travel baseball teams california

Junior league World Series champion

played professionally in Japan

Cal-state Fullerton graduate

Helped players prepare for upcoming MLB season.

Players include Hideo Nomo, Hideki Irabu, Alfonso Soriano, Makoto Sasaki and others.

coach at Rowland HS –  1yr as head coach

manager of San Diego Stars 8u team

Established the SoCal Tides Baseball Academy

served as MLB staff for the San Diego Padres as Interpreter to Kazuhisa Makita

JV head coach at Del Norte HS – holding the best win percentage

co-founder of California Waves – all girls baseball team.

2022 National champions for 14u major division  c

Friday Night Lights @ Poway Sportsplex USA

Click here to find our fnl scheduled games., click here to head over to the socal tides team store overseas items: shoes, custom hoodies, bags will take 4-5 weeks and group ordered once a month. basic hoodies, fan tees, and hats will take 2 weeks., reach out to find out more about our program.

If you’re looking for a place for your son or daughter to play and improve, get extra reps, receive private instruction, or all of the above, feel free to reach out to Coach Kenji at either the email or phone to the right to find out more! 

You can start by just joining an open workout with our Tides teams OR our all-girls team, California Waves Girls Baseball Team.

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If you’re looking for a place for your son or daughter to play and improve, get extra reps, receive private instruction, or all of the above, feel free to reach out to Coach Kenji at either the email or phone just below to find out more! 

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Here at Ballparks of America , we love travel baseball. And we’re not alone. Over the last 20 years, youth travel baseball has become increasingly popular. Take the All-American Wood Bat Classic as an example. During the first year of the tournament, in 2000, around a dozen teams signed up to play. In 2014, nearly 100 teams attended the tournament . 

Joining a travel baseball team has lots of advantages. Kids can become better ballplayers, make friends, and get to experience travel. However, it’s also a large financial and time commitment. And there’s a lot that goes into joining a team. 

To help you understand the world of travel baseball, our team has put together a guide that covers the following topics. 

What is travel baseball?

How to join a travel baseball team, how to choose a travel baseball team, how to start your own travel baseball team, what are the benefits of travel baseball, what is the downside of travel baseball, how do travel baseball tournaments work, how much does it cost to play travel baseball, how many games are played in a season, what to expect at travel baseball tryouts.

Also referred to as elite, club, select, and premier, travel baseball is an organized form of baseball characterized by competitive play and—you guessed it—travel. It is often seen as an intermediary step between Little League and high school baseball play. Travel baseball has also increasingly become the standard for elite youth players hoping to continue their baseball career in college or on a professional level. The typical age requirements vary by the organization but can range from 6 to 18 years old. 

Unlike Little League, which typically has weekly, local games, travel baseball mostly consists of weekend tournament play. However, there are some leagues that cater specifically to elite baseball teams. 

There is no singular governing organization in travel baseball. Rather, there are several organizations and facilities that host tournaments with varying criteria. Some of the dominating travel baseball organizations include Triple Crown Sports , Perfect Game , Untied States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), and Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). 

As we mentioned above, competitive play is a defining characteristic of travel ball. Travel baseball teams do not have open registration, but instead, players are required to try out for a travel team. Therefore, a team could be made up of players from all over the state, region, and—in some cases—the country. Typically only the most competitive teams have players from all over the country.

So you’ve decided travel baseball is something you want to pursue for yourself or your child. Now what? There are two ways to play travel baseball, join a team or start your own team . 

There are several ways to find a travel baseball team. Start with a simple Google search, “travel baseball teams near me.” Another good option is to check out the large organizations listed above. You can also look on Facebook for travel baseball teams. Don’t forget to search for the alternative names (select baseball, elite baseball, club baseball, premier baseball, etc). Finally, you can check out FieldLevel . FieldLevel is a website that lets you search over 105,000 travel teams by location, age level, and skill level. Once you find a team you’re interested in joining, you’ll need to try out. Coaches typically hold tryouts in March, around the time local schools have spring break. 

Depending on where you live and how far you’re willing to travel, there could be several teams to choose from. When faced with a decision of which team to join, there are several factors to take into consideration.

Cost can vary from team to team, depending on how much and how far the team travels. Be sure that the team you choose fits within your budget.

As coaches will have a large impact on the development of a player, you want to be sure to work with coaches that have the right skills, knowledge, and experience. You also want to make sure the coach won’t play favorites with players. This can especially be a concern if the coach has a child on the team.

Although travel baseball tends to be competitive by nature, there are varying levels of competitiveness within the field. If a player is very serious about their development, they’ll want to be playing with teammates and against teams that are performing at a high level. And the opposite is true as well. If a player is not as serious, they might be frustrated playing on a highly-competitive team.

It doesn’t matter how competitive a team is if a player doesn’t get playing time. Travel ball teams typically have 13 players on them. It’s not advantageous to be the 13th best player on a team, because you won’t get very much (if any) playing time. And playing time is important for development and exposure.

One of the main reasons players sign up for travel ball is to eventually go on to play baseball at college or in the pros. Therefore, you want a team that has a strong development program and practices regularly.

Different teams travel different amounts, and it’s important that the amount fits in with the player’s schedule and the player’s family’s schedule.

If your goal as a player is to play in college or go pro, then it’s important to get adequate exposure. To do this, your team needs to play in the right tournaments where scouts will have the opportunity to see you play.

• Find a mentor
• Recruit players
• Hold tryouts
• Determine a budget
• Find a space to play
• Register your team with the travel baseball organizations

Tougher Competition

Travel baseball allows kids to play with and against the best players in the area, state, or—in some cases—the country. This can drastically improve their game.

Travel Opportunities

Getting to visit locations like Branson, Missouri for a vacation and baseball experience is a one-of-a-kind opportunity. Families can experience a traveling together and enjoying competitive baseball at the same time.

More Exposure

For those hoping to play baseball in college, travel baseball offers more exposure opportunities. Tournaments are a great way to get noticed by a scout or college coach.

Better Player Development

Travel baseball teams often provide better player development than recreational teams. Compared to rec teams, travel coaches tend to be more experienced, better connected, and more serious. Some of the most competitive teams actually employ former professional coaches.

More Playing Opportunities

Select baseball teams play a lot more games a year than an average rec team.

What are the downsides of travel baseball?

Possible injuries.

Some critics have argued that the increase in elbow injuries among major-league players may be caused by youth travel baseball.  

Compared to Little League teams, travel baseball is quite a bit more expensive. 

Lacks Diversity

Due to the cost, travel baseball tends to exclude players in lower socioeconomic brackets. 

Large Time Commitment

When it comes to travel baseball, the time commitment is significant. During the season, be prepared to give up quite a few weekends. 

Highly Competitive

The goals of travel baseball are to develop players and win games. Sometimes the focus on winning can overshadow player development. Typically, the best players will get the majority of the playing time.

How do select baseball tournaments work?

Each team chooses how many and which tournaments they will participate in every year. Tournaments are typically held on weekends and can take place all over the country. There are also week-long tournaments held during the summer. Teams choose which tournaments to play in based on a variety of factors—distance, cost, age level, potential exposure, and skill level. 

Depending on how well they play, a team can expect to play between three and eight games during a tournament. Tournaments usually start with pool-play, where teams are guaranteed to play a certain number of games. If they do well, they then get to play more games which are single elimination. 

According to USA Today , on average travel baseball costs families $3,700 per year. However, some families pay upwards of $8,000 per year. These numbers include fees, equipment , training , and travel. 

Traveling to weekend tournaments versus weeklong tournaments, like what Ballparks of America hosts, can also have an effect on costs as well. Food, hotels , gas and more are additional factors when deciding where to go with your travel baseball team.

How many travel baseball games are played in a season?

It can vary, but during the summer seasons, players typically play between 50-60 games.

Although every tryout will progress differently, tryouts typically adhere to the following structure.

To start, either a coach or a team captain will lead you through a warm-up. It’s important to warm up properly so you don’t injure yourself during the tryout.

Next, you’ll most likely be asked to do a 60-yard dash. One of the things coaches are looking for is to see which prospects are athletic and fast. You might be asked to run it more than once.

Then, you’ll have a chance to warm up your arms by playing catch.

The next set of drills will focus on position-specific skills. For example, if you’re an infielder, you might be asked to go to shortstop to ground balls. If you’re a pitcher, you’ll be throwing in the bullpen.

You’ll take turns hitting. You’ll only get a few chances to show off your batting skills, so you want to make this count.

In some cases, tryouts may end after batting practice. However, some tryouts end with a scrimmage.

Tips for travel baseball tryouts

It’s important to make a good first impression. Showing up on time demonstrates that you’re reliable. You also want to make sure you’ve dressed appropriately and have all the necessary equipment. And, right when you get there, go up and introduce yourself to the coach.

Beyond just looking for talented players, coaches are also looking for athletes who can help lead the team. Stand out as a leader by helping organize drills and cheering on your potential teammates.

Whether you’re huddling up with the coach or heading out to your position, put some pep in your step. Coaches like to see that you are taking tryouts seriously and putting in the effort. Try to make sure you’re one of the first players to get where you’re supposed to be.

You might not realize it, but the coaches are watching prospects the entire practice, so don’t slack off. Even when you’re playing catch, you want to be sure to put your best foot forward.

Arm strength is one of the things coaches will be looking for. So, no matter what position you play, when you’re in the specific skills portion of the tryout, make sure to throw the ball hard and fast. If you can, start a training program a few weeks before tryouts. 

Arm strength is one of the things coaches will be looking for. So, no matter what position you play, when you’re in the specific skills portion of the tryout, make sure to throw the ball hard and fast.

Don’t try to get too fancy with batting practice. Instead, try hit line drives and keep them in the middle of the field.

It can be tempting to try and play the way you think the coaches want you to play. But don’t. If you do, you won’t be at your best and you’ll end up making silly mistakes. Instead, wait for your moment and seize the opportunity.

Yes, coaches are looking for talented players. But they’re also looking for players with potential who can be coached. Show that you’re coachable for listening to advice and implementing it. And it can’t hurt to ask questions that show you’re open to feedback.

Ballparks of America offers premier facilities for travel baseball tournaments

We live and breathe travel ball at Ballparks of America, and we can’t wait for the season to start. Sign up for one of our tournaments today and take advantage of our amazing facilities, dedicated staff, tons of amenities, and fun local things to do. Give us a call or contact us online today. We can’t wait to hear from you! 

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Travel Baseball: The Ultimate Guide for Parents and Players

Table of Contents

What is travel baseball, what to look for in a travel baseball team, travel baseball vs. little league, travel baseball pros and cons , criticisms and controversy, is travel baseball worth it.

For many families, the transition from Little League to travel baseball comes with stress, anxiety and questions about what to look for in a team and what to expect from the experience — not to mention the question of whether making the switch from a more laid-back rec ball program to a more competitive (and expensive) travel club is the right decision in the first place.

In this post, we’re going to go over everything you need to know about getting started with youth travel baseball. We’ll help you answer the questions above and determine whether travel baseball is a good fit for your son or daughter. 

If you have a softball player in the family, you may also want to check out our article “ What to Look For in a Travel Softball Team ,” which covers some of the same information from a softball perspective and dives deep into my personal experience as an elite-level amateur player and college recruiting prospect.

Table of Contents :

• How to Choose a Travel Baseball Team
• Travel Baseball Pros and Cons
• Is Travel Baseball Worth It?  

First, it’s important to understand what a travel baseball team is and how travel baseball is organized. 

There are tens of thousands of travel baseball teams around the country, and their popularity has exploded over the past two decades. As recently as the 1990s, travel baseball was a niche experience limited mostly to elite players in baseball-rich areas like Texas and California. Today, participation is seen by many as a near necessity for talented players to develop their skills and hone their game against the best competition they can find. 

Whereas Little League is the dominant organization when it comes to recreational youth baseball, there are multiple organizations throughout the country that host hundreds of travel tournaments each year. Some of the biggest and most popular are USSSA (United States Speciality Sports Association), AAU (Amateur Athletic Union), Triple Crown Sports , and Perfect Game . Travel baseball teams often participate in tournaments organized by more than one of those organizations. 

A team can be started by anyone. Many are formed by parents, but many others are formed by high school and former college coaches. Depending on their organizational goals, some programs have just one team that participates in one age bracket (such as 10 and under), while some are run like businesses and have teams that compete in every age group. 

Some huge organizations, such as California Baseball Academy (CBA), even have multiple teams within the same age group, located in multiple cities. CBA has teams not only in California, but also in Nevada, Texas, Utah and the southeast. High-level programs like that are often known for attracting top talent, for training recruits into elite players, and for feeding those players into nearby colleges and universities. 

Travel Baseball Competition Structure

Virtually all travel baseball games are played on weekends in a tournament format. Those tournaments can theoretically be held anywhere, but are frequently held at multi-field facilities in easily-accessible travel hubs. For example, many Florida tournaments are held in Orlando because it’s in the relative center of the state, it has plenty of hotel rooms, and it’s home to many great baseball facilities. The farther you live away from such a hub, the more you should expect to travel. 

Most tournaments begin with pool play, meaning that teams are guaranteed a number of games before heading into single elimination. A team can expect to play anywhere from three to eight games over the course of a two-day or three-day tournament, depending on how they perform.

There is no set number of tournaments a team must participate in. Each team decides which tournaments to enter on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration factors such as age level, skill level, and cost. In general, two tournaments per month can be seen as about average, although higher-level teams may play more frequently. 

Most organizations run regional and national championships, which are invite-only. For example, USSSA hosts “qualifier” tournaments, where the winner of the championship game (and sometimes the runner up) can earn a bid to the USSSA national tournament.

Additionally, beginning at age 14, some teams start participating in “college exposure tournaments,” where college scouts come from across the country to watch and evaluate prospects. These tournaments are typically more expensive than regular tournaments, and are often farther away.

How to Join a Travel Baseball Team

If you’ve decided to join a travel baseball team and aren’t sure where to find one, there are a number of resources available. 

It may go without saying, but word-of-mouth can be a valuable first reference point. If you’re thinking about switching to travel baseball, chances are that you already know someone in your area who has made the jump. If so, don’t be afraid to ask them questions about the team and their experience. It’s a big commitment — both in terms of time and finances — so it’s important to make sure you find the right club for your son or daughter.

In addition to word of mouth, many organizations offer a list of active teams on their website. For example, USSSA has a tool that lets you filter teams by age level, skill level, and location . There are also many state-based forums and Facebook groups where coaches post their team’s tryouts (and positions needed). As an example, here are Facebook groups for travel baseball teams in Florida and Michigan ⁠— you can find similar groups for every state. 

Another good option is FieldLevel.com , which (like the USSSA site) allows you to filter teams by state and level. While not every team is listed on that website, it does include over 4,000 clubs.

Here are eight things to think about when evaluating teams. These factors will make a big difference when it comes to your overall experience, so take the time to think about them, and don’t be afraid to ask questions of parents and coaches.

1. Coaching  

A coaching staff can make or break a team. How coaches manage players, keep the game fun, instill the fundamentals, and focus on development — not only as athletes, but as young men and women — is extremely important. 

Some travel baseball teams have parents or grandparents serving as the head coach. While that can be fine, it’s important to make sure those coaches don’t make keeping their own child on the field a priority. Before committing to a team, spend some time researching it by watching a practice and talking to current and/or former players and parents. 

What’s the coaching style? Do they have high expectations but still encourage and love their players? Or, on the other hand, are they screaming at players when they make a mistake? 

Additionally, are players treated equitably, or do some get preferential treatment based on their relationship to the coach or their financial contribution to the team?

Ideally, your child will be a part of that team and organization for consecutive years, rather than bouncing from team to team. As such, determining whether the coaching staff is a good fit is a crucial first step.

2. Cost  

For many parents, this is the most terrifying aspect of travel baseball.

Just how much of a toll is this going to take on your bank account? The specific answer varies, but the typical range of cost for participating in travel baseball is between $500 and $2,500 per year. 

That said, you can end up spending a lot more than that. Back in 2011, CBS News reported that one Georgia family paid $4,000 per year for their 9-year-old son’s travel team. You can imagine that older players in elite programs that travel all over the country can spend even more over the course of a season.

Typically, the more intensely focused a program is on developing its players for college baseball, the more money the program is going to cost. On the other hand, teams that are playing more for the fun of it — those looking for just a little more structure and competition than offered by Little League — won’t put as much of a dent in your wallet.

There are a number of specific factors that go into how much it costs to be on a team:

• Where you live . If you live in a baseball hub, like Texas or California, you won’t have to travel as far to get to tournaments. Many teams from rural areas regularly drive across multiple states (or sometimes even fly) to tournaments. As such, where you live will likely be the single biggest variable in your overall travel baseball cost.
• Whether you have to buy your own equipment . Some teams are sponsored by equipment companies like Easton and Rawlings and have their bats, gloves and cleats provided either for free or at a reduced cost. Obviously, this can be a huge savings. Also, keep in mind that (unfortunately) equipment is often viewed as a status symbol in travel baseball. If your child joins a team where every other player has multiple bats and position-specific gloves, he or she is going to press you for similar gear.
• Whether you have to rent facilities . Some teams practice exclusively at public fields. Others have little or no access to such facilities and have to rent fields and/or indoor space (especially for winter workouts). This can have a huge impact on the overall cost of participation.
• Whether or not coaches are paid . Some teams — typically the more competitive ones — pay their coaches small stipends and/or cover their cost of travel. On one hand, this tends to lead to better coaching. On the other hand, families are the ones who will ultimately foot that bill.
• How competitive the team is . Higher-level tournaments typically have higher fees. Lower-level tournaments, operated on a more sub-regional basis, are usually much less expensive to enter. If cost is a concern, make sure you know what types of tournaments the team usually enters over the course of the season. 

3. Location  

As stated earlier, location is a key factor in deciding which travel team to play for. If you’re fortunate enough to live in California, Florida or Texas, you’re going to have a lot of opportunities to play with and against high-level competition right in your backyard. 

But outside of those states, it’s a little bit tougher, and you have to decide how committed you are to playing at the highest possible level. 

For example, if you live in a medium-sized town outside of a major baseball hub, chances are you have at least a couple of travel ball options. However, the odds are that those options are not the absolute cream of the crop when it comes to coaching and competitiveness. In order to play for the absolute “best” team possible, you might have to commute from your mid-sized town to the nearest major city. 

So you’ll be faced with the following choice: play on a lower level team that’s closer to home, or drive a hundred miles or more for twice-weekly practices? It may sound crazy, but many families do just that. 

Why would they commit so much time and money to their son or daughter’s athletic pursuits? It comes down to goals. Better teams often provide better coaching and more opportunities for exposure to college and professional scouts. 

What’s the team’s mission? Is the focus on fun, player development, college exposure, or a mix of all there? Teams can have many different goals and missions, and there’s no right or wrong approach.

However, it is possible that a team’s mission does not align with your values and goals, and you need to think about this before committing, as a compatibility mismatch can lead to coach-parent and coach-player tension. 

5. Organization

Consider the reputation of the organization you’re evaluating. When you join a team, you and your son or daughter will essentially be endorsing everything the program stands for. If they’re known for dirty play or being disrespectful to the game, you’ll be associated with that. 

And believe it or not, the baseball world is a small and surprisingly tight-knit community. College coaches tend to know which programs produce bad apples — and they avoid them. In fact, many college coaches will completely write off an entire organization that has a reputation for not playing the game the right way or for having disrespectful players.

6. Playing Time

There’s an important balance between getting enough playing time and being challenged. Before committing, ask the coaching staff what kind of playing time your child can expect — including at what position. 

If there are two returning shortstops, he or she most likely won’t be playing there and might have to learn another position. That’s not a bad thing: college coaches want players that are versatile, and many players change positions as they get older and their bodies develop. 

Still, it’s helpful to know what to expect ahead of time. Getting game reps is important from a development perspective, but also just from a fun perspective: no kid wants to consistently travel to a tournament only to sit on the bench for most of the weekend. 

7. Skill Level

Be realistic about your child’s skill level, and pay attention to the level of competition around him or her at tryouts (i.e., the skill levels of the other players). If your kid has the fight and desire to compete for a spot (like they’ll have to do if they make it to college ball), then putting them on a team where they’ll be challenged is the best option. 

But if he or she is there to have fun and make friends, with no burning desire to be constantly improving, then choosing a travel team that’s more low-key will be the better call.

8. What You’re Giving Up

Travel baseball tournaments are on weekends, and players often have to sacrifice certain things that are part of a normal childhood. 

Is your son or daughter willing to miss out on things like birthdays, sleepovers and school dances, because most of their time is spent doing homework, traveling to and from games and practices, practicing on their own (possibly including private lessons), and spending nearly every summer weekend at the ballpark?

And are they willing to sacrifice the material things that matter to kids — things like clothes, video games, new smartphones, etc. — because so much money is being spent on baseball? 

As I wrote in THV’s guide to travel softball , my family made major sacrifices to support my athletic pursuits. 

For some, their love of the game is so great that giving up these things is a no-brainer. For others, they may regret missing out on these social activities. And that’s perfectly fine! Just be honest with each other and talk about the true costs of travel baseball — because it’s not just the sticker price.

There are some important similarities and differences between competitive travel baseball and recreational baseball. Both can teach many valuable life skills, such as work ethic, good sportsmanship, teamwork and bouncing back from failure. But they are very different when it comes to time commitment and competitiveness.

The Little League schedule usually runs from the late spring through early summer, with teams practicing twice per week and playing two games per week. The total number of games per season varies, but it usually ranges from 10 to 20. It’s a local program, which means travel is either limited or non-existent. In general, Little League coaches are parents.

Little League can be a great place for kids as young as 4-years-old to start playing the game. They’ll learn the rules and the absolute basics of hitting, pitching and fielding in a fun an easy-going environment (except for the occasional parent that takes their coaching position overboard). 

Overall, Little League fits the classic stereotype of youth baseball: kids having fun playing the greatest game in the world, without much pressure or focus on player development. 

Back in the day, Little League would feed into middle school and high school programs, which carried the bulk of the weight when it came to getting payers ready for college and the pros. But today, the reality is that it’s almost impossible to get the coaching and skill development you need by participating only Little league or other rec ball programs. 

That’s especially true when it comes to the gap between “Majors” Little League (12-and-under) and high school. Few middle schools still have baseball programs, and those programs that do exist tend not to be very good. Likewise, while Little League offers both a Junior division (12-14) and a Senior division (14-16), those leagues tend to pale in comparison to the coaching and competition offered by travel ball. 

So, if your son or daughter is serious about playing baseball at a high level, it’s especially important to focus on the transition to travel ball at around the age of 11 or 12.

There are positives and negatives when it comes to travel baseball. Here are a few of each.

• Better competition : Players are more serious about the game and more driven to improve. This higher level of competition will help push your son or daughter to improve their own skills.
• Better coaching : Travel baseball coaches tend to be better qualified, more knowledgeable, and better-connected. At the highest levels of travel ball, teams often employ former professional coaches.
• More exposure : Aside from high school baseball, travel ball is the primary means of exposure to college coaches and pro scouts. Plus, travel teams often attend showcase tournaments and camps.
• More games played : Travel teams play significantly more games per year than rec ball teams.
• Facilitates travel : Sometimes seen as an ancillary benefit, the travel itself can be a valuable and eye-opening experience for players. Many kids don’t have an opportunity to travel out of their own area or state, and travel baseball can provide that. 
• Encourages character development : Because travel teams are more serious, there’s a greater emphasis put on things like being on time, demonstrating maximum effort, and having a good attitude.  
• Cost : Travel baseball is expensive — sometimes absurdly so. Families often spend around $2,500 per year, but the costs can be even higher. 
• Time commitment : Even a moderately competitive travel team can consume an entire summer’s worth of weekends. 
• Ultra-competitive : On most travel teams, there’s a balance between player development and winning. What you won’t often find is an “everybody plays” approach. For the most part, the best players will play the most, which makes for a highly-competitive environment. 
• Tougher workouts : This can be a pro or a con, depending on the player’s perspective and goals. Tougher workouts can lead to better outcomes, but they can also be mentally and physically taxing if the player isn’t fully invested.
• Lack of diversity : Because travel baseball is expensive, it has often been criticized for a lack of socioeconomic and racial diversity. 

Travel baseball provides many benefits and can be a valuable opportunity for players who are serious about the game and committed to playing at the highest possible level. However, it’s not without its share of criticism and controversy. 

In an essay titled “ Left Out ,” MLB superstar Andrew McCutchen wrote about how kids like him, who grow up in low-income families, are often excluded from travel baseball and thus systematically disadvantaged when it comes to development and exposure: 

“When you’re a kid from a low-income family who has talent, how do you get recognized? Now, you have to pay thousands of dollars for the chance to be noticed in showcase tournaments in big cities. My parents loved me, but they had to work hard to put food on the table, and there wasn’t much left over. They didn’t have the option of skipping a shift to take me to a tournament over the weekend. […] That’s the challenge for families today. It’s not about the $100 bat. It’s about the $100-a-night motel room and the $30 gas money and the $300 tournament fee. 

[…] If you’re a poor kid with raw ability, it’s not enough.”

McCutchen was lucky: an AAU coach “discovered” him at the age of 13 and covered his travel ball expenses. But most kids from similar situations aren’t so fortunate. 

Why is this important for you, the parent of a child thinking about joining a travel team? 

On one hand, it’s important to be aware of how the systems we participate in affect our society. But on a much more specific level, you should know that your child will be entering a largely homogenous environment.

On top of that, kids from lower-income families can often feel out of place in travel ball — especially if they don’t come to the ballpark with the latest, top-quality gear like their teammates. This social dynamic can have a powerful impact on your child’s experience. 

Additionally, travel baseball means that both your family and your child will be spending less time within your own community.

There’s been a lot written in recent years about how travel baseball may be contributing to the erosion of communities , because it pulls families out of local baseball programs that once served as important civic institutions.

This is evidenced by the sharply declining participation in Little League. In the organization’s Southeast Region (a hotbed for a travel baseball), the number of Little League players has plunged by nearly 50% since 2007 . 

So we’ve come to the biggest question: Is travel ball worth it?

If you want to improve your skills and have the best chance to play in college or the pros, travel baseball is the way to go. But remember: there is a range of cost and time commitment within travel baseball. Your son or daughter doesn’t necessarily have to opt for the most expensive travel team in order to be sufficiently challenged (and later on, to get noticed by college coaches). 

Your goal in evaluating teams should be to find the right balance of: 

• Financial commitment 
• Time commitment
• Intangible sacrifices (school events, community involvement, etc.) 
• Baseball goals

After reading this article, you should have a very solid understanding of what Little League and travel baseball have in common, their differences, and what you should be looking for in a club. 

Remember, this is your child’s choice to. Help them see the pros and cons of each option. And although we stated it earlier, we cannot stress this enough: you cannot dictate your son or daughter’s commitment to the game of baseball. It’s up to them. So, support them in whatever capacity they want to participate. If you do, they’ll never regret or forget the amazing experiences, friends, and lessons learned playing this great game.

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Left Coast Baseball Academy’s travel baseball program was created to provide a higher level of competition for talented and motivated Ventura/Los Angeles county baseball players with a commitment to the improvement of their skills in a team focused environment. Teams will work hard to win games, but winning will never become more important than teamwork and good sportsmanship. Left Coast Baseball Academy will ask players to work toward excellence, not perfection. Baseball is a fun and challenging game that requires players to develop the ability to overcome mistakes and to look forward to their next opportunity. Ultimately, the development of skills and team focused play will be the guideline for our program, which we believe will create better baseball players and better people.

Private and Public tryouts are available for ages 8u-14u. Contact Kevin McGuigan at 805-432-6012, RJ Feigenbaum at 805-428-2586, or email us at [email protected] for more information.

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Northern California’s Professional Baseball Instruction and Training Authority. Centrally located near Cal Expo at 1600 Tribute Road in Sacramento, we welcome athletes 9 and up to try out for our travel baseball teams. Our indoor facility offers 21,000 square feet of thoughtfully planned training space. We offer six 55′ hitting tunnels, four 70’ multi-use hitting/pitching tunnels equipped with hit-trax, video analysis, radar, and blast motion technology. 

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Find Field Directions & Addresses By Field Name  (Select first letter of the field name and it will jump to nearest section for you.)   A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O…

Sign Up Steps #1: – Request in invite from the links on the front page of CCYB.net #2: Mail or email in the CCYB.net entry form. We must have entry form to add your team to the schedule. #3: Pay…

  Common Questions and Answers  ….Confirm schedule and field directions 4–5 days prior to games with other team. E-mail [email protected] and let the league know that the game has been confirmed by both teams. Communication of this helps the league…

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Diablos Baseball

The Livermore Diablos are a nonprofit travel baseball club from Livermore, California.

Cooperstown Experience

Cooperstown, New York is home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum - a destination dedicated to the heroes and history of the game.   Cooperstown All Star Village is a family baseball resort that hosts tournament camps each summer for youth teams. Each summer, 12U teams from all across the US travel to Cooperstown for a weeklong tournament and team experience.

    The majority of the now 13U team has been together since 2018. The squad planned to travel to Cooperstown, NY, for a week long tournament / team experience during the Summer of 2020. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team could not travel to Cooperstown.   

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California Collegiate Athletics Association

D2CCA and NCBWA Announce All-West Region Baseball Honors

May 23, 2024

USD baseball team ‘ready to get after it’ in Santa Barbara after learning NCAA Regionals fate

No. 2 seeded Toreros will take on Oregon at noon on Friday as part of a regional bracket that includes host UC Santa Barbara and Fresno State

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The University of San Diego baseball team gathered in the school’s Warren Hospitality Suite inside the Jenny Craig Pavilion on Monday morning for the NCAA Division I Tournament Selection Show.

It was a festive atmosphere. USD players and coaches shared the moment with family and friends, secure in the knowledge that the Toreros were included in the 64-team field by virtue of Saturday’s 8-6 victory over Portland for the West Coast Conference Tournament title.

USD was in a similar situation two years ago, waiting to see “San Diego” flash on the television screen. The Toreros were the 63rd team announced in the 64-team field.

The wait was nearly as long this time, with the Santa Barbara Regional among the last brackets revealed on the one-hour selection show.

All it did was build the anticipation.

When “San Diego” finally appeared, the room erupted.

The Toreros (40-13) were assigned to the four-team Santa Barbara Regional as the No. 2 seed. They will open the regionals Friday against No. 3 seed Oregon (37-18) at noon (ESPNU) . Regional host UC Santa Barbara (42-12), the No. 1 seed in the regional, will open against No. 4 Fresno State (33-27) at 6 p.m. (ESPN+).

“No matter where we were going, we were ready to play our game, just play San Diego baseball,” USD shortstop Justin DeCriscio said. “But taking a bus up to Santa Barbara, we’re very excited about that. ... We’re ready to get after it.”

USD has not played any of its regional opponents this season.

The Toreros did play home-and-home series the previous two seasons against Oregon, going 3-5 against the Ducks. They defeated Fresno State 4-0 in a 2022 Tony Gwynn Legacy game at Fowler Park. USD has not played UCSB since a 9-6 home loss during the 2016 season.

“These guys want to show the country what they’re all about,” said USD coach Brock Ungricht, whose team enters the regionals on a 10-game winning streak. “We got to win the regular season WCC title. We got to win the conference tournament. It’s like checking that box, that first goal. Now, we’re going on to achieve our second goal, and that’s winning a regional.”

“I think utilizing those (postseason) nerves in a positive way, in an aggressive way, is what our guys are ready for.”

The winner of the four-day, double-elimination tournament advances to the best-of-three Super Regionals next week. The Santa Barbara Regional winner will meet the College Station Regional winner that includes host Texas A&M, Louisiana-Lafayette, Texas and Grambling State.

The eight Super Regional winners advance to the 77th College World Series, which will be played June 14-25 in Omaha, Neb.

This is the 10th NCAA Tournament appearance for the Toreros during a Division I history that dates to 1980. Santa Barbara, roughly 215 miles from the USD campus, is the closest possible regional host site. Only three of the 16 sites are in the West: Santa Barbara; Tucson, Ariz.; and Corvallis, Ore.

USD finished atop West Coast Conference during the regular season with a 20-4 record and followed that up by winning the WCC Tournament championship .

Oregon finished third in the Pac-12 this season, one game behind conference champion Arizona and a half-game back of Oregon State. The Ducks went 9-1 over the last 10 games of the regular season, but they’re coming off two straight losses in the Pac-12 Tournament.

USD is very familiar with the Oregon. The Toreros opened the 2022 season by winning three of four games against Oregon at Fowler Park. Last season, USD was swept in a four-game series against the Ducks in Eugene.

Ungricht said seeing the Ducks in recent seasons is very helpful.

“Going into it,” he said, “you know what kind of game they play. Being able to prepare for that as a coach and understanding that (is beneficial), but not getting out of what we do and our strengths.

“Focusing on our strengths and what we do as a ballclub is going to be imperative for our success.”

When they made the tournament two years ago, the Toreros were shipped out to the Corvallis Regional hosted by Oregon State. A 4 1/2-hour bus ride to Santa Barbara was welcomed by the team.

“I’m super stoked to be local and have friends and family come out to support us,” USD pitcher Conner Thurman said. “Just a little bus trip up north. We’re really excited. That will be a fun regional.”

Santa Barbara Regional schedule

FRIDAY’S GAMES Game 1: No. 2 USD (40-13) vs. No. 3 Oregon (37-18), noon. (ESPNU) Game 2: No. 1 UC Santa Barbara (42-12) vs. No. 4 Fresno State (33-27), 6 p.m. (ESPN+) SATURDAY’S GAMES Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 1 p.m. Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7 p.m. SUNDAY’S GAMES Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, noon Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m. MONDAY’S GAME Game 7 (if Game 5 winner wins Game 6): Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBA

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USD returns to the postseason for the second time in three years with Friday’s game vs. Oregon; NCAA regional also includes host UCSB and Fresno State

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May 28, 2024

USD beats Portland to clinch WCC Tournament title

USD beats Pilots 8-6 to earn championship; Toreros find out Monday morning which four-team regional they are headed to for 64-team NCAA playoffs

May 25, 2024

USD playing for WCC Tournament title after beating Portland

University of San Diego beats Pilots 7-5, moving within one win of West Coast Conference Tournament championship and automatic berth in NCAA Regionals

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USD opens WCC Tournament with win over Gonzaga

USD two-way standout Austin Smith is solid on the mound and provides a boost at the plate in 10-7 victory that puts Toreros two wins from title

May 23, 2024

The best baseball team nobody is talking about: USD Toreros embracing underdog role as NCAA Tournament nears

San diego might be the best team in the nation nobody is talking about, by derek togerson • published may 23, 2024 • updated on may 23, 2024 at 12:59 pm.

In their final series of the regular season the University of San Diego baseball team knew they had a chance to win the West Coast Conference title if they won all three games, regardless of what anyone behind them in the standings did. They won their first two games and on Saturday, a few folks from the WCC came out on the field to start a celebration.

The Toreros reaction was not what you'd expect, but exactly what you'd want.

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"We knew that we were in position to win it but we thought that we had to sweep to win it outright,'" says senior closer Conner Thurman. "So they come out Saturday after we won with the banners and the hats and shirts and were were like ... put this away. We're not done. The job's NOT finished. That's the mentality of this team."

A talented team with a champion's mentality is a dangerous thing, indeed, especially when people are overlooking it.

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In the last several NCAA Top 25 Baseball polls USD has been sitting in the "Others Receiving Votes" category but hasn't been elevated to the point where they get a number next to their name, begging the question:

What else do these guys have to do to get some national recognition?

Over their last 30 games the Toreros are 27-3. Yes, a college baseball team that has won 90% of its games over the last two months and won its conference championship outright ... one with the 11th-best team ERA in the country to go with a top-30 offense ... is somehow still not viewed as one of the best 25 teams in America. It's probably convenient to say it's an East Coast bias but in this case it's also warranted.

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14 of the top 25 teams are in the SEC or ACC and only five programs are located west of the Mississippi River. USD is looking to change the lack of California love.

"We kind of feel a little chip on our shoulder to prove every day when we go out to play that we do belong with some of those SEC and ACC teams. We want to do it for San Diego. We take really big pride in doing it for the city and being one of the best teams on the west coast," says Thurman.

The Toreros are using their relative anonymity as a form of motivation.

"Personally, I think it's fun playing the underdog," says outfielder Jakob Christian, the WCC Player of the Year. "I think we've got that going for us. We've got something to prove."

Every moment of every day they're at the field this team is competing. They have games of SlamBall, they play Pepper, they even compete at cards. It's one of those special groups where everyone gets along and that kinship translates to the diamond.

"I think if you look at University of San Diego baseball there's not a program in the U.S. that has more fun than we do," says senior captain Will Worthington. "I think we know when to lock in but also when to have fun. We play a game, at the end of the day, that's supposed to be fun. You want to wake up being excited about what's ahead. This program has done an amazing job of making us eager to show up at the ballpark and get better."

How much better can they get?

"If we take it day by day and do the things we're supposed to do, I would love us in Omaha," says Thurman.

That is certainly not out of the realm of possibility. But first, they open the WCC Tournament on Thursday against Gonzaga. If they plow through this event there's an outside chance, with their top 25 RPI ranking, the Toreros could host one of the 16 NCAA Regionals. How much fun would that be?

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