Every summer, some of the Southeast’s top young Little League players make their way to Wilson for a chance to compete against the best of the best. The Tournament of State Champions (TOSC) brings together state championship teams in the 8-10 and 9-11 age divisions from across the Southeast, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. Unlike the Little League divisions that advance to the World Series, these age groups do not have a regional or World Series tournament, making TOSC a unique opportunity for young players to compete against fellow state champions from across the region. For Wilson, it is also an opportunity to welcome families from throughout the Southeast and showcase everything our community has to offer.
In 2022, TOSC found a new home in Wilson at the J. Burt Gillette Athletic Complex, and the tournament has returned every summer since. That first year brought hundreds of players, coaches and family members to Wilson, with teams traveling from across the Southeast to compete at Southern Bank Stadium and the complex’s surrounding fields. What began as a new host site has quickly grown into an annual summer tradition. This year, teams will once again travel hundreds of miles to compete in Wilson, including Tennessee’s Goodlettsville Little League, making a 610-mile trip; Florida’s Lake Mary Little League, traveling 598 miles; Georgia’s Peachtree City Little League, traveling 479 miles; and West Virginia’s Bridgeport Little League, making a 442-mile journey. Teams from South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia will also make the trip, with Northwood Little League traveling 310 miles, North Carolina State Runner-Up Myers Park Little League traveling 166 miles, and Virginia champion Tuckahoe American Little League traveling 153 miles to Wilson.
Wilson City Little League, established in 2004, calls the J. Burt Gillette Athletic Complex home and proudly hosts the Southeast Regionals for both TOSC age divisions, along with district and state Little League tournaments throughout the year. The Gillette baseball complex opened in 2009 and was designed with championship competition in mind, featuring premier baseball fields and Southern Bank Stadium. Today, TOSC has become one of the signature youth baseball events held at the complex, reinforcing Wilson’s reputation as a destination for championship-caliber competition. In 2026, North Carolina will again send its top two state finalists to TOSC, while state champions from across the Little League Southeast Region compete alongside them.
The competition also brings together teams with impressive recent TOSC histories. In 2025, Tampa Bay Little League of Florida won the 8-10 Year Old Tournament of State Champions, while Chaires Little League of Tallahassee, Florida, captured the 9-11 title. This year, Greenville Tar Heel Little League will represent North Carolina as the 2026 8-10 Year Old TOSC champion, joining state champions from across the Southeast for another opportunity to compete at the highest level in their age division.
The tournament’s impact extends well beyond the ballfield. Each year, players, coaches, and families spend several days in Wilson, staying in local hotels, dining in area restaurants, and supporting businesses throughout the community. Between games, many visitors explore local attractions like Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park, the North Carolina Baseball Museum, browse local shops, or enjoy family-friendly activities around town. For many, a baseball tournament becomes an opportunity to discover Wilson for the first time.
As TOSC returns once again, it represents more than a weekend of championship baseball. It highlights Wilson’s ability to host premier sporting events while providing visitors with outstanding facilities, welcoming hospitality and memorable experiences beyond the game itself. The players arrive focused on winning a championship, but the tournament also creates lasting memories for the families who travel alongside them. Year after year, TOSC continues to strengthen Wilson’s reputation as a community where great competition and great experiences go hand in hand.
