It has been more than two decades since the Hub City hosted the DYB World Series, but Hattiesburg is once again the site for 2023 baseball championship play. Champion baseball teams from 12 southeastern states will travel to Hattiesburg July 27 through Aug. 1 to vie for the DYB World Series AA 8U Division I and II titles at the Larry Doleac Complex at Tatum Park.
In 1998, Hattiesburg made history in serving as the host city for the DYB World Series Majors and AAA divisions. Twenty-five years later, the city is opening its doors for national tournament play in 2023. The series features 22 teams and is expected to attract thousands of spectators to cheer for their hometown players and state.
“We have been keenly focused on expanding and building upon the quality of our public places for the last several years throughout Hattiesburg, including our parks and ballfields. First and foremost, it’s important for us to provide parks and recreational facilities for our local youth and their families to enjoy,” said Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker. “However, our mission expands beyond city limits when we can attract players and their families from multiple states to play at our ballfields. We are looking forward to sharing a warm, friendly welcome to visitors during this special time for our community.”
The festivities start this Thursday, July 27 with opening ceremonies at Pete Taylor Park. The public is invited to attend the opening ceremony from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at no cost. Tournament guests are expected to dine in restaurants, stay in hotels, shop, and enjoy Hattiesburg’s diverse offerings.
“Sports tourism is a huge economic driver for our city. We’ve worked hard to build a solid reputation as excellent hosts for both tournament and championship gameplay. Hattiesburg is a year-round outdoor recreation destination, and we have been actively expanding our sales efforts to secure more large-scale sporting events,” said Marlo Dorsey, executive director/CEO of VisitHATTIESBURG. “Our team was thrilled to learn Hattiesburg was a 2023 host city, and we anticipate it having a multi-million-dollar direct economic impact for the city.”
Additionally, the DYB World Series is a ticketed event open to the public. Tickets can be purchased onsite for individual days or as a weekend pass.
In cooperation with the City of Hattiesburg’s Parks and Recreation Department, officials with Hattiesburg Youth Baseball and VisitHATTIESBURG traveled to North Carolina last summer to make a presentation to the DYB National Board to host an upcoming AA division world series. A few months later, Hattiesburg was announced as the winning proposal.
“It brings great satisfaction to see Hattiesburg going after big things and coming back successful. We swung for the fences on this event and couldn’t be happier to have been selected as a host,” said Freddie Triplett, Hattiesburg Youth Baseball director. “We will share our fields and community with teams from all over the southeast. We have spent several months preparing for each and every player, family, and fan to make incredible memories during their time in Hattiesburg.”
For more details on tickets, game times, bracket play, and ceremonies, visit baseburg.com.
