After a record-setting, championship-winning year for Baldwin County athletes, the 2023 calendar year has bountiful opportunities for more athletic achievements to be made in the local sports arenas.

From baseball to archery to track and field to beach volleyball to fishing to powerlifting and everything in between, check out a few highlights of what’s to come in the year of sports around Baldwin County.

February

Prep Baseball Report’s South Alabama Showdown: Feb. 23-25

The baseball recruiting service chose three Baldwin County parks to host its inaugural event showcasing some of the top teams from the Alabama Gulf Coast.

Games will be played at Robertsdale High School as well as the Sportsplexes in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores with contests starting at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, 2 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday.

Bayside Academy, Daphne, Fairhope and Spanish Fort will also represent the county at the competition.

Hoyt/Easton Pro/Am Archery: Feb. 23-26

The first competition of the Delta McKenzie ASA Pro/Am Tour, the Hoyt/Easton Pro/Am draws thousands of archers from around the world to compete at the Graham Creek Nature Preserve in Foley.

April

AISA state track and field championships: April 13-14

The best of the best from the Alabama Independent School Association will converge on Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium in Gulf Shores to compete for medals and podium finishes on the track and field.

May

AHSAA Class 4-7A state track and field championships: May 4-6

Similarly, the Alabama High School Athletic Association will return to the Gulf Shores Sportsplex to host its state championship track meet for Classes 4A to 7A. Last year, Bayside Academy swept the boys’ and girls’ team titles at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium.

NCAA Beach Volleyball championship: May 5-7

The Gulf Place Beach will once again host the NCAA Beach Volleyball National Championship the same way it has since the sport was sanctioned by the association in 2016. However, this year’s tournament setup will be a little bit different.

Instead of a double-elimination bracket with the final eight teams over the final three days of the event, eight first-round duels will be held the first day before the quarterfinals and semifinals are played the second day. The last two teams standing at that point will fight for the NCAA championship on the final day of competition.

The USC Women of Troy claimed their second straight beach volleyball title last year.

June

Flora-Bama fishing rodeo: June 9-11

The fishing rodeo is a three-day captain’s choice tournament with anglers competing for top-three places in 30 categories including red snapper.

July

Blue Marlin Grand Championship: July 12-16

After Orange Beach locals stole the show last year, the 11th annual “Super Bowl of Sportfishing,” will be held at The Wharf where anglers will have their last chance to hoist the ultimate trophy in front of the pyrotechnic marlin.

In another local connection, the championship fish are processed and eventually returned to the Baldwin County community where local families in need can receive marlin steaks via the E&E Dantin Foundation.

United States Powerlifting Association’s National Championships: July 19-23

The International Powerlifting League transitioned to host the 2022 World Championships in Baldwin County instead of in Russia and will once again turn the Orange Beach Event Center into a powerlifting destination.

August

Gulf Coast Media Day

The second annual football media day hosted by Gulf Coast Media will highlight teams and players to watch via interviews with coaches and athletes. Last year’s event featured eight of Baldwin County’s teams at the Orange Beach Event Center.

September

Flora-Bama Bulls on the Beach: Sept. 7-9

The beach will host three days of rodeoing where junior riders will test their luck on miniature bulls before the adults take over on the full-sized bulls Thursday, Friday and Saturday night.

November

NAIA women’s soccer championship: Nov. 28-Dec. 4

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics will once again host its women’s soccer championship at the Orange Beach Sportsplex after Spring Arbor took the crown last year in what served as its third national championship claimed on Pleasure Island.

The NAIA women’s soccer trophy has been awarded in Baldwin County since 2012 where it started in Orange Beach, moved to Foley for the 2020 postseason before returning to the coast the following year.