History

2000

The Homeschool World Series Association (HWSA) was formed in April 2000 when a group of homeschool baseball program directors and coaches, including Larry Cochran (Houston, TX) and Jeff Hartline (Nashville, TN), united in the joint effort to plan and organize a national homeschool baseball tournament. Six teams representing six different states competed in the inaugural Homeschool World Series, which was hosted by the Nashville (Middle Tennessee) Monarchs at Lipscomb University in Nashville. The Houston HCYA Eagles took possession of the Championship Cup at the first Homeschool World Series, with the Atlanta Barons as first runner-up. The original member teams were the Houston Eagles, Atlanta Barons, Nashville Monarchs, Huntsville Falcons, Virginia Beach Breakers, and Wichita Warriors.

2001

In 2001, the 2nd Annual Homeschool World Series was held in Atlanta, GA and jointly hosted by the Atlanta, GA GGC Barons and the Atlanta South Christian Knights. This year, the addition of a Girls Fast-Pitch Softball World Series was also realized. Eight baseball teams and three softball teams competed. This second annual event saw the Houston, TX Eagles and Atlanta, GA Barons meet once again in the Championship game. This year, the Atlanta Barons claimed the Championship over the Eagles, and the Houston Lady Eagles triumphed over the Virginia Beach, VA Lady Breakers.

2002

The year 2002 saw the 3rd Annual Baseball-only World Series hosted by the Houston, TX Eagles in San Antonio, TX.  Ten (10) baseball teams competed, where the Atlanta, GA Barons, facing the Houston, TX Eagles for the third time in the Championship game, reclaimed the Championship title. Following the World Series, a group of like-minded World Series organizers representing different teams and states formed the HWSA Board and took the next step of incorporating as a non-profit organization formally under the name of the Homeschool World Series Association. Larry Cochran (Austin, TX) was voted in as HWSA’s first board president.

2003

In 2003, the HWSA planned the 4th Annual Homeschool World Series in Niceville, FL (near Ft. Walton Beach). The addition of three Regional Qualifying Tournaments to advance 8 of 15 teams to the Homeschool World Series was made.  HWSA also organized a five-team 2nd Annual Homeschool Softball World Series.  The Atlanta Barons made a “three-peat” when they beat the Huntsville, AL Falcons in the Championship game. The Virginia Beach Lady Breakers defeated the Atlanta Lady Barons to claim their first softball championship title.

2004

In 2004, a fourth Regional Tournament site was added to accommodate our growing program that now consisted of 20 baseball teams. Two teams from each site advanced to the 5th Annual Homeschool Baseball World Series in Pensacola, FL.  The Atlanta, GA GGC Barons claimed their fourth consecutive Championship title after defeating the Dallas, TX Angels in the Championship game.  The Virginia Beach, VA Lady Breakers re-claimed the Softball Championship title over the Atlanta, GA Lady Barons as well.

2005

Twenty (20) teams competed in four separate Regional Qualifying Tournaments as in 2004. Two teams from each region advanced to the 6th Annual Homeschool Baseball World Series that took place in Atlanta, GA, due to the sustained hurricane damage in Pensacola, FL.  The Dallas, TX HSAA Angels defeated the four-time consecutive World Series Champions, the Atlanta, GA GGC Barons in the Championship game, claiming their first Championship victory in the Homeschool World Series.

2006

Twenty-seven (27) teams competed in four Regional Qualifying Tournaments in April 2006. Two teams from each region advanced to the 7th Annual World Series held on May 21-25 in Pensacola. The Oklahoma City Broncos defeated the Fort Worth Riders in the Championship Game to take home the newly named Cochran Cup—named in honor of Larry and Lori Cochran for their vision in founding the HWSA. At the September board meeting, Chuck Hendricks (Dallas, TX) became the newly elected board president replacing outgoing president Larry Cochran (Austin, TX).

2007

In April 2007, twenty-eight (28) teams from 11 states across the nation competed in two Super‑Regional Qualifying Tournaments in Ft. Worth (West) and Atlanta (East). Four teams from each region advanced to the 8th Annual World Series held on May 21-24th in Pensacola, FL. At the opening ceremony on Monday morning at the PJC field, the teams and families honored fallen American soldier, Ryan Miller, who played for the Houston HCYA Eagles at the 2004 World Series. On Thursday, the Atlanta Barons defeated the West Houston Thunder, 6-0, in the Championship Game to take home the Cochran Cup. In the Third Place Game, the Dallas Angels edged the Oklahoma City Broncos, 4-1.

2008

The 9th Annual HWSA tournament season saw 30 teams from 12 states compete in two Regional Qualifying Tournaments in Dallas (West) and Atlanta (East). Four teams from each region advanced to the World Series held on May 19-22nd in Pensacola, FL. All 18 games were played at Pirate Field on the Pensacola Junior College campus. In the finale, the Atlanta Barons defeated the Oklahoma City Broncos, 8-4, in the Championship Game to take home the Cochran Cup for the 6th time. In the 3rd Place Game, the Augusta Crusaders defeated the Huntsville Falcons.

2009

During the 10th Annual HWSA tournament season, the HWSA leadership announced plans to create one (1) Super World Series tournament in Auburndale, Florida, beginning in the 2010 season. In the last year of the regional format, HWSA saw 31 teams from 11 states compete in two Regional Qualifying Tournaments in Dallas (West) and Cary, NC (East). Four teams from each region advanced to the World Series in Pensacola, FL, in what may prove to be the last HWSA presence in Pensacola. PJC hosted the most exciting games in the World Series 10-year history with many games coming down to the wire. In the finale, the Atlanta Barons defeated the Dallas Angels to take home the Cochran Cup for the 7th time. In the 3rd Place Game, the Richmond Patriots defeated the Concord Stallions.

2010

It was an exciting time for the HWSA, as it moved its 11th Annual HWSA championships to the Orlando, Florida area (Auburndale in Polk County). The inaugural Super World Series tournament, which was open to all varsity home school baseball teams in the nation, saw 23 teams from 10 states compete in three (3) different divisions. In the finale of the Platinum Division, the Atlanta Barons scraped by the Dallas Angels in 9 innings, 7-6, in what many agree was the best game in HWSA history. In the 3rd Place Game, the Augusta Crusaders defeated the Houston Eagles; and in the Gold Division, the Huntsville Falcons took 1st Place over the Spring Mustangs.

2011

The 12th Annual HWSA championship tournament saw an increase to 28 varsity homeschool baseball teams from 13 states for an exciting week in Polk County, Florida at the magnificent Auburndale Lake Myrtle Park baseball complex.  The Division III Championship went to the Charlotte Stampede 7-3 over the Houston Thunder.  The Huntsville Falcons defeated the Atlanta Barons 7-6 in for the Division II Championship. In Division I, two Texas teams battled in the championship game with the Dallas Angels overcoming the Ft Worth Riders in a dramatic 8-7 come-from-behind, walk-off win to recapture the Cochran Cup for the Angels.

2012

Twenty-seven teams journeyed to Polk County to play in the warm Florida sunshine for the 13th Annual HWSA championship tournament.  The Patriots of Richmond Virginia battled the Montgomery Alabama Saints 10-1 for the Division III Title.  The Charlotte Stampede trampled the Houston Falcons 11-0 for the Division II Title.  The 2013 Cochran Cup was taken home for the first time by the Fort Worth Riders who galloped to victory over the Raleigh Warriors 7-0 for the Division I Title.

2013

25 teams battled wind, rain, lightning and fog, but missed no games due to the unusual weather in slightly-less-than-sunny Auburndale, Florida from April 28 through May 4, in 2013.  The Charlotte Stampede trampled the Houston Thunder 9-1 for the Division III Championship.   The St. Louis Patriots blew away the Dallas Spartans 12-0 for the Division II Championship.  And the Dallas Angels overcame a 7-run onslaught by the Raleigh Warriors in a 9-8 late-inning thriller for the Division I Championship and the right to engrave the Angels’ team name on the Cochran Cup for the third time in HWSA history.

2014

Twenty-four teams gathered in not-so-sunny Auburndale, Florida for the 15th annual Homeschool World Series.  Monday through Thursday the competition was fierce including the new “Q-Replay” games where a 1-1 team was required to beat a 2-0 team twice in order to advance to the Division I bracket.  On Friday an unusual monsoon descended upon Central Florida forcing the first cancelation of games in HWSA history.  Ultimately only the Division I Championship game could be played late Saturday afternoon. But what a game it was.  The Memphis Eagles battled the Dallas Angels for seven scoreless innings as two outstanding sophomore pitchers went the distance.  The Eagles finally eked out what appeared to be the game-clinching run in the top of the eighth only to see the Angels come back in the bottom of the eighth for a 2-1 walk-off win, sending the Cochran Cup back to Dallas for the 3rd time in 4 years.

2015

Sunnier skies returned to Auburndale in 2015.  Twenty-two teams assembled for the 16th annual Homeschool World Series.  The Houston Eagles flew 3-1 over the Richmond Patriots for the Division III Championship; the St. Louis Patriots avoided the Charlotte Stampede 2-1 for the Division II Title; and the Dallas Angels heralded a three-peat shutting out the Houston Northside Falcons 4-0 in the exciting Division I Championship Game to take home the Cochran Cup for another year.

2016

The 17th annual tournament found twenty-three teams from ten states in Auburndale and four beautiful new fields at Lake Myrtle Park.  In the Division III finals the Nashville Monarchs flew by the Dallas Spartans 9-0; Oklahoma City Broncos busted the Richmond Patriots 12-2 for the Division II Championship; and the Tulsa Jaguars outran the Raleigh Warriors 13-3 in Division I to take home their first ever Cochran Cup.

2017

The 18th HWSA tournament hosted 20 teams back in Auburndale for some fantastic baseball and family fun. It proved to be Houston’s year, with all three divisions going to Houston-area teams (and another finishing as runner-up!) The Houston Thunder took home the Division III championship after winning each game of a 4-team round robin. The Houston Eagles defeated their cross-town rivals the Spring Mustangs 6-2 to earn top honors in Division II. The Houston Northside Falcons won their first ever Cochran Cup with a 4-0 victory over the Oklahoma City Broncos in the Division I finale.

2018

Participation rose to twenty-five teams from twelve states with 4 teams new to the Auburndale classic. The Atlanta Barons gunned down the Baltimore Chargers 9-2 for the Division III title. The Nashville Monarchs reigned 5-3 over the Oklahoma City Broncos for the Division II crown. To take the Cochran Cup in Division I, the Fort Worth Riders survived the “no-senior” Charlotte Stampede 7-5.

2019

Nineteen veteran teams journeyed to Florida for the 10th HWSA tournament at newly decorated Lake Myrtle Sports Park in Auburndale. The Division III title was taken early and convincingly by the Memphis Eagles. The Patriots (St. Louis and Richmond) battled it out for the Division II title with St. Louis taking the flag 11-1. In Division I, a game featuring a 3-hour lightning and rain delay Saturday afternoon, the Dallas Angels eeked out a narrow 4-2 nail-biter over the Charlotte Stampede—ending the game on a bang-bang double play with the bases loaded—to claim the Cochran Cup.

2020

Sadly HWSA was forced to cancel the 2020 tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the first time since last century that there hasn’t been a Homeschool World Series tournament in the spring. It was also a year of transition in leadership, as Chuck & Becky Hendricks announced their retirement from the board after two decades of service, along with Dave & Brenda Irwin, Robert & Cindy Stephenson, and Craig & Melanie Morris. Jeff & Dianna Roberts agreed to serve as the new president and administrator of the HWSA, and began preparations with the other remaining members of the board for a return in 2021.

2021

The tournament returned to clear skies in sunny Auburndale after 24 months, welcoming 23 teams, including 4 first-time attendees. The board unveiled the new tournament championship trophy, the Hendricks Cup, and honored the Hendricks, Irwin, Stephenson, and Morris families as they retired from the leadership team. The Baltimore Chargers topped the Spring Mustangs 7-5 for the Division III title. The Houston Eagles shut out the Nashville Monarchs 4-0 to claim the Division II championship. The St. Louis Patriots won their first World Series National Championship, and became the first-ever winners of the new Hendricks Cup, with a 6-1 defeat of the Tulsa Jaguars.

2022

This year’s tournament featured an even 24 teams, including 5 first-time participants. Three full brackets featured a lot of tight ballgames under clear skies (despite forecasted rain most days). The Oklahoma City Broncos edged out the Springdale Hornets 5-4 for the Division III title. For the first time, Division III “All-Tournament” players competed in an all-star format game on Saturday. The Fort Worth Riders bested the newcomer Fairfax Hawks 5-3 to win Division II. The Houston Northside Falcons knocked off the defending champion St. Louis Patriots 4-2 to win their 2nd ever championship and etch their name on the Hendricks Cup.

2023

The 2023 spring classic had 21 teams, including a first-year team who made the championship game! Three other teams returned to the tournament after absences ranging from 1 year to 12 years. The Austin Texans compiled a 3-0 record in Division III play to win that division. The Charlotte Stampede defeated the Baltimore Chargers 3-0 in the Division II final. The championship game was a matchup of opposites: the Houston Northside Falcons, one of the original six teams which competed in 2000, defeated the newly-formed Mansfield Knights 8-4 to repeat as champions.