IHSA Announcements

October 12, 2010

Baseball State Finals: 1A/2A Tournament Moves To Peoria, 3A/4A Extended In Joliet

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 1A/2A Baseball State Finals will have a new home in 2011, while the Class 3A/4A state tourney hosting contract was extended by the Board of Directors at their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.

The Class 1A/2A state finals will move to O’Brien Field in Peoria, home of the Peoria Chiefs beginning this spring through 2015. The Chiefs are the Class A minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.

"We are very proud and excited to be hosting the IHSA Class 1A & 2A Baseball State Finals at O’Brien Field for the next five years," said Peoria Chiefs and O’Brien Field President Rocky Vonachen. "It is an event we have wanted here since day one. O’Brien Field is one of the best ballparks in all of minor league baseball and will provide both the players and fans with a great experience. It has showcased some of the top talent in Minor League baseball and now will showcase some of the best baseball talent in the state of Illinois."

The Class 3A/4A Tournament will remain at Silver Cross Field in Joliet, home of the Northern League’s Joliet Jackhammers, through 2016 after being extended five years. The current contract was set to expire in 2011. Silver Cross Field first hosted the IHSA’s Class A tournament in 2006 and then hosted the Class A and AA tournaments, which became the 1A/2A and 3A/4A tourneys in 2008, every year since 2007.

"We were glad to be able to reward Joliet and Silver Cross Field for their tremendous work hosting the baseball state finals," said IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman. "The movement of the Class 1A/2A tournament reflects our Board’s philosophy to try and make our state final events more centrally located based on the location of the participants. With many of the 3A/4A qualifiers coming from Chicagoland, it made sense to leave this tournament in Joliet where it can continue to thrive."

O’Brien Field was constructed in 2002 and is located in downtown Peoria. The stadium has a seating capacity of 7,500 and a natural sod playing surface. The move to O’Brien Field marks the first time the baseball state tournaments will be held at separate locations since Springfield (A) and Geneva (AA), respectively, hosted in 2005. The Eastside Centre in East Peoria plays host to both weekends of the IHSA Softball State Finals.

The Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (PACVB) submitted the hosting bid in conjunction with O’Brien Field and the Peoria Chiefs.

"The Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is thrilled that the Peoria Area has been selected as the host for the IHSA Class 1A & 2A Baseball State Tournament," said PACVB Director of Sales Jill Gleason. "We feel the IHSA and Peoria Area have hit a grand slam bringing the baseball state tournament here. We will strive to create a memorable experience for the athletes, coaches, families and fans."

Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis echoed Gleason’s sentiments. "We're honored to have been chosen to host the IHSA Class 1A & 2A Baseball Tournament. Peoria has enjoyed an outstanding relationship with IHSA for the past 16 years as hosts of the IHSA Boys Basketball State Tournament. We're excited to add an additional venue at our marvelous professional baseball stadium in downtown Peoria. Batter up!"

ACTION ITEMS

1. The Board voted to elect officers for the 2010-11 school term:
   President: Jim Woodward, Anna (A.-Jonesboro)
   Vice President: Jim Boyd, Port Byron (Riverdale)
   Secretary: Paul Whittington, East Peoria
   
   
2. a) The Board approved a recommendation to change the Tournament Structure and Time Schedule for the Girls Gymnastics State Finals. Beginning in 2011, the preliminary competition will be conducted in one session with all four events being run concurrently.
   
   b) The Board approved a recommendation to increase the Girls Gymnastics State Final ticket price from $8 per session to $10 per session based on the elimination of one session from the recommendation above.
   
   c) The Board approved a recommendation to change the Order of Performance for the Girls Gymnastics State Finals. Beginning in 2011, the order of performance for the individual event state finals will be done by a random draw.
   
   
3. The Board approved a recommendation to fill two vacancies on the Legislative Commission:
   District 2: James Krygier, Chicago (DeLaSalle)
   District 14: Mike McCollum, Effingham (H.S.)
   
   
4. The Board approved a recommendation to amend the IHSA Boys Football Playoffs Terms & Conditions. Currently if any bracket of 16 teams has more than one game with a travel distance of 150 miles or more, the bracket will be placed into quadrants. The amendment will now read that if the split into quadrants creates more travel, the teams will remain in a bracket of 16.
   
   
5. The Board approved the Coaching Minor program at MacMurray College as an IHSA approved coaching education program.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

Officials

1. The contact person and assignor for an officials association will be allowed to include themselves among the names on the Top 15 list submitted by the association.

ELIGIBILITY RULINGS & APPEALS

1. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Woodstock (H.S.). The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.043.
   
   
2. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Danville (Schlarman). The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.043.
   
   
3. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Olympia Fields (Rich Central). The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-laws 3.030 and 3.040.
   
   
4. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Mooseheart. The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-laws.
   
   
5. The Board modified the ruling on the fine issued to DeLand-Weldon High School via Article 1.440 for failure to participate in a Girls Basketball State Series contest.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain items the Board discusses, but upon which no action is taken. The following is a report of those items from the October 12, 2010, agenda:

1. The Executive Director updated the Board on the IHSA/IESA Luncheon that will be held on October 19, 2010, during the Illinois Principals Conference. Bonnie Blair will serve as the guest speaker at the luncheon.
   
   
2. The Executive Director updated the Board on the Section IV Meeting held in Boone, Iowa on September 23-24.
   
   
3. The Executive Director reviewed the by-laws that have been submitted by member schools for the upcoming Legislative Commission/Town Hall meetings.
   
   
4. The Executive Director updated the Board on lacrosse entries.
   
   
5. The Board heard a broadcast report from Assistant Executive Director Matt Troha on the plans for the IHSA TV Network and IHSA.TV for the 2010-11 school year.
   
   
6. The Board heard a report from the Executive Director on recent state final promotional and signage upgrades.