The SIJHSAA will crown their state baseball and softball champions today and it could be a big day for Salem.
Both teams will be competing at Rotary Park in Centralia for the Class L State Titles at 3pm.
The Lady Bobcats have made their improbable run finishing the regular season under .500. But after close wins over Wesclin and Centralia to secure their spot, they opened the tournament with the school’s first ever state tournament win and knocked off Carterville Tuesday to punch their ticket. They will take on Sparta Lincoln following the 3rd place game at 1pm featuring Carterville and Marion.
The Bobcats have played well a majority of the season entering today’s title game at 18-5 on the year. They take on Marion, a team they played earlier this year to a 1 run contest that came down to the final hitter. It would be Salem’s 2nd state title since 2020 when they finished the season undefeated under head coach Tyson Moore who is now an assistant for Coach Ricky Huge. Marion takes on DuQuoin in the 1pm 3rd place game.
In Class S baseball, Summersville will play for the state title against Cisne after OLMC and St John’s Red Bud play the 3rd place game.
In Class S softball at Coulterville the softball title comes down to New Hope or Century. They will play following St John’s Red bud and Pinckneyville in the 3rd place game.
In Class M baseball, NCOE and Nashville open the day at 1pm for 3rd place followed by the championship between Smithton and Goreville.
In Class M softball at Pinckneyville, Nashville will take on Fairfield at 3pm for their state title following Goreville and Pinckneyville in the 3rd place game.
