ERIE, Pa.—Erie is welcoming hundreds of athletes and their families this weekend, and into next week, as a trio of youth sporting events showcases the destination’s ability to host regional competitions across multiple venues.
The lineup begins with the USA BMX Gold Cup Qualifier, scheduled for Friday through Sunday at Lake Shore BMX. Approximately 300 riders from Canada, Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are expected to compete in two USA BMX championship qualifying events.
The weekend opens Friday with the Race for Life Double Point Race at 6:30 p.m., benefiting leukemia-related causes. Competition continues Saturday with the Pennsylvania State Qualifier at noon, then concludes Sunday with the Gold Cup Qualifier at 11 a.m.
Baseball also takes center stage with the sixth annual Kenny Memorial Baseball Tournament, hosted by the JPT Foundation. Thirty-seven teams in the 9U, 11U, 13U, and 15U divisions will compete Friday through Sunday in a three-game guarantee format at David G. Long Baseball Complex, Northwestern High School, Girard High School, and the Jack Ponsford Baseball Complex.
The tournament is part of the Silver Series, or B Level Tournaments, and a portion of the proceeds will fund grants and educational scholarships established in memory of Kenny Robinson, a standout Mercyhurst University baseball player who drowned on a fishing trip in 2020. The event continues July 24–26 with competition for the 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, and 16U divisions.
The sports calendar continues next week with the EPIC Volleyball Varsity Team Camp, held Tuesday through Thursday at Fort LeBoeuf High School, Fort LeBoeuf Elementary School, and Fairview High School.
The camp is expected to draw 24 varsity teams and approximately 350 participants from New York and throughout Pennsylvania, including several schools from the state’s Districts 5 and 7. Activities are scheduled daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with facilities opening at 7:30 a.m.
Together, the BMX qualifier, baseball tournament, and volleyball camp are expected to bring hundreds of competitors and spectators to Erie, reinforcing the destination’s role as a regional hub for youth sports and multi-venue sporting events.
