LEGIT Baseball, Inc. has been formed and will assume all management and operations for Blue Wave teams starting in March, 2012, and will be focused on becoming one of the top brands in amateur baseball training and recruiting services over the next five years.

“The time has come to take what we have built to the next level,” Blue Wave founder and President Steve Kruse explained. “We have operated as a non-profit since our inception, but that structure does not provide ownership for coaches or investors in what has become a significant organization over the past seven years years and one that we can grow even larger over the coming years.”

Besides forming the new corporation to manage and run Blue Wave’s present teams, Kruse said LEGIT has named Bill Worden as President and Director of Player Development and Tom Nick will serve as Vice President of Operations. Kruse will serve as chairman of the board and CEO.

“Our goal is to become the top provider or amateur baseball training and recruiting services in the region for players from 10U and up,” Kruse said. “We can’t do that without putting a real management team in place and we could not have picked two better people to add.”

Worden is both an accomplished baseball professional and Orange County business executive that is well versed in the recruiting process, having been drafted in several times in college before signing with the California Angels after graduating Stanford University in 1981.

Though predominately a catcher throughout his career, he also played 1st, 3rd, and outfield during his six years in the minor leagues with the Angels, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and Cleveland Indians.

Besides coaching and helping manage LEGIT Baseball in his spare time, Worden is an executive with a business services and financial management firm.

Nick is head baseball coach at Calvary Chapel High School and a highly respected Orange County baseball professional with coaching and recruiting experience at every age level. Besides playing college baseball (Long Beach State) at a highly competitive level, Nick managed and coached one of the top local travel teams to come out of Orange County in the last decade – the OC Stallions, winners of back-to-back AAU National Championships in 2000 and 2001, as well as the AABC Mickey Mantle 15U World Series in 2005.

Nick is also an expert on the recruiting process both as a player and parent, his son was recruited by UCLA and now plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is also the former owner and operator of The YARD Baseball & Softball Training Center in Irvine.

Besides Kruse, Worden, and Nick, LEGIT founding shareholders will include Blue Wave coaches Rich Pohle, Mike Fuchs, Aron Garcia, Bret LeVier, Jon Rodriguez, Jason Smith, and Darric Merrell.

“The strength of the Blue Wave organization over the years has been its coaches and the outstanding job they do with our players,” Kruse pointed out. “Under the new structure, they now have ownership and a vested stake in making LEGIT a successful, growing venture.”

The first step in growing the LEGIT/Blue Wave Baseball franchise will be in raising $100,000 in equity investment to open the organization’s first indoor training center to serve the Irvine-Newport-Tustin market.

The indoor training center will give all teams and players a facility to hit as a team or individually, conduct clinics, speed and agility training, private lessons, and provide other services that will benefit all members and give LEGIT the ability to double the number or teams and members it presently serves.

“Our present membership alone will easily support an indoor facility,” Kruse noted. “And, it will serve as the model for regional growth as well once we reach the point we decide to branch out and establish LEGIT in new cities and markets.”

Though Blue Wave teams will be managed by LEGIT, Inc. starting this Spring, Kruse said the teams will still play under the Blue Wave team names for the foreseeable future, though LEGIT-branded teams could appear as soon as this summer.

“With LEGIT, we now have a brand that we can trademark and create real value in,” Kruse explained. “And, it is also a brand that can appeal to a regional and, eventually, a national market.”

Kruse said LEGIT intends to grow from $500,000 to $2.5-million in revenue over the next five years if the organization meets its goals and objectives. And, to reach those goals and objectives LEGIT will offer nearly one-third of the shares in the company in Series A to accredited investors and partners that believe in the LEGIT’s vision.

The company will meet with potential investors and partners over the next 30 to 60 days in hopes of finalizing funding and opening its new facility sometime in the Spring. A copy of the company’s five-year business plan is available upon request.

“We were honored to be invited and jumped at the opportunity to get our players in front of some of the top coaches and programs in the Pacific Northwest,” Blue Wave President Steve Kruse stated.

Only 12 teams have been invited to attend the event that will be held at both PK Park (Oregon Ducks) in Eugene and Goss Stadium (Oregon State Beavers) in Corvallis, Oregon. Each team will play two games at each venue. Staff from both PAC-12 programs will be on hand evaluating the games and will provide guided tours of their respective athletic facilities.

Blue Wave will take an 18U SELECT “tournament team” of 15 to 20 top prospects for this event, players will be chosen by coaches to participate after applying for a roster position. Players currently enrolled in grades 9-12 in the 2011-2012 school years are eligible for the showcase. However, Blue Wave will limit its roster to players that both have the ability and the academics to be considered for D1 to D3 programs.

Coach Tom Nick will skipper the Blue Wave Oregon Showcase Team. Nick is head baseball coach at Calvary Chapel High School and a highly respected Orange County baseball professional with coaching and recruiting experience at every age level. Besides playing college baseball (Long Beach State) at a highly competitive level, Nick managed and coached one of the top local travel teams to come out of Orange County in the last decade – the OC Stallions, winners of back-to-back AAU National Championships in 2000 and 2001, as well as the AABC Mickey Mantle 15U World Series in 2005. Nick is an expert on the recruiting process both as a player and parent, his son was recruited by UCLA, drafted in the 4th round out of high school, and now plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“Tom is the perfect coach for a trip like this, he understands the process and what coaches at this level are looking for,” Kruse noted.

Cost for the event is $475 per player, plus travel and hotel costs. A $175 deposit is required by FEB 15 to secure a spot on the team, with the balance paid by July 1, 2011.

Team rooms have been blocked at $69 per night in Eugene, arriving Wednesday, July 11, departing Sunday July 15th.

Players interested in attending this showcase are encouraged to contact Steve Kruse at 949-202-7748 or steve@bluewavebaseball.com

USA Baseball recently announced they were dropping the traditional 16U age division this year to “more closely align USA Baseball with the new competition calendar adopted by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) at its congress in Dallas last December.” Click here to read the full press release.

Starting this summer, USA Baseball will now host the nation’s top teams in 14U, 15U, and 17U age divisions as means to identify and select players for their national teams that compete on a worldwide basis.

“This is a major change in the upper ages and will give more players an opportunity to showcase themselves at the right time,” Blue Wave president Steve Kruse explained. “17U is a much better sweet spot for recruiters as most the players will be seniors and junior varsity starters, it should become an even bigger draw for recruiters this year than it has been in the past.”

Under the new format, age cutoff for 17U is May 1, 1994, though the team must have eight players that were born January 1, 1995 or later.

“As long as the player does not turn 18 prior to May 1 of this year, they are good to go,” Kruse noted. “And, we have a lot of great players in our organization that are in this age range, so we intend to be very competitive this year.”

Brea Olinda assistant coach Rich Pohle (Mariners/Phillies) will skipper the Blue Wave 17U-SELECT team and Servite assistant coach Bret LeVier (Boston Red Sox) will take the Blue Wave 15U-SELECT team. Northwood assistant coach Aron Garcia and Brea Olinda assistant coach Jon Rodriguez will also help coach the teams.

The age cutoff for 15U-SELECT players is May 1, 1996 and the team is required to have eight players that are born Jan 1, 1997 or later.

“It basically breaks down to having high-level freshmen and sophomores on the 15U team and your top varsity-level juniors and seniors on your 17U team,” Kruse explained.

The USA Baseball National Championships are held over 8 days, with each team guaranteed to play in seven games. Billed as the “Junior Olympics,” this is one of the top recruiting events in the nation as each game is scored and results
(including individual player statistics) are distributed to the top college and MLB scouts in the nation.

Cost is $500 per player/pitcher to cover the tournament entry fee ($2,500), hotel, travel expense, and coaching per diem for a full eight days for two coaches for each team. Team size is 15 minimum (required) and 20 maximum, including
pitchers.

A $150 deposit is required to secure a spot on the team with the balance due June 1, 2012. All deposits are refundable upon request by June 1, 2012.

Players must first request to play on the team and be selected by coaches before paying deposits and fees. Players will also stay in a team hotel. Hotel details will be sent to all players registering for this event.

Blue Wave will also conduct tryouts for open positions the first week of February, details will be provided to players after contacting Blue Wave Baseball at steve@bluewavebaseball.com or call 949-202-7748.

Blue Wave is now recruiting exceptional high school players for teams that will compete in the top leagues and college showcase events in the region this summer, including USA Premier, SCBL, AABC Connie Mack & Mickey Mantle, CABA, USA Baseball (Junior Olympics), Arizona Classics, Perfect Game, Under Armour-Team One, Cecil Fielder Elite World Series, and more.

Blue Wave’s summer 2012 session starts with open tryouts for new players at the end of April for 15U, 16U, 17U, and 18U teams that begin playing in June, after conclusion of the CIF high school season in Southern California.

Returning players may register and secure their positions on Summer 2012 teams with a deposit paid by February 15, 2012. Early deposits are also required for special showcase events, such as the USA Baseball 16U Championships in June and the Oregon/Oregon State Showcase in July.

All teams are coached by professional baseball trainers, coaches and managers that come from top colleges, MLB teams, and high school coaching staffs in Southern California, including: Cal State Fullerton, CSU Northridge, LMU, Oklahoma, USC, Sacramento State, Irvine Valley College, Concordia, Vanguard, Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, LA Dodgers, Angels, and more.

And, Blue Wave teams have been very successful on the field with more than 80 league and tournament championships as well as five national event titles to date.

More importantly, 80+ of its alumni now playing collegiate baseball at some of the top programs in the country, including: UCI, USC, UCLA, CSUF, Oregon, PENN, Gonzaga, University of Miami, Pepperdine, Long Beach State, Fresno State, Sacramento State, UCSB, Santa Clara, and more. More than a dozen alumni are now in the MLB ranks as well.

More information and registration information is available by contacting steve@bluewavebaseball.com or calling 949-202-7748.

FEATURES

• Competitive Teams
• Top Leagues & Tournaments
• College/Pro Exposure
• Flexible Schedules & Rosters
• Convenient Local Locations
• Local High School & College Coaches

SUMMER 2012 LEAGUES

• USA PREMIER BASEBALL – One of the top showcase leagues in SoCal with multiple sanctions, including National Amateur Baseball Federation (NABF) and CABA Opponents include SoCal Renegades, OC Giants, OC Baseball, SoCal Outlaws, and more. League games start first weekend in June and concluded in August.
• SOUTH COAST BASEBALL LEAGUE – Top AABC sanctioned “scouting league” in SoCal with 15U Ken Griffey Jr., 16U Mickey Mantle, 17U Don Mattingly, and 18U Connie Mack divisions. Opponents include OC Angels, Quakes, Bulldogs, Shockers, and more. League games start first weekend in June and concluded in August.

SUMMER TOURNAMENTS

• PERFECT GAME WWBA WEST MEMORIAL DAY CLASSIC – MAY 25-28, Glendale, AZ. One of the top tournaments on the West Coast for 14U and 16U teams and is held at Camelback Ranch, home of Spring Training for the Dodgers and White Sox. Coach Aron Garcia and Coach Bret LeVier will skipper teams to this event. Player candidates are Frosh-Soph to high JV level.
• USA BASEBALL15U & 17U NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – JUNE 22-30 – Peoria, AZ. This is the top showcase event in the nation for 15-year-olds and 17-year-olds and serves as the launching pad for many of the top college and pro prospects. Billed as the “Junior Olympics,” USA Baseball selects the majority of the players for its national teams from the pool of talent at this must-attend event that was normally focused on the 16U age division until this year. Coach Rich Pohle and Coach Aron Garcia will lead a 17U-SELECT team and coach Bret LeVier & Jon Rodriguez will skipper the 15U-SELECT team for this major event. Click here for additional details, cost, and deposit.
• USA PREMIER FIRECRACKER CLASSIC – JUNE 29-JULY 5 – Irvine, CA. The largest Southern California showcase tournament of the summer with more than 100 top teams competing in 16U, 17U, and 18U divisions that feature a 4-game guarantee and berths to AABC Don Mattingly World Series and the 16U Mickey Mantle regional. Blue Wave will select the top players in each age division to play in this event.
• OREGON SHOWCASE TOUR – JULY 12-15 – Portland, Eugene, Corvalis, OR. Blue Wave is one of 12 teams that have been invited to play in a four-game showcase at the University of Oregon (Eugene) and Oregon State University (Corvalis). Blue Wave’s Oregon Showcase team is limited to 20 players (including pitchers) that will play two exhibition games at the University Of Oregon on one day and two games at Oregon State University the next day. Showcase details, costs, and deposit information is available by clicking here.
• ARIZONA SUMMER CLASSIC 18U – JULY 12-15 – Peoria, AZ. Coach Rich Pohle will lead an 18U-SELECT team of graduating seniors and juniors to compete in this event at Spring Training complex for the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres. Well attended by recruiters and the winner receives a coveted berth to the Senior Fall Classic in September.
• ARIZONA SUMMER CLASSIC 16U – JULY 19-22 – Peoria, AZ. Coach Bret LeVier will take Blue Wave’s to what will become the top event in the summer for 16-year-olds, now that USA Baseball has dropped 16U from its summer calendar. Top sophomores and juniors will be featured for recruiters and scouts.
• XTREME DIAMOND SPORTS WORLD  SERIES – JULY 25-29 – San Diego, CA. The Best  In The West now play each other each summer in San Diego in one of the largest tournaments in SoCal with 10U through 18U age groups.  Blue Wave will field an 18U and 16U team, along with some of our younger age division teams.
• UNDER ARMOUR SOUTHWEST CHAMPIONSHIPS – JULY 31-AUG 4 – Azusa Pacific, CA. is one of the top local showcase tournaments of the summer, with both college recruiters and MLB scouts in attendance. Blue Wave’s 18U SELECT won the tournament last year and will be looking for a repeat performance. Players must be selected by Blue Wave coaches to play in this event.
• AUGUST SHOWCASE SERIES – Besides participating in state and national AABC playoff events in August, Blue Wave will conduct a series of private showcase events for its top prospects with local college recruiters, including SDSU, UCLA, CSUF, UCI, and others. Details will be released as they are confirmed.

FALL/WINTER EVENTS

• PERFECT GAME/EVO SHIELD NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHPS FOR UPPERCLASSMEN – SEPT 14-15, Camelback (Glendale), AZ.
• PERFECT GAME/EVO SHIELD NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR UNDERCLASSMENT – SEPT 21-24, Peoria, AZ.
• ARIZONA FALL CLASSIC – OCT 5-7, Peoria, AZ.
• ARIZONA FALL CLASSIC FOR SENIORS – OCT 11-14, Peoria, AZ.
• ARIZONA FALL CLASSIC FOR JUNIORS – OCT 18-21, Peoria, AZ.
• ARIZONA FALL CLASSIC FOR SOPHOMORES – OCT 25-28, Peoria, AZ.
• UNDER ARMOUR SOCAL CLASSIC – OCT 26-28, Azusa Pacific, CA.
• PERFECT GAME WWBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – OCT 25-29, Jupiter, FL.
• CECIL FIELDER 18U ELITE WORLD SERIES – DEC 27-30, Yuma, AZ.
• CECIL FIELDER 16U ELITE WORLD SERIES – JAN 2-6, Yuma, AZ.

BLUE WAVE SUMMER COACHING LINEUP

Rich Pohle is one of the leading private baseball trainers and coaches in Orange County, as well as coach of Blue Wave’s 18U Connie Mack team and assistant coach at Brea Olinda High School. He played college ball at Cypress College and Fullerton College before turning pro and playing with both the Phillies and Seattle Mariners organizations for several years. Pohle’s Blue Wave teams have won numerous tournament and league titles over the years, including the 2011 Under Armour Southwest Championship.

Tom Nick is head baseball coach at Calvary Chapel High School and a highly respected Orange County baseball professional with coaching and recruiting experience at every age level. Besides playing college baseball (Long Beach State) at a highly competitive level, Nick managed and coached one of the top local travel teams to come out of Orange County in the last decade – the OC Stallions, winners of back-to-back AAU National Championships in 2000 and 2001, as well as the AABC Mickey Mantle 15U World Series in 2005.  Nick is an expert on the recruiting process both as a player and parent, his son was recruited by UCLA and now plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Jason Smith is head baseball coach at Costa Mesa High School as well as a longtime coach for Blue Wave 18U Connie Mack teams. Smith started coaching in 1999 as assistant baseball coach for Orange Coast Community College and was an assistant coach at Chapman University in 2000-2002 (also 1995-1999), where he was instrumental in helping the team reach the regional playoffs, as well as the College World Series in 1997. In 2005 he helped take Irvine Valley College to the Super Regional’s as an assistant coach. He has also served as head high school coach at La Quinta High School in Westminster.

Jon Rodriguez is one of the hardest-working coaches in the area, Jon Rodriguez played four years of varsity baseball at Whittier Christian and La Serna High School in Whittier, CA. He then attended Rio Hondo College in Whittier, where he earned Foothill League All-Conference honors as a catcher. Jon has coached 14U through 18U teams for Blue Wave for the past six years and is an assistant coach at Bea Olinda High School.

Bret LeVier is an assistant coach at Servite High School and has coached for Blue Wave the past six years. LeVier comes from a from a well-regarded Southern California baseball family – his father coached high school and college baseball for many years, his brother is with the Oakland A’s. LeVier was a standout infielder at California High School and at California State University Sacramento, where he was also the place kicker for the CSS football team. He also played with the Boston Red Sox, Fullerton Flyers, and Victoria Seals.

Aron Garcia is assistant coach at Northwood High School with more than two dozen tournament championships and two national event titles as a Blue Wave coach for 14U through 18U teams. His 14U team was 67-14 in 2010, ranked 18th in the nation by Perfect Game national scouting service, and finished first or second in more than a dozen tournaments over a five-month span. Garcia is well experienced in playing in national tournaments; he was a member of the 1987 Northwood Little League team that played Taiwan in the Little League World Series.

Bill Worden is both an accomplished baseball professional and Orange County business executive that is well versed in the recruiting process, having been drafted in several times in college before signing with the California Angels after graduating Stanford University in 1981. Though predominately a catcher throughout his career, he also played 1st, 3rd, and outfield during his six years in the minor leagues with the Angels, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and Cleveland Indians. Besides coaching, he is President of LEGIT Baseball and Director of Player Development.

COSTS & FEES

Blue Wave charges a Summer 2012 Season Fee of $575 per player for all returning players that covers all coaching and team operations (field rentals, insurance, baseball, equipments, office, accounting, etc.) for three months (June through August).

New players to the organization pay $675 per player, which includes the cost of registration.

Both fees include the cost of a new team shirt and cap at the beginning of the season.

Returning players have until February 15, 2012 to pay at $175 Summer 2012 Season Deposit to hold their team positions.

All deposits are fully refundable if requested prior to the start of the Summer 2012 season, June 1, 2012, other than the 16U USA Baseball Championships.

All players pay a separate League Fee or Tournament/Showcase Fee, depending on which events they participate in.

Connie Mack-level League Fees typically range from $150 per player to $200 for the league season, depending on league costs, number of games, and venues. Blue Wave normally plays an average of 12 to 16 league games in the summer, along with playoffs.

Tournament/Showcase Fees range from $60 to $500 per player (discounts provided for pitchers only), depending on the event. Most local tournaments range from $60 to $125 depending on the league entry fee. Long-distance travel
events are more due to the cost of hotels, flights, meals, transportation, and per diem for coaches. For example, the 16U USA Baseball Championships (our most expensive tournament) cost $500 per player based on $2,500 tournament entry fee and travel/hotel expenses for coaches for 8 days and an 8-game guarantee.

For the most part, League and Tournament fees are based on costs divided by the number of players attending. If a player does not attend or play in a certain league or event, they do not pay for it.

All fees can be paid by check or online by credit card here.

SUMMER FEES SUMMARY

• $575 per returning player, $675 per new player – includes shirt and cap
• $100 to $200 League Fee, depending on league and schedule
• $60+ per tournament or showcase, depending on event

• Professional Coaches & Trainers From Local High School & College Programs
• Twice Weekly Practice Sessions Focused On Player Development & Advanced Team Play
• Play In Competitive League & Local Tournaments
• Travel Tournaments To MLB Spring Training, Omaha College World Series, Cooperstown, and more
• Fundamental & Advanced Skills Training
• Advanced High School Preparation For 8th Graders

Blue Wave Spring 2012 teams are based in North and South Irvine, as well as, Costa Mesa, and are coached by professional baseball coaches, trainers and, in some cases, players that come from top colleges, MLB teams, and high school coaching staffs in Southern California, including: Cal State Fullerton, CSU Northridge, LMU, Oklahoma, USC, Sacramento State, Irvine Valley College, Concordia, Vanguard, Colorado Rockies, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, LA Dodgers, Anaheim Angels, Northwood High School, Beckman HS, University HS, Servite HS, Costa Mesa HS, Brea Olinda HS, Calvary Chapel, and more.

All teams practice twice weekly and play in competitive leagues and tournaments, including the California Competitive Youth Baseball League (CCYB), AABC Mickey Mantle & Connie Mack, AAU, USSSA, CABA, NBC, USTSA, Super Series, Triple Crown Sports, Cal Ripken Tournaments, Cooperstown Dreams Park, Perfect Game, Under Armor/Team One, USA Baseball, and more. This Spring, Blue Wave will also be fielding some teams in the new Irvine PONY SELECT club baseball division.

BLUE WAVE 10U

This is Blue Wave’s entry-level age for club teams and designed for serious players with above-average talent that want to play on the same team and with the same teammates during their formative baseball years. This is a great way to combine the fun of playing in your local area, yet doing so in a professional, structured program with non-parent coaches, trainers, and administration.

Blue Wave 10U will games on Sundays in the California Competitive Youth Baseball league (CCYB) for travel teams, as well as an ocassional local or travel tournament. This schedule gives younger players the flexibility to participate in their Little League and PONY leagues. Blue Wave teams practice twice weekly, but players can give priority to a rec-league team over a Blue Wave practice. However, Blue Wave expects to have priority for games if at all possible. Most tournaments are local, though a weekend trip to Arizona to play during MLB Spring Training is scheduled for March 15-18.

10U players may not turn 11 prior to May 1, 2012 to play.

ROSTER STATUS: FULL.

COACH: Blake Rupert, an El Modena High School graduate with four years of professional experience. Rupert was signed out of high school and played for two years in the Cleveland Indians, as well as two years with the Atlanta Braves as a pitcher in the AA and AAA MLB levels.

BLUE WAVE 11U

Blue Wave 11U is designed for serious players with above-average talent that want to play on the same team and with the same teammates during their formative baseball years. This is a great way to combine the fun of playing in your local area, yet doing so in a professional, structured program with non-parent coaches, trainers, and administration.

Blue Wave 11U will games on Sundays in the California Competitive Youth Baseball league (CCYB) for travel teams, as well as an ocassional local or travel tournament. This schedule gives younger players the flexibility to stell participate in their Little League and PONY leagues. Blue Wave teams practice twice weekly, but players can give priority to a rec-league team over a Blue Wave practice. However, Blue Wave expects to have priority for games if at all possible. Most tournaments are local, though a weekend trip to Arizona to play during MLB Spring Training is scheduled for March 15-18.

11U players may not turn 12 prior to May 1, 2012 to play.

ROSTER STATUS: Blue Wave 11U would like to recruit one or two more players to round out their roster for the Spring. Tryouts are scheduled on an individual basis, call 949-202-7748 or eMail steve@bluewavebaseball.com to arrange a tryout.

COACH: Mike Fuchs is one of the top youth baseball coaches in Orange County and has won numerous league and tournament titles (as well as a national 11U championship) coaching 10U to 14U teams for Blue Wave for the past six years.

BLUE WAVE 12U

Blue Wave 12U is for serious players with above-average talent that want to play on the same team and with the same teammates during their formative baseball years. This is a great way to combine the fun of playing in your local area, yet doing so in a professional, structured program with non-parent coaches, trainers, and administration.

Blue Wave 12U is a tournament team that is presently full and plays year-round at the club baseball Majors level and will go to Cooperstown, NY in August 2012. The 12U league team will also travel to a selected tournament in the summer as well.

12U players may not turn 13 prior to May 1, 2012 to play.

ROSTER STATUS: FULL.

COACH: Mike Fuchs is one of the top youth baseball coaches in Orange County and has won numerous league and tournament titles (as well as a national 11U championship) coaching 10U to 14U teams for Blue Wave for the past six years

BLUE WAVE 13U

All 13U players practice on 60X90 bases on high school fields with professional coaches with experience playing at the college and professional levels, as well as coaching at the high school level as well.

Blue Wave 13U is presently full and plays year-round at the club baseball Majors level to begin preparing players for high school baseball. Blue Wave 13U predominately plays in highly competitive tournaments, as well as CCYB or independently scheduled games throughout the year.

13U players may not turn 14 prior to May 1, 2012 to play.

ROSTER STATUS: FULL.

COACH: Blue Wave 13U teams are coached by Darric Merrell (CSUF/Colorado Rockies), Gavin Hedstrom (Fresno State/2009 College WS Champions), and others (high school coaches) as needed, depending on number of players and squads.

BLUE WAVE 14U

Blue Wave Baseball is conducting tryouts throughout January for its 14U team that is coached by Northwood HS assistant coach Aron Garcia.

Blue Wave 14U is a tournament-level 14U team that practices twice weekly in Irvine and plays two to three tournaments each month. Garcia-coached Blue Wave teams  have consistently been one of the top teams in this age group over the years, with two national championships in the past four years alone. Blue Wave’s 14U team was ranked in the top 20 in the nation in 2010 by Perfect Game, one of the largest professional recruiting and scouting services in the nation. More than 20 Blue Wave 14U High School Development Program alumni are now playing college baseball, one was drafted at the end of the first round of the MLB draft in 2011.

14U players may not turn 15 prior to May 1, 2012 to play.

TEAM STATUS: Team is still recruiting one or two more players for the season. To arrange a tryout, call Steve Kruse at 949-202-7748 or eMail steve@bluewavebaseball.com

COACH: Aron Garcia (Northwood HS).

Derek Wu lays down the perfect bunt

Playing their fourth consecutive tournament, Blue Wave 12U saved their best for last when they swept the field OCT 15-16 to win the Triple Crown Rocktober Slam tournament at Big League Dreams Park in West Covina.

“The boys are playing well right now,” Coach Mike Fuchs understated. “They are really starting to jell.”

If not, the fourth time was the charm as 12U-Fuchs started their four-week grind with the SoCal AAU tournament SEP 24-25, then played the USSSA Oktoberfest OCT 1-2 before travelling all the way to Paso Robles to play in the Triple Crown Fall Finish OCT 15-16.

“I don’t think the boys liked finishing second in that tournament, it was a long drive back home,” Fuchs reported.

After winning four straight games in Paso Robles, the team lost in the championship game that was not concluded until after 9 PM. Most players did not get home until 1 AM or after, with school that next day.

Though a shorter drive this time, Blue Wave 12U-Fuchs would go home a whole lot happier after taking the Triple Crown title in West Covina. On top of their championship, the team received their official entry berth to Cooperstown Dreams Park National Championship (NATC) week starting Aug. 18-24 in Cooperstown, NY.

Blue Wave 12U-Fuchs opened up the Rocktober Slam tournament with a 10-1 win over the Temecula Tritons, and then held off a determined Ladera Grays team 6-2 on Saturday (OCT 15) to take the No. 1 seeding slot for Sunday’s playoff games.

After defeating the Tritons 10-2 in a rematch Sunday (OCT 16), Blue Wave faced the undefeated Southbay Titans in the championship game, which they went on to win 3-0.

“We only gave up five runs the entire tournament,” Fuchs pointed out. “I am very proud of our defense and aggressive play; we have won 8 out of our last 9 games so we are headed in the right direction.”

Members of the Blue Wave 12U-Fuchs team are: Ben Berkel, Chris Buting, Tom McCarty, Brendan Salgado, LJ Ryan, Trevor Chen, Derek Wu, Max Crabbe, Nino Losi, Kyle Luckham, Kekani Gonzalez, Preston Hartsell, and Kyle Giberson.

UNDERCLASS TEAM WINS POOL

Blue Wave 2013 was one of the top seeds in the Underclass championships at the end of the first day of competition in Peoria, where they went 2-0 out of the gate and outscored their opponents 16-1.

The onslaught began with an 8-0 mercy-rule win over a local team, ASBA.

“The Blue Wave pulled off a rare achievement, scoring in every inning in a 6 inning 8-0 run rule victory over ASBA 17U,” Perfect Game scouts reported in their scouting blog. “Clean-up hitter OF Joe Van Marter (2013, Canyon HS, CA) personified the consistency of the Blue Wave offense, going 3-3 with a walk, scoring a run and driving in another.

“Three pitchers combined for the 3-hit shutout,” Perfect Game added.  “RHP Stephen Villines (2013, El Toro HS, CA) went the first 3 innings, topping out at 81 mph.  He was followed by LHP Michael Simonis (2013, Mater Dei HS, CA) for 1 inning and OF/RHP Daulton Nelson (2013, Yorba Linda HS, CA) for 2 innings.”

Blue Wave 2013 then defeated Mountain West (Utah) 8-1 to in the second game to be one of the first teams in the tournament to clinch a playoff spot at 2-0 with a 16:1 run differential.

“Catcher Joe Van Marter (2013, Canyon HS, CA) had his second straight standout game for Blue Wave hitting out of the leadoff spot,” Perfect Game scouts noted. “The 6-1/175 Van Marter went 3-4 at the plate with a double and 2 Rbi’s and is now 6-7 in the two Blue Wave victories. Van Marter also impressed the PG scouts with his agility and athleticism behind the plate and aggressive and accurate throws to the bases.

“LHP Dash Johnson (2013, Mater Dei HS, CA) also had an impressive game on both sides of the ball,” Perfect Game added. “The 5-9 southpaw threw 5 2/3 innings of 1 hit baseball on the mound and also went 2-2 with 2 walks at the plate.”

With a playoff spot secured, coach Aron Garcia emptied his bench to give players needed innings and at-bats before heading into their Sunday playoff game.

In a single game Saturday, Blue Wave 2013 was defeated by the SoCal Elite 8-0 in a game played in the Seattle Mariners spring training complex.

Blue Wave 2013 finished Pool Play in first placed and advanced to the first round of the playoffs, along with Mt. West in a wild card spot.

Though Blue Wave 2013 lost their first playoff game on Sunday 3-0 to the SoCal Bombers, Mt. West then proceeded to run the table to win the Perfect Game/Evo Shield National title in a championship game against the Bombers.

“We came out hot, but our bats went cold in the last two games,” Coach Garcia noted.

UPPERCLASSMEN POST WINNING RECORD

Coach Tom NicK’s Blue Wave 2012 also played well in the Upperclassmen division of the Perfect Game/Evo Shield championships with games played at the White Sox training facility at Camelback Ranch and the Arizona Diamondbacks plush new spring training facility at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick (Scottsdale, AZ).

In the first game of the tournament, Blue Wave 2012 fought to a 3-3 time with the St Louis Sting, then dropped a 6-3 game to 520 Elite to knock them out of contention to win their pool.

The Sting scored their runs on one swing of the bat, as 6-3/210 3B Braxton Martinez (2013, Francis Howell North HS, MO) hit a 2 out, 3-run home run in the bottom of the 5th inning to bring the Sting back from a 3-0 deficit,” Perfect Game scouts reported.

“Blue Wave #3 hitter SS Kevin Clausen (2013, West Torrance HS, CA) went 2-3 with 2 Rbi’s,” they added.

Though out of the running to win their pool, coach Nick’s team proved to be the spoiler by defeating the Trombly Braves 6-5 to knock the highly touted team out of the competition and into the consolation round as well.

“Michael Otair (2012, 3B, Villa Park HS, Orange, CA) was 1-2 in the game with a game-winning 2RBI double for the Blue Wave this afternoon,” Perfect Game scouts noted. “Otair has a large frame with a solid build and he makes good contact at the plate.”

With a 1-1-1 record in Pool play, Blue Wave 2012 played a final consolation game on Sunday, defeating the Arizona Pro Fall Scout Team 8-5.

“The Blue Wave 2012 lineup pounded out 10 hits and took advantage of 8 walks in an 8-5 win over AZ Pro,” Perfect Game reported. “Infielder Michael Fuchs (2014, Irvine, Calif.) and Billy Jackson (2012, Huntington Beach, Calif.) each had a pair of hits, and Wyatt Haccou (2013, Long Beach, Calif.) had a sac fly, a bases-loaded walk and a RBI double giving him 3 RBI in the contest.

“Blue Wave right-handed pitcher Robert Riach (2012, La Palma, Calif.) threw strikes with his 76-81 fastball, striking out 4 in 6 innings,” They added.

After three days of competition, Blue Wave is 6-0 and the No. 6 seed out of 102 teams that will be slugging it out tomorrow (WED AUG 24) in the do-or-die single-elimination format that starts at 8 AM EST for some.

“The boys are playing well and we have managed to find a way to win a couple of close games,” Blue Wave 12U skipper Darric Merrell reported.

After jumping out with two shut-out, mercy-ruling wins on the first day of competition (SUN AUG 21), Merrell’s Marauders earned the No. 1 seeding based on their 25-0 performance with a 13-0 win over the Whitman (PA) Panthers and a 12-0 win over the Long Island (NY) Vipers.

Then they faced the James River (VA) Renegades in the first game yesterday (MON AUG 22) and had to come from behind in the 5th inning to win it 8-7, after Fritz Miller hit a three-run homer and Evan Larsen served up a two-run shot. It was Larsen’s third long bomb in as many games. Brett Super started and pitched three strong innings before Garret Schwab came in for relief and did not give up a score in two innings. Larsen closed it out.

“We played a really good team and I was proud that our guys came back and found a way to win it,” Merrell exclaimed.

The Wave smashed the Springfield (MA) Giants 13-1 in the final game Tuesday behind starter Hudson Davis, who went four innings. Neil Ontiveros went 2-for-3 with 5 RBI’s in the game; Cole Samuels was 2-for-3 with 4 RBI’s.

Starting the day at 4-0, the Wave also found a way to win their first game today (TUE AUG 23) against the Connecticut Young Guns, coming from behind in extra innings for a 5-4 victory. Alex Shadid started the game and went four innings before turning the mound over to Fritz Miller for three.

Capping off the six pool games, Blue Wave defeated the Port Washington Legends Black team 5-3 behind the pitching performances of Garrett Schwab, Neil Ontiveros, and Evan Larsen. Dillon Hudson provided the offensive punch with 3 RBI’s in two hits in two at-bats. He is 5-for-5 in the tournament with three walks – a 1.000 batting average.

“The team is pitching well and playing solid defense, though we could be hitting better,” Merrell summarized. “Other than that, we are having a great time and will take tomorrow off to relax before the elimination round begins.”

After earning the No. 6 seed, Blue Wave will now play at 8 PM EST tomorrow (WED AUG 24) for the right to advance to Thursday’s first round of 16 teams. To win the NATC, a team will need to win not only win tomorrow night, but four consecutive games on Thursday as well.

“This is the best any Blue Wave team has ever finished as far as the seedings,” Blue Wave president Steve Kruse noted. “No matter how they do from this point, we are very proud of this group of boys.”

Achieving the 6-0 record and No. 6 seeding is no small feat in a tournament with the quality of teams that the NATC draws each year. Though California teams tend to dominate the top 20 to 23 teams in the tournament, only two are in the top 10 this year – Blue Wave and the No. 1 seeded Tomateros De California/South Bay Dukes, which have only given up less than a run per game.

You can watch the Blue Wave Cooperstown game tomorrow night on the webcam broadcast from field 2 at 5 PM PST. For schedules, scores, standings, and live webcam game action, simply click HERE.

Blue Wave 12U-Merrell team members are Cole Samuels, Fritz Miller, Andrew Cook, Sam MacDonald, Josh Bolan, Garrett Schwab, Hudson Davis, Dillon Davis, Evan Larsen, Brett Super, Alex Shadid, and Neil Ontiveros. Head Coach Darric Merrell is assisted by Coach Gavin Hedstrom.

“Merrell’s Marauders” shelled the competition 25-0 in logging two mercy-rule wins Sunday (AUG 21) in the opening round of games in what some consider the 12U national championship for club/travel teams.

Head Coach Darric Merrell’s team beat the Whitman (MA) Panthers 13-0 in their first game Sunday morning, then came back and shellacked the Long Island (NY) Vipers 12-0 in the second game to earn the No. 1 seeding at Cooperstown after the first day of competition.

“The boys played extremely well, they are all very excited, there are a lot of great teams here,” Merrell said after the first two wins were in the books.

Blue Wave starter Fritz Miller tied a Cooperstown record that he now shares with five others when he struck out the first three batters on nine consecutive pitches in the first inning of the game against the Panthers. After striking out three more in the second inning, he turned the mound over to reliever Neil Ontiveros, who struck out five and combined with Miller for a no-hitter after the game was called at the end of four innings with Blue Wave up 12-0 (10-run mercy rule after four innings).

Sam MacDonald got the offense going with a two-run homer in the first inning against the Panthers. Not to be outdone, Evan Larsen hit a three-run shot out in the 4th.

Alex Shadid started the second game and did not give up a hit in two innings of work as the Wave pounded the Long Island Vipers 12-0 in another 10-run mercy rule game that ended after four innings.
Shadid, who struck out four, was relieved by Dillon Davis and closer Larsen. The trio combined for a shutout.

Davis also had the hot bat, going 2-for-2 with a double and three-run homer. Larsen also hit his second home run of the tournament with a solo shot in the third inning.

Other team members on the Cooperstown roster are Cole Samuels, Hudson Davis, Brett Super, Garrett Schwab, Andrew Cook, and Josh Bolan. Gavin Hedstrom serves as assistant coach.

Blue Wave will now play two games today (MON AUG 22, 2011) starting at 1:45 PM EST against the James River (VA) Renegades and at 7 PM against the Springfield (MA) Giants.

On Tuesday (AUG 23, 2011) they will play the Connecticut Young Guns at 11 AM EST and the Port Washington (NY) Legends Black team at 4:30 PM EST in a game that can be viewed in real-time on www.dreamsparktv.com

Once the six pool games are completed, the teams are re-seeded for a single-elimination playoff round that will pit all 102 teams against each other, some having to play as many as four games on Wednesday and Thursday to reach the championship round.

“Everyone can hit here, lots of guys can put the ball out of the park,” Merrell noted, “Pitching and defense is the key if you want to keep a high seed.”

Judging by the results of the first day, Merrell’s mantra is holding true as Blue Wave has the No. 1 seed at the end of the first day based on not giving up any runs.

For schedules, scores, standings, and live webcam game action, simply click HERE

Blue Wave Baseball has one or two openings on each of its 18U Fall-Winter season teams that play in selected leagues and tournaments.

Blue Wave has 18U teams based at both Beckman in Irvine/Tustin and Costa Mesa High Schools that play in the USA Premier Fall Wood Bat League, South Coast Baseball League Fall Wood Bat League, and the California Competitive Youth Baseball (CCYB). Most league games are played on Sundays, some on Saturday evenings.

Teams also play in several college showcase events and tournaments in the Fall, including the Under Armour SoCal Classic (October), Fall Classic for Juniors (October), Perfect Game/EvoShield National Championships, USA Premier Fall/Christmas Classics, and Cecil Fielder 18U Wood Bat World Championships (December).

Though practices are not mandatory, Blue Wave provides weekly hitting and practice sessions at Costa Mesa High School for all players.

Prospective players can try out and join teams at anytime by contacting Steve Kruse at 949-202-77489 – steve@bluewavebaseball.com