History & Alumni
A resident of Royal St. George, Diane Harris saw the community around her growing fast. The children in the communities of Carmel Mountain Ranch and Sabre Springs were playing Little League in Poway National and Rancho Bernardo. With the completion of our first local park in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Diane felt it was time to form our own league. District 31 officials stepped in to help Diane form a Board of Directors consisting of five members who set the foundation for the league.
The first Opening Day Ceremony was held on Saturday, April 8, 1989 at 8:00 a.m. 1 Major, 4 Minor and 4 Tee Ball teams lined the field that day. We sold snacks out of a wagon and played our games with a bright orange temporary fence in the outfield.
In twenty years we've come a long way! We now register approximately 400 youth in our league for each Spring season, with about 30 teams in the Junior, Major, Minor, Rookie, and Tee Ball Divisions. We play games on our home fields in four different locations - Carmel Mountain Ranch Community Park, Sabre Springs Community Park, Morning Creek School, and Highland Ranch Community Park, and we run two snack bars. We have 20 members on our Board of Directors, and train many youth and adult umpires each season.
Things have certainly changed since those early days , but the spirit of sportsmanship exemplified by the first players that set foot on our fields still lives today, and we play by the Little League pledge:
I trust in God, I love my Country and will respect its Laws I will play fair, and strive to win. But win or lose, I will always do my best.
This League History was originally contributed by Terri Westfall, former CMRLL President, in 1999 and was updated during the 2009 season
CMRLL Alumni
In 2012, Nolan Gannon was named CIF Small School Pitcher of The Year while attending Santa Fe Christian. Was drafted in the 4th Round (pick 152) by the Tampa Bay Rays. Nolan completed his first professional season with the GCL Rays with a record of 2 wins and 2 losses, 3.00 ERA, and 29 strikeouts in 27 innings. Way to go, Nolan! Much continued success to you!
Bryan just completed his second year in professional baseball with the Minnesota Twins Organization! Bryan played in CMRLL from the Rookie level (1997) to the Majors level (2002), twice making all-star teams and twice moving on to the Tournament of Champions. According to Bryan, “it was some of the best times of my life, both building relationships with teammates whom I am still very close with today, and developing my skills and love for the game that would eventually carry me on through my career at RB High, Palomar JC, University of Washington, and with the Twins.
Lauren played CMRLL Baseball and was an All-Star at 10,11,12
RANCHO BERNARDO HS
Four-year letter winner for the Broncos who also played two seasons of field hockey... first-team All-Palomar League First-Team selection as a junior, helping the Broncos to a CIF title... hit .327 that season with six home runs, seven triples, and 27 RBI while slugging .673 on the year... All-Palomar League Second-Team choice as a senior after batting .330 with four home runs and 18 RBI... two time most outstanding defensive player and the most outstanding offensive player as a senior... All-North County First Team choice as a sophomore
Drafted by the Miami Marlins
Cole signed a contract extension today with the Philadelphia Phillies for 6 years and $144 million. That is the second largest contract ever for a pitcher. Cole, who is 28, is a three-time All Star and was the MVP of the 2008 World Series, the Phillies’ first championship since 1980. He is 11-4 with a 3.23 ERA this season, 85-58 with a 3.39 ERA in his seven-year career. He was drafted by the Phillies out of Rancho Bernardo High in 2002 with the 17th pick in the 1st round.
At a newsconference, Cole talked about his decision to pass on free agency and possibly even more money, to re-sign with Philadelphia. “I never imagined I would ever be in this position…I love this game so much. You want to go out and enjoy it and play for a reason. And that reason is to win the World Series, to play in front of sellout crowds…money has never been the reason I get on that mound every day. “