Rapid growth in its ranks had the Division III Baseball Committee talking expansion during its annual meeting July 24-27 in Hyannis, Massachusetts.

That expansion, however, still may be a few years away.

The number of schools sponsoring baseball in Division III has grown from 287 as recently as 1996 to 323 this past season, an increase of more than 120 percent. And if all current provisional members complete requirements for active NCAA membership, that number would grow by 20 heading into the 2003 championship.

"This committee understands it has to work toward expanding the bracket," said chair Randy Town, head coach at Claremont McKenna-Harvey Mudd-Scripps Colleges, who added that a 48-team field would be the committee's goal.

The championship field increased from 40 to 42 teams for the 2000 championship, but Town would like to see each of the eight regions sporting six-team brackets.

"Everybody knows it's much easier advancing out of a four-team tournament than one with six teams," he said. "Our argument for 48 teams would be a more level playing field and a decrease in the number of contenders for certain regional spots. We understand budget issues are a factor, but we want to have our argument prepared and maybe by 2002 we can expand."

The committee also would like the option of selecting certain regional sites before the championship bracket announcement.

"Baseball is unique in that you need (facilities with) lights," Town said. "We've had success playing regionals in minor-league ballparks, but to ask a minor-league facility to stand by while we decide how many teams will be playing and the dates we will need the facility is difficult. It puts the minor-league team in a tricky position regarding whether or not they want to allow us to use the facility at all."

As many as five of the eight regionals might go to predetermined sites if the committee had the option right now.

One change for the 2001 championship is that all regionals must be contested with a Thursday-through-Sunday format, leaving Monday for a rain date. Regional sites had the option this season of beginning play Wednesday.

The committee also will be in further contact with Dave Yeast, national coordinator of umpires, regarding his proposal to add a Division III coordinator for umpires. That would provide assistance in the selection of championship umpires, although the committee expressed its pleasure with the current process.

The committee also liked the way the field of 42 was picked for the 2000 tournament.

"Our criteria are sound," Town said. "The system allows us enough flexibility to select the top teams in each region."