USA Baseball Reveals 13th Annual National High School Invitational Field

USA Baseball today announced the field for the 2026 National High School Invitational (NHSI) presented by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance and Netting Professionals. The 2026 NHSI will be held from March 25-28 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.

The 16-team field is highlighted by returning champion Venice High School (Venice, Fla.). The Indians held opponents to just four runs in their unbeaten run in 2025, improving their overall tournament record to 7-1 after debuting in 2013. Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.), who fell to Venice in last year’s title game, also returns to Cary for the 2026 tournament. Trinity Christian is coming off a Florida state runner-up finish in 2025 and will appear in the NHSI for the fifth time in March.

“The National High School Invitational annually brings the most talented programs and players to Cary, and this year is no different,” said Brett Curll, USA Baseball’s 18U National Team Director. “This tournament is synonymous with the beginning of baseball season at the National Training Complex, and we are very excited to have a field featuring the premier schools in the United States. We are looking forward to hosting these teams, along with their families and fans, and watching all the action unfold in March.”

“The GRSA is honored to serve as a host partner for the 2026 National High School Invitational, marking twelve years of collaboration,” said Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance Director Tori Collins. “Our enduring partnership with USA Baseball remains a point of pride, as they continue to bring world-class events to Cary’s USA Baseball National Training Complex. Beyond the significant economic benefits to our region, the National High School Invitational reinforces Cary’s reputation as a premier destination for amateur sports and a dedicated home for the country’s elite athletes.”

“Netting Professionals | STANDIONIC is proud to continue as a host partner of the National High School Invitational in 2026,” said Netting Professionals | STADIONIC CEO Will Minor. “As our brand continues to grow, we remain committed to introducing our custom netting, wall padding, and batting practice equipment solutions to every level of baseball across the United States. Our partnership with USA Baseball remains a top priority, and our mission, ‘Making Sports Facilities Iconic’ aligns perfectly with the National High School Invitational platform. This partnership allows us to support and connect with the nation’s top high school programs while showcasing solutions that enhance both performance and safety.”

A trio of California schools are set to return to the premier high school tournament in 2026, including three-time champion Orange Lutheran High School (Orange, Calif.). The Lancers won the tournament three years in a row (2017-19) and own a 20-3 all-time record at the NHSI. Harvard-Westlake School (Los Angeles, Calif.) will be making its fifth trip to the tournament, bringing a 12-4 tournament record with three runner-up finishes. Aquinas High School (San Bernardino, Calif.) rounds out the California returners; the Falcons went 3-1 at the NHSI in 2023 and are coming off a strong 2025 campaign in which they went 25-3 with an unbeaten record in league play.

Casteel High School (Queen Creek, Ariz.), Delbarton High School (Morristown, N.J.), and Regis Jesuit High School (Aurora, Colo.) will also be making return trips to the NHSI in 2026. Both Casteel and Regis Jesuit competed in last year’s iteration of the tournament and went on to finish runners-up in their respective state tournaments. Delbarton, a 2019 participant, went 24-5 last season and reached the North Jersey state semifinal round.

Eight schools will make their NHSI debuts in 2026, including three teams coming off state titles last season. Gloucester Catholic School (Gloucester City, N.J.), St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), and Trinity High School (Louisville, Ky.) all won their respective state championships in 2025 and will make their first appearances in Cary.

Additionally, a pair of Tennessee schools will be debutants in 2026, as Baylor School (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Nolensville High School (Nolensville, Tenn.) are set to join the field. Edmond Memorial High School (Edmond, Okla.), Tampa Jesuit High School (Tampa, Fla.), and Wakefield High School (Raleigh, N.C.) round out the teams who will travel to Cary for the first time in program history.

In total, nine different states will be represented at the NHSI in 2026. California leads all states with four representatives, while Florida follows with three. New Jersey and Tennessee are the only other states with multiple representatives, boasting two programs each.

The USA Baseball National Training Complex (NTC), in partnership with the Town of Cary, has been the official home of USA Baseball since 2007. The NTC has been the stage for the NHSI since its inception, and many of MLB’s most accomplished players have played at the complex in their careers, including two-time National League (NL) MVP Bryce Harper and 2025 American League (AL) Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz. The Town of Cary received the National Gold Medal Grand Plaque Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management in 2016, which honors U.S. communities that demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation through long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development, and agency recognition.

Since 2012, the NHSI has hosted some of the nation’s most talented players, many of whom have gone on to illustrious careers in professional baseball. Among some of the most notable players who have taken the field at the tournament are 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger, two-time All-Star Austin Riley, young Boston Red Sox star Roman Anthony, and No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, Seth Hernandez.

The NHSI is a single-elimination championship tournament, with each participating team guaranteed to play four games. The bracket and full schedule will be announced at a later date.

The complete list of 2026 NHSI participants is below.

High School (City, State)

Aquinas High School (San Bernardino, Calif.)
Baylor School (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Casteel High School (Queen Creek, Ariz.)
Delbarton High School (Morristown, N.J.)
Edmond Memorial High School (Edmond, Okla.)
Gloucester Catholic High School (Gloucester City, N.J.)
Harvard-Westlake School (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Nolensville High School (Nolensville, Tenn.)
Orange Lutheran High School (Orange, Calif.)
Regis Jesuit High School (Aurora, Colo.)
St. John Bosco High School (Bellflower, Calif.)
Tampa Jesuit High School (Tampa, Fla.)
Trinity High School (Louisville, Ky.)
Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Venice High School (Venice, Fla.)
Wakefield High School (Raleigh, N.C.)