How one local baseball coach is leaving an impact on top players in the Yuma area
Coach Faron Owl has been in the coaching game for over 30 years, using that experience to help some of Yuma's brightest stars on the diamond - 13 On Your Side's Luis Lopez reports
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - On Wednesday night at Yuma Catholic high school several of Yuma's best players in baseball could be seen at a practice.
Leading that crew is coaching veteran Faron Owl, who has been coaching baseball in the Yuma area for over 30 years.
Most of Owl's time was spent at San Pasqual High School.
“The good thing about that program is that we get kids that come out and a lot of them never play baseball but they were willing to work and put the time into it and we’d just spend a lot of time doing basics,” Owl said.
But coaching his own high schoolers just wasn’t quite enough, as owl got started with his own travel ball team, the Diablos, in 2007.
The team consists of the some of the top players from across the Yuma area.
“It was completely different because these guys are quality athletes they’re out here to work they want to get better they want to go to college and play somewhere and try to get an education out of this, and that’s one of our focuses,” Owl said.
After ending his run with San Pasqual back in 2020, the Diablos have been his sole focus.
Helping players like Cibola star Andrugh Yee, who’s entering his senior year with the Raiders.
“Just him being out here with all the guys even through this heat, he’s getting a little older now so just him being the guy he is, he’s the best,” Yee said.
Some talent is moving onto the next level while staying local.
Former Gila Ridge Hawk Aiden Schmidgall for example will be playing for Arizona Western College next year.
He says one of Owl’s best strengths as a coach, is his communication.
“He listens to the players, he’ll listen to your feedback and how it is, he’ll reach out,” Schmidgall said.
Both Schmidgall and Yee were part of the 6A Desert Southwest all-region first team last season.
So how does owl help already great talent, take their game even further? By simply allowing his players to work with one another.
“Basically on their own, if they progress that’s all on them and most of the kids will work with somebody that’s good and that helps them get better,” Owl said.
While the Diablos travel all over Arizona and California, taking on teams from bigger cities, owl loves the chance it gives to show off his talent from the Desert Southwest.
“I think the good thing about that, our Yuma team gets out there and they get to represent Yuma, not just their high schools, but the city of Yuma and also Somerton and San Luis,” Owl said.
