PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2026

CVB Contact: Scott Bruscato
Phone: 318.387.5691
E-mail: sbruscato@monroe-westmonroe.org

Youth Baseball Teams Across Seven States to Compete in Monroe During 2026 Babe Ruth Southwest Regional Tournament

MONROE-WEST MONROE, La. ─ The Southwest Region of Babe Ruth League, Inc. is partnering with Discover Monroe-West Monroe (DMWM), Sterlington Sports Complex and Ouachita Sportsplex for the 2026 Southwest Regional Tournament on July 8-12, 2026.

Sixty-five (65) teams and 700 players across seven states will compete for the championship title.

The Southwest Regional Babe Ruth Tournmanent Opening Ceremonies will be held on July 8 at the West Monroe Sports and Events facility at 6 p.m.

The Opening Ceremonies will feature the tournament’s first-ever Duck Call Derby. DMWM is inviting coaches from each age division to go on stage and show off their best duck call. The competition will include two rounds, with judges from Duck Commander helping select the ultimate Duck Call Derby Champion. The winning coach and their entire team will receive custom duck calls!

Fans will see players from the following divisions: 7YO Coach Pitch, 8YO Coach Pitch (‘27 WS Qualifier), 9YO (‘27 WS Qualifier), 10YO (‘26 WS Qualifier), 11YO Major70 (‘26 WS Qualifier), 12YO Major70 (‘26 WS Qualifier), 13YO (‘26 WS Qualifier), 14YO (‘26 WS Qualifier) and 13-16YO (‘26 WS Qualifier).

This tournament is expected to bring in 1500 spectators and produce an estimated economic impact of $1.1 million for Ouachita Parish – fully selling out all hotels this weekend.

About Discover Monroe-West Monroe

Discover Monroe-West Monroe promotes Ouachita Parish as a destination for leisure travel, conventions, meetings and sporting events, creating a positive economic impact for our local community through increased visitor spending and sales tax collections. For more information about Discover Monroe-West Monroe, visit https://www.monroe-westmonroe....