Saturday, December 13, 2025

12/13/2025 - Jim's (SECLMW) Baseball notes

12/13/2025 - Jim's (SECLMW) Baseball notes

Unofficial, Uneditted and replete with errors of commission and omission

also posted at: http://baseballlmw.blogspot.com/

and http://albdistrict2mi.blogspot.com/ (American Legion Baseball)

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Reminder - let me know if you no longer wish to receive all this "stuff"!!!
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Below -

* NFHS 2026 highlights

* 2026 “calendar” - my choices!

* selected links (HS, coaches association, AmericanLegion)

* 2025 champions - HS & summer (selected)

* 2026 HS enrollment classifications - I think

* American Legion Baseball regionals - 2025 assignments (2026 not released) with some links


NFHS Baseball Points of Emphasis (2026) -

1. Discipline

2. Sportsmanship (bench jockeying and using props)

3. Proper Pitching Positions

4. Running Lane Awareness


NFHS Rule revisions (2026) - https://nfhs.org/sports/baseball/rules

*A double first base will be required effective with the 2027 season. The double first base must be white and a contrasting solid color. The white portion of the base is located in fair territory while the colored half is located in foul territory.

*A school’s name, nickname, logo, mascot and/or player’s name will be permitted on a uniform top

and/or pants beginning in 2027.

*No player shall wear any audio (microphone) or video (camera) device during a game.

*Each team, when on defense, may be granted not more than one player-to-player meeting during

an inning; - A player-to-player defensive meeting is defined as having two or more defensive players.


2026 tentative calendar -


July 23-26 - Illinois Legion State Tournament at Aviston, IL

July 23-26 - Illinois Legion State Junior Tournament at Carol Stream, IL


#January -

January 1 - Legion Registration Opens

January 1 - Legion Background checks and abuse trainings may begin


January 8-11 - 2026 ABCA Convention in Columbus, OH - https://www.abca.org/ABCA/ABCA/Events/Convention/ABCA_Convention_Home.aspx

Midwest speakers scheduled include:

Justin Haire, Ohio State University - Hard To Kill: Building a Bulletproof Pressure-Driven Offense

Tim Held, Archbishop Moeller High School - Unlocking the Power of a Dynamic Offense

John Vodenlich, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater - Fundamental Baseball That Wins Games

Jason Whited, Centerville High School - Creating Outs That Win the Game: A Deep Dive Into Pickoffs

Mike Deegan, Denison University - Culture, Training Environments, and Competition: A Systematic Approach to Development

and more in the various panel sessions - https://www.abca.org/ABCA/Events/Convention/Rookie_Coaches_Mentorship_Hot_Stove_Sessions.aspx


January 9-10 - 2026 MHSBCA Convention at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort - Mt Pleasant, MI

convention agenda not yet listed (12/13/25) - https://www.mhsbca.org/


January 17 - Wisconsin ALBA/Legion Meeting 11:30am Open Session - Green Bay


January 22-24 - 2026 OHSBCA State Clinic at Columbus Hilton at Easton (3900 Chagrin Dr, Columbus, OH 43219) - https://www.ohsbca.org/aws/OHSBCA/pt/sp/programs-state

Agenda (12/13/25) - https://www.ohsbca.org/aws/OHSBCA/asset_manager/get_file/928894?ver=4


#February -

February 15 - Wisconsin Legion Registration and Insurance fees accepted - credit cards only


February 22 - Ohio Legion Commission Meeting 10am / Coaches Meeting 1pm


February 23 - OHSAA legal Coaching and Tryouts Begin


#March -


March 9 - MHSAA baseball legal practice begins


March 16 - IHSAA (Indiana) baseball legal practice begins


March 18 - MHSAA comepetition (games) begins


March 27 - OHSAA comepetition (games) begins


March 30 - IHSAA (Indiana) comepetition (games) begins

March 31 - Ohio Legion Deadline to establish players legal residence


#April -

April 19-20 - Iowa Legion Area tournmament (prior to HS season May-July)


April 26-27 - Iowa Legion Area tournmament (prior to HS season May-July)


April 28 - IHSAA (Indiana) tournament entry deadline


#May -


May 3 - IHSAA (Indiana) tournament draw


May 3-4 - Iowa Legion State tournament (prior to HS season May-July)


May 4-11 - IHSAA (Indiana) umpire evaluation period


May 10 - OHSAA Tournament Draw


May 15 - Legion Registration and background checks, abuse training complete.

May 15 - Legion No penalty window closes and $200 fee begins for late registrations.


May 18-23 - OHSAA Sectional Tournaments


May 19-20 - MHSAA District games


May 25-30 - OHSAA District Tournaments


May 27-June 1 - IHSAA (Indiana) sectional tournaments


#June -

June 1 - Legion ALL STATES Late Registration Closes


June 2-4 - OHSAA Regional Tournaments


June 3 - MHSAA Regionals (finals on June 6)


June 5 - Ohio Legion Deadline to submit Transfer forms


June 6 - MHSAA Regionals / Quarterfinals


June 6 - IHSAA (Indiana) Regionals


June 11-12 - MHSAA Semifinals at MSU McLane Stadium


June 11-14 - OHSAA State Tournament (2025 sites: Canal Park in Akron and Thurman Munson Stadium in Canton)


June 12-13 - IHSA (Illinois) Class 1A & 2A State Championships at TBD

June 12-13 - IHSA (Illinois) Class 3A & 4A State Championships at Slammers Stadium, Joliet, IL


June 13 - MHSAA Chsmpionships at MSU McLane Stadium


June 13 - IHSAA (Indiana) Semi-States


June 19-20 - IHSAA (Indiana) State Championships


June 20 - OHSAA Baseball Season Ends


June 23 - Wisconsin Legion Roster Deadline


June 25 - Ohio Legion Deadline for Rosters/insurance and Team Packets

June 25 - Wisconsin Legion All-Star Nominations Due


June 29 - Wisconsin ALBA/Legion Summer Meeting 9:00 am at Legion HQ


#July -

July 8-11 - Ohio Junior Legion Super Region 1 Tournament at - TBD

July 8-11 - Ohio Junior Legion Super Region 2 Tournament at Bellfontaine High School.

July 8-11 - Ohio Junior Legion Super Region 3 Tournament at Chillicothe VA Memorial Stadium.

July 8-11 - Ohio Junior Legion Super Region 3 Tournament at Pioneer Park at Marietta College.


July 10 - Wisconsin Legion Scholarships due to Legion HQ


July 13 - Ohio Legion 6pm ALB Directors Teams Call to cover Regional Tournaments


July 15-18 - Ohio Senior Legion Super Region 1 Tournament at - TBD

July 15-18 - Ohio Senior Legion Super Region 2 Tournament at Bellfontaine High School.

July 15-18 - Ohio Senior Legion Super Region 3 Tournament at Chillicothe VA Memorial Stadium.

July 15-18 - Ohio Senior Legion Super Region 3 Tournament at Pioneer Park at Marietta College.


July 16-19 - Ohio Junior Legion State tournament at Beavers Field, Lancaster. OH

July 16-21 - Wisconsin Legion 16-Under regionals


July 21-25 - Wisconsin Legion Class AAA regionals

July 21-25 - Wisconsin Legion Class AA regionals


July 23-26 - Illinois Legion Senior State tournament - Aviston, IL

July 23-26 - Illinois Legion Junior State tournament - Carol Stream, IL


July 22-26 - North Dakota Legion Junior State tournament hosted by Grand Forks, ND Post 6


July 23-27 - Wisconsin Legion Class A regionals

July 23-27 - Wisconsin Legion 17-Under regionals


July 24-27 - Ohio Senior Legion State tournament at Beavers Field, Lancaster, OH

July 24-28 - Wisconsin Legion 17-Under State Tournament

July 24-28 - Wisconsin Legion 16-Under State Tournament


July 25-29 - Pennsylvania Legion State Tournament


July 28 - August 1 - Wisconsin Legion Class AAA State Tournament

July 28 - August 1 - Wisconsin Legion Class AA State Tournament

July 28 - August 1 - North Dakota Legion Class AA State tournament - hosted by Fargo, ND Post 2


July 30 - August 3 - North Dakota Legion Class A State tournament hosted by Willisto, ND Post 37


July 31 - August 4 - Wisconsin Legion Class A State Tournament

July 31 - August 4 - North Dakota Legion Class B State tournament hosted by Lisbon, ND Post 7


July TBD - Mason-Dixon Junior Legion National Regional Maryland


#August -


August 1-31 - OHSAA Baseball “no contact” period


August 5-9 - Legion Region 1 Northeast Regional in Shrewsbury, MA

August 5-9 - Legion Region 2 Mid-Atlantic Regional in Shrewsbury, MA

August 5-9 - Legion Region 3 Southeast Regional in Cherryville, NC

August 5-9 - Legion Region 4 Mid-South Regional in Cherryville, NC

August 5-9 - Legion Region 5 Great Lakes Regional in Lexington, KY

August 5-9 - Legion Region 6 Central Plains Regional in Fargo, ND

August 5-9 - Legion Region 7 Northwest in Medford, OR

August 5-9 - Legion Region 8 West in Fairfield, CA


August 8-9 - Legion Wisconsin All-Star Weekend


August 11-18 - Legion ALB World Series - Shelby, NC


#September -

September 1 - Ohio Legion Official Close of the 2026 Season


#October -

October 17 - Wisconsin ALBA/Legion Fall Meeting 8:30am


#November -


#December -


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ABCA - https://www.abca.org/

NFHS Baseball - https://nfhs.org/sports/baseball

IHSA (Illinois) - https://archive.ihsa.org/Sports-Activities/Baseball

IHSBCA (Illinois) - https://www.ihsbca.com/ (note: “.com”)

IHSAA (Indiana) - https://www.ihsaa.org/sports/boys/baseball

IHSBCA (Indiana) - https://ihsbca.org/ (note: “.org”)

MHSAA Baseball (Michigan) - https://www.mhsaa.com/sports/baseball

MHSBCA (Michigan) - https://www.mhsbca.org/

OHSAA Baseball (Ohio) - https://www.ohsaa.org/sports/baseball

OHSBCA (Ohio) - https://www.ohsbca.org/aws/OHSBCA/pt/sp/home_page

WIAA (Wisconsin) - https://www.wiaawi.org/Sports/Spring/Baseball

WBCA (Wisconsin) - https://www.baseballwisconsin.com/news_article/show/1325709


American Legion Baseball - https://www.legion.org/get-involved/youth-programs/baseball

Michigan American Legion Baseball - https://michiganlegion.org/baseball/

Ohio American Legion Baseball - https://www.ohiolegion.com/baseball/

Illinois American Legion Baseball - https://www.legionbaseballillinois.org/

Indiana American Legion Baseball - https://www.indianalegion.org/baseball

Iowa American Legion Baseball -

Kentucky American Legion Baseball -

West Virginia American Legion Baseball -

Wisconsin American Legion Baseball - https://wilegion.org/legion-baseball


AABC / American Amateur Baseball Congress - https://aabc.us/

ACME Baseball Congress (Ohio) - https://acmebaseball.com/

Little League Baseball - https://www.littleleague.org/

Michigan Veterans Baseball - https://leagues.teamlinkt.com/michiganveteransbaseball/Home

PONY Baseball - https://www.pony.org/

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2025 Champions -


*Michigan MHSAA (2025) -

Division 1 - Hartland (Brad Guenther - KLAA / Kensington Lakes Activities Association/West)

Division 2 - Forest Hills Eastern (Ian Hearn - OK Conference/White)

Division 3 - Traverse City St Francis (Tom Passinault - Lake Michigan Conference)

Division 4 - Portland St. Patrick (Bryan Scheurer - CMAC / Central Michigan Athletic Conference)


*Ohio OHSAA (2025) -

Division I - Lewis Center Olentangy (Ryan Lucas - Ohio Capital)

Division II - Whitehouse Anthony Wayne (Ryan Donley - Northern Lakes League/Buckeye)

Division III - Newark Licking Valley (Adam Arcuri - Licking County League)

Division IV - Mentor Lake Catholic (Brian Leroy - Crown Conference)

Division V - Apple Creek Waynedale (Lucas Daugherty - Wayne County Athletic League)

Division VI - Berlin Hiland (Chris Dages - Inter-Valley Conference)

Division VII - Minster (Mike Wiss - Midwest Athletic Conference)


*Indiana IHSAA (2025) -

Class 1A - Valparaiso

Class 2A - Boone Grove

Class 3A - Andrean

Class 4A - Indianapolis Lutheran


*Illinois IHSA -

Class 1A - Ottawa Marquette (Todd Hopkins)

Class 2A - Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin (Nicholas Naumovich)

Class 3A - Burbank St. Laurence (Pete Lotus)

Class 4A - Libertyville (Matt Thompson)


*Wisconsin WIAA -

Division 1 - Muskego

Division 2 - New Berlin Eisenhower

Division 3 - Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic

Division 4 - Johnson Creek


*American Legion -

World Series - Chesapeake, VA Post 280 (SEALS)

Northeast Region - Greece, NY Post 468

Mid-Atlantic Region - Chesapeake, VA Post 280 (SEALS)

Southeast Region - Asheville, NC Post 70 (Cardinals)

Mid-South Region - Bossier City, LA Post 202 (Phillies AAA)

Great Lakes Region - Rockport, IN Post 254

Central Plains Region - Lincoln, NE Post 500 (Carpet Land Spartans A)

Northwest Region - Portland, OR Post 158 (Barbers AAA)

Western Region - League City, TX Post 554 (Mike Lacy)

Illinois/Senior - Danville, IL Post 210 Speakers

Illinois/Junior - Danville, IL Post 210 Speakers

Indiana/Senior - Evansville, IN Post 8 Funkhouser (Rockport, IN Post 254 to Regional)

Indiana/Junior - Plymouth, IN Post 27 (Junior Diamond Spyders)

Iowa - Swisher, IA Post 671

Michigan/AA - Midland, MI Post 165 Berryhill

Michigan/A - Kingsford, MI Post 363

Ohio/Senior - Beverly/Lowell, OH Post 389/750

Ohio/Junior - Lancaster, OH Post 11

Wisconsin/AAA - Middleton, WI

Wisconsin/AA - Campbellsport, WI

Wisconsin/A - Wittenberg, WI

Wisconsin/17 - Kimberly, WI

Wisconsin/16 - Onalaska, WI Post 336


*Travel Ball -

ACME Senior Baseball (OH) - St Henry, OH

ACME Junior Baseball (OH) - Perrysburg, OH

Michigan Veterans Baseball Senior (MI) - Gaylord, MI Baseball Club

Michigan Veterans Baseball 17 (MI) - Marquette, MI Post 44 White Diamonds

Michigan Veterans Baseball 15 (MI) - Marquette, MI Post 44 Reds

AABC Connie Mack (18) - Dulin's Didgers (Dallas, TX)

AABC Don Mattingly (17) - Dulins Dodgers Prime Godwin (McKinney, TX)

AABC Mickey Mantle (16) - Texas Edge North Castillo (Fort Worth, TX)

PONY Palomino (18) - New Taipei City, Taiwan

PONY Colt (16) - Guaynabo, Puerto Rico

Senior League (16) - Amelia Baseball Club LL (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico)

Senior League (16) Michigan - Southern Little League (Grand Rapids, MI)

Senior League (16) Ohio - Jefferson Area Little League (Jefferson, OH)

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2026 HS Division enrollments -

*Michigan MHSAA - https://my.mhsaa.com/Sports/Baseball/School-Division-List-2025-26 (student count)

Division 1 - 944 and above

Division 2 - 437 - 943

Division 3 - 233 - 436

Division 4 - 232 and below

*Ohio OHSAA (baseball: male enrollment in grades 9, 10 and 11 + competitive balance) -

Division I - 624 and more (65 schools)

Division II - 430 to 623 (72 schools)

Divission III - 265 to 429 (122 schools)

Division IV - 197 to 264 (123 schools)

Division V - 143 to 196 (121 schools)

Division VI - 101 to 142 (123 schools)

Division VII - 100 and less (122 schools)

*Indiana IHSAA (total enrollment 9-12+ / - “success factor) - https://www.ihsaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/Boys%20Baseball%20Classifications%20for%202024-25%20and%202025-26.pdf + / - “success factor)

Class 4A - 1241 and more (@81 schools)

Class 3A - 554 to 1246 (@100 schools)

Class 2A - 328 to 540 (@ 100 schools)

Class 1A - less than 327 (@108 schools)

*Illinois IHSA (total enrollment + / - “success”) - https://www.ihsa.org/schools/enrollments

Class 4A - over 1600

Class 3A - 701 to 1600

Class 2A - 301 to 700

Class 1A - up to 300

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2025/2026 American Legion regions / state (teams) - selected links


2026 / 2027 American Legion Regionals announcement (05/08/2025) - https://www.legion.org/information-center/news/baseball/2025/may/baseball-regional-sites-set-for-2026-2027


Region 1 Northeast: Shrewsbury, Mass.

2025: (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT)

2026:


Region 2 Mid-Atlantic: Shrewsbury, Mass.

2025: (DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV)

2026:


Region 3 Southeast: Cherryville, N.C.

2025: (AL, FL, NC, PR, SC, TN)

2026:


Region 4 South: Cherryville, N.C.

2025: (AR, IA, KS, LA, MS, MO, OK)

2026:


Region 5 Great Lakes: Lexington, Ky.

2025: (IL, IN, KY, MI, OH, WI)

2026:


Region 6 Central Plains: Fargo, N.D.

2025: (IA, MN, ND, NE, SD)

2026:


Region 7 Northwest: Medford, Ore.

2025: (AK, CO, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY)

2026:


Region 8 West: Fairfield, Calif.

2025: (AZ, CA, HI, NV, NM, TX, UT)

2026:


*Region 1 (2025) - Northeast

Connecticut (20) -

Maine (22) -

Massachusetts (99) -

New Hampshire (39) -

New York (62) -

Rhode Island (13) -

Vermont (15) -


*Region 2 (2025) - Mid-Atlantic

Delaware (7) -

Maryland (51) - https://www.mdlegion.org/baseball.htm

New Jersey (26) -

Pennsylvania (282) - https://www.palbaseball.com/

Virginia (31) -

West Virginia (30) - https://www.wvlegion.org/


*Region 3 (2025) - Southeast

Alabama (32) -

Florida (34) -

Georgia () -

North Carolina (105) - https://www.nclegion.org/junior-senior-baseball

Puerto Rico (4) -

South Carolina (80) -

Tennessee (13) - https://tnlegionbaseball.com/


*Region 4 (2025) - Mid-South

Arkansas (50) -

Kansas (39) - https://kansaslegion.org/baseball

Kentucky (10) - https://www.kylegion.org/baseball

Louisiana (16) -

Mississippi (13) -

Missouri (80) - https://www.missouriamericanlegionbaseball.org/

Oklahoma (9) -


*Region 5 (2025) - Great Lakes

Illinois (69) - https://www.legionbaseballillinois.org/

Indiana (32) - https://www.indianalegion.org/baseball

Michigan (16) - https://michiganlegion.org/baseball/

Ohio (44) - https://www.ohiolegion.com/baseball/

Wisconsin (218) - https://wilegion.org/legion-baseball


*Region 6 (2025) - Central Plains

Iowa (10) - https://ialegion.org/baseball/

Minnesota (377) - https://www.minnesotalegionbaseball.com/

Nebraska (277) - https://www.nelegionbaseball.net/

North Dakota (76) - https://ndlegionbaseball.com/

South Dakota (94) -


*Region 7 (2025) - Northwest

Alaska (27) - Alaska Legion Baseball




Colorado (11) -

Idaho (71) -

Montana (65) -

Oregon (51) -

Washington (77) -

Wyoming (55) -


*Region 8 (2025) - West

Arizona (23) -

California (62) -

Hawaii (20) -

Nevada (8) -

New Mexico (17) -

Texas (5) -

Utah (19) -

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