Bill Buckner Memorial 4th of July Tournament preview: Napa Valley Baseball Club 19U looks for three-peat with younger group as parity could be the main theme of the tournament on America’s 250th birthday

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By Kyle Foster

Kfost91197@gmail.com

Twitter/X: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews

It’s often said that baseball is woven into the culture of the history of the United States. After all, it isn’t America’s pastime without reason. 

Once again, there will be baseball played at Cleve Borman Field from July 2nd to July 5th as the 48th annual Bill Buckner Memorial 4th of July Tournament takes place at the Veterans home. 

While this tournament always carries importance on Independence Day, this year is a big year for the United States. This year, the 4th of July is America’s 250th birthday. 

“We’re excited because we’ve been doing it for the past 50 years, minus one because of COVID,” tournament director Steve Meyer said of the key anniversary to the country. 

“To be here for the 250 is phenomenal, and it’s awesome, and I’m not quite sure we’re trying to do a couple of big things differently and celebrate.”

This tournament could have a little extra importance given the significance of this year for the country, and the fact that the games are played in front of the veterans who served the country. 

“It’s definitely the vets that make this place special,” Napa Valley Baseball Club 19U head coach John Hurd said. “This is their home, and we love playing in front of them. And to be able to do it on the Fourth of July, it just kind of puts everything together. It’s what makes that tournament so special to honor the veterans on the Fourth of July.” 

As is normally the case, the field will be split into two pools with four teams in each. Round robin play will take place on the first three days of the event. 

There are a few changes to this year’s field. This is highlighted by a trio of new squads in the tournament. 

Two of the new teams are in pool 2. One of them is the Orland Outlaws, who will make a long trip to play in the tournament. 

Another one is more local in the St. Helena Red Devils. They’ll be the local representative in that pool.  

“Tournaments are only as successful as the crowd, and to get the crowd, you have to have some local teams, and you don’t want to saturate it with local teams because you want other teams to get involved,” Meyer pointed out. “I think having St. Helena will be good. They seem to be really excited about the opportunity, and hopefully they’ll bring some people down.” 

Daily City is back, which was formerly known as the San Francisco Cardinals from Lowell High School.  

On the other hand, five teams return to the event. They are led by the two-time defending champions, Napa Valley Baseball Club 19U. They will be in pool 1. 

After a slow start to the season, the NVBC 19s have found their footing and should be tough to beat, as they always are. 2025 tournament MVP Riley Marek is back with the 19s this summer. They come into the tournament with a 9-5 mark on the season. 

The Napa Valley Baseball Club 19s will also carry a wave of momentum after winning the 6th annual Around the Horn tournament two weeks ago. 

They also have lots of new faces who lost last year in the semifinals to the 19s. So this group feels as if they have something to prove. 

“There’s probably a little bit of pressure there, but a lot of the players on this team were on the younger 17 team that did very well at the tournament last year,” coach Hurd added. “We actually got knocked out by our own nineteens, so I know a lot of those guys will be out to sort of look at their turn for the title.”

Also in pool 1 will be Community Projects Napa Cubs, who come into the tournament with a 4-6 record. These two will open the tournament on Thursday with the final game of the day at 4:30 pm. 

Headfirst-Berkovich will round out pool 1 with Daily City. They are another returning team. Though it isn’t known if they’re sending their younger team like last year or their older team. 

In the second pool are a lot of the same teams. Sam Bruno V.F.W. and the California Rays are key returning teams for this pool. 

However, a theme of the tournament this year could be parity. Over the last few years, there were two dominant teams that everyone figured would meet in the championship. This year, things appear to be a bit more wide open, which should make for great games all week. 

“I think parody is gonna rule the tournament, which would be good,” Meyer added. “We know that California Rays and San Bruno are two quality programs, year in, year out. We know St. Helena is new, but they’re local. They may have the right players and be strong. All it takes is usually, to win two games. Then, the 19s, I think the 19s are a little younger this year. We are certainly a little younger this year, not necessarily younger, but we lost a lot of players. I think Community Projects has as a solid lineup starting wise, but after that, we’re a little weak anyway. And then Daly City, they’ll be young and competitive. Headfirst sent their younger club, and they were competitive, too. So it’ll be interesting.”

Notably missing from this year’s event is the Napa Valley Baseball Club 17-and-under team. They had been in the tournament the last two years. They are playing in a tournament in Oregon during this time. 

Championship Sunday will feature three games, as usual. The pool 1 winner vs the pool 2 runner-up will take place at 9 am. That will be followed by the pool 2 winners taking on the pool 1 runner-up. The winners advance to the championship game, and an awards ceremony will follow. 

Should teams tie, there will be four tiebreakers. They are head-to-head record, fewest runs allowed, fewest errors, and total bases from their pool play games. 

Admission is $7 for each day. However, a tournament pass for all four days is available for $20. All games will be played at Cleve Borman Field in Yountville at Veterans Home of California. 

At every game of the tournament, the 50/50 raffle will also return with prizes from local restaurants and bottles of wine. This is a tournament staple. 

The speed limit on the Veterans’ Home is 20 MPH coming to the gate and 15 MPH when inside the property.