By Drake Skleba

 

The 36^th annual Phil Lawler/Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Summer State Classic finals begin Monday. The Elite 8 double-elimination finals will begin with opening-round action at Benedictine University in Lisle and North

Central College in Naperville.

 

An opening-round doubleheader at Benedictine University will commence at 10 a.m. between St. Joseph (19-4) and Neuqua Valley and at 12:30 with Lincoln-Way North (17-2) and Prairie Ridge.

 

At 12:30 at North Central College in Naperville, opening-round action will begin with a matchup between Machesney Park Harlem (21-1) and Marian Catholic (15-9).

 

At 9 am at Palatine and Lake Park high schools, Regional championship games will be played.

 

At Lake Park, Schaumburg (16-3) will face St. Viator (14-9). At Palatine, Central Suburban League South Division rivals Maine South and Niles West will meet. The winners will advance to the Elite 8.

 

Both regional championship games were cancelled on Thursday due to the 100 degree heat. On Friday, both games were hammered by storms, causing nightmares for Tournament Directors John Scherrman and Mike Stock. The winners will meet in an Elite 8, opening-round contest at 3 at North Central College in Naperville.

 

On Tuesday, Loser?s Bracket games will begin at 10, at Benedictine and North Central. Monday?s winners will matchup at 12:30 on Tuesday at both sites. The winners of these games will advance to Wednesday?s semifinals at Benedictine at 5/7:30. At 3 pm at each site, the winners of Tuesday?s 10 am games will meet the 12:30 pm losers, for the right to advance to Wednesday?s semis.

 

Wednesday?s semifinal winners will move on to Thursday night?s Championship Game at 7 at Benedictine. Last year, Nazareth Academy defeated Streamwood for the championship.