Iowa High School State Baseball Tournament

DIRECTIONS, PLEASE

Q.	How do I get to Principal Park?
A.	Principal Park is located at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers in downtown Des Moines. For a map, click here. Our mailing address is: Iowa Cubs Principal Park One Line Drive Des Moines IA 50309 Our main phone number is 515.243.6111. Got a question about the state tournament? Send us a note.

FOR YOUR SAFETY

Q.	What are the rules about bringing stuff into Principal Park?
A.	To ensure a safe environment, all items carried into Principal Park are subject to inspection. No food or beverage may be brought into the stadium.

NO SMOKING, PLEASE

Q.	Is smoking permitted inside the stadium?
A.	No. Fans must exit the stadium if they wish to smoke — and buy another ticket to re-enter the stadium. There are no "pass outs" for smokers during the high school tournament.

THAT'S THE TICKET

Q.	How much are tickets to state tournament game?
A.	Tickets are $8 for each session (two games). Children in kindergarten and younger are admitted free. All seats are general admission. Tickets may be purchased at the Principal Park box office.

THE GATES ARE OPEN

Q.	When do the gates open before each session?
A.	The gates will open one hour before the start of each session.

HANDICAPPED SEATING

Q.	Is handicapped seating available?
A.	Handicapped seating is available throughout the stadium. Companion seats are also available. Contact a staff member for assistance. You can purchase handicapped seating at the ticket windows on game day.

FOOD AND DRINK

Q.	Can I bring food and drink into Principal Park?
A.	No. For safety and security reasons, no outside food or drink may be brought into the stadium. All persons entering the stadium are subject to search.

PLANTING SEEDS

How are teams seeded for the tournament?

The Iowa High School Athletic Association seeding system for the state tournament is based on a team’s regular season performance against other Iowa varsity teams. A win over a 4A team earns 4 points; a win over a 3A team earns 3 points, etc. Ties are thrown out and games against out-of-state teams are not counted in the seeding process. (Those games can be counted in a team’s overall record however.) No points are given for losses. Points are tallied and divided by the number of games played. The team with the highest point average gets seed #1; the team with the second-highest point average gets seed #2, etc. It is entirely possible that a team with a record of 24-2 could get out-pointed by a team with a lesser record who recorded wins over teams in higher classes. If two teams tie with the same average, the tie-breakers are (1) head-to-head competition with the winner getting the higher seed; and (2) if no head-to-head for 2009 the school listed first alphabetical would get the higher seed. (For 2010, the team listed last alphabetical in a tie will get the higher seed.)