**Proud Diamond Team After Third Straight Tourney Win at Triple Crown XMas Classic**note...Justin McSorley not pictured.


Welcome to the San Diego Diamonds Baseball Team Web Site

The Diamonds go on Spring Hiatus after Winning their Third Straight Tourney...Dominating at the Triple Crown Xmas Tourney and Qualifing for Triple Crown World Series!! Eleven Year Old Season will Ramp Up in July 2005...Stay Tuned!!.


The Diamonds are San Diego's Nationally Ranked 10 and Under age group competitive travel ball team based out of the Tecolote Canyon area of San Diego. Formed in 2003 and Managed by Coach Steve McSorley, the Diamonds have amassed an impressive record in Southern California and National competitive elite tournament competition.

The Diamonds are generously sponsored by John Baldwin and Baldwin Pacific Group. Thank you John for your enormous contribution to the San Diego Diamonds Team!!

Check out Triple Crown Xmas Classic Photos!!!!


History of the Diamonds

It was the summer of 2003. The Tecolote Pinto A (Red) All-Star team, under the leadership of Manager Steve McSorley, was doing well in the summer PONY League All-Star tournament. The Sectional Tournament was held in La Jolla and Tecolote Red went 4-0 to win the Sectional Champion flag. They then advanced to the Regional Tournament, which was held at North City. Again, Tecolote Red went 4-0 to win the Region Champion flag. It was thrilling to watch how well the boys played together.

That fall the boys were moving up to Mustang (age 9-10) at Tecolote. In September 2003, Coach McSorley called a meeting of all nine year old kids and their parents who had shown signs of taking baseball to the next level. This meeting included the Tecolote Pinto Red team and several other players. At that meeting, Coach McSorley described travel ball to the audience as an option for these special kids. He said he wanted to start a nine and under major baseball team to take to tournaments around Southern California. He knew of what he spoke because he had managed a ten and under travel ball team that year that had enjoyed plenty of success. This new team would be special, however, because his beloved son Justin was going to be a member.

Of the original thirteen kids on the Tecolote Red Pinto team, ten players signed on. Another two players were asked to join in on this dream team to make a wonderful group of twelve. The original team of twelve players consisted of Santino Acuna, Garrett Beaupre, Connor Bingham, Cooper DeGraw, Armand de la Garza, Evan Gourlay, Luke Jarvis, Tyler Majofis, Nicholas Maida, Justin McSorley, Ryan Noll, and Andrew Wright. The San Diego Diamonds 9 & under team was born. They embarked on a journey the likes of which none of them could have imagined.

Having started practicing as the Diamonds that fall, they played their first tournament November 8-9, 2003 at Big League Dreams in Chino Hills, CA and they won it. They next played December 6-7 in Cathedral City and won that one too. In January 2004 they played in two tournaments, coming in second in the first one and winning the second. They came in second in their only tournament in February before going back to regular spring recreation baseball at Tecolote. Needless to say, it was a super successful start.

The plan for the Diamonds was to qualify for the United States Specialty Sports Association’s (USSSA) World Series to be held in St. Louis, MO in July 2004. Fortunately, one of their earlier wins accomplished this and the team made plans to regroup after rec ball ended. Over Memorial Day, they played together and came in second at CABA’s tournament in Carlsbad, CA. They came in second again at the Father’s Day Classic in June in Chino Hills, which was their last tournament before heading to St. Louis.

There were a few changes in the lineup around this time. Cooper DeGraw chose to concentrate on his first love, soccer. Evan Gourlay and his family were moving to New Jersey right after St. Louis. The Diamonds then had the good fortune to add Jackson Balla of Del Mar, CA to the roster. He and his family were welcomed with open arms and hearts. It was a perfect fit.

On to the World Series went the Diamonds. USSSA’s World Series for 9 & under had 72 teams. Everyone had to play four games and then only the top 36 moved on to elimination play. Our Diamonds were ranked 23rd going into the final days and ended up coming in 3rd place overall! It was extraordinary! In addition to doing incredibly well in the baseball tournament, they won the “Around-the-Horn” competition where they were timed while throwing the ball around in a certain order on the field. Also, their own Connor Bingham tied for first place for being the fastest kid to run around the bases. This experience will be remembered for the rest of their lives.

Upon returning to Southern California, the Diamonds prepared for State Championships, which were held in August at Mile Square Park in Huntington Beach, CA. The tournament lasted two weekends and the Diamonds ended up in a very respectable third place. It was the end of their amazing year as nine year olds. They took the rest of August and most of September off and came back as mighty ten year olds for the 2004 – 2005 year.

The Diamonds are currently on hiatus while players enjoy Pony League and Little League Rec Ball Seasons. The New Diamonds squad will regroup in July 2005 following Rec Ball All Star Tourneys in preparation for what promises to be a fantastic season as Eleven Year Olds...!!