Blue Ridge League to begin play in 2026

The Blue Ridge League, a new league with aims to be among the best summer collegiate baseball leagues in the country, is thrilled to announce it will begin play in May of 2026.

The league joins the Coastal Plain League and the Appalachian League as another quality league with teams in North Carolina. Unlike those leagues, the league will have a heavy presence in the talent-rich Charlotte metro area, in addition to teams elsewhere in the state and in Virginia and West Virginia.

Teams who have joined together for the inaugural year include five established clubs -- the Carolina Disco Turkeys, Marion Hungry Mothers, Queen City Corndogs, Uwharrie Wampus Cats and West Virginia Miners.

The Miners are returning from hiatus following a long history of tremendous success in the Prospect League. The club won the Prospect League three times (2012, 2013 and 2016) and sent more than 80 players to the professional ranks before going on hiatus following the 2022 season. The Miners will continue to play out of the all-turf Linda K. Epling Stadium.

Another headlining club in the new league is the Disco Turkeys, one of the best-known summer ball clubs in America. The team has been covered by ESPN and the New York Times and frequently appears on lists of sports teams with the best team names. The team was also named by YES! Weekly as the "Best Sports Team in the Triad" for 2025.

The Wampus Cats are owned by the same ownership group as the Disco Turkeys and are known for having a strong fan base in Albemarle, North Carolina. 

The Queen City Corndogs play out of Division 1 Queens University's stadium and have traditionally are made up of some of the best prospects in the Charlotte area. Meanwhile, the Hungry Mothers, having begun play in 2025, play out of a historic Appalachian League facility where Nolan Ryan made his minor league debut in 1965 for the Marion Mets. 

"We're excited to see all of these teams come together as league partners as we launch this new league," said Greg Sullivan, who will serve as chairman of the league. "Many of these teams are rivals already and adding a very good summer ball organization like the Miners will be a great fit for all of the teams. Each of us are committed to great baseball and building organizations that our fans and players will love."

The Blue Ridge League name carries on the tradition of two predecessor leagues in Appalachia. The first Blue Ridge League operated from 1915 through 1918 and from 1920 through 1930 as a Class D level league with teams in Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. A newer version of the league, still a Class D minor league, sprung up from 1946 through 1950 in North Carolina and Virginia with teams in mountain towns, including several within the current league's footprint.