Diablos baseball chasing a national title

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Tournament after tournament, win after win the Yuma Diablos U18 baseball team isn't just playing well this summer, they're building something special.

Under the leadership of Head Coach Faron Owl, the Diablos have surged through a stacked summer schedule that's taken them from Scottsdale and Mesa to Riverside and Pomona. At every stop, they've left their mark placing in each and every tournament.

"We get to play all summer and fall, just grinding and doing our best," said Cibola High School's Jordan Schofield, one of the team's core contributors.

Now, their eyes are on the United States Baseball Federation World Series in San Diego later this month a national stage that will feature some of the best travel squads from across the country. But before they get there, the Diablos will compete in Covina this weekend for one final tune-up.

For Head Coach Owl, success goes beyond the win column. His program is about building habits, discipline, and unity and that shows in the group’s work ethic.

Despite a busy tournament schedule, the Diablos still find time to practice multiple times a week, focusing on skill development and mental toughness.

"Even though we play a lot, we practice a lot too," said Rigo Hernandez, a San Luis High School standout. "A lot of drills, a lot of reps. It's a great chance for younger players to level up their skills."

That focus has created a platform for local athletes including Hernandez, Schofield, and Gila Ridge teammates Derrick Parsons and Noah Heil as well as Kofa's Jose Castro to get serious looks from scouts while representing a part of Arizona often overlooked in elite baseball circles.

"I'm confident we can place high or even win," Parsons said. "No matter how many teams are out there, I know what we're capable of."

Perhaps no one better represents that chip-on-the-shoulder mindset than Cibola's Joziah Moreno.

"Especially representing Yuma because honestly, we're a small town. Not many people look at us like that," Moreno said. "So to go out there and compete in a big tournament, it means a lot."

With Covina next and the US Baseball Federation World Series on the horizon, this Diablos team has more than just momentum they have a mission.