We tried to do the impossible. Start with 446 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.]

* There are 36 games mentioned on our list. There probably should be 50.

This is not your usual state tournament recap. But it wasn’t your usual season. Iowa was the only state in the nation to resume high school sports during the global pandemic. But for eight days, on the field at least, things seemed somewhat normal.

Johnston clinched its fifth title in program history with an 11-8 win over Ankeny in the 4A state championship game Saturday night at Principal Park. The Dragons rallied from a 7-3 deficit, outscoring the Hawks 8-1 over the game’s final three innings.

For the first time since 1978, the Dons are state champs. Don Bosco took down Newman Catholic 3-2 in the Class 1A title game Saturday. The Dons denied the Knights’ quest for a four-peat with an offensive boom in the bottom of the sixth.

For the first time in school history, the Bulldogs are back-to-back state champions. Van Meter defeated Des Moines Christian 6-0 in the 2A championship Saturday, claiming the school’s second title in as many years.

Norwalk won its first state tournament in more than 10 years, taking down Gilbert 8-6 on Saturday for the Class 3A title. Gilbert made things interesting in the final inning when the Tigers scored five runs, but Norwalk hung on for its first championship since 2009.

TOP SEEDS: 1. Martensdale-St.Marys; 2. Remsen St.Mary’s; 3. St.Albert; 4. South Winn
RANKED TEAMS: 1. Martensdale-St.Marys; 2. Remsen St.Mary’s; 3. St.Albert; 4. South Winn; 6. Newman; 7. Don Bosco; 8. Kingsley-Pierson

Class 1A state tournament brackets

Class 1A stat leaders

Overall stat leaders

TOP SEEDS: 1. Van Meter; 2. North Linn; 3. Dike-New Hartford; 4. Mid-Prairie
RANKED TEAMS: 1. Van Meter; 2. North Linn; 3. Dike-New Hartford; 6. Mid-Prairie; 9. West Lyon

Class 2A state tournament brackets

Class 2A stat leaders

Overall stat leaders

TOP SEEDS: 1. Sergeant Bluff-Luton; 2. Dallas Center-Grimes; 3. Gilbert; 4. Norwalk.
RANKED TEAMS: 2. Sergeant Bluff-Luton; 4. Dallas Center-Grimes; 6. Gilbert.

Class 3A state tournament brackets

Class 3A stat leaders

Overall stat leaders

It took nine innings, but Newman’s chances for a four-peat in the state tournament are alive and well. Newman Catholic defeated previously undefeated Remsen St. Mary’s 2-0 in extra innings, punching its ticket to the 1A championship game.

Don Bosco hasn’t won a state championship since 1978. With a 9-1 win over Kingsley-Pierson in the Class 1A semifinals on Thursday, the Dons are just one win away from winning another.

The Bulldogs are headed back to the championship game. Van Meter advanced to the Class 2A state championship game with a 3-1 win over West Lyon on Thursday thanks to a dominant pitching effort by Zach Pleggenkuhle. The Bulldogs are seeking a second straight state title.

Des Moines Christian has only gone to the state tournament twice in school history, but don’t tell the Lions that. Des Moines Christian upset North Linn 4-2 in eight innings Thursday, advancing to the 2A state championship game.

Gilbert punched its ticket to the 3A state title game with a 14-7 win over Dallas Center-Grimes on Friday thanks to an offensive explosion in the fifth inning.

Johnston is back in the 4A state championship game after taking down two-time defending state champion Urbandale 3-1 in its semifinal matchup before a socially distanced crowd of 1,710 at Principal Park.

Urbandale’s quest for its third straight state title continued Wednesday, as the J-Hawks advanced to the 4A semifinals with a 2-0 win over Waukee.

The top seed in 4A isn’t going anywhere. Johnston took down Cedar Falls 11-7 on Wednesday, advancing to the 4A semifinals.

In its first state tournament appearance in more than five years, Dubuque Hempstead defeated Iowa City High 7-6 in walk-off fashion in a Class 4A quarterfinal Wednesday at Principal Park.

Ankeny punched its ticket to the 4A state semifinals with a 5-4 win over Pleasant Valley on Wednesday night. The Hawks (20-8) took down the Spartans (13-12) thanks to a strikeout-filled performance from junior pitcher Brody Brecht.

TOP SEEDS: 1. Johnston; 2. Ankeny; 3. Hempstead; 4. Urbandale
RANKED TEAMS: 1. Johnston; 2. Ankeny; 3. Urbandale; 4. Hempstead; 7. Waukee

Class 4A state tournament brackets

Class 4A stat leaders

Overall stat leaders

After a stout defensive performance, the Warriors are one win away from a state championship. Norwalk took down Marion 10-0 in six innings Friday, punching its ticket to the 3A state championship.

Defense was the name of the game Monday, as top-ranked and top-seeded Van Meter took down eighth-seeded Treynor 1-0 in eight innings to advance to the 2A semifinals. The Bulldogs (21-2) and Cardinals (12-8) battled through a pitching duel for most of the game until an offensive break late. Van Meter pitchers totaled 17 strikeouts in a combined no-hitter. Treynor pitchers fanned six and allowed just two hits.

West Lyon’s quest for a state title continued Monday, as the Wildcats took down Mid-Prairie 13-3 in six innings the Class 2A quarterfinals.

Seven-seed Durant seemed to have the upset over two-seed North Linn, but the Lynx had other plans. North Linn rattled off a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh in a 2-1 victory over Durant. The Lynx won on a walk-off RBI single by senior Parker Brechen, advancing to the 2A semifinals.

It took 10 innings, but six-seed Des Moines Christian is heading to the 2A semifinals after a 2-1 win over three-seed Dike-New Hartford in a game that ended at 11:50 Monday night.

Down 5-2 after five innings, three-time defending state champion Newman Catholic rallied to take the lead and then held off late-inning threats by Council Bluffs St. Albert for a 6-5 win in a thrilling Class 1A first-round game Saturday at Principal Park.

Undefeated Remsen St. Mary’s coasted to an 11-1 win in five innings over Burlington Notre Dame in the final Class 1A quarterfinal game Saturday at Principal Park. The second-seeded Hawks join the 5, 6 and 8 seeds in Thursday’s semifinals. The first three 1A quarterfinal games were decided by a total of four runs.

In the clash of the Tigers, Gilbert came out on top 4-0 over ADM on Tuesday night, earning the final spot in the 3A semifinals.

Thanks to the help of its standout defense, Norwalk earned a trip to the 3A semifinals with a 4-3 win over Clear Creek Amana on Tuesday.

Marion did what only six other teams have done in 16 years of the state tournament at Principal Park: beat a one-seed as an eight-seed. Marion punched its ticket to the 3A semifinals with a 3-1 win over Sergeant Bluff-Luton on Tuesday, pulling off the second eight-seed upset of the tournament.

Dallas Center-Grimes earned a spot in the 3A semifinals after a defensive 1-0 quarterfinal win over Benton on Tuesday.

Fifth-seeded Don Bosco broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the top of the fifth inning to defeat fourth-seeded South Winneshiek 3-1 in a Class 1A first-round game at Principal Park. The teams’ pitchers combined for 20 strikeouts.

Eighth-seeded Kingsley-Pierson rallied from a 2-0 deficit and stunned top-seeded and top-ranked Martensdale-St.Marys 3-2 in eight innings in the Class 1A opener of the 2020 state tournament on a hot, steamy, sweaty Friday afternoon at Principal Park.

Video coverage of all 28 games of the 2020 Iowa high school state baseball tournament is available live on the internet. The web telecasts are complete with play-by-play-audio, full video coverage and instant replays of all the action. Click here for the webcasts.

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.

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.

As an industry leader in the state, Iowa Sports Turf Management will take your fields to the next level. Our accomplished professionals have experience with top-level facilities throughout the region. The specialized nature of our company sets us apart from any other. Our high-quality services result in increased playability and enhance the aesthetic appearance of your facility. Visit our website for more details.