13U Program - San Diego Hawks Baseball
*** This page includes additional information that is not otherwise covered in our Hawks Baseball Program page.
Game Pants (new for 13U and older) : Our standard for GAME baseball pants will be WITH navy piping. It looks sharp! Each player should have a pair of white and gray pants, with navy piping. This will give each coach / team more uniform options --- especially with the new gray/navy Hawks cap.
*** This page includes additional information that is not otherwise covered in our Hawks Baseball Program page.
Game Pants (new for 13U and older) : Our standard for GAME baseball pants will be WITH navy piping. It looks sharp! Each player should have a pair of white and gray pants, with navy piping. This will give each coach / team more uniform options --- especially with the new gray/navy Hawks cap.
Coaches / Teams
We will have 3 or 4 teams, with a very experienced group of coaches and players that have a history of playing against the best regional competition.
We continue to attract players from across the region wanting to be a part of our program. We always commit to families that their player will get the opportunity that they earn, but they should always be willing to compete within the organization against returning and new players.
Brett Balkan, one of our most senior coaches, will oversee the 13U program and be involved as a coach when final team assignments are determined in August.
13U (Prime)
13U (Gold)
13U (Navy)
We will have 3 or 4 teams, with a very experienced group of coaches and players that have a history of playing against the best regional competition.
We continue to attract players from across the region wanting to be a part of our program. We always commit to families that their player will get the opportunity that they earn, but they should always be willing to compete within the organization against returning and new players.
Brett Balkan, one of our most senior coaches, will oversee the 13U program and be involved as a coach when final team assignments are determined in August.
13U (Prime)
- This is our more advanced group that has demonstrated success at the D2 level and have been competing at the Majors (D1) level.
- Our top 12U team (Kahnert) compiled a 53-15 record this past year, with multiple championships.
- Coaches : Brett Balkan, Eric Kahnert, Brad Cooperman
13U (Gold)
- Our 13U (Gold) team will be a strong team of 13U eligible players.
- Coach Jonathan (see bio) is a next level coach that will lead and develop these players to be their best on and off the field.
- This team will consist of 12-13 players competing to for roles that help the team compete and win.
- Our Gold teams can compete at the D2 level and will win tournaments at the D3 level.
- Coaches : Jonathan Gutierrez, Luke Phillips
13U (Navy)
- The remaining 12-14 players will make up our 13U (Navy) team, that will also be competitive (e.g. play tournaments) and be structured in a way that rewards the higher performing players on that team. Our teams at every age group (and color) are better than ever before as our program attract the best players / families from across the region.
- Our Navy teams compete at the D3 level
- Coaches : Sebastian Fuchen, Kelton Carpenter
What if my 13U eligible player is an 8th grader?
Short answer : It is recommended they play 13U baseball. That is the age and for most, their physical development reflects their age. My son was in this same situation and took this path, and was ready for high school baseball --- culminating in all league recognition as a Senior.
Getting players ready for high school baseball is a priority. As the Freshman manager at Del Norte High School, I see what it takes to compete at the high school level. Our goal as an organization is to make sure our players make the high school team, but as importantly --- are key contributors on their teams during their high school years.
All incoming 8th graders should swing a Drop 3 bat as much as possible whether they are playing 13U or 14U (required).
January Inflexion Point & Opportunities to Jump to 14U
Based on physical and mental readiness for the "big field" (14U is played with 90' bases, and the mound is 60'6" from home plate --- vs 13U at 80' and 54' respectively), some players may choose to make the jump to 14U in January. Below is our 2024/25 Transition Plan.
Important Note : For all of our 13U and 14U teams, we make our full travel ball schedule the priority as players get closer to competing in high school baseball. Some players may choose to play Little League to get extra reps, but our goal is to get players ready for high school baseball and beyond (not the priority for rec baseball).
14U Program
Starting in January, we will enable more competition as part of our 14U (8th Grade) group.
January Schedule
13U Program
The remaining players in our 13U program will compete in January as part of a selection process to see who will play for each 13U team.
We will have open practices to enable new players to come in and compete for spots on what will be two 13U teams playing 54/80. Our plan is to get back to a team structure by February. Players are not guaranteed a spot after January.
Of course, these are all recommendations based on years of experience and doesn't mean it is the right solution for all players. If you have any thoughts or concerns, as is consistent with our organizational culture, reach out and lets have a conversation.
Short answer : It is recommended they play 13U baseball. That is the age and for most, their physical development reflects their age. My son was in this same situation and took this path, and was ready for high school baseball --- culminating in all league recognition as a Senior.
Getting players ready for high school baseball is a priority. As the Freshman manager at Del Norte High School, I see what it takes to compete at the high school level. Our goal as an organization is to make sure our players make the high school team, but as importantly --- are key contributors on their teams during their high school years.
All incoming 8th graders should swing a Drop 3 bat as much as possible whether they are playing 13U or 14U (required).
January Inflexion Point & Opportunities to Jump to 14U
Based on physical and mental readiness for the "big field" (14U is played with 90' bases, and the mound is 60'6" from home plate --- vs 13U at 80' and 54' respectively), some players may choose to make the jump to 14U in January. Below is our 2024/25 Transition Plan.
Important Note : For all of our 13U and 14U teams, we make our full travel ball schedule the priority as players get closer to competing in high school baseball. Some players may choose to play Little League to get extra reps, but our goal is to get players ready for high school baseball and beyond (not the priority for rec baseball).
14U Program
Starting in January, we will enable more competition as part of our 14U (8th Grade) group.
- Players that are age eligible for 13U, but in 8th grade, will have the opportunity to join the 14U program. There is no right or wrong answer, and the right answer for each player is different. Please discuss with your coaches and/or the organization.
- Along that same line of thinking, our 13U (Prime) team will start competing almost exclusively at the larger field (60/90) dimensions, as most of their team is in 8th grade.
January Schedule
- Field practices will be a combined competition, with all the coaches. Training at The Nest will be split between Monday and Wednesdays, with half at each session.
- We will have open practices to enable new players to come in and compete for spots on what will be three (3) 14U teams.
- Our plan is to get back to a team structure by February, with team decisions by the end of January.
13U Program
The remaining players in our 13U program will compete in January as part of a selection process to see who will play for each 13U team.
We will have open practices to enable new players to come in and compete for spots on what will be two 13U teams playing 54/80. Our plan is to get back to a team structure by February. Players are not guaranteed a spot after January.
Of course, these are all recommendations based on years of experience and doesn't mean it is the right solution for all players. If you have any thoughts or concerns, as is consistent with our organizational culture, reach out and lets have a conversation.