The Indiana High School Athletic Association’s baseball postseason is reaching its climax, with five teams from the South Bend Tribune coverage area gearing up for regional championship games on June 6.
Regional Finals Set for June 6
In the 4A bracket, Penn, the top‑ranked team in the class with a 24‑6 record, will host Valparaiso, the 2024 state champions who finished the season at 23‑7 and were ranked fifth by the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association.
Penn’s recent form gives them a slight edge, having edged Valparaiso in the regular season and maintained a stronger win‑loss ledger.
Across town, Goshen will meet Lake Central at Four Winds Field, a venue that has already witnessed a dominant 10‑0 victory for Goshen over Concord in the sectional final.
Lake Central, sitting at 24‑8, had to defeat the second‑ranked Crown Point to claim its sectional title, setting up a rematch that promises fireworks.
The 3A showdown pits New Prairie against Andrean, with New Prairie riding a hot streak of 10 wins in 11 games after capturing the Northern Indiana Conference title and beating several sectional champions.
Andrean, the top‑ranked 3A squad at 27‑3, has only dropped games to Highland, a top Illinois program, and Hobart, making them a formidable opponent.
Meanwhile, NorthWood will host Highland in a clash of contrasting records, as NorthWood’s 18‑12‑1 season features three sectional wins by at least three runs, while Highland sits at 13‑16 and has not captured a regional crown since 1999.
In the 2A final, Bremen will face Bluffton at NorthWood High School, where Bremen’s 20‑7 record and recent sectional triumph over Jimtown contrast with Bluffton’s 16‑10 mark and a tougher schedule.
Both teams are eyeing their first semi‑state appearance in years, with Bremen aiming to extend a decade‑long drought and Bluffton looking to add another title to its modest résumé.
The outcomes of these regional finals will shape the semi‑state field and could see several repeat semifinalists from the previous season return to the spotlight.