Empire Association Set to Launch

Posted on April 17, 2026 in Empire Association

The summer of 2026 will be a little different around Western New York, at least for six organizations.

Thunderwolves Baseball and the NY Stingers from the Buffalo area, along with the Rochester Brewers and Rochester Seminoles will all be playing in the newly formed Empire Association Showcase League. Rounding out the group are the Canadian Bulldogs, located in Etobicoke, Ontario, and the All-American Steelheads, located in Erie, Pennsylvania.

The league begins play on Saturday, June 6th, featuring four different divisions (14u, 15u, 16u (2028 graduates), and 17u (2027 graduates). The goal of the league is to maximize competition and exposure opportunities for league affiliates.

“The recruiting landscape of college baseball has seen a major shift. It is more important now than ever that groups band together for the overall benefit of the student-athlete” claims League President, Jeff Ziemecki, who is also President of Thunderwolves Baseball.

The Empire Association was formed for that exact purpose, with six organizations who share a vision for a rich competitive environment, innovative technology, and exposure opportunity.

The 2026 schedule features the 16u and 17u divisions playing most games on college campuses across the area, with the goal of drawing attendance from several college coaches. “We are really excited. The college coaches that I’ve spoken to seem to really like the idea. It is a benefit for those college coaches who can come out on any given weekend and see anywhere from four-to-six talented and well coached organizations” said Ziemecki.

The league schedule features four league weekends, along with midweek games, throughout the month of June. They will break during the month of July to allow affiliates to participate in tournaments and team camps around the region. The 2026 season will conclude in early August with an Empire Association Tournament, following a double-elimination format, to crown a league Champion in each division.

The league will also feature weekly league awards for each division such as “Player & Pitcher of the Week” as well as postseason “All-League” teams.

Organizations interested in joining the league for 2027 should fill out the “New Team Application Form”