Rain, rain, go away!

It’s been three strikes this week and District 20 officials feel like they’ve struck out with their luck.

More rain Friday forced the cancellation of games around the Illinois Valley, affecting six tournament sites.

The tournaments are under tight schedules and District 20 assistant administrator Max Lauritzen said Mother Nature is just not cooperating. Lauritzen received approval from Central Region Headquarters in Indianapolis to play doubleheaders in the lower divisions, such as the 11- and 12-year-old Little League.

He said the district can make their own decisions for doubleheaders at the Junior and Senior League levels.

The district needs to have its champions crowned and move on to the sectional level which starts Friday or Saturday. The grayest area is the Little League Baseball division, whose sub-district tournaments are underway in Princeton (American) and Ottawa (National). The winners of those two divisions will meet for the district title this coming week in Spring Valley, in a possible two out of three series if both teams are undefeated.

The worse-case scenario, Lauritzen said, “would be me flipping a coin to see who’s going to sectionals.” He has had to do that before, he said.

With more rainouts, Lauritzen said he would be forced to go single-elimination.

There will be no days off between sub-district and championship. Lauritzen is hopeful to give the district champ a day off before sectionals.

Welcome to District 20: District 20 teams will find a newcomer playing in the Minor League 9- and 10-year-old baseball tournament in Spring Valley next week. Pekin, which is new to Little League, is a part of the District 20 boundaries though it is a long drive away from its closest competitor.

Lauritzen said Peoria has also showed interest in joining Little League Baseball and playing in the District 20 tournament. Peoria is currently played in non-sanctioned Little League Baseball events.

There is a strong chance, Lauritzen said, District 20 will realign divisions next year, moving Mendota from the National to the American side to insert Pekin and Peoria perhaps to the National side, which is further south.

Big League Baseball: District 20 picked a good year to restart its Big League Baseball program for 17- and 18-year-old boys. With the other sectional team unable to field a team, the District 20 squad advances straight to the state tournament in Oglesby, starting Saturday.