Central Illinois High School Baseball Teams Aim for State Glory in Elite 8 Matchups

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) – The high school baseball playoffs are heating up as the Elite 8 round approaches this Monday, showcasing five teams from Central Illinois competing for a chance at state glory across three classes. In Class 3A, East Peoria is making headlines with their remarkable journey to the supersectionals, marking their first appearance in this round since 1974. The close-knit senior class has played together for a decade and will face Geneva in Geneseo, hoping to extend their season further.

“Oh, it’s going to be a lot of fun. But we also know what we have in front of us,” said senior Auggie Lognes. “I want to play for these guys for my whole life. But, you know, we’re going to keep it going as long as we can.” Head coach Matt Plummer expressed his pride in the team's achievements, noting, “That hardware means nothing to me. It means everything to them and they deserve it.”

Also competing in Class 3A is the U-High Pioneers, who have returned to the Elite 8 for the first time since 2021 after narrowly defeating Champaign Central in a tense 2-0 pitchers’ duel. They will take on Troy Triad at Millikin University in Decatur, with the first pitch scheduled for 2:00 PM.

In Class 2A, the Brimfield-Elmwood Indians continue to impress with their resilience, achieving back-to-back walk-off victories, including a thrilling 7-6 win on Saturday. Head coach James Sams commented on the team's confidence, saying, “We’ve been lucky to be on the right side of it. They swing the bats... we’ll have our work cut out for us,” as they prepare to meet the top-seeded Ottawa Marquette.

Meanwhile, in Class 1A, Tremont is on the verge of reaching the state tournament for the first time in 15 years. The Turks secured a 7-4 victory over Lexington, setting the stage for a matchup against Armstrong at Illinois Wesleyan. Additionally, Putnam County will compete in the 1A supersectionals against Galena at Northern Illinois University at 4:30 PM.