By Drake Skleba

On Sunday, the 2012 Lawler Classic will begin with a play-in game in the Glenbard South Regional, between Plainfield East and Westmont, at 1 p.m. at a site to be determined. It will be the opening game in a series that will culminate with the IHSBCA/Phil Lawler Classic Summer State championship game on July 26 at Benedictine University in Lisle at 7:30 p.m.

Last year, Lincoln-Way North defeated Prairie Ridge 8-5 to win the 3^rd Annual IHSBCA Phil Lawler Memorial Summer State Tournament Classic. The Phoenix, under the tutelage of head coach Joe Skarbek, won the state championship at Benedictine University in Lisle. The game was the 36^th in the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association state championship tournament that originated in 1976.

147 schools will battle through eight regionals, with the goal of reaching the Elite 8 finals to be held at North Central College in Naperville and Benedictine University. Opening-round finals action will begin on Monday, July 23 and Tuesday July 24, at North Central and Benedictine. On Wednesday, July 25 the Final Four will meet in the semifinals at Benedictine with the championship game on Thursday night in Lisle.

The eight regional sites are at Fenwick, Glenbard South, Lake Park, Libertyville, Lockport, Palatine, Richards and St. Charles East. Opening-round games will be played at various sites throughout the respective regional sites, on Monday, July 16. Regional quarterfinals will be played on Tuesday with semifinal action on Wednesday. The eight regional championship games will played at the eight regional sites on Thursday July 19. 

Hinsdale Central won the inaugural IHSBCA Summer State Championship in 1976.

The Red Devils won again in 1978 and 1980. The 2012 Class 4A State champions from Oak Park-River Foresthave won an unprecedented six IHSBCA state titles all under the tutelage of the late-great Huskie head coach Jack Kaiser. Kaiser and the Huskies won titles in ’79,’85-‘87, ’93 and ’98. The Jack Kaiser Memorial Most Valuable Player Award Trophy is awarded to the tournament MVP. 

Lincoln-Way North junior Reed Hero took home the Kaiser trophy in 2011.

Go to www.illinoishighschoolbaseball.org and click on the Summer League link for all the regional schedules and results.