Attendance figures from the state baseball tournament show a near record during the week-long run in Des Moines. Budd Legg, the information director for the Iowa High School Athletic Association, says the overall attendance top 30,000.
He says the total was 33,155 for the tournament, about 400 less than the record set in 2005. Legg says the weather was conducive to good crowds, and the ballpark also helped since it has shaded areas on hot days. And Legg says there was some really good baseball. Legg says the weather for the tournament ended up being pretty good when you look at the season overall.
Legg says there were probably more rainouts of games than in past summers and having the Iowa Cubs ground crew getting the park ready made a big difference, as he says they’re one of the best in the country. The end of baseball gives Legg and others at the I.H.S.A.A. a short break before the football season begins in August.
Legg says football is on the horizon and there will be excitement with all new district assignments. The postseason is also expanding with 16 additional qualifiers in football. Schools can begin football practice on August 11th. You can find out schedules and information on football and other sports on the I.H.S.A.A. website .