‘More than a baseball tournament’

Marlton Baseball and Evesham Township experienced a spark like no other from Aug. 18 to 22 as they welcomed teams from across the United States and around the world to South Jersey for the 2026 Cal Ripken 8U World Series. Eleven teams from across the country competed alongside international teams representing Mexico, Curaçao, Bonaire and Latin America, bringing the excitement of a global sporting event to local families.

“This is more than a baseball tournament,” said Scott Hillman, host president of the 2026 Cal Ripken 8U World Series. “It’s an opportunity for our community to welcome families from around the world, create lifelong memories for these young athletes, and showcase everything that makes Marlton such a special place.”

Tournament play started on Aug. 18 with a full schedule of games. International teams featured throughout Opening Day included Mexico vs. Denville; Curaçao vs. Lowell Youth; Bonaire vs. Marlton Orange; Latin America vs. Tri-Village; and Mexico vs. Marlton White. Opening ceremonies that same day brought participating teams together to officially kick off the World Series and celebrate the players, communities and countries represented in Marlton.

“We know that this is a commitment, and when a child picks up a sport to play, it is not just the child who plays, it is everyone who is there to help support them, to get them to the next level and to celebrate all the things that they do,” said Evesham Township Mayor Jaclyn Veasy. “We know that this is the best community in New Jersey, the best community in the United States, so welcome to Marlton, and we’re so glad to have all of you.”

The championship game on Aug. 22 closed out the big event, and acted as a chance for friends and family to recognize the tournament’s teams and champions. Teams that competed included the Springfield Babe Ruth League from Delaware County, PA; the Queensbury Cal Ripken League from Queensbury, NY; the Spring-Ford Cal Ripken League from Royersford, PA; the Maple Shade Cal Ripken League from Maple Shade, NJ; the Lowell Youth Cal Ripken League from Lowell, MA; the Latin American Babe Ruth League from Latin America (Latin America International); the Tri-Village Cal Ripken League from Bethlehem, NY; the Marlton ‘White’ Cal Ripken League from Marlton, NJ; the Curaçao Babe Ruth League from Curaçao; the Mexico Babe Ruth League from Mexico; the Bonaire Babe Ruth League from Bonaire; the Denville Babe Ruth League from Denville, NJ; the Warrington Babe Ruth League from Warrington, PA; the GVAA Babe Ruth League from Voorhees, NJ; and the Marlton ‘Orange’ Cal Ripken League from Marlton, NJ.

Anthony Latini and T.J. Amato of the Marlton ‘White’ Cal Ripken League both love to be on the field playing with their friends, and they, along with their teammates, learn something new with every season.

“I learned how to pitch better,” Amato said.

“We learned how to pitch better, how to hit better, how to catch better,” Latini said.

Greg Amato not only coaches the Marlton Chiefs Travel Baseball program, but he’s also the head coach of the Marlton ‘White’ Cal Ripken League for the 2026 Cal Ripken 8U World Series. The biggest thing that he’s seen throughout the series is the players overcoming adversity and being able to deal with pressure at a young age. It’s also been amazing for him to see them grow with confidence, he shared. Greg has been coaching for Marlton Baseball for four years and although he was initially hesitant to step into the role, he did so and after that he was hooked.

“It brought back the game of baseball that I’ve come to love, and it made me feel like a kid again, and it made me feel very good to be able to teach the kids everything I’ve learned throughout the years playing baseball,” Greg said. “The coolest thing is playing with the international teams. Seeing their culture and their love of baseball helps you understand how global this game is. This is a global game and there’s a love for it all over the world and just seeing that come alive, seeing the spirit of these other teams, it’s just been an absolute treat. The kids are having fun, so it’s been quite an experience, and it seems like the fans and the kids and the siblings are just loving being here this weekend.”