BILLINGS, Mont. – Tickets for the Ninth Annual Desert Stinger Classic softball tournament, scheduled for Feb. 2-4, 2018 at Majestic Park in Las Vegas, Nev., and hosted by Montana State University Billings, are now available online through Event Brite.
 
Tickets for the event can be purchased online here, and are available at a discounted price when purchased in advance. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the gate.
 
The schedule for the 2018 tournament, which features 28 NCAA Division II softball teams, is available online as well. All tournament information, including hotel, rental car, and team information, can be found online through the Desert Stinger home page here. MSUB will host the event for the ninth year in-a-row, setting the stage for one of the most competitive venues of Division II softball in the country.
 
This year's tournament features teams from seven different conferences, including 21 schools from the NCAA Division II west region (Great Northwest Athletic Conference, PacWest Conference, and California Collegiate Athletic Association).
 
Three former Desert Stinger tournament champions return to the event, each on a quest to become the first-ever repeat champion. Concordia University-Irvine claimed the title two seasons ago, while Sonoma State University won the Third Annual Desert Stinger in 2012. Last year's champion, Humboldt State University, brings the lengthiest resume as the Lumberjacks are the lone tournament team this year to have advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championships in 2017.
 
Both the GNAC regular-season champion (Central Washington University) and the GNAC tournament champion (Western Washington University) from last year will be back in the tournament, as will 2017 CCAA regular-season champion Cal State Monterey Bay. Texas Woman's University, from the Lone Star Conference, is the other NCAA regional champion (South Central) in addition to Humboldt State to attend this year's event.
 
In addition to the Yellowjackets, the University of Mary is the only other team competing in the event to have attended all eight previous Desert Stinger tournaments. Among the field this year are three first-time attendees in Colorado Christian University (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference), San Francisco State University, and UC San Diego (both from the CCAA).
 
Branded merchandise and tournament programs will once again be available for purchase at the event. Live statistics will be available for all 70 games of the tournament, and select games will feature live video available through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here. For further information on purchasing tickets or other questions concerning the event, contact MSUB Athletics at 406-657-2369.