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)
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 -
* * *
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/
* * *
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)
* * *
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
* * *
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) -
* * *
