A scheduling conflict has prompted the Illinois High School Association to move this year’s Class 1A and 2A state baseball finals from Peoria to Champaign.
The tournaments had been planned for June 6-7 at Dozer Park, but the Peoria Chiefs schedule set by Major League Baseball has a home series against Midwest League rival Quad Cities at the same time.
That necessitated the IHSA to relocate this year’s event to Illinois Field on the University of Illinois campus.
In a media release, IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said the schedule conflict wasn’t noticed “until it was too late.”
“The Chiefs’ efforts in working with MLB to remedy the situation ultimately were not successful,” said Anderson. “We are disappointed because Dozer Park is a wonderful facility, but feel fortunate to have another outstanding facility and host partner in the Fighting Illini athletic department and Experience Champaign-Urbana willing to pinch-hit as hosts.”
Dozer Park has hosted the 1A and 2A baseball finals since 2011, while the Class 3A and 4A finals are held in Joliet. The IHSA said Peoria and East Peoria have combined to host the state baseball finals more than 50 times at various fields.
“While we are disheartened that the IHSA Class 1A and Class 2A Baseball State Championships will not be in Peoria this year, we know that our counterparts in Champaign will play great hosts to the state finals in 2025,” Discover Peoria’s JD Dalfonso said in the IHSA release.
“As a strong partner with IHSA, hosting numerous state tournaments in the Peoria area, we look forward to the opportunity to welcome the IHSA baseball championships back to Peoria in future years.”
