Blues alum C.J. Cron is a former Utah Ute who was selected by the Los Angeles Angels with the 17th overall pick of the 2011 MLB Draft. Cron made his major league debut for the Angels in 2014 and was a mainstay at first base in their starting lineup for several seasons. Cron was part of the Twins’ home run-hitting power lineup in 2019, knocking in 78 RBI and posting a .253 batting average with the club. He is now a first baseman and designated hitter for the Detroit Tigers.
Foresters alum and pitcher Clayton Beeter played for the Texas Tech Red Raiders and had a dominant freshman season in 2019, after which he was recognized on the All-Big 12 second team and Baseball America’s Freshman All-America team. Although his sophomore season in 2020 was cut short, Beeter was selected with the 66th overall pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2020 MLB Draft. Beeter impressed his Dodgers coaches and earned a spot on the Dodgers’ 60-man roster for the season.
Potters alum Charles Middleton was a standout at Sierra College, where he was named the 2019 ABCA National Junior College Player of the Year following a huge sophomore season. Middleton kept up his production after transferring to the University of the Pacific and was chosen by D1Baseball as a Top 50 Junior Hitter in 2020. In his first season with the Tigers, Middleton hit .403 and produced 20 RBI in 17 games.
Saints alum Joey Steele pitched for the University of San Francisco, spending time during the summer of 2018 playing for the Saints. Steele was drafted by the Miami Marlins in the 30th round of the 2019 MLB Draft. In the minors in 2019, he posted a 2.10 ERA. Steele is currently a pitcher for the Batavia Muckdogs, the Short A affiliate of the Marlins.
Prune Packers alum Andrew Vaughn played for the Cal Bears, winning the Golden Spikes Award and the Pac-12 Conference Baseball Player of the Year Award in 2018. Vaughn was also named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2017. After completing his junior season with the Bears, Vaughn was selected with the third overall pick by the Chicago White Sox in the first round of the 2019 MLB Draft. Vaughn posted a .384 on-base percentage in the minors in 2019, quickly working his through the farm system to earn a place on Chicago’s 60-man roster for the 2020 season. Vaughn is currently an infielder for the White Sox and he could get playing time this year after impressing White Sox Manager Rick Renteria.
Mudcats alum Jared Denning played collegiate baseball at Solano College, where he posted a .358 batting average. Denning was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 29th round of the 2018 MLB Draft after a successful final season with the Falcons. Denning appeared in 18 games with the Gulf Coast Orioles, the Rookie Affiliate of the Orioles.
As the Baseball World celebrates Opening Day of the 2020 Major League Baseball season, we continue our feature series highlighting CCL alumni. Blues alumnus Ross Stripling pitched for Texas A&M before he was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 5th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. Stripling has filled in as both a starter and a reliever for the Dodgers since reaching the majors. He’s pitched in the playoffs every year of his MLB career and he played in the 2017 and 2018 World Series. He was also named an All-Star in 2018. Stripling is expected to be a significant asset within the Dodgers’ bullpen this season.
Los Angeles, CA — After 11 weeks of coordination and exhausting all potential scenarios within our power to conduct the 2020 summer season, the California Collegiate League is regretful to announce that we will suspend operations for 2020. With that, comes the cancellation of our 2020 Championship Season, our nationally-televised All-Star Prospect Game, and our first-ever State Tournament.
The CCL has met weekly over the last two months working to formulate a plan that would allow a season to occur, while operating within ever-changing state and local guidelines and restrictions. Unfortunately, our drop-dead date of June 3 arrived before we were able to discern a path to effectively operate a season. Our geography, the physical distance between our teams, and the different regulations as they vary by county, played a primary role in preventing the league to operate homogenously. In addition, the residual socioeconomic effects of the coronavirus pandemic have hindered the possibility of normal operations for many of our teams.
While 2020 has effectively concluded for us, we are anxiously looking to the future and know that 2021 has the potential to be our best season yet. We will return 10 strong, quality teams that are focused on continuing our mission of being player-centric while providing the highest level of collegiate summer baseball. To all of those involved–players, coaches, parents, volunteers, and fans–we will miss you this summer and we are looking forward to seeing you in 2021.
For questions or more information, contact Aaron Milam at (626) 695-6903 or aaron@arroyosecobaseball.com.
June 5, 2020
May 4, 2020
Los Angeles, CA — The California Collegiate League has been hosting recurring, bi-weekly meetings to assess the regional state of affairs surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and how both legislative and executive guidance will apply to our ability to effectively host a 2020 season. At this time, we’d like to make the following announcements.
For the 2020 season, the San Luis Obispo Blues will not field a collegiate summer baseball team. One of the longest tenured members of the CCL, the Blues hiatus will last only for the 2020 season and they will return to the field in 2021, where they will celebrate their 75th anniversary. San Luis Obispo still remains an equal member of the CCL and will participate in all residual league decisions for 2020. The nine remaining league members support and understand SLO’s decision to halt operations for this year and look forward to another summer in San Luis Obispo in 2021.
In addition, the franchise members of the California Collegiate League have passed a motion to start the 2020 season on Wednesday, July 1st. This was done in consideration of the ever changing state of affairs in our local areas and the continually shifting municipal regulations each franchise is facing. A July 1 start date will afford the league a better opportunity to evaluate the State’s application of their 4- phased reopening plan and what part that will play in determining a protocol for league play.
We realize that these changes may result in a different look for the CCL during the 2020 season. That notwithstanding, we are committed to exhausting all reasonable options to conduct some form of a season this summer. Should that course change, we will make that information public at the earliest possible date.
For questions or more information, contact Aaron Milam at (626) 695-6903 or aaron@arroyosecobaseball.com.
April 9, 2020
Los Angeles, CA — As indicated by our previous statement on March 15, 2020, the franchise members of the California Collegiate League have continued to monitor the effects of COVID-19 on our respective local communities in an effort to discern a 2020 season, or part thereof. Following our April 5th league-wide conference call, the CCL, for the time-being, will refrain from any decisions to alter course on the 2020 season. We will continue analyzing the most up to date news and observe the latest recommendations from the various government and health authorities. We will proceed with cautious optimism and explore multiple ways to conduct a season while understanding that the health and well-being of our players, coaches, staff, and fans is paramount.
As we all anticipate what this pandemic will mean for the future, not just in terms of sports, but life in general, the CCL will continue to pivot, and at some point, hopefully sooner than later, our 10 teams will be out on the diamond. To everyone who is facing a future without a person you love, we are deeply sorry for your loss; and to anyone who is battling this virus, you are in our hearts and minds.
For questions or more information, contact Aaron Milam at (626) 695-6903 or aaron@arroyosecobaseball.com.