2026 LEIGHTON ACCARDO INVITATIONAL

Updated: September 14, 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 9/14/2026: We have room for more players on the 12u and 14u teams. 10u and 16u may have room, too.

We plan to take 10u, 12u, 14u* and 16u teams. Our clinics and scrimmages will remain open to all.

*14u: We reserved a spot in minors but coaches and families can resassess once the roster is finalized.

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:

• 8U COACH PITCH DIVISION (4 Teams Max)
  • AZ Peaches
  • Ball Girls Baseball
• 10U DIVISION (8 Teams Max)
  • South Texas Guerreras
  • Ball Girls Baseball
  • Yolo Baseball
  • AZ Peaches
  • LA Heat
  • Chicago Perfect Catch
• 12U MINOR DIVISION (8 Teams Max)
  • South Texas Guerreras
  • Ball Girls Baseball
  • Yolo Baseball
  • AZ Peaches
  • LA Heat
  • Upstate Girls Baseball
• 12U MAJOR DIVISION (8 Teams Max)
  • Ball Girls Baseball
  • Yolo Baseball
  • AZ Peaches
  • Chicago Perfect Catch
  • LA Heat
  • Hurricanes
• 14U MINOR DIVISION (8 Teams Max)
  • South Texas Guerreras
  • Yolo Baseball
  • AZ Peaches
  • LA Heat
• 14U MAJOR DIVISION (6 Teams Max)
  • Ball Girls Baseball
  • Yolo Baseball
  • Chicago Perfect Catch
  • Miami Valley Valkyries
• 16U MINOR DIVISION (4 Teams Max)
  • Ball Girls Baseball
  • Yolo Baseball
  • AZ Peaches
• 16U MAJOR DIVISION (4 Teams Max)
  • AB Edge
  • LA Heat
• 18U DIVISION (4 Teams Max)
  • Women of Prevail

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