The final IHSAA tournament of the 2000-01 school year is set for Friday and Saturday (June 15-16) when the 35th annual IHSAA Baseball State Finals are conducted at three sites. For the second year, four teams in each of four classes will travel to Indianapolis and its suburbs for the two-day event.

On Friday, the eight semifinals games will be played at three sites – Victory Field in Indianapolis (Class A and Class 3A), Carmel (Class 2A) and Noblesville (Class 4A).

On Saturday, the championship games in each of the four classes will be played at Victory Field in Indianapolis.

The field includes former state champions Evansville Memorial and Penn, 12 first-time state finals teams and no returning teams from the 2000 IHSAA Baseball State Finals.

Evansville Memorial was the state champion in 1978, 1989 and 1993 when it made its last state finals journey. The Tigers also were the state runner-up team in 1970 and 1979. Penn is in the state finals for the third time in eight years, having won state titles in 1994 and 1998 (4A).

The only other schools in the 2001 field to have reached the state finals are Columbia City, making its first appearance since playing in the inaugural IHSAA Baseball State Finals in 1967, and Perry Meridian. The Falcons were the state runner-up in 1984 in their only state finals trip.

All of the teams in Class A and Class 2A will be making their first trips to the state finals. That group includes Adams Central, Madison Shawe, Tecumseh and Triton in Class A, and Eastern (Pekin), Leo, Northfield and Speedway in Class 2A. The other first-time entrants are Griffith and Indianapolis Cathedral in Class 3A, and Castle and Munster in Class 4A.

It’s the first trip to an IHSAA state finals in any team sport for Eastern (Pekin), Madison Shawe, Northfield and Speedway.

The same was true of Adams Central prior to the 2000-01 school year. The Flying Jets made their first trip last fall and captured the Class A football title with a 29-21 victory over Attica. The baseball roster includes several football players, including senior pitcher/shortstop Nick Houk, who threw for 149 yards and three touchdowns in the 2000 Class A football state championship game. Two of those touchdown passes went to senior Curt Garwood, who performs as a third baseman/outfielder while hitting .269.

Penn is no stranger to the IHSAA state finals, but the Kingsmen have pulled off a unique triple play during the 2000-01 school year by reaching the tournament’s highest level in football, boys basketball and baseball.

In football, Penn captured its fourth title in six years and fifth overall with a 21-0 decision over Center Grove in the 2000 Class 5A state championship. In boys basketball, the Kingsmen reached the state finals for the first time and finished as the 56-42 runner-up to Pike in Class 4A. Penn senior shortstop Eric Moore is hitting .424 with 29 RBI after quarterbacking the football Kingsmen to the state championship with 13 of 16 passing for 181 yards and three touchdowns. The only other football starter who performs in baseball is junior pitcher Ross Mroczek, an offensive tackle. Sophomore third baseman Bryan Harrell is the only basketball player on the baseball roster.

Every effort will be made to play the semifinals games as scheduled on Friday at each of the three venues. However, in the event of a weather postponement, a revised schedule of times and venues would be determined for Saturday. Any games not completed on Saturday would be moved to Monday.

One session: $7.

Two sessions: $10 (good for any semifinals site and all championship games).

10:30 a.m. -- Madison Shawe (30-4) vs. Triton (22-10).

12:45 p.m. (approximate) -- Adams Central (19-12) vs. Tecumseh (20-11).

5 p.m. -- Leo (17-11) vs. Northfield (26-5).

7:15 p.m. (approximate) -- Speedway (22-8) vs. Eastern (Pekin) (26-6).

3 p.m. -- Evansville Memorial (25-7) vs. Indianapolis Cathedral (23-6).

5:15 p.m. (approximate) – Griffith (26-6) vs. Columbia City (13-15).

5 p.m. -- Penn (32-2) vs. Munster (26-7).

7:15 p.m. (approximate) -- Perry Meridian (29-4) vs. Castle (26-7).

All games: $7.

Class A – 9:30 a.m.

Class 3A -- 30 minutes following presentation of awards for Class A game; approximately 12 p.m.

Class 2A -- 30 minutes following presentation of awards for Class 3A game; approximately 2:30 p.m.

Class 4A -- 30 minutes following presentation of awards for Class 2A game; approximately 5 p.m.

The IHSAA media release of June 11 included directions to the state finals venue, The Legends of Indiana in Franklin. Directions for travelers approaching Franklin from the north were incorrect. Those should read as follows:

Proceed south on I-65 to Franklin exit (mile marker 90). Turn right on to Indiana 44 and proceed 1 mile to Eastview Drive. Turn right on Eastview and proceed 1 mile to flasher stoplight at junction of Hurricane Road and Arvin Road. Turn right on Hurricane Road and proceed 1.3 miles to The Legends of Indiana. Entrance is on the right.