The inaugural Ripken National Championships will wrap up on July 4, 2026 in the historic village of Cooperstown, New York, where the nation’s top 12‑under youth baseball squads will clash in a bid for the first ever national title. The tournament brings together 16 of the best teams, each having earned a spot through a combination of regional competition and a special qualifier event.
A Milestone Event for Youth Baseball
Semifinal games are scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. Eastern Time, followed by a second semifinal at 3 p.m., both streaming live on CBS Sports Network. The championship game will immediately follow, capping a day of high‑stakes play that will be broadcast to millions of viewers across the country.
Beyond the games, the event serves as a crucial preview for the upcoming Little League World Series, offering young athletes a national stage to showcase their talent and potentially attract scouts and college recruiters. Organizers emphasize that the tournament provides a significant opportunity for the development of the next generation of baseball stars.
The competition was created by baseball veterans Cal Ripken and Billy Ripken, who envisioned a national platform that would highlight the best youth talent from across the United States. Regional qualifiers kicked off in March, narrowing the field to the 16 teams now set to compete in Cooperstown.