TC Nationals

TC Nationals is invite only, please reach out to the event director if you want to be considered for a spot. Invitations for TC Nationals are based on rankings, current knowledge of rosters, referrals and an AT LARGE application process.

Triple Crown Sports does NOT allow college players to participate, even if they are age eligible.

‍
Event Format

2 pool games that seed everyone into a double elimination bracket (multiple doubles in each age division). Then every team will go into a single elimination bracket with teams who finished like them in the double elimination bracket

Price:

$2850

Age cutoff Date:

August 31, 2026
The age of the payer on August 31 indicates what division they must play in.

(i.e. If a player is 12 on August 31st they can still play 12u; if a player is 13 on August 31st they must move up to play 14u.)

fields by age division:

18u - TBA
16u - TBA
14u - TBA

requirement to play

Teams will NOT be officially entered in the tournament until the following registration requirements are met:

Entry fee paid in full
Minimum of 30 total room nights (ex: 6 rooms for 5 nights) with a Triple Crown Lodging Partner, booked inside of the TC Nationals block. Teams will receive a team booking link after they pay for the tournament. Once you have booked your rooms using your team booking link, you do NOT need to report your rooms on the Triple Crown Website. We will keep track of where teams are staying through your specific booking link
A completed Triple Crown digital roster
Reported team insurance

Game Times:

Available one week prior to the event

Itinerary:

Monday July 12
Games start at 8am. 2 pool play games for each team and these games will seed you into the bracket. All pool games are 1 hr 45 minutes, no new inning.

Tuesday July 13
Double elimination bracket, All bracket games are a full 7 innings, no time limit.

Wednesday July 14
Double elimination bracket finishes
Single elimination brackets start

Thursday July 15
Championship day

click here for tc fastpitch general rules

tc nationals rules

TIME LIMIT:
- Pool Play - 1 hour 45 minutes, no new inning
- All Bracket Games - full 7 innings, no time limit
RUN RULE:
- 18u and 16u Divisions: 8 runs after 5 innings
- 14u: 10 runs after 3 innings, 8 runs after 4 innings, 6 runs after 5 innings
Home team will supply the official scorekeeper.
Home team will be decided by coin flip.
Pool play games may end in a tie.
Team listed first or at the top of the bracket occupies the third base dugout unless already occupied from the prior game.
Bracket games must have a winner. International Tie Breaker will be: 8th Inning - last scheduled batter starts on 2nd base, 9th inning - last 2 scheduled batters on 2nd and 3rd, 10th inning - last 3 scheduled batters on 3rd, 2nd & 1st.
Illegal Bat - if a player is caught with an illegal bat, the player is automatically out and a warning is issued to the head coach.
Lineup cards are required to be turned in to umpires and other teams.
COURTESY RUNNER: ‍
- We will be using the written NFHS courtesy runner rule, which states the courtesy runner must be an eligible sub that has not been in the game at any capacity.
Line up rules must be used for every game (straight 9, DP/Flex, EP, or EP + DP/Flex).
LINEUP MODIFICATIONS:
- Any option listed below may be used:
  Option 1: Straight nine- Those nine can play any position on defense without reporting to the umpire.
  Option 2: DP/Flex- 10 players are listed on the line-up, but only 9 bat. The DP can bat for any player that you designate prior to the start of the game. That player is designated as the Flex and should be listed in the 10th spot on the line-up card. Any of the 10 players can play on defense.
  Option 3: EH/EP- This gives you the option to bat 10 players and any 9 can play defense. This player can be placed anywhere in the line-up.
  ‍Option 4: DP/Flex and the EP/EH- This allows you to have 11 players listed on the lineup, only 10 will bat any 9 of these players can play defensively. The Flex is listed at the bottom of the lineup. ‍

PLAYERS MAY ONLY PLAY ON ONE ROSTER DURING THE EVENT‍
- Ineligible players will be removed at the time of discovery and suspended for the remainder of the tournament.
- The head coach will be removed from the game, suspended a minimum of one additional game and UP TO one year at the discretion of Triple Crown Sports. ‍
PROTESTS: All protests must be accompanied by a $300 fee.
- Roster Protests:
  All roster protests must be made at the plate by the opposing team’s manager only and presented before the final out has been recorded. Triple Crown will provide due diligence regarding the player’s eligibility and return the fee in the event of a successful protest.
  - PENALTY: Ineligible players will be removed at the time of the discovery and suspended for the remainder of the tournament. The head coach will be removed from the game, suspended a minimum of one additional game and UP TO one year at the discretion of TCS.‍
- Rules Protests:
  Only rules (does not include judgement calls) can be protested. A rule protest must be made PRIOR to the next pitch.‍
Triple Crown Pool Play Rules:
Two-Way tie (Same Pool):
1. Win/Loss Record
2. Head to Head
3. Total Run Differential
4. Least Runs Allowed
5. Most Runs Scored
6. Last Actual Run Differential(LAD)
7. Coin Flip

Three-Way tie (Same Pool):
1. Total Run Differential
2. Least Runs Allowed
3. Most Runs Scored
4. Last Actual Run Differential(LAD)
5. Coin Flip

IMPORTANT:
1. Maximum Run Spread per game is 7, regardless of score
2. Forfeits will be scored 7-0
Scorecards:
Umpires will be responsible for the scorecards of each game. Coaches must sign the scorecard at the end of each game to ensure the score is correct before the umpire turns the scorecard into the designated TC site director. If the scorecard is turned in with or without a signature and the score is incorrect, the score will be inputted as is.

Event Info

Useful links

tc nationals

Heading 2

OUR PARTNERS

TRIPLE CROWN FASTPITCH