Thirty-some former ALB players dot the rosters of the eight teams vying for the national championship.
A field that includes five teams from the SEC — and American Legion Baseball alumni on each of the eight teams overall — will compete in the College World Series beginning Friday, June 12, at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb.
The schedule (all times Eastern and on ESPN unless noted, subject to change):
June 12
Game 1: West Virginia vs. Troy, 2 p.m.
Game 2: North Carolina vs. Ole Miss, 7 p.m.
June 13
Game 3: Alabama vs. Oklahoma, 3 p.m.
Game 4: Georgia vs. Texas, 8 p.m.
June 14
Game 5: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 2 p.m.
Game 6: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7 p.m.
June 15
Game 7: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m.
Game 8: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 7 p.m.
June 16
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 2 p.m.
Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 8 p.m.
June 17
Game 11: Game 6 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 2 p.m.
Game 12: Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 7 p.m.
June 18 (if necessary)
TBD, if necessary to decide final two teams
Best-of-three championship series
Game 1: 8 p.m. June 20.
Game 2: 2:30 p.m. June 21 (ABC).
Game 3: 7 p.m. June 22 if necessary.
The final eight teams
West Virginia (45-15). The Mountaineers routed Cal Poly in the Morgantown Super Regional, 12-2 and 17-1. Senior OF Ben Lumsden (Greer (S.C.) Post 115) went 4-for-9 with 7 RBIs in the two games to raise his season batting average to .280. Sophomore RHP Chansen Cole (Inman (S.C.) Post 45) improved to 10-1 on the season with his 2-run, 8-hit victory in the Super Regional opener.
Troy (38-30). The Trojans earned the school’s first College World Series appearance with a sweep of Little Rock in the Troy Super Regional, 12-2 and 7-2. Sophomore OF Houston Markham (Troy (Ala.) Post 70) batted 4-for-7 in the two games, raising his season batting average to .324.
North Carolina (50-12-1). Including this year’s College World Series, 23 schools have filled the 24 spots over the last three years. The only program to make it to Omaha twice in that span is the Tar Heels, after they rallied from an opening loss to USC in the Chapel Hill Super Regional. Junior SS Jake Schaffner (Janesville (Wis.)) tied the deciding game with a sac fly in the bottom of the ninth, one inning after junior C Macon Winslow (Perquimans Co. (N.C.)) hit an RBI double to cut USC’s lead to 3-2.
Ole Miss (41-21). The Rebels swept SEC rival and Super Regional host Auburn to advance. Senior OF Tristan Bissetta (Greer (S.C.) Post 115) hit a solo home run to pad his team’s lead in the final.
Alabama (42-19). The Crimson Tide swept St. John’s to win the Tuscaloosa Super Regional. Redshirt junior RHP Tyler Fay (Grand Island (Neb.)) earned one of those victories with 7 1/3 innings of two-hit shutout ball, striking out nine.
Oklahoma (38-22). The Sooners outscored host Kansas 21-3 in two games to sweep the Lawrence Super Regional. Senior OF Trey Gambill (Lone Peak (Utah)) homered in each of the victories. Freshman RHP Xander Mercurius (Southern Nevada) allowed one run on three hits in four innings against Kansas in the clinching win.
Georgia (51-12). The Bulldogs outslugged SEC rival Mississippi State to win the Athens Super Regional, 13-12 and 11-9 (10 innings).
Texas (45-13). The Longhorns swept Oregon in the Austin Super Regional. Junior RHP Thomas Burns (Hortonville (Wis.) Post 55) pitched in both games, earning the win in the clincher with one inning of relief, allowing no runs or hits. Redshirt senior OF Dariyan Pendergrass (Florence (S.C.) Post 1) notched an RBI when he was hit by a pitch in the opening win.
See regular-season stats for other American Legion Baseball players on the eight finalists at https://www.legion.org/information-center/news/baseball/2026/june/legion-baseball-alumni-chasing-shot-at-college-world-series.
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