My opinion of what the IHSA should do.
The 2 options that I have come up with are as follows: (I use this years 4A class and dates as a model with 165 teams)
IDEA #1
May 20/21- The lowest seeded 74 teams would play a single elimination game. I have added the 21st as a rain date.
May 22/23- Now with 128 teams remaining they would all play another single elimination game. Top teams that should advance probably will if they use their #1 while the other teams just survived the day before and have to go one slot lower on the rung. (We now have 64 teams remaining)
May 24/25/27-Memorial Day weekend- 64 teams will play the best out of 3 series. Friday would be game 1, Saturday games 2 and 3 unless both coaches agree that with good weather they'd play game 3 on Monday. Again, an extra day in case of rain outs. (32 teams remain)
May 28/29/30- Best 2 of 3. I know I'll get blasted with the potential rainout theory. An alternative field can be decided prior to the series, etc. This can be worked out no doubt.
(We are now down to 16 teams)
May 31/June 1/3- Best 2 of 3 with 8 winners advancing. Theoretically this series could start on Saturday with a DH if the prior series is still going on.
June 4/5/6- 4 sets of 2 teams play the best of 3. If school is out for all those playing this shouldn't be a problem.
June 7/8- State Final Four- 4 team double elimination bracket- Friday games 10, 1, 4, 7 Saturday 10, 1 and if game 4. 3A and 4A will be at different sites which could help the IHSA. More people might decide to go if they're guaranteed to see their school play 2 games that first day.
IDEA #2
I actually like this idea more than the other.
May 20-21- The 74 lowest seeded teams play a single elimination game to put the tournament at 128 teams.
May 22-27- 32 Regionals with 4 teams play a double elimination tournament. There would need to be 2 different sites for the early games. You'd want 2 games on Wed and 2 games on Thurs which would most likely mean 2 sites. With Monday being Memorial day there's no doubt this thing can get done with on time even with a lot of rain. 32 teams remain.
May 28-June 1- 8 Sectionals (using IHSA terms) with 4 teams. Same amount of days as the week before but with out 2 days where you could start play early due to no school. 8 teams remain.
June 3/4/5- 4 Super Sectionals with the best 2 out of 3 series. Winners advance to the State Final Four.
June 7/8- 4 teams, double elimination tournament. If rain, it finishes up on Monday.
Tear me up how you wish.
Both of your options are pretty good. I just don't see IHSA changing baseball when every other "State Series" is a one and done format. All you have to do is convince a majority of the principals who vote on these things to vote to change it, as it would be in the best interest of all of the member schools, their student-athletes, and the IHSA itself. I think it would be a long uphill climb. And what I meant in the earlier post about enjoying it, is just that. IHSA is a long entrenched bureaucracy, it doesn't change rapidly, and the high school years/seasons go by in a hurry. Most time, the angst you describe is attributed to the smaller schools, where their community identity is tied closely to the high school sports teams, local/regional bragging rights, etc., not the 4A giant schools, where there are so many other things in the community that high school sports are not that well attended, or even noticed. It hurts, but a state championship is not an end all, be all, or at least is shouldn't be. Good luck.