2026 LEIGHTON ACCARDO INVITATIONAL

Updated: November 5, 2026

LA Heat will be going to the 6th Annual Leighton Accardo Invitational Tournament in Chandler Arizona, December 3rd – 6th, 2026. Games start on Friday December 4th. We will update this page as we get closer to the tournament with information about LA Heat teams, tournament rules, schedules, etc.

Please use the link above to fill out the LA Heat team interest form.
As of 11/5/2026: We have room for more players on the 12u and 10u teams.

We are taking 10u, 12u (Majors & Minors) and 16u teams. Our clinics and scrimmages will remain open to all.

14u team: Our plans for this team are currently on hold. Registered players have spots reserved on our 12u or 16u teams. If you are interested in this team, please let us know.

We are holding weekly practices for local players. Additional events will be posted in GameChanger.

6th ANNUAL LEIGHTON ACCARDO INVITATIONAL

• December 3rd-6th, 2026
• Games Start Friday December 4th
• Espee Park, Pima Park, Folley Park – Chandler, AZ
• 4 Game Guarantee
• LA49 Thursday Night Social – Thursday, Dec 3rd, 5pm
• Opening Ceremonies & Parade – Thursday, Dec. 3rd, 6pm
• 2-3 Pool Play Games Fri- Sat, Dec 4-5th followed by single elimination bracket play Sat-Sun, Dec 5-6th.
• 2026 Age Divisions by May 1, 2026

Where: Folley, Espee & Pima Park – Chandler, AZ (~12 min / 4 miles drive to all three). Some divisions will play at Williams Field high school, more info on this soon.

• Espee Park: 450 E. Knox Road, Chandler, AZ 85225
• Pima Park: 625 N. McQueen Road, Chandler, AZ 85225
• Folley Park: 601 E. Frye Road, Chandler, AZ 85225

Confirmed Teams to-date: Please see the tournament’s facebook event for the latest in registered and anticipated teams.

Bat Rules

• 12U and younger, USSSA Bats are allowed.
• 14U, 16U, & 18U will swing BBCOR, Wood, or USSSA Bats that are Drop 5.

Base Paths/Pitching Distances

• 10U – 46ft mound/60ft base path
• 12U – 50ft mound/70 ft base path
• 14U – 54ft mound/80 ft base path
• 16+ – 60.5ft mound/90 ft base path

Division-specific Rules

• 10U – 5 Runs max per Inning
• 10U – No Leadoffs/Steals until ball crosses the plate. 
• 10U – No Dropped 3rd Strike 
• 10U – No Infield Fly
• 12U Minor – 7 Runs max per Inning
• 12U Minor – 1 Balk warning per pitcher

Pitching Limitations

• 1 pitch in an inning counts as an inning pitched
• Daily Max:
  • 6 innings max in a day 10U & 12U
  • 7 innings max in a day for 14U + divisions
• 8 innings max for the tournament (All Divisions)
• 6 innings max in a day
• 7 innings max for 14U/16U/18U
• 8 innings max for the tournament
• If a pitcher throws 4 innings or more on Saturday, they are not eligible to pitch on Sunday.
• 1 pitch in an inning counts as an inning pitched.
• If a pitcher throws 3 innings Saturday, the max they could throw is 5 innings on Sunday for a total of 8.

Time and Run Rules

• No new inning at 1 hour 45 minutes. NO DROP DEAD. Once we start the last inning, we must finish the inning.
• Run Mercy Rules: 12 Runs after 3 Innings, 8 Runs after 4 Innings