High school baseball in Illinois, for two classifications, comes down to the final four this weekend.
The Illinois High School Association’s “State Series” for Class 1A and Class 2A baseball takes place Friday and Saturday at Illinois Field in Champaign.
Semifinal games for both classes take place on Friday, with the third-place and championship games set for Saturday.
The first Class 1A semifinal pits the Crusaders of Ottawa (Marquette) against the Minutemen of Lexington at 10 a.m. CT Friday. Marquette (33-3) is seeking to repeat as 1A state champions, having defeated Altamont in last season’s title game, while Lexington (19-11) is making its first appearance in state since winning it all in 1990.
Then at 1 p.m. CT Friday is the other 1A semifinal, as the Griffins of Glen Carbon (Father McGivney) faces the Indians of Pawnee. Father McGivney (37-3) is making its first trip to the “State Series” since finishing as the 1A runner-up in 2021, while Pawnee (24-13) is appearing at state for the first time in program history.
The two semifinal losers play at 10 a.m. Saturday for third place, while the two semifinal winners play at 1 p.m. for the championship.
In Class 2A, the first semifinal is set for 4 p.m. CT Friday, and will pit the Hornets of Eureka against the Cyclones of Springfield (Sacred Heart-Griffin).
Eureka (34-4) is making its first trip to the “State Series” since 2013, when the Hornets placed fourth. Sacred Heart-Griffin (24-8) was the 3A runner-up in 2014 and placed fourth in the 2021 2A “State Series.”
Then in the other 2A semifinal, set for 7 p.m. CT Friday, the Comets of Sterling (Newman Central Catholic) face the Wooden Shoes of Teutopolis.
Newman Central Catholic (28-7-1) is in the “State Series” for the third straight seasons, as the Comets finished third at the 1A tournament two years ago and fourth in last season’s 2A tournament. Teutopolis (29-5) is making its first appearance at state since winning the 2A title in 2019, the second time in three seasons the Wooden Shoes claimed state.
Friday’s 2A semifinal losers play at 4 p.m. CT Saturday for third place, while the 2A semifinal winners square off for the championship at 7 p.m.
The 3A and 4A “State Series” tournaments take place the following week in Joliet.
Here’s everything you need to know about live streaming the IHSA Class 1A and 2A state baseball tournaments.
How to watch the IHSA Class 1A/2A “State Series” baseball tournaments
•. Live Stream: Watch on the NFHS Network.
The IHSA Class 1A/2A “State Series” baseball tournaments will air live on the NFHS Network. You can subscribe to the NFHS Network on a monthly basis or an annual subscription.
IHSA Class 1A/2A “State Series” baseball start times
•. Class 1A Semifinal Date: Friday, June 6
•. Class 1A Semifinal Times: 10 a.m., 1 p.m. CT/8 a.m., 11 a.m. PT
•. Class 1A Third-Place/Championship Date: Saturday, June 7
•. Class 1A Third-Place/Championship Times: 10 a.m., 1 p.m. CT/8 a.m., 11 a.m. PT
•. Class 2A Semifinal Date: Friday, June 6
•. Class 2A Semifinal Times: 4 p.m., 7 p.m. CT/2 p.m., 5 p.m. PT
•. Class 2A Third-Place/Championship Date: Saturday, June 7
•. Class 2A Third-Place/Championship Times: 4 p.m., 7 p.m. CT/2 p.m., 5 p.m. PT
The first pitch for the IHSA 1A semifinal games will be at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Friday, both CT, and the 2A semifinal games will be at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, both CT. The 1A third-place game will be at 10 a.m. CT Saturday, while the 1A title game is at 1 p.m. CT. The 2A third-place game is at 4 p.m. CT Saturday, while the 2A title game is at 7 p.m. CT. All 1A/2A “State Series” games will be at Illinois Field in Champaign.