New Palestine right fielder Landon Ballard (left) congratulates first baseman Ben Hirschy on making a catch against Mt. Vernon.
Mike Brown | For The Daily Reporter
The Indiana High School Athletic Association announced its pairings for the 57th Annual IHSAA Baseball State Tournament Series Sunday.
In four classifications, 386 teams were given first-round opponents and tournament routes, including dates and possible sites for regional and semi-states rounds. The state championship games will be played at Victory Field in Indianapolis on June 14-15.
Greenfield-Central, Mt. Vernon and defending sectional champion New Palestine will play in Class 4A Sectional 9 at New Palestine High School between May 22-27.
Eastern Hancock will play in Class 2A Sectional 41 at Shenandoah during that same time frame.
Specific dates and times have not been determined at either site.
In the Sectional 9 tournament, New Palestine (14-2), winners of sectional and regional titles last season, open play against Muncie Central (0-9).
In Game 2, Anderson (6-7) takes on Greenfield-Central (7-5). In a matchup of Hoosier Heritage Conference rivals, Pendleton Heights (11-5) and Mt. Vernon (10-5) play in Game 3.
The Marauders swept a two-game series against the Arabians April 24-25. Mt. Vernon won both games by 2-1 scores.
In the first of two semifinal games, Richmond (9-3) plays the New Palestine/Muncie Central winner in Game 4. Game 2 and Game 3 winners play in Game 5.
The tournament at Shenandoah features the state’s top ranked Class 2A program, Hagerstown (15-0).
Hagerstown, the defending sectional champion, plays the tournament opener against Knightstown (6-5). Eastern Hancock (7-9) plays in Game 2 against Northeastern (8-4). Game 3 pits the winners of Game 1 and Game 2. Game 4 will have Union County (4-9) playing host Shenandoah (10-4).
The Sectional 9 winner will play the Sectional 10 winner at a to-be-determined site on June 1. Sectional 10 includes Lawrence Central, North Central, Pike, Crispus Attucks, Lawrence North, Ben Davis and Cathedral.
New Palestine defeated Cathedral in last year’s regional final.
The Sectional 41 winner will play the Sectional 42 champion, which includes Scecina, Park Tudor, Triton Central, Irvington Prep Academy, and Heritage Christian.
Possible South Regional locations include Park Tudor, Mooresville, Morristown, Loogootee, Jasper, Floyd Central, Mitchell and Southridge.
The South Semi-State location possibilities include Plainfield, Castle, Mooresville and Jasper.
The semi-state tournament is scheduled for June 8.
Baseball Sectionals
Class 4A, Sectional 9 at New Palestine High School
(Dates and times have not been announced)
G1 – New Palestine (14-2) vs. Muncie Central (0-9)
G2 – Anderson (6-7) vs. Greenfield-Central (7-5)
G3 – Pendleton Heights (11-5) vs. Mt. Vernon (10-5)
G4 – Richmond (9-3) vs. Game 1 winner
G5 – Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner
G6 – Championship Game
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Class 2A Sectional 41 at Shenandoah High School
(Dates and times have not been announced)
G1 – No. 1 Hagerstown (15-0) vs. Knightstown (6-5)
G2 – Northeastern (8-4) vs. Eastern Hancock (7-9)
G3 – Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
G4 – Union County (4-9) vs. Shenandoah (10-4)
G5 – Championship Game
