High school baseball all-star game coming to Peru in June

Illinois Valley baseball fans will have an opportunity to check out some of the state’s best high school players this summer.

The 48th Annual Illinois Coaches Association Senior All-Star Game is scheduled for June 30 at Schweickert Stadium in Peru, home of the Prospect League’s Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp. The ICA also works closely with the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association on the game.

“It’s another chance for baseball fans to see good baseball,” said St. Bede coach Bill Booker, who is the ICA’s baseball chairman. “We’ll have kids from northern Illinois to southern Illinois and everywhere in between. Last year we had 36 seniors who were all committed to different colleges throughout the nation from JUCO to DI, DII and DIII. It was good baseball. I think our area with as good as baseball fans as we have will really enjoy seeing high school players play at that level.”

The game was held at Illinois Wesleyan University the last several summers, but Booker got the wheels turning to move it to Peru.

“When I was first appointed the baseball director for the coaches association, the president Drew Potthoff, who is originally from Peru, and I spoke about trying to get it back to Peru,” Booker said. “The last few years we’ve had it at Illinois Wesleyan, and they were outstanding. It’s a turf facility. College campus. It was nice, but we didn’t get the interest and support that I thought we would. We had great games. We had great talent playing.

“A few months ago, I approached the city (of Peru) and (Peru’s maintenance of parks supervisor) Bob Ghighi. He and I had a discussion, and he thought it would be possible as long as we played on an off day for the Pistol Shrimp. The Pistol Shrimp have been very cooperative. They’re going to assist in any way they can. It all came to fruition through early communication and setting the schedule.”

The event will feature a doubleheader of two seven-inning games.

Players are selected by a panel of coaches from around the state.

“We’ve got 15 coaches from around the state,” Booker said. “Players have to be nominated by their high school coach. Once we get the (nomination) list, we start filling in the best pitchers first, because you have to be pitcher-heavy. Our pitchers throw two innings and that’s it. Then the coaches go through every position from their area and we try to select two to three deep for each position and go from there.

“Sometimes kids opt out if they’re going to get drafted or going to a real big (college) program, but for the most part the kids have been very receptive when they get nominated.”

Booker has been involved with the ICA for four years but has had experience with the all-star games before that. Booker coached the 2010 game, and his son, Cody, played in the 2012 event. He also is a longtime member of the IHSBCA.

“We’ve had a great experience,” Booker said.