The Division II Baseball Committee reorganized and clarified its selection criteria at its annual meeting July 17-20 in Boston. The group also added a strength-of-schedule index to the criteria.

The strength-of-schedule index was created to reward teams for playing a strong Division II schedule and to encourage the better teams regionally to play each other during the regular season. The committee hopes the point system established will accomplish that goal.

While the criteria did not change drastically, the committee reorganized it into primary and secondary factors in the hope that the criteria would be easier to understand (see chart below).

In other news, the committee discussed the possibility of including a home run challenge in future years. The committee will continue to review the possibility of such an event. Additionally, the group discussed adding to the opening ceremonies and other events surrounding the finals site in Montgomery, Alabama.

To assist with special plans for the 2004 championship, the tournament's 20th year in Montgomery, the committee set up a subcommittee to help address those issues.

The committee also approved the request for proposals that will be sent to all institutions and potential hosts for the 2005 championship and beyond.

The committee will review bids through the spring and finalize its recommendation at next year's annual meeting.

The group also commended Gary Rundles from the University of West Alabama for his service to the committee and appointed B. J. Pumroy of Truman State University as chair.