The Golden Knights will be featured at the DYB World Series opening ceremonies.
(San Diego Union Photo)

Opening ceremonies are scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. at Campbell’s Barker-Lane Stadium for the Diamond Youth Baseball World Series in the 6-and-under and 8-and-under (AA) divisions.

The U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team will be dropping in at the Camels’ football facility. Gates are scheduled to open at 4:30 p.m. Players will be fed at 5 p.m.

Dunn will be hosting the tournaments with teams from 11 states. Play starts Friday at the Nathan Harris Athletic Complex at Tyler Park for 6U. The 8U will be at Tart Park.

There will be two divisions with the teams coming from larger leagues in Division 1. Teams from smaller leagues comprise Division 2.

Host Dunn will have teams in Division 2 in both age groups.

Four World Series champions will be determined, one in each division for the two age groups.

The format is coach-pitch with a coach pitching to players on their team.

Pool play is scheduled Friday with each team playing two games within its 3-team pool to determine placement in bracket play, which starts Saturday.

Championship games are scheduled for Tuesday in the double-elimination bracket.

Jay Hardison, a national director for DYB, noted the extensive work that has gone into preparing for the tournaments. He met with Carolyn Elmore and David Maness of Dunn as well as DYB officials on Wednesday evening. The involvement of various city agencies has been coordinated.

Dunn recreation director Brian McNeill, athletic director Dominique Smith and department staff hosted the state 8U tournament in 2024 and have used that experience to get ready for the pending influx of teams and supporters.

The Dunn 6U team plays Virginia on Field 3 at the NHAC at Tyler Park on Friday at noon and will take on Tennessee on Field 2 at Tyler Park on Friday at 3 p.m.

Dunn’s 8U team opens play at Tart Park on Field 4 on Friday at 2:30 p.m. against Wallace and will play Alabama on Friday at 5:30 p.m. on Field 4.