The Scenic West Athletic Conference adds Southern Nevada this year, giving the league 11 baseball teams. The old 10-team format had been operative for just three seasons. Prior to that the SWAC had two divisions for baseball play. The Northern Division had four teams (North Idaho, Southern Idaho, Ricks and Treasure Valley). The Southern Division had six teams (Utah Valley, Snow, Dixie, Eastern Utah and Colorado Northwestern, and Salt Lake). In 1999 the division format was scrapped, and all 10 teams were combined into one league. The top six teams advanced to the Region 18 Tournament, which was hosted by the conference champ. This year (2002) eight teams will qualify for regionals. The Region winner advances to the District Tournament, and the District winner advances to the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Dixie State won all three regular-season titles in the 10-team format. The Rebels won 1999 SWAC title with an almost believable 33-2 league record, and went 50-7 overall. But the second-place team, Southern Idaho, wound up winning the Region 18 Tournament. Southern Idaho advanced to the District playoffs in Coolidge, Arizona, but lost to Central Arizona. Dixie State again won the title in 2000, and also won the Region 18 Tournament. The Rebels then beat Central Arizona 16-0 and 12-1 to advance to the JC World Series. They were eliminated there after dropping their first two games. Last year the Rebels had their best finish ever, winning the SWAC, the Region, and the District titles before going on to finish second in the nation. They went 50-13 on the year.

Prior to the 10-team format, the former Northern and Southern Divisions each sent two representatives to the Region Tournament. The former Southern Division was originally called the Intermountain Collegiate Athletic Conference (ICAC). Old ICACminutes indicate the beginning of league play in 1949. Southern Utah was the top club in the 50’s and early 60’s, winning six league titles. Mesa (Colorado) dominated play in the mid 60’s and 70’s, winning 10 conference titles. Mesa last won the crown in 1975, then dropped out of the league to become a four-year institution. Utah Valley took the title in 1976, in only its second year in the league. The Wolverines then went on to win 12 conference titles. Dixie and Snow each won 10. Dixie also won District titles in 1989, 1995 and 1998, earning World Series appearances. Mesa went to the World Series several times in the 60’s, finishing as high as second in the nation twice. Eastern Utah went once, back in 1959.

In the north, Southern Idaho was the elite team. The Golden Eagles won a host of Northern Division crowns, and won 11 Region titles. They went to the NJCAA World Series nine times. In 1984 they won the national championship. Treasure Valley claimed Region and District titles in 1990 to advance to the World Series, and finished fifth in the nation.