It’s been more than two decades since the Hub City hosted the Dixie Youth World Series, but Hattiesburg has once again been selected as a site for 2023 baseball championship play.
Champion baseball teams from 11 southeastern states will travel to Hattiesburg July 27 through Aug. 1 to vie for the Dixie Youth World Series Division I and II 8U AA titles.
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 Dixie Youth Baseball National Board to host an upcoming AA division world series. A few months later, Hattiesburg was announced as the winning proposal. World Series games will be hosted at the Larry Doleac Complex at Tatum Park with numerous other events occurring throughout the city for teams to enjoy.
“It brings great satisfaction to see Hattiesburg going after big things and coming back successful. We swung for the fences on this bid and couldn’t be happier to have been selected as a host,” said Freddie Triplett, Hattiesburg Youth Baseball director. “We want to share our fields and community with teams from all over the southeast. We’ll spend the next several months preparing for each and every player, family, and fan to make incredible memories during their time in Hattiesburg.”
In 1998, Hattiesburg made history in serving as the host city for the Dixie Youth 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 more than 20 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.”
‘Baseburg,’ the city’s official bid, included numerous athletic field offerings as well as a strong portfolio of hotel accommodations, dining options, and tourism attractions for players and families outside of game times.
“Sports tourism is a huge economic driver for us. We’ve worked hard to build a solid reputation as excellent hosts for both tournament and championship game play. 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 this proposal won the bid as one of the 2023 host cities, and we anticipate it having a multi-million-dollar direct economic impact for Hattiesburg.”
As the tournament nears, more details will be shared on tickets, game times, bracket play, and ceremonies open to the public. Tournament officials are seeking the community’s help with numerous sponsorship and volunteer opportunities. To keep up with the 2023 Dixie Youth World Series in Hattiesburg, visit baseburg.com.
