National Youth Baseball Championship U15 Opens in Weihai

The event features two categories – the Competitive Group and the Club Group – with a total of 35 teams participating. More than 700 athletes, coaches, referees, and support staff are involved in the championship, which will see over 100 group matches and crossover placement games played throughout the week.

The tournament is co-hosted by the Chinese Baseball Association and the China School Sports Federation, and jointly organized by the Shandong Small Ball Sports Federation, the Shandong Baseball and Softball Association, the Weihai Sports Bureau, and the Administration Committee of Weihai Lingang Economic and Technological Development Zone. The Lingang Baseball and Softball Association is responsible for overall operations, with support from the Lingang Education and Sports Service Center, Shandong Blue Whale Baseball & Softball Club, and Shandong Bohong Baseball & Softball Club.

A panel of professional referees, technical officials, and scoring crews from across the country ensures the competition runs at the highest standards. At the opening ceremony, distinguished guests including representatives from the China School Sports Federation, Weihai Education Bureau, Lingang Social Affairs Bureau, Education and Sports Service Center, and the Shandong Baseball and Softball Association were in attendance. Tournament supervisors, baseball experts, team coaches, athletes, and volunteers all joined to mark the start of the event.

As the highest‑level U15 baseball tournament in China, this championship holds dual value for both school‑based sports and elite youth development. It serves as a key platform for national youth baseball exchange, bringing together school teams and club squads to compete and learn from each other. A technical expert group from the Chinese Baseball Association is on site to scout for talent, helping to build the national youth baseball talent pool and further promote the growth of baseball at both campus and community levels across the country.

Following the opening ceremony, the first pitch was thrown, and the competition officially began. Over the next nine days, young players will give their all on the field, demonstrating the spirit of teamwork, perseverance, and sportsmanship that defines youth baseball.