Youth Baseball World Tournament Postponed Until 2022

SARASOTA, FL — A youth baseball world championship scheduled to take place in Sarasota and Bradenton in September has been postponed to 2022 because of the ongoing pandemic.

The World Baseball Softball Confederation’s Under 18 Baseball World Cup was scheduled Sept. 10-19 at Sarasota’s Ed Smith Stadium and Bradenton’s LECOM Park, USA Baseball, the national governing body for amateur baseball, said in a news release.

The new 2022 dates will be announced at a later time, the agency said.

All tickets purchased September’s event will be refunded. Updated ticketing information will be provided when the rescheduled dates are announced.

There’s been a recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Florida. From July 16-22, more than 73,000 new cases were reported, and the state saw a new case positivity rate of 15.1 percent, according to the Florida Department of Health's COVID-19 Weekly Situation Report.

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari said the tournament’s rescheduling is “the best and safest course of action.”

While the postponement is “disappointing…it is taken with the safety of all participants in mind,” he added. “I am confident that our U.S. hosts next year will be able to deliver a fantastic U-18 Baseball World Cup, where fans can fill the stadiums and cheer on their favorite National Teams, building upon the wave of momentum for our sport following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.”

The WBSC awarded the hosting rights for the tournament to the United States, and to Bradenton and Sarasota specifically, because of the region’s reputation for hosting international and youth sports competitions, including the 2017 World Rowing Championships and the 2017-2018 International Triathlon World Cups.

“We are disappointed to postpone welcoming what will be one of the premier baseball events in the world to our home soil; however, we fully support the decision in light of the continued impact the coronavirus pandemic is having around the globe,” Paul Seiler, USA Baseball’s Executive Director and CEO, said.

He added, “Ultimately, it is about protecting the health and safety of the players, coaches, and staff, as well as the local communities in Florida, and this decision allows us to achieve that to the best of our abilities. We will continue to move forward and be ready to host a truly spectacular event in front of our home fans next year.”