Play For Those Who Served
🗓 June 5–6 & June 12–13, 2027 📍 Frederick, MD ⚾ 8U – 17+

The flagship that started it all — two weekends of baseball played in honor of those who serve. Three championship brackets for most age groups, military-theme team trophies, individual dog tags, and tournament pins for every player and coach.

Two weekends, split by age group — your age plays one of them. See the breakdown below.

Two weekends · pick your age

When does your team play?

The Armed Forces SlugFest runs over two June weekends in Frederick, MD. Age groups are split between them, so find your age and mark your weekend.

Weekend One

June 5–6, 2027

Saturday & Sunday · Frederick, MD

8U 9U 11U 13U 15U 17U
Weekend Two

June 12–13, 2027

Saturday & Sunday · Frederick, MD

8U 10U 12U 14U 16U 17+

8U is offered both weekends — pick your date when you register.

A Weekend of Honor

The event that started it all

Before the zombies, there was the salute. The Armed Forces SlugFest is the original — a spring gathering of youth baseball teams that plays to honor the men and women who serve, and the families who serve alongside them.

It returns in Frederick, MD over two June weekends — June 5–6 and June 12–13, 2027 — as the sincere companion to October's SlugFest. Same trusted crew, same guaranteed games, a different reason to take the field.

On the field

Every team is guaranteed a full weekend of baseball, seeded fairly and umpired properly. The colors come out, the anthem plays, and for two days the diamond belongs to those who wear — or wore — the uniform.

8U – 17+ 3 Brackets Dog Tags
How it plays out

The format

Saturday Pool · Sunday Elimination

Two pool-play games Saturday set the seeding, then single-elimination Sunday decides it.

Three Championship Brackets

Most age groups run three championship brackets so more teams play for hardware (8U excepted).

Minimum 3 Games Guaranteed

Every team is guaranteed at least three games, weather permitting — no long drive for one and done.

2 Umpires + Baseballs Provided

Two umpires and game baseballs are provided for every game — you just bring the team.

The fine print

Tournament rules

Format & Guarantee

  • 2 pool-play games Saturday, single-elimination Sunday.
  • Three championship brackets for most age groups (8U excepted).
  • Brackets are determined by registration and/or pool-play results.
  • Minimum 3 games guaranteed, weather permitting.
  • 2 umpires provided for every game at every age group.

Awards

  • Military-theme team trophies for 1st place and runner-up.
  • Individual military-issue dog tags for 1st place and runners-up.
  • Tournament pins for every player and coach.
  • No team goes home empty-handed.

Game Length

  • Games are 6 innings or a time limit set by the tournament director, whichever comes first.
  • Championship games are played the full 6 innings.

Run Rule / Mercy

  • 15 runs after 3 innings, 12 after 4, 10 after 5.

Pool-Play Tiebreakers

  • Head-to-head result.
  • Run differential (capped at 8 per game).
  • Fewest runs allowed.
  • Most runs scored.
  • Coin flip.

Rules are set by the tournament director and may be adjusted before the event.

The Hardware

Play for the dog tags

Champions and runners-up take home military-theme team trophies. The standout players earn something they'll actually keep — individual military-style dog tags, handed out on the field. And every player and coach gets a tournament pin.

No team goes home empty-handed. It's the kind of hardware that means a little more when the whole weekend is about honoring service. Kids don't leave these in the trunk.

On the shelf
🎖 Champion Trophy 🥈 Runner-Up Trophy 🪖 Player Dog Tags 📌 Player & Coach Pins

Military-theme team trophies for first place and runner-up, individual dog tags for first place and runners-up, and tournament pins for every player and coach. No team goes home empty-handed.

Supporting Those Who Serve

Baseball with a cause

This tournament is more than a weekend of games. It stands with the organizations that support service members, veterans, and their families — the reason we take the field in June.