Guide to Colorado Youth Baseball Tournaments
Tips for Registering Your Denver Area Team for Spring and Summer Tournaments
The youth baseball scene has grown immensely in Colorado since we opened our doors at HitStreak in 2006, and there is no shortage of options for players and teams looking to play against suitable competition throughout the year. The Denver Metro area features a variety tournaments and leagues which is great for the players in providing opportunities, but can make it hard on parents and coaches – especially those new to the scene – to decide on how to fill out their schedule.
To start, we’re going to focus this guide on youth baseball, as the options expand as players advance in age and into high school. We also are proud to have connections and support all of these organizations, so we’re not going to pick a favorite or ‘rank’ these. Rather, we aim to provide a guide.
Before going any further than that, our advice is to keep it fun. Chances are your player won’t make the professional ranks, but he or she will remember times spent on the field, with teammates or getting pizza after the game. Find a team or coach who puts the development of the players first so they can cultivate a desire to learn and enjoy the game. If you’re the coach, strive to provide that atmosphere and culture within your players and families. No matter your team’s competitive desires or ability, this is still youth sports and the focus should be on providing a positive atmosphere for the kids’ growth, safety, learning of the game that we all love.
Throughout the spring, summer and fall there are plenty of organizations which provide baseball leagues based on location. We have a great partnership with Centennial Youth Baseball and Softball which offers summer baseball. Other local leagues include Dry Creek Baseball, Highlands Ranch Metro District, Parker Youth Sports, South Suburban Parks & Recreation and many more. The Arapahoe Youth League provides a more competitive youth sports league in the Denver Metro Area for numerous sports including baseball, softball, basketball, football, lacrosse, and football and teams are aligned around territories and public school boundaries.
For most competitive teams in the Denver area, tournaments are the preferred route in scheduling out a season. Most of these tournaments are two-day tournaments – generally with guaranteed games on Saturday and then elimination games on Sunday, however there are many 3-day tournaments especially as the season moves from spring into summer. There is no one-size-fits-all approach in scheduling your tournaments, how many to register for (more on that down below) or where to play. You simply find a schedule and plan that works for your team and your families.
There are three primary organizations which serve the youth (8U-14U) baseball tournament scene in the Denver area: CABA, USSSA and Triple Crown.
Tournaments
CABA (Colorado Amateur Baseball Association)
Weekly tournaments which typically run early March – mid-July
Typical locations include Arvada, Lakewood, Littleton, Golden, Castle Rock, Westminster, Brighton, Aurora
CABA 8U-13U State Championships typically held the third weekend of June (in 2023, this is 6/16-6/18)
CABA Mountain Tournament typically follows the week of state
Tournament costs typically range from $500-$800
Depending on number of teams who sign up for each tournament, divisions will be created such as 10U Majors, 10AAA Gold, 10AAA Silver, 10AA Gold, 10AA Silver. Tournaments with fewer teams may be grouped into just one or two divisions (ex. 10U AAA and 10U AA)
Learn more, see rules and register: cabacolorado.com
USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association) – often referred to as “U-Trips”
Offers regional and national divisions
Tournaments most weeks (but not weekly) from mid-March to mid-July
In Colorado, typical locations include Arvada, Longmont, Greeley, Denver, Parker, Castle Rock
State Championships typically held the first weeked of July (in 2023, this is 7/1-7/3). AA State Championships are the following weekend.
Teams can also play in regional and national events
Tournament costs typically range from $699-$799
Typical divisions are Major, AAA and AA.
Learn more, see rules and register: cobaseball.usssa.com
Triple Crown
National organization
Tournaments most weeks from mid-March to mid-July. Also typically offer a August and September tournament.
In Colorado, typical locations include Aurora, Castle Rock, Longmont, Denver, Greeley and also including Colorado Springs and Steamboat Springs
State Championships typically held the second weekend of July (in 2023, this is 7/7-7/9)
Teams can also play in regional and national events including the Triple Crown World Series
Tournament costs typically range from $600-$900
Typical divisions are Division 1 (upper level teams) and Division 2 (lower level teams)
Learn more, see rules and register: triplecrownbaseball.com/colorado.html
As players get older, more options open up across Colorado including Gameday (12U-14U) “Big League Experience” tournaments in Parker including lights, announcers and scoreboards as well as Colorado Classic Baseball (14U).
Other Tips:
Plan ahead: Early bird discounts are available so as soon as you start penciling in a schedule, register early (December/January) to save on registration.
Number of Tournaments: There is no correct answer for the number of tournaments you play. Younger teams (8U-10U) generally choose to play anywhere from 6-12 tournaments. Older teams (11U-14U) may choose to play anywhere from 10-16 tournaments. Find the right fit for your team and shared desires of parents.
Weather: Colorado weather is of course unpredictable. It’s a safe bet that snow, rain, hail or anything else will affect your schedule and each organization has a slightly different refund policy. However, if you register for 13 tournaments, you can probably guess that you may play 10-11 depending on the spring weather.
Finances: Each team handles a little differently, but typically parents share the cost of all the tournaments. For example, 10 tournaments at an average cost of $650 = $6500. Parents can divide that number equally between families through whatever system is easiest (Venmo, Paypal). Hint: Fundraisers help a lot!
Travel: Each team can choose to travel out of state or not. Typically this increases as teams get older and many out of state options around Colorado include Omaha, Arizona, California, Nevada, Kansas City and Texas. Notable national tournaments are held in Omaha, Cooperstown and Branson each year. One tip: If you are looking to travel to Arizona or similar warm-weather destination for a season-starting spring trip, you may want to consider playing a notch down (example AA if you are an AAA team). You may be playing your first game against a team who’s playing game #30 because they started earlier.
Try a Few: If it’s your first year as a coach or parent, try different CABA, Triple Crown and USSSA tournaments. Each can provide a unique experience and you might find you prefer one to the other. Over time, you may find yourself getting to know umpires (who also can rotate between each) and site directors you see frequently. Many teams play in multiple “state championships” listed above.
Umpires: Speaking of umpires, there is a shortage of them in Colorado and across the country. They’re not perfect and neither are you so be courteous, supportive and respectful. They are out there because they enjoy the same game you do.
Pitching Rules: Check the rules for each tournament you play as they can differ between organizations and also between tournaments (2-day rules vs 3-day rules).
Find a Guide: If you’re new to the tournament scene, find a mentor or another coach or parent who’s done it before. He or she can help guide you into what worked for them.
It’s Youth Baseball: Whether 8U or 14U, your team may look unbeatable one weekend and the opposite the next. Take it all in stride and look to stretch your team by playing at higher classification levels every once in a while.
Have fun! Don’t live your glory days through your child. Show up, cheer them on and keep the day enjoyable.
Hopefully this guide is helpful in navigating your Colorado youth baseball tournament experience. If you have questions, contact us. Our staff of instructors and coaches have a vast network of connections and years of experience with the Colorado youth baseball scene. If you’re wondering about next steps in getting your team tournament ready, we’d love to help.
HitStreak proudly offers instruction and facility use to baseball and softball players of all ages and abilities. Browse our site to learn more about our facilities, staff, rental information, teams and more.
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If your team is looking for a place to train to prepare for your tournaments, check out our facility in Englewood.