When the Richland Bombers and Kamiakin Braves punched their ticket to the state baseball semifinals this past spring, the road to the final four took them to Tacoma's Cheney Stadium.
Should they make it back to the final four in 2012, their trip would be significantly shorter.
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association announced Wednesday that Pasco's Gesa Stadium will host the Class 4A and 3A state semifinals and finals May 25-26.
Seattle's Safeco Field, which hosted the 4A and 3A semifinals and finals from 2006-10, and Tacoma's Cheney Stadium are occupied that weekend.
The Seattle Mariners will face the Los Angeles Angels as part of a seven-game homestand, while the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers will host the Tucson Padres.
Gesa Stadium snagged the state games with the help of Richland athletic director Mike Edwards; Tim Gittel, the Tri-City Dust Devils' vice president of business operations; and Hector Cruz of the Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau.
Other venues rumored to be under consideration were Gonzaga University and Everett Memorial Stadium.
"Community-supported baseball is big here, and the WIAA was impressed by how excited we are to host it," said Edwards, who also cited parking availability and easy access in and out of the 3,700-seat Gesa Stadium as key factors in the WIAA's decision.
The upcoming year is shaping up to be a busy one in terms of prep championship action in the Tri-Cities.
Defending 1A state softball champion Connell hopes to be one of the teams vying for the title May 25-26 at Columbia Playfield in Richland.
In the fall, volleyball fans might see the return of state tournament action to the Toyota Center in Kennewick.
The WIAA decided last winter to move the 4A and 3A tournaments to Saint Martin's University in Lacey and the 2A tournament to The Evergreen State College in Olympia.
But according to a blog by Doug Pacey of The (Tacoma) News Tribune, the tournaments will be moved unless changes are made.
"Whether or not we're back at Evergreen is a big 'if,' " said Cindy Adsit, the WIAA assistant executive director in charge of volleyball. "If the courts are put side-to-side, we won't be going back."
The timing worked out well for Gesa Stadium to host the state baseball games, which could move back to the west side in 2013.
"Anything closer to our Dust Devils opening day of June 15 probably wouldn't have worked," Gittel said. "But with Memorial Day weekend, we will have all our staff in place and will be able to provide a good experience."
Traveling and competing at a big-league ballpark holds major appeal for high school players, but the excitement could be somewhat muted this spring for any Tri-City teams that might make the final four.
"When it's in your backyard, it doesn't seem as special," Edwards said. "But if you can do it in front of home fans and win a state title, it will be something you never forget."
