O'Fallon, site of MSHSAA baseball championships, losing the Rascals

O'Fallon is searching for a team to fill CarShield Field for the 2020 season.

PS&J Baseball, LLC, the owners of the River City Rascals, announced Monday in a press release the team will cease operations at the end of the 2019 season.

The Rascals, a member of the independent Frontier League, have played in O'Fallon for the past 21 years.

"Although we are disappointed to hear the Rascals are ceasing operations at the end of the year, we are grateful for 21 years of Rascals baseball, and we wish the players, coaches and front office personnel the best," O'Fallon Mayor Bill Hennessy said. "The team has entertained thousands of O'Fallon residents over the years and will always be a part of our City's rich history. Our staff is already in contact with potential new tenants, and we will begin discussions with them to ensure that our beautiful stadium offers great entertainment for our residents in future years."

According to the press release, the Rascals and O'Fallon had previously agreed to a one-year lease for 2019, "with the intention of working towards a long-term lease."

"We are grateful to the residents and business owners who have supported our organization for the past two decades," Rascals general manager David Schmoll said. "O'Fallon has been a great location for our team over the years, and it will continue to be a great location for minor league baseball in the future."

O'Fallon will begin discussions with other potential tenants for next season.

In addition to the Rascals, the MSHSAA baseball state championships will also be leaving O'Fallon.

Earlier this year, the MSHSAA board of directors announced the state baseball championships will be moved to U.S. Baseball Park in Ozark, beginning in 2021. The five-year agreement will run through 2025.

Next spring will mark the final state championships at CarShield Field, which has hosted the event since 2013.

"We are excited to partner with U.S. Baseball Park and general manager Mark Stratton, the Springfield Sports Commission and the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau," MSHSAA executive director Kerwin Urhahn said in an email. "U.S. Baseball Park is a beautiful facility and will afford our students and communities a great baseball experience."