximately 1.25 miles). Stadium parking is available in the lot located between Firestone Parkway and Main Street.
PAIRINGS:
Thursday, June 4
10:00 - Division I Semifinal (Clyde regional winner vs. Columbus regional winner)
12:30 - Division I Semifinal (Akron regional winner vs. Dayton regional winner)
3:00 - Division IV Semifinal (Findlay regional winner vs. Kent regional winner)
5:30 - Division IV Semifinal (Huber Heights regional winner vs. Pickerington regional winner)
Friday, June 5
10:00 - Division III Semifinal (Fairborn regional winner vs. Lancaster regional winner)
12:30 - Division III Semifinal (Massillon regional winner vs. Ashland regional winner)
3:00 - Division II Semifinal (Pickerington regional winner vs. Clayton regional winner)
5:30 - Division II Semifinal (Bucyrus regional winner vs. Akron regional winner)
Saturday, June 6
10:00 - Division I Final
1:00 - Division IV Final
4:00 - Division III Final
7:00 - Division II Final
MEDIA CREDENTIALS: When you know a team you will be following has qualified for the state tournament, fax requests to Tim Stried (614-267-1677) at the OHSAA office. The deadline to submit credential applications is noon Tuesday, June 2. Credentials will be held for pickup at on the parking lot side entrance (north side, third base side) of Fireside Stadium. Please be prepared to show identification. If the team you are covering wins its semifinal game, use the same credential for the championship game.
CREDENTIAL CONFIRMATION: The OHSAA will post a list on its Web site of those media members who have requested and been approved for credentials. The list will be posted by noon Wednesday, June 4. Once you access the Web site (www.ohsaa.org), the list can be found under the heading “News & Media”
PARKING: Media parking is available on the north side of Firestone Stadium. To access the reserved lot, media members must present a company identification card or a letter on company letterhead from a superior.
TELEPHONES: Lines are available for radio stations providing play-by-play for credit card, collect, toll-free or call-backs only. A line will also be available for print media members and photographers to file stories or photos on a first-come, first-served basis for credit card, collect or toll-free calls only.
BROADCAST RIGHTS FEES: $60 for radio. Click here for more information on rights fees.
SPORTSTIME OHIO TO PROVIDE COVERAGE OF FINALS: The OHSAA’s statewide television partner, SportsTime Ohio, will provide coverage of all four state championship contests on a tape-delayed basis. No other television stations will be permitted to broadcast the game on either a live or tape-delayed basis.
OhioHSsports.com Coverage: Check back later for details of coverage from OhioHSsports.com, the official online partner of the OHSAA.
YOUR HOSTS: Tournament manager Dave Suncire (cell: 330-812-7871); Media Coordinator Jeff Brewer (cell: 330-990-3033), plus OHSAA Assistant Commissioner Roxanne Price, the Association’s administrator for softball.
REGIONAL TOURNAMENT PAIRINGS: Regional pairings will be available on the OHSAA Web site (www.ohsaa.org) Sunday, May 24 (provided there are no weather delays), by viewing the “2009 Statewide Tournament Brackets/Results.” Those can be accessed by going to “Sports” followed by “Softball.”