Van Meter (2A) and Martensdale-St.Marys (1A) top the final small-school rankings by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association. Van Meter and MSTM were ranked #1 in the preseason and kept the top spot in the shortened-season rankings. Dowling Catholic (4A) and Central DeWitt (3A) top the big schools in their penultimate rankings.

Baseball has returned to Principal Park. But it isn’t the Iowa Cubs playing. It is high school teams from all around Central Iowa as the state resumes high school athletics during a worldwide pandemic.

The games are part of the Iowa Soybean Association Summer Series of 16 high school games at Principal Park.

The 2020 Iowa high school state baseball tournament is set for July 24 through August 1 at Principal Park in Des Moines. It will be the 16th season for the tournament at the home of the Iowa Cubs.

If you love good pitching, you loved the 2019 Iowa high school state baseball tournament. The 28 games of the tournament provided plenty of it — there were nine shutouts — and some great individual performances.

2019 state tournament highlight video

Fans can keep foul balls hit into the stands during state tournament games, thanks to our good friends at the Iowa Soybean Association. There are an average of 750 baseballs used each year during the state tournament. And most of them go home with fans.

We tried to do the impossible. Start with 418 state tournament games at Principal Park and pick 10 favorites. Lots of underdogs and upsets and extra-inning games. Thrilling victories. Heart-breaking defeats. One thing is clear: It’s been 16 years of great tournament baseball. Enjoy. [Note: Our favorite state tournament photo is above.]

The state baseball tournament moved to Des Moines in 2005, and since then, lots of talented baseball players have showcased their skills at Principal Park. The list includes players who went on to play in college, in the minor leagues and in the major leagues. And players who went on to work for the host Iowa Cubs. Read more for a look at those who played in the state tournament at Principal Park — and work (or have worked) for the Iowa Cubs.

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