The Missouri State High School Activities Association recently announced the venues for upcoming baseball and softball state championships.
The board of directors selected T.R. Hughes Ballpark in O’Fallon as host of the baseball final four beginning the 2013 championships. MSHSAA also considered proposals from Springfield, Columbia and St. Joseph.
The softball championships will stay in Springfield through the 2015, the board of directors voted. The 36-year-old championship was held at Killian Park for the first time in 2010 after being hosted at Heritage Park in St. Joseph the previous two years.
T.R. Hughes Ballpark is the home field of the River City Rascals, a Frontier League baseball team. Opened in 1999, the ballpark has seating for 5,517 people. In addition to hosting the home contests for the Rascals, the ballpark hosts numerous high school and collegiate contests throughout the school year.
The dimensions of T.R. Hughes are approximately 320 in left field, 385 feet in center field and 325 in right field.
The tournament’s format will remain the same with Class 1 and 2 playing on Wednesday and Thursday while Class 3 and 4 play on Friday and Saturday.
Operated by the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, Killian Softball Stadium features seating for up to 1,200 spectators — 523 of which are chair-back.