COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio High School Athletic Association and the Akron RubberDucks have announced a partnership to keep the OHSAA baseball state tournament at Canal Park in Akron for the next three years.
The RubberDucks have hosted the OHSAA baseball state tournament since 2019 at Canal Park, a 7,630-seat stadium in downtown Akron that is home to the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians.
“We are excited to return as the host of the baseball championships,” RubberDucks General Manager and COO Jim Pfander said. “It is an honor to once again be able to bring the best high school players from all around the state to the wonderful community of Akron.”
“Thank you to Doug Ute, Emily Mason and the entire OHSAA staff for bringing this event back to Akron. After our own championship season in 2021, we are excited to see more champions crowned at Canal Park.”
The OHSAA softball state tournament is also held in Akron at nearby Firestone Stadium the first weekend in June, while the baseball state tournament is held the second weekend in June.
“The RubberDucks have been great hosts and we are very excited to continue working with them,” OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute said. “Canal Park is such a fantastic venue and our schools, communities and staff have had a wonderful experience in Akron.”
“The stadium is a perfect fit for our state tournament, and even more importantly, the RubberDucks staff is so great to work with, and they go above and beyond to make the experience special.”
Canal Park features two of the largest dugouts in minor league baseball and indoor batting cages for teams to warm up. Beyond right field is one of the largest video boards in the minor leagues.
In 2022, Canal Park will debut an upgraded seating experience with the replacement and modernization of the seating bowl. Canal Park’s playing surface of Kentucky bluegrass rests on top of three levels of sand, fine peat gravel and a combination of large peat gravel and drainage tiles.
The infield is a mixture of sand and clay, with the track surrounding the playing field is comprised of crushed red brick.