ATLANTA (July 31, 2023) – The Atlanta Braves are launching Braves Country Baseball and Softball, a youth organization that will provide league and all-star tournament play for children 5-12 years old. Launching in March 2024, the new program will increase participation in baseball and softball play at the local level. Braves Country Baseball and Softball will consist of Spring season league play. Children will then have a chance to represent their local communities in district, regional, and state tournaments. All roads will lead to Atlanta for the Braves Country Championships to be held at the end of June. Braves Country champions will be crowned in each age group in baseball and softball.

“We are launching Braves Country Baseball and Softball to help create access to high quality baseball and softball play at the local level,” said Greg McMichael, Atlanta Braves Senior Director of Alumni Relations and Growing the Game. “With current partners across Georgia and Alabama, the Braves aim to launch this new program with youth baseball associations in every state across Braves Country.”

“The path to becoming a great player starts with a dream and is fulfilled through sweat and hard work! But none of that will ever develop if a child doesn’t first connect with the sport. That connection to the dream is cultivated at the recreational baseball park. Unfortunately, rec baseball has lost its prestige and the rec parks are seeing the effects of decreased enrollment and mass exits to play academy baseball,” said Chay Chauncey, President Oregon Park Baseball Association, West Cobb. “Oregon Park remains dedicated to growing the love of the game through rec baseball. Who better to partner with than the Atlanta Braves?”

Participating members of Braves Country Baseball and Softball so far include:

• Wills Park and Webb Bridge Park/ Alpharetta Youth Baseball Association in Fulton County, GA
• Acworth Sports Complex/ Acworth Baseball Association in Cobb County, GA
• Fullers Park/ East Side Baseball Association in Cobb County, GA
• Bell Memorial Park/ Hopewell Youth Association in Fulton County, GA
• Morgan Falls Athletic Complex/ Sandy Springs Youth Sports in Fulton County, GA
• George Pierce Park/North Gwinnett Baseball and Softball Association in Gwinnett County, GA
• Harbins Park/ Archer Athletic Association in Gwinnett County, GA
• Hobgood Park/ Cherokee Parks and Recreation Association in Cherokee County, GA
• Bethesda Park, Brookwood Baseball and Softball Association In Gwinnett County, GA
• Oregon Park/ Oregon Park Baseball Association in Cobb County, GA
• Southside Sports Complex/ City of Atlanta Parks and Recreation in Fulton County, GA
• Powder Springs Park/ Powder Springs Youth Baseball in Cobb County, GA
• Mount Paran North in Cobb County, GA
• Gresham Park/ Gresham Park Baseball and Softball Association in Dekalb County, GA
• Sandtown Park/ Sandtown Youth Sports Association in Fulton County, GA
• Alabama Recreation and Parks Association, representing 92 parks across the state

Visit www.Braves.com/BCBS to learn more about Braves Country Baseball and Braves Country Softball.