USA Baseball 16U Championships-East Returns to Palm Beach County for its 9th Consecutive Year

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission and USA Baseball are proud to announce the return of America's premier amateur baseball tournament for athletes 15-16 years of age. The USA Baseball 16U Championships-East, returns to Palm Beach County for its 9th consecutive year beginning on Saturday, June 20th and concluding with its championship game the following Saturday, June 27th. The games will be held at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter and Santaluces Athletic Complex in Lantana. Games will begin at 8am each day.

The East and West Championships are conducted simultaneously in Palm Beach County and Tucson, Arizona. Both events field 72 teams and approximately 1,400 athletes from over 26 different states. Through these Championships, USA Baseball will continue to provide an opportunity for 144 teams to showcase their ability against teams from all across the country as well as provide the exclusive opportunity for players to be considered for the 16U National Team.

"The event fills rooms at more than 15 hotels in Palm Beach County and generates over 3,000 room nights each year," stated Gerry Baron, Sports Commission Executive Director. "Roger Dean Stadium is noted in the baseball industry as one of the premier facilities in the U.S. to host this kind of event. It is the only complex outside of Arizona with so many world-class fields in one location. The Town of Jupiter, the Jupiter Tequesta Athletic Association, the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department and the Santaluces Athletic Complex in Lantana all commit valuable assistance to make this event happen. This tournament is a great example of the community working together to showcase Palm Beach County as a sports tourism destination. Even better, it's held when our tourism industry needs the support, it being the summer season."

The USA Baseball 16U Championships is a grassroots development program. This tournament is used as an exclusive selection vehicle for the Youth National Team Trials. At least 36 individuals are selected from the tournament's collection of players. Those 36 individual athletes move through a 10-day training camp where they then compete for selection spots on an 18-man roster. The 2009 Youth National Team will compete in the Confederation of Pan American Baseball (COPABE) ‘AA' Pan Am Youth American Championships.

For more information contact Jeff Singer via email at jeffsinger@usabaseball.com.

About the Palm Beach County Sports Commission
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is a private, not-for-profit organization contracted by Palm Beach County to promote and market the County as a sports and sports tourism destination. The Commission brings sporting events and activities to the County, enhances economic impact, stimulates bed tax revenues (primarily in the off-season), and maximizes utilization of County facilities. The Commission offers a full range of event service support, corporate partnerships, sponsorships and a local membership program that support its goals. Local, regional, national and international marketing efforts are ongoing by the Commission with sports organizations and event owners. The Commission also produces sports-related programs for the residents of Palm Beach County including the annual Lou Groza Awards program, the Sports Hall of Fame, the Kids' Fitness Festival and awards the annual Sam Budnyk Student-Athlete Scholarship. For more information on the Palm Beach County Sports Commission go to www.palmbeachsports.com.