Today is the opening day of the IHSA State 1a\2a Baseball Tournaments at Dozer Park in Peoria. The Altamont Indians are playing in their first ever 1a state tournament after beating Hardin Calhoun to win the SIU Super Sectional on Monday. They are 30-9 on the season and Coach Alan Whitt is in his 8th season for the Indians. They will take on 22-7-1 Gibson City who is making their first ever state appearance as well. First pitch is set for 1pm.
The first game of the day will be 32-7 Jacksonville Routt taking on 29-2 powerhouse Ottawa Marquette at 10am.
Photo: Tyler Repking
The 2a state semifinals will also have a local flare to it. St Anthony joins National Trail Conference Altamont in making the final four trying to add to their state title they won back in 2012. The Bulldogs are 25-5-1 on the season under head coach Tony Kreke who is in his 5th year as coach of the Bulldogs. St Anthony takes on 27-1 Wilmington who is making their 4th trip to state, having won 2 state titles out of those previous 3 visits. Game time is at 7pm tonight.
The first 2a semifinal will see 25-4-1 Sterling Newman Catholic taking on Maroa Forsyth who is 26-4.
The 3a/4a baseball IHSA Sectional Finals will be held tomorrow. Highland and Mascoutah will play for the 3rd time this season with each team winning a game in their conference match ups. Highland beat Salem in their semifinal 5-2 while Mascoutah held off Marion 1-0. Game time tomorrow morning at 11:00.
In 4a, The Edwardsville Tigers will take on Bradley Bourbonnais at Illinois Wesleyan.
