This summer, Cleveland and Gaston Counties aren't just hosting baseball — they're hosting the road to a national championship.

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In a rare convergence, our area will be home to four tournaments that together determine who earns the right to compete for the American Legion World Series title. From state champions to regional winners, every team that sets foot in Shelby in August will compete for the same title, American Legion World Series Champion.

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It starts in Gastonia.

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July 25–29, Sims Park hosts the North Carolina State Tournament, where teams from across the state battle for the title of State Champion — and a shot at what comes next.

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Then the region weighs in.

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August 5–9, the stakes double. Fraley Field in Cherryville hosts the Southeast Regional Tournament, where North Carolina's state champion faces off against winners from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Virginia. Simultaneously, Sims Park in Gastonia hosts the Mid-South Regional Tournament, drawing state champions from Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Two regions. Two venues. One weekend.

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Then they all come to Shelby.

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August 13–18, the American Legion World Series brings together the eight regional champions from across the country to compete for the sport's highest amateur title. For some the journey started here, for all, it ends here.

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Cleveland and Gaston Counties — get ready.

History is heading our way.