The Ohio High School Athletic Association and the Akron RubberDucks have announced a partnership to keep the OHSAA baseball state tournament at Akron’s Canal Park for the next three years.
“The RubberDucks have been great hosts and we are very excited to continue working with them,” OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute said via a Friday press release by the OHSAA. “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.”
Since 2019, the state playoffs have been hosted by the 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/COO Jim Pfander said on Friday. “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.”
Canal Park was also home to the RubberDucks’ 2021 championship season, as Akron won the Double-A Northeast title this past September over the Bowie Baysox.