On the first Friday of September, as summer's last heat shimmers over the Jersey Shore, a peculiar sight unfolds on Windsor Beach in Cape May. Children line up on the sand, each clutching a clamshell, eyes fixed on a small hole dug twenty-five feet away. With a flick of the wrist, they send their shells arcing through the salt air, hoping to land one in the target. It's not baseball, not horseshoes, not bocce — it's clamshell pitching, and in Cape May, it's been a Labor Day weekend ritual for years.
The Rich Reinhart Junior Clamshell Pitching Tournament returns this September 4th, free and open to boys and girls ages 6 to 17. Registration begins at 11 AM on Windsor Beach, directly across from the historic Congress Hall, with the tournament itself starting at noon. The event is the longest-running contest of its kind in the region.
The game itself is deceptively simple. Contestants take turns tossing a clamshell, attempting to land it in a small hole dug in the sand twenty-five feet away. It sounds easy until you're standing on the beach with a shell in your hand, the ocean breeze at your back, and a crowd of families watching your every move. The tournament splits competitors into two age groups — 6 to 11 and 12 to 17 — with trophies awarded to first and second place finishers in both singles and doubles competition. Clamshells are provided for those who need them, though seasoned competitors are welcome to bring their own lucky shells. Experienced clamshell pitchers are always on hand to offer instruction to first-timers, ensuring that every child who steps up to the line gets a fair shot.
The tournament bears the name of Rich Reinhart, the former president and founder of the International Clamshell Pitching Club of Cape May. Today, the tradition continues through his family — his daughter, Stephanie Stephens, now runs the event.
The 2026 edition of the tournament carries particular significance. Cape May is celebrating a trifecta of anniversaries this year: 175 years as a city, 50 years as a National Historic Landmark, and 250 years of the United States. The clamshell pitching tournament is featured on the official website for these anniversary celebrations, a testament to its place in the city's cultural identity. In a town known for its Victorian architecture, its birdwatching, and its pristine beaches, the clamshell pitching tournament stands out as one of the quirkiest and most beloved traditions — a reminder that sometimes the simplest pleasures are the ones that endure.
The tournament also serves as the unofficial kickoff to Cape May's Labor Day weekend festivities. The city bills the weekend as its "Summer Send Off," a final celebration before the crowds thin and the beach town settles into its quieter off-season rhythm. The clamshell pitching tournament leads the charge, followed by concerts, a movie on the beach, and a full slate of events designed to squeeze every last drop of summer from the holiday weekend.
For the children who compete, the tournament is a chance to be part of a cherished local tradition. The event is free, open to all, and requires no special equipment or training — just a willingness to try something delightfully odd. As the sun climbs higher over Windsor Beach on September 4th, a new crop of young pitchers will take their places on the sand. They'll grip their clamshells, take aim at the hole, and let fly. Some will hit their mark; most will miss. But all of them will be part of a tradition that has connected Cape May's past to its present — one clamshell at a time.