Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Shelby, NC (WNN) - Veterans’ Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, NC, will be the site of the 99th American Legion World Series beginning August 13, 2026, and concluding with the crowning of a champion on August 18. This year’s eight regional champions provided some of the most competitive tournaments in recent memory. Only one team, Whitehouse, NJ Post 284, went undefeated throughout their regional. Several teams came out of the elimination bracket and had to win a doubleheader to clinch the title. In contrast, the others had to defeat two opponents on Championship Sunday to advance. This year, the Southeast and Mid-South regional tournaments were held in nearby Cherryville and Gastonia, NC. The winners elected to stay in the area and arrive in Shelby early. All eight teams will arrive by late Tuesday or early Wednesday and enjoy special events hosted by the host city as they meet their opponents and settle in for their championship quests.
Fans planning to attend the games have several ticket options. A 15-game pass may be purchased for $35 online or at the gate. Single-day adult passes are available for $10 and are valid all day. Single-day student passes are $5 and are also good for the entire day. Single-day passes are only available at the gate. Children under 5 are free with a paying adult. Limited-reserve seating is $60, and limited box seats are $75.
Several promotions are going on during the week. Opening day on Thursday is Senior Citizens Day; those 55 and older have free admission. Friday is Salute to Academic Achievement; Saturday is USAA Military Appreciation Day, with veterans and active military personnel admitted free; Sunday is Youth Athletic Day; Monday is Healthcare Appreciation Day; and Tuesday is Championship Tuesday, normally including some special pregame entertainment.
This tournament is set up slightly differently from regional tournaments. The ALWS incorporates a pool-play and double-elimination combination instead of a straight double-elimination format. This guarantees at least three games per team. The eight teams are divided into two divisions: the Stars and Stripes. The four teams will play each other in their division in a pool-style competition August 13-16. All 12 of these games will be streamed on ESPN+. The semifinals will be played on August 17, and the Championship will be on August 18. The final two rounds will be available on ESPNU. These apps are available through cable companies and the ESPN website. If you do not subscribe to ESPN, you can follow live updates (text only, no video) on the American Legion World Series free app or at Legion.org/baseball. Also, KTCbroadcasting.com will be carrying each game on its website, as well as on WOHS and WCSL radio.
The Expos enter with a record of 40-22-1 and had to knock off 4-time regional champion, League City, Texas, to advance to the ALWS. They scored 4 runs in the top of the seventh with two outs and no one on base. As if that feat is not incredible enough, they accomplished it with a 15-year-old pitcher who took control of the 4-3 victory. Maddox Ruiz pitched an MVP long relief effort, going 5 innings, allowing only 4 hits, 1 run, 1 strikeout, and walking none. This will be their third trip to the World Series, first in Shelby. Previous appearances were in 1993 and 1997. Fairfield takes their baseball very seriously. Longtime manager, Brad Hanson, designed the Expos multimillion-dollar baseball complex at Laurel Creek Park. The complex was fully funded and built by the Fairfield Expos Baseball Association (FEBA).
Whitehouse is 35-4; they went through their regional undefeated. Manager Steve Farsiou is getting incredible production from his team this season. They earned their berth to the regionals by knocking off powerhouse Brooklawn Post 72 in dominant fashion with a 15-3 win in the state finals. During the past 15 seasons, they boast a record of 458-64-2. This includes 13 league championships, 13 district championships, 2 state titles, 4 state runners-up, and 3 regional appearances. They were originally established as Fleming Post 159; after that post ceased to exist in 2018, they were sponsored by Whitehouse Post 284.
This is their third regional Championship over the last 4 seasons. During the 2023 ALWS Championship game, they notched their 100th game that season. Another milestone that year was their establishment as the “One-Hit Miracles,” becoming the first team in ALWS history to win a game with only 1 hit. Garrett Springer was the man at the plate to deliver a 2-run base hit to win the semifinal game. Post 500 comes in with several monikers, and for good reason: they wish to pay homage to their heritage. Originally, they were the Carpet Land Rugs under coach Mychal Lanik for many years. They first achieved national success at Lincoln Post 3 and were nicknamed the Carpet Land Spartans at the time. They recently transitioned to Post 500 while keeping their historical identity. Part of that identity includes 3 state titles and 3 Central Plains titles in 4 years. They had to battle through 4 games in just 48 hours to advance from the elimination bracket to regional champions this season.
Dan Cronkright manages the 2009 national champions and is no stranger to Shelby and the ALWS. They hold the record for the most appearances in the American Legion World Series since it became the permanent home in 2011. They are making their 10th appearance and 4th in the last 5 years. The post is named in honor of Chester Wallace Berryhill. He was a Midland native who became the very first casualty from Midland County during World War 1. He died in Arkhangelsk, Russia, as part of the famous “polar bear expedition,” an unusual and often overlooked American military intervention.
The 49ers are 24-5-1 and picked up their 20th state title this season. This will be their first ALWS appearance since 2021. Head coach Russell Bunch has stated that this team is the deepest-hitting lineup he has ever coached. They averaged 10.7 runs per game during the state and won several dominant games during the regionals. As should be expected, with that much success comes players eventually making Major League Baseball rosters. Brian Dozier of the Minnesota Twins and Mitch Moreland of the Boston Red Sox are former 49er teammates. Also finding a home in MLB has been all-star Brandon Woodruff of the Milwaukee Brewers and pitcher Chris Stratton, who has played with several teams.
This is a very young team, established in 2022, that plays like a seasoned veteran. At 28-1, Jacksonville’s only loss came in an early regional matchup against Florence, SC, Post 1. That lone loss forced Jacksonville to battle its way out of the elimination bracket to claim the Southeast title. The third time was a charm for “the snakes,” as they were making their third straight regional appearance after being Florida state champions in 2024, 2025, and 2026. Coach Cory Goff’s team had to play two games on Championship Sunday, the first a rematch with Florence, SC, that resulted in a 5-3 victory for the Rattlers, and an 11-7 win over the NC champion, Garner Nationals. Post 316 is officially located in Atlantic Beach, Florida, and should not be confused with the other historically successful Jacksonville teams of Posts 9 and 88. They might be the new kids on the block, but they are quickly making their presence felt in the Sunshine State.
They repeated as NH state champions and are currently 26-1. An impressive feat considering this team was just resurrected 5 years ago after a dormant period. Bedford uses a “pitch by committee” approach instead of starting their ace and letting him reach his max. Most of the season, they have used their staff in short stints to keep a fresh arm on the mound and avoid maxing out any pitcher. This keeps someone with eligibility available should the need arise. It is also very effective in tournaments. This was a needed strategy as they face previously unbeaten Essex, Vermont, in the regional finals. They entered Championship Sunday needing to win a doubleheader. That is exactly what they did as they dominated, eliminating Essex and winning 10-1 and 12-3.
The Barbers were established in 2010 and, during that time, have compiled a record of nearly 500 wins for a winning percentage of .735. This season, they are 39-6-1. During this span, 150 players have gone on to play in college. Post 158 won the Oregon state championship in 2023, 2025, and 2026. They were Northwest Regional champions in 2025 and 2026. They have dominated Area 2, winning the title from 2011 to 2018 and from 2021 to 2024. Joe Duran is in his 16th season coaching the Barbers.
There had been no Portland team in the ALWS until 2025, and the Barbers captured a third-place finish. This year, they had to win two games on Championship Sunday. They defeated Honolulu 3-2 and Lewiston, Idaho, 8-7. This type of gutsy resilience is due in part to the old-school approach Portland takes to earning a roster spot. Instead of a pay-and-play system that has become popular in recent years, they put prospects through a rigorous tryout in which they must perform to earn their spot. They employ what is commonly known as a traditional, community-first meritocracy. This style pays homage to the founding principles of American Legion Baseball.
The two divisions are the stars and stripes. Pool play within the two divisions begins Thursday, August 13. Game 1 is at 10 am and features Bedford, NH v/s Midland, MI. At 1:00 pm is Game 2 between Lincoln, NE, and Fairfield, CA. Game 3 is at 4:00 pm, matching Jacksonville, FL v/s Portland, OR. Game 4 at 7:30 pm concludes the day, with Whitehouse, NJ vs. Tupelo, MS. The Stars division consists of Bedford, NH; Jacksonville, FL; Midland, MI; and Portland, OR. The Stripes is made up of Whitehouse, NJ, Tupelo, MS, Lincoln, NE, and Fairfield, CA.
If you are attending the games, there are ATMs on site, and most vendors accept debit cards and cash. Souvenirs and concessions are readily available to make your visit enjoyable and memorable. Many first-time out-of-state visitors are intrigued by such local favorites as liver mush sandwiches and Sundrop slushies. More common favorites are also available. A reminder that late summers in the south can get dangerously hot at times. The forecast is for low to mid-90s, which means heat indexes will probably surpass triple digits, so be mindful to stay hydrated, take advantage of the air-conditioned cooling tent if needed, and you will want to bring sunscreen and a small hand towel to wipe off your seating area in case of pop-up rain showers that are common during extremely hot summer days. The stadium has plenty of covered grandstand areas and overhead fans to keep you cool. If you enjoy highly skilled, competitive baseball, then Shelby is the place for you to be. You might be witnessing the play of a future MLB Hall of Famer, at the very least, highly skilled young athletes playing their hearts out. The only thing left to say is, PLAY BALL!
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