When the tournament divisions fill up, Ed can finalize the game schedule faster and get it published for you sooner. This helps with coordinating work arrangements, child care needs, sibling game or activity schedules, and travel planning.
☞ Register early for the sake of EVERYONE’S mental health!
You secure your team’s spot in highly competitive tournaments. SLUGFEST, K-9 Classic, and Halloween Havoc ALWAYS end up with teams on waiting lists. These three tournaments in particular are marquee events for MBT. We’ve been running them for years and they each have their own loyal fan base (and that fan base is growing) - they most certainly will sell out before we all realize it.
Early registrants can take advantage of special travel and lodging rates. With our Lucid Travel affiliate link, you’ll enjoy discounted group rates for hotels close to the action.
☞ My Top Picks for Local Hotel Areas
- Homestead Waterfront Area - shopping, restaurants, Improv Comedy Club, movie theater, dog-friendly trails, Sandcastle Water Park
- West Mifflin and Pleasant Hills - shopping, restaurants, dog parks
- Monroeville - shopping, restaurants, public community park, public library
Booking early means you get the best accommodations near Renzie Park, even without booking through our lodging partner.
☞ Like to Bike and Hike?
The Great Allegheny Passage travels right through McKeesport and hosts a full-service trailhead a mere 3 miles away from Renzie Park. Bring your bikes for some relaxing rides along the trail while you stay at the little boston inn. Less travel time means more time to relax and enjoy the tournament experience.
All the MLB teams do silly or unique promotions a few times each season. Check the local team’s schedule for their give-aways, grab some nose-bleed seats for everyone, and finish off the weekend with memories and a souvenir.
🏴☠️ The Pittsburgh Pirates host regular Youth Baseball and Softball game days - includes a parade around the warning track, bobblehead giveaways, Dollar Dog games, Hawaiian Luau giveaways
🧭 Map out a fun “trail” to try out, kind of like a Wine Trail but with something for all ages!
☞ Need some ideas?
- Mom & Pop Ice Cream Shops
- Spray parks or public swimming pools
- Hobby Shops that specialize in sports memorabilia
- A guided Factory or Walking Tour
- Scavenger-hunt-style trail with photos in front of quirky local statues or landmarks
- Taking your team's mascot along for the trip of a lifetime
Not sure if everyone's cleats still fit? Suspect there might be a gross science experiment growing in one of the equipment bags? 🤢 Need to update your fan gear?
Registering early gives you the luxury of time ⏰ for all the things that you know you'll need and want.
Nothing worse than uncomfortable blisters from snug shoes or holey socks
Making sure their “clean” footwear is still in good working condition assures that your players won’t need to walk around in muddy cleats or barefoot - or track it into your car or house.
The protective padding inside helmets is one of the most important things a helmet offers. Use these CDC guidelines to do an audit of all the helmets (batters and catchers) to ensure they are effective and safe. Now is the time to order any custom-fit equipment, especially pieces that protect the head, face, and neck.
If you think your bats still have some life left, take a closer look at the grip tape that you have (or don’t have) and consider re-wrapping or re-placing it all together.
✅ Glove Structure
Make sure all the knots are knotted and the padding is intact
Make sure it still fits comfortably and safely
✅ Equipment Bags
Have your player clean out all of the dirt, seeds, and sticky Gatorade residue on their own - make it a learning experience for everyone
Assess whether it truly needs to be replaced after that
Register early for McKeesport Baseball Tournaments! Save on travel, enjoy perks like early schedules, and secure your spot in MBT's marquee events today!