4 things to know before the IHSA high school baseball playoffs in the Peoria area
High school baseball regional play is here.
Class 1A and 2A schools open the Illinois High School Association playoffs on Monday with regional play. The Class 3A and 4A schools have a week left in the regular season, starting their postseason journeys on May 20.
Here are four things to know about Peoria-area baseball before the 2024 postseason begins:
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Mid-Illini Conference leads the way
The Mid-Illini Conference once again proved it's a big-time baseball league. Parity of the league is evident in the M-I standings, with Dunlap, Washington, East Peoria and Morton all battling near the top. The league's dominance also is reflected in the regional seeds, with the top-four teams from the M-I. Regional host Morton is a top seed, followed by Dunlap, East Peoria and Washington. But don't sleep on Richwoods, which garnered a No. 7 seed. Coach Patrick Hogan guided the Knights to the Class 3A Sweet Sixteen last season, also seeded seventh.
Tough field for the Class 2A Chillicothe Sectional
The Class 2A complex feeding into the Chillicothe Sectional is arguably — top to bottom — the toughest road to the Elite Eight in the state. With Peoria Notre Dame in 2A this season, the regional host Irish are an underrated No. 4 seed, heading for a collision course with top-seeded Brimfield/Elmwood in the title game. No. 2 Illinois Valley Central needs to get by third-seed Hall to play at home. The other side of the bracket comes with top-seeded Sherrard, No. 2 Lewistown/Valley/Cuba, third-seeded Eureka and No. 4 Bureau Valley. What a tough sectional.
Illini Bluffs boasts ace pitcher
This shouldn't come as a shock to anyone following high school baseball, but Illini Bluffs has a bonafide pitching star. Josh Vaughn, the Bradley-bound right-hander, pitched an immaculate perfect game earlier this month, striking out 21 batters in a seven-inning 1-0 win over Peoria Christian. However, the Tigers, who the No. 2 seed at the Monmouth United Regional, aren't just Vaughn. IB boasts a potent lineup headed by Will Giftos, Toby Cooper, Chris Drake and Vaughn. If the Tigers advance to the sectional title, IB and Inter-County-Athletic Conference rival Delavan could square off.
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Where are the IHSA baseball state finals?
This isn't new information, but a reminder to those needing a refresher. Once the Final Four is set across the four classes, the state finals will be in Peoria and Joliet. The small schools head to the home of the Peoria Chiefs, Dozer Park, on May 31 and June 1. The following week the large schools are at Duly Health & Care Field, which houses the Joliet Slammers, on June 7 and 8.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA baseball: What to know for Peoria in Illinois baseball playoffs
