One of Northeast Ohio’s favorite Fourth of July baseball traditions is back! The 2026 Bay Village Independence Day Classic will welcome more than 80 teams from 8U through 14U for five days of outstanding youth baseball across Bay Village. Hosted alongside the city’s annual Bay Days celebration, the tournament combines great competition, community spirit, and Independence Day festivities into one unforgettable weekend.
Games will be played throughout the city at Bay High School, Dover Park, Bradley Road Park, and Reese Park, giving fans plenty of opportunities to catch exciting action no matter where they are in town.
Opening Night – Wednesday, July 1
The tournament gets underway Wednesday evening with opening-round games in a few of the divisions.
Several hometown teams will take the field to kick off the weekend, including:
- 8U Gray (Albertini) opens the tournament Wednesday night at Bay High School
- 10U Gray (Lydon) opening against Rocky River
- 11U Blue (Horn) taking on Westlake
- 13U Blue (Linden) faces Avon Lake Gold
The first night sets the stage for a busy holiday weekend as teams from across Northeast Ohio begin their quest for a championship.
Friday Features Full Slate of Baseball
Friday is the busiest day of the tournament, with games beginning as early as 8:00 AM and continuing into the evening across every complex.
Pool play wraps up as teams battle for favorable seeding, with many of the host Bay Village teams taking the field throughout the day:
- 8U Gray continues pool play against Three Outs Academy.
- 9U Blue (Popiolkowski) closes Friday afternoon against Rocky River.
- 10U Lydon squares off with North Olmsted, while 10U Cooke opens the morning against Lakewood Rangers.
- 11U Blue (Horn) meets the Westlake.
- 12U Gray (Gates) and 13U Blue (Moser) each have two games.
- 13U Blue (Linden) takes on NMC Baseball before bracket play begins.
- 14U Gray (Goodman) battles Lyndhurst Thunder, with the division finishing pool play later Friday afternoon.
Every game matters as teams fight to earn the highest possible seed entering Saturday’s championship brackets.
Championship Saturday
Saturday shifts into elimination play, where every inning becomes more important.
Across nearly every division:
- Morning games begin at 8:00 AM
- Championship brackets start by mid-morning
- Teams will battle through quarterfinal and semifinal matchups
- Consolation games ensure every team continues competing throughout the holiday weekend
Fans can spend the entire day moving between Bay High School, Dover Park, Bradley Road Park, and Reese Park, watching some of the area’s top travel baseball programs compete for a place in Sunday’s finals.
Championship Sunday
Champions will be crowned throughout the day on Sunday as the tournament reaches its conclusion.
Featured championship games include:
- 8U Championship – 2:00 PM at Bay High School – Softball
- 9U Championship – 12:00 PM at Reese Park
- 10U Championship – 6:00 PM at Reese Park & 6:00 PM at Bradley Road Park – Bradley North
- 11U Championship – 12:00 PM at Bradley Road Park – Bradley North & Bradley South
- 12U Championship – 4:00 PM at Bradley Road Park – Bradley South
- 13U Championship – 12:00 PM & 4:00 PM at Bay High School – JV
- 14U Championship – 4:00 PM at Bay High School – Varsity
With championship trophies on the line, Sunday’s games promise some of the most exciting baseball of the entire weekend.
A Weekend of Baseball and Community
Whether you’re cheering on a hometown Bay Village team, following your favorite travel program, or simply looking to enjoy great baseball during the Fourth of July holiday, the Bay Village Independence Day Classic offers something for everyone.
Between outstanding competition, beautiful facilities, and the excitement of Bay Days taking place throughout the city, it’s the perfect way to celebrate Independence Day weekend.
We look forward to welcoming players, families, and fans to Bay Village for another memorable Independence Day Classic. Good luck to every team, and we’ll see you at the ballpark!
