As part of Extra Inning Softball’s national tournament coverage in 2026, we will be spotlighting premier events from coast to coast, all of which can be found in one place on our tournament coverage page HERE.
The National Fastpitch Alliance Championship will return to Ruston from July 13–18, 2026, bringing together elite 14U–18U fastpitch teams from across the country for a week-long national championship experience.
Led by Tournament Director Dale Palmer, the event continues to strengthen its reputation as a premier destination for competition, exposure, and player development.
Now entering its ninth year, the tournament has a proven track record of success. Originally hosted in Gulfport, Mississippi, the championship relocated to Ruston more than five years ago and has continued to grow in both scale and national visibility.
The event opens on Monday with a college-run skills camp featuring verified measurables, conducted by top college programs.
Following the camp, several top-performing athletes are invited—free of charge—to participate in Allstate games coached by those same colleges, with games played at LaTech Softball Stadium.
The team entry fee is $995, which includes game balls and umpire fees, and notably, this is not a stay-to-play event—an increasingly rare feature at the national level.
With a high population of college coaches in attendance, streamlined logistics, and a clear focus on the athlete experience, the National Fastpitch Alliance Championship continues to stand apart.
Game Time
POOL PLAY: Three (3) Pool Games / Double Elimination Bracket; where Pool Games will seed teams into their respective Brackets. POOL GAMES MAY END IN A TIE. See Pool Game Seeding – Tie Breaker Rules below. Pool games are 1:40 finish-the-inning.
BRACKET PLAY: Bracket games are seeded off of completed pool games and are full 7-inning games.
DEFINITION OF TIE BREAKER (BRACKET PLAY ONLY): International tiebreaker immediately following the completion of the seven innings for 12–18U. Your last batted out will be placed at second base with no outs.
Tournament Coverage Opportunities
For tournament directors interested in expanding their event’s visibility, Extra Inning Softball offers complimentary tournament advertising by completing our submission form at the link provided HERE.
Directors who would like our team to produce a post-event recap story are encouraged to notify us as early as possible by emailing bonnie@extrainningsoftball.com to ensure proper editorial planning.
If your tournament is currently concluding, event details may also be submitted through the recap link HERE; however, we respectfully ask for advance notice so coverage can be pre-scheduled within our national editorial calendar.
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