The 14th annual 16u WWBA National Championship begins July 7 in the Atlanta area, with reigning-champions East Coast Sox Diamond back to secure a second title.
This tournament will include teams from across the country, with a large portion of the pool hailing from Georgia, Florida and North Carolina. Other states represented are, California, Arizona, Oklahoma, Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Kansas, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina and Alabama. On the international front, there will be a team from Puerto Rico and two from Ontario rounding out the 386 teams participating.
The National Championship will feature 75 of the top-100 ranked players from the class of 2019. Shortstop Rece Hinds leads off at No. 2, with No. 3 outfielder Jerrion Ealy following. Nos. 4-15 – Joseph Charles, Brandon Walker, Riley Greene, Matthew Thompson, Jake Holland, Brennan Malone, Wesley Scott, Hunter Barco, CJ Abrams, Matthew Allan, Judson Fabian and DJ Jefferson– will be in attendance as well.
There will also be a cast of top baseball programs represented, with several committed to Vanderbilt, Virginia, Texas A&M and the 2017 National Champions, Florida. Miami, LSU, Florida State and North Carolina are in the mix as well.
Past champions of this event include: FL Red Wings/Upper Deck Cougars (co-2004), East Cobb Astros (2005), East Cobb Astros (2006), Knoxville Yard (2007), Richmond Braves (2008), Canes Baseball (2009), Canes Baseball (2010), South Florida Elite Squad (2011), TGBA (2012), and Evoshield Canes (2013), BPA Demarini Elite (2014), Tri State Arsenal Showcase 1 (2015), East Coast Sox Diamond (2016).