Blue Ridge League to begin play in 2026

The Blue Ridge League, a new summer collegiate baseball league with ambitions of becoming one of the top leagues in the country, is thrilled to announce it will begin play in May 2026.

The league joins the Coastal Plain League and the Appalachian League as another quality summer baseball option with teams in North Carolina and Virginia. The Blue Ridge League will feature a strong presence in several talent-rich markets, including the Charlotte metro area, the Piedmont Triad, South Carolina, and Southwest Virginia.

The league’s inaugural lineup includes several established clubs and recognizable summer baseball brands, including the Carolina Disco Turkeys, Marion Hungry Mothers, Queen City Corndogs, Uwharrie Wampus Cats, Davie Crocketts, Spartanburg County Peaches, Greenwood Flying Monkeys, and Joanna Hornets.

One of the headlining clubs is the Carolina Disco Turkeys, one of the best-known summer ball teams 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 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 have developed a strong fan base in Albemarle, North Carolina.

The Queen City Corndogs play out of Division I Queens University’s stadium and have traditionally featured some of the top prospects from the Charlotte area. Meanwhile, the Hungry Mothers, who began play in 2025, play out of a historic former 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. Each of us is 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 league with teams in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. A newer version of the league, also at the Class D level, operated from 1946 through 1950 in North Carolina and Virginia with teams in mountain towns, including several within the current league’s broader footprint.