[Softball] Grand View claims the No. 1 seed in Heart Conference Tournament

KANSAS CITY, Mo. TOURNAMENT BRACKET- The field and schedule for the 2017 Heart of America Athletic Conference Softball Tournament has been set and will begin on Wednesday, May 3 at Bill McKinney Heritage Park in St. Joseph, Mo. 

For the first time in conference history, 10 teams will participate in postseason play. Four teams will participate in single-elimination games on May 3 to determine the final two spots in the double-elimination portion of the championship. 

Grand View claimed the No. 1 seed in the tournament, edging out fellow North Division rival Clarke by one game at the top of the standings. The Vikings will begin double-elimination play May 4 at 10am against the No. 8 seed following Wednesdays games. 

The winners of the two first round games to determine the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds. The first game of the tournament is set for a 4 p.m. first pitch as Culver-Stockton squares off with Missouri Valley, while South Division rivals Baker and Benedictine will play their winner-take-all game 30 minutes later.

The winner of the tournament will earn an automatic berth into the 2017 NAIA Softball World Series Opening Round, May 15-17. If Grand View wins the tournament, Clarke will claim the league's second automatic Opening Round spot.