The HBCU Seattle Series Is Coming to Seattle University
The 2026 HBCU Seattle Series returns to the Northwest this March, led by Baseball Beyond Borders (BBB). The weekend brings Jackson State University baseball to Seattle University from March 6–8, 2026, marking a historic moment for Black collegiate sports visibility in the Pacific Northwest. What began with the 2023 HBCU Swingman Classic has evolved into a homegrown movement to build pipelines, shift narratives, and prove that representation on the field changes what youth believe is possible.
Coppin State Assistant Coach Jacob Schaefer (left) and Seattle University Head Coach Donny Harrel (right) stand in T-Mobile Park during the 2025 HBCU Seattle Series. (Photo: Seattle University)
The Matchups
The weekend will feature elite-level collegiate baseball action:
Baseball Invitational:
HBCU Team: Jackson State University (The Tigers)
Host: Seattle University
Fans can catch the action at Bannerwood Park, Home of Seattle University Baseball in Bellevue, Washington.
Coppin State Assistant Coach Jacob Schaefer (left) and Seattle University Head Coach Donny Harrel (right) stand in T-Mobile Park during the 2025 HBCU Seattle Series. (Photo: Seattle University)
The Vision and Community Support
Bookie Gates, Founder and President of BBB, reflected on bringing HBCU programs to the Northwest. “All it takes is one opportunity to change your life,” he said, adding that players seeing themselves on the field reshapes how young athletes imagine their own futures: “When youth see themselves in the sport, the questions they ask about their schools, their goals, and their belonging change.”
Gates’ vision for 2026 has been backed early by partners who recognized the need for representation, access, and opportunity in the Northwest.
Seattle University: The institution was one of the first to embrace BBB, providing facilities and believing in the vision of creating a pipeline for Black players in baseball.
Seattle Mariners & Mariners Care: The Seattle Mariners and the Mariners Care Foundation are dedicated to investing in the community and ensuring baseball access at all levels, including the collegiate level. Their support is critical to pulling off the event.
Seattle University Athletics, Mariners Care Foundation, and the growing network around BBB remain central to shaping the 2026 series. Their involvement reflects a shared commitment to ensuring youth of color see themselves in the sport and in the institutions, creating space for the next generation.
Key sponsors for this year's event include Converge Media, Black Future Co-Op Fund, Seattle Mariners, MJS Investors, Presidential Transportation, and Seattle Sports Commission.
More updates, including tickets and game day announcements, will roll out in early 2026. Follow Baseball Beyond Borders for upcoming event details, supporter opportunities, and kickoff announcements.
