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2023 IESA Boys Baseball State Finals Begin This Friday at EastSide Centre in East Peoria

Competition in the 68th annual Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) Boys Baseball State Final Tournaments will be this weekend (September 29- 30) 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 17th year that IESA has conducted a three class 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 semifinal 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 and 3A, 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 semifinal 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.

Tickets may be purchased through GoFan. Digital ticket prices for each day will be $8.00 for adults and high school students and $4.00 for students (K-8) and senior citizens (62 and over). The winning teams on Friday will play two games on Saturday. Fans can access the IESA GoFan page at the following link: https://www.iesa.org/gofan/ For those fans unable to use GoFan, cash tickets will be available each day on-site for $10.00 for adults and high school students and $5.00 for students (K-8) and senior citizens (62 and over). Children younger than kindergarten are admitted free both days.

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 Class A and Class 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.

Here is a look at the pairings for each of the 2023 Baseball State Final Tournaments:

For more information, please contact the Baseball Administrator Charlie Shempf at 309-829-0114 or charlie@iesa.org.