San Clemente Select Riptide Baseball

OVERVIEW

San Clemente Select Riptide is a competitive travel ball program that is affiliated with San Clemente Little League. This team will practice and play games in the fall and winter travel ball seasons. It will not compete with but only complement the Spring Little League season. The San Clemente Little League fall ball season will continue to take place. It will continue as a recreational league that is focused on players getting additional development outside of the spring season. You can expect one practice a week and ~10 games September - November.

Riptide Baseball is designed for those advanced players who are wanting to play at a higher, more competitive level once the spring Little League season is over. Participation will be based on selection after a competitive tryout.

ELIGIBILITY AND COMMITMENT

• We will have teams for ages 9U, 10U, 11U and 12U.
• Travel ball age is the player's age on May 1, 2025.
• While we encourage our youth to play all different sports, those participating in our Select program will be required to make Riptide baseball their priority when it conflicts with other practices or games.
• Players must commit to playing Spring Little League 2025.
• Players must attend tryouts which will be held the afternoon of Sunday May 19th. DATE AND TIME ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

• All interested, age eligible kids are encouraged to tryout.
• Fill out this form to register for tryouts. 
  
• Final dates and times of tryouts will be communicated via email.
  

• After tryouts, a committee made up of Riptide coaches will select the teams. There will be 10-12 players per team.
• Unfortunately, not everyone will make the team. For those who do not make the team we highly encourage you to play in San Clemente Little League Fall Ball.

COACHES

• Coaches are volunteers will be selected by the SCLL board. 
• If you are interested in manager a team or being an assistant coach please fill out this form and let us know why you are good candidate.

PRACTICE

• Practices will start in August around the time school starts.
• Dates and times will be determined by the coaches at a later time.
• Expect to practice twice per week.

GAMES

• Teams will be competing the AAU Fall Ball Wednesday night league. Games are mostly in South OC. 
• Teams will also play in 1-2 tournaments a month. 
  • Tournaments consist of games on Saturday and Sunday. 
  • Most of the tournaments are played at Steed Park here in San Clemente.
  • We encourage coaches to do one travel tournament out of state during the fall/winter season. 
    • Most likely all Riptide teams will play in a tournament in Las Vegas in November and one tournament in Arizona in March 2025. 
• On weekends where there are no tournaments, coaches will schedule games against surrounding travel ball teams in Orange County.
• Teams play ~30 games in the fall/winter season.
• The 12u season culminates in a trip to Cooperstown New York to play in a week long tournament played on fields surrounding the baseball hall of fame. 
  

SELECT RULES

• 12u & 11u play 50/70 field = 50 foot pitching mound. 70 foot base paths.
• 9u & 10u  play 46/60 (same as Little League)
• USSSA Bat Standard (Little League is USA)
• Dropped 3rd strike rule for all ages
• Leadoff and stealing of all bases
  
• Pitcher pickoffs & balks

COST

• The program is expected to cost ~$800 for the full season
  • This fee pays for field fees, umpire fees, tournament fees, two uniforms, 1 practice uniform, bat bag, and helmet.
  • This is a fraction of the cost paid to play for typical travel teams.
  • This does not include travel, etc. for out of state tournaments.  
• We arranged partnerships with Bownet to be the official equipment provider for Riptide Baseball. With that, we will be given wholesale pricing on baseball equipment. Thank you Bownet!

SUMMARY

We look forward to furthering the development of San Clemente baseball. We are confident this program will elevate the game at all levels. There are plenty of other travel programs to choose from in Orange County. We believe this is a great hybrid option for those looking for further development and competition but who value our San Clemente community and still want to play Little League Baseball with their friends in the spring.

My child would like to tryout!

I would like to coach!

Reminder - this is a new program for San Clemente Little League. There will be bumps in the road but our volunteer coaches and board members are doing their best!

If you have additional questions please reach out the Select commissioner Casey Kirkland at [email protected].