IESA Headlines

2016 IESA Boys Baseball State Finals Begin This Friday

Competition in the 11th annual Class 1A, 2A and 3A Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) Boys Baseball State Final Tournaments will be this weekend (September 30-Oct. 1) at EastSide Centre in East Peoria. Eight teams in each of the three classes (1A, 2A, and 3A) have advanced to the finals. This is the 62nd year that IESA has conducted a state series in baseball.

The starting times of the games Friday and Saturday are slightly different for each of the classes. The quarterfinal games on Friday in Class 1A are set for 9:30 a.m.; 11:30 a.m.; 2:00 p.m.; and 4:00 p.m. On Saturday, the two semifinals games are set for 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. with the third place game set for 2:00 p.m. and the championship game at 4:00 p.m.

In Class 2A, the Friday quarterfinal games are set for 10:00 a.m.; 12 noon; 2:30 p.m.; and 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, the two semifinals games are set for 10:00 a.m. and 12 noon with the third place game set for 2:30 p.m. and the championship game at 4:30 p.m.

In Class 3A, the Friday quarterfinal games begin at 10:30 a.m.; 12:30 p.m.; 3:00 p.m.; and 5:00 p.m. On Saturday, the time schedule mirrors that of Class 2A so the two semifinals games are set for 10:00 a.m. and 12 noon with the third place game set for 2:30 p.m. and the championship game at 4:30 p.m.

Should weather become a factor, the IESA web site will contain up-to-date information regarding the tournament playing schedule. Go to www.iesa.org.

The price of admission on Friday will be $5.00 for adults and high school students and $2.00 for students (K-8) and senior citizens (62 and over). Children younger than kindergarten are admitted free both days. The winning teams on Friday will play two games on Saturday. Fans attending the games Saturday will receive a wristband that is to be worn all day and will be used for entry to the facility throughout the day. The price of admission for the wristband Saturday will be $7.00 for adults and high school students and $3.00 for senior citizens (62 and over) and students (K-8).

Complete pairings for each state final, plus the FanZone, can be found at www.iesa.org. Click on the Boys Baseball line at the top of the IESA Web Site Home Page. Scores will be updated on the IESA website after each game.

The IESA sanctioned boys baseball in 1955. There was one class of boys baseball until 1990 when the activity was split into A and AA based upon a school's 7th-8th grade enrollment. It was split again in 2006 into the current three classes of 1A, 2A and 3A. Schools with a7-8 enrollment of 17-98 are Class 1A; 99-196 are Class 2A; and 197-985 are Class 3A.

Here is a look at the pairings for each of the 2016 Baseball State Final Tournaments:

For more information, please contact the Baseball Administrator Steve Endsley at 309-829-0114 or steve@iesa.org.