For more than 50 years, Dana Point Youth Baseball has been a staple of the community, where kids grow up on the field, friendships form, and love for baseball takes root. But in all that time, no recreational team from DPYB has ever made the storied trip to Cooperstown. That changes this summer.
DPYB is sending its first-ever 12U recreational team, the Dana Point Storm, to compete in the prestigious Cooperstown 12U Baseball Tournament this summer in Cooperstown, New York. It’s a momentous occasion for the league and its families, but the team must raise nearly $40,000 to fund the trip. The community has rallied.
Cooperstown Dreams Park is one of the premier youth baseball destinations in the world. Located in the same city as the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the tournament brings together the top 12U teams from across the country. It’s a weeklong baseball immersion, from June 24-29, where teams live in dormitory-style housing, play at least seven games, and experience the sport in its purest form. The park features 22 state-of-the-art fields, with games running around the clock, sometimes even in the rain and late at night. It’s an experience unlike any other.
Many Major League Baseball stars once stepped on the diamond at Cooperstown Dreams Park, including Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Corey Seager, and Jacob deGrom. The tournament also has a unique tradition: pin trading. Each team brings custom-designed pins representing their league, city, or mascot. Players interact with other teams, exchanging and building their collection.
It’s a “capstone experience” for young baseball players, DPYB fundraising manager Christina Rosenberg said. “You want to be able to go and participate in that. Having the opportunity to go, being good enough to go, and then being able to go with your friends, represent the league that you grew up in—is very special.”
Dana Point Storm players huddle with their coaches during a recent practice as the U12 Dana Point Youth Baseball rec team prepares for a trip to Cooperstown, N.Y., this June for a national tournament.
Dana Point Youth Baseball has always been more than just a league; it’s a second home for hundreds of families. Rosenberg’s family is deeply rooted in the league. Her eldest son, Nate, now 18, started playing at DPYB when he was 4. Her youngest, 12-year-old Jeremiah, is on the inaugural Cooperstown team. Her husband has served on the DPYB board for nearly a decade and is coaching the Storm.
“We’ve grown so dramatically, because everyone wants to be a part of the culture, the magic, and the special experience that our boys get,” Rosenberg said. The league has more than 700 players, when it used to have just a “few hundred.”
Many of the Dana Point Storm players have been together since T-ball. Some watched older siblings play at Cooperstown on travel teams, never imagining they’d get the chance as a recreational squad. Traditionally, only club teams have made the trip, but Rosenberg’s husband petitioned the DPYB board to allow a rec team to go, and they approved.
“We want every kid to be able to have that opportunity, regardless of financial ability,” Rosenberg said.
Sending a team across the country is not inexpensive. Flights, accommodations, tournament fees, equipment, and more can add up quickly. Players and their families have been working hard to meet their goal by organizing clothing drives, hosting pop-up fundraisers, and managing the snack bar.
The players have “risen to the occasion” and are “committed” to making this trip happen, Rosenberg says.
Dana Point Storm players River Glennon (left) and Ethan Culp (right) work the snack pop-up to help raise funds for the team’s trip to Cooperstown.
“Sushi, Sake & Sports” is a one-night fundraising event scheduled for April 25 at the Stance World Headquarters in San Clemente. The event is organized by the Storm parents. Stance has kindly donated the venue, and local businesses have contributed food, beverages, and auction items to support the cause.
Celebrity sushi chef Kenji will serve fresh sushi, while local vendors will provide gourmet offerings such as pizza, noodles, and poke. Docent Brewing will offer craft beer and cocktails, and there will also be a coffee bar. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to bid on incredible sports memorabilia during a silent auction.
Admission is $150, and guests must be 21 years or older. Storm players will also be involved, assisting by passing out food and helping guests throughout the event. For those who cannot attend, an online donation link will be available to support the team.
“We are so floored by the way the community is showing up and wanting to support our boys and our families,” Rosenberg said. Companies in the area have been lining up to help in any way possible.
The Rosenberg family is one of the many families in the community that has grown up in DPYB.
“DPYB has had a generational impact on so many local families, and we are lucky to have such a strong baseball organization in our community,” said Jennifer Kearney, whose son, John, is on the inaugural rec Cooperstown team. It’s a full-circle moment for Jennifer, who would watch her little brother play on the same fields her son plays on.
John is excited to travel to New York for the first time and says he plans to bring the “Dana Point energy to the East Coast!”
The Glennon family has been involved with the league for over 12 years. All three of Christina’s children have played baseball, and her youngest son, River, is fortunate to represent the league at the national level this summer.
“I’m so excited to play the game I love in Cooperstown with my friends!” River said. “It’s gonna be so cool to do it with the teammates I’ve played with at DPYB since I was little.”
“The league is well-organized, the coaching is excellent, and the competition is strong, but above all, it fosters a love for the game in a supportive and encouraging environment,” Christina Glennon said. “The friendships and memories made here last a lifetime, and we couldn’t be more grateful to be part of such an amazing baseball family.”
Cooperstown is a Grand Slam experience, but it goes beyond the competition; it’s about personal growth. Players develop independence, teamwork, and responsibility while living together in bunk-style housing. They will have the chance to test their skills by competing against some of the best teams in the country.
Although the tournament centers around baseball, it is also about fostering community. It involves a small town on the California coast coming together to ensure a group of 12-year-olds has the opportunity of a lifetime.