13U Program - San Diego Hawks Baseball
*** Player will be still be 13 years old on April 30, 2026.
NOTE: Players officially "age up" Labor Day weekend, but within Hawks Baseball we use the new age when referring to our Summer (through August) baseball programs.
*** 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.
COACHES & TEAMS
We have 3 very competitive teams as part of of our 13U program, with a very experienced group of coaches and players that have a history of playing against the best regional competition.
13U (Prime)
13U (San Jule)
13U (Barajas)
We have 3 very competitive teams as part of of our 13U program, with a very experienced group of coaches and players that have a history of playing against the best regional competition.
13U (Prime)
- Coach Azure Centeno will lead this advanced team that has demonstrated success at the D2 level and can compete at the Majors (D1) level, and has higher expectations of engagement, participating and work ethic.
- Our returning 12U (Prime) team played in events all over Southern California, competing against the best teams, regionally.
- Supporting Coaches : Zane Bowman
13U (San Jule)
- Coach John San Jule will lead his very talented team against into the 2025/26 program season. As a graduate of Columbia University where he played 4 years of baseball, he is both smart and talented (as a coach, and player). He has built a winning, positive team culture that has been impressive to watch.
- Our returning 12U (San Jule) teams competed against all the best teams in San Diego, won tournaments and are one of the best teams in San Diego ---- and are, in essence, a "Prime" team.
- Supporting Coaches: Trevor Young
13U (Barajas)
- Coach Bryce Barajas, an experienced Hawks coach and the Freshman manager at Torrey Pines, leads this competitive group.
- Supporting Coaches : Rod Barajas Jr., Mark Strauch
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 [Mark Strauch] 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
Some teams will just to start playing on the bigger field (60/90) so this can become a moot point for our 8th graders wanting to play on the bigger field.
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.
IMPORTNANT 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).
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 [Mark Strauch] 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
Some teams will just to start playing on the bigger field (60/90) so this can become a moot point for our 8th graders wanting to play on the bigger field.
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.
IMPORTNANT 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).