Rapid City, South Dakota · Est. 2023
Work hard.Build character.
Canyon Lakers is a 9U–13U travel program built to develop skilled, confident, disciplined athletes — through high-level instruction and real competition across the state and region.
About Canyon Lakers
We build ballplayers, not just rosters
Our mission is to build skilled, confident, and disciplined athletes through high-level instruction and competitive experiences. Players receive advanced training in hitting, pitching, fielding and baseball IQ from experienced coaches who understand youth development.
We compete in South Dakota travel tournaments, Black Hills competitive events and regional showcases across North Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado — giving our players the chance to test their skills against strong competition around the region.
Whether you're searching for youth baseball in Rapid City, 9U–13U travel baseball, or a community-driven development program, Canyon Lakers delivers — alongside your Little League season, not instead of it.
Why Lakers?
Why families choose Canyon Lakers
Competitive travel opportunities without losing the enjoyment of the game.
Ages 9U–13U
Age-appropriate teams and competition, placed by the USSSA cutoff so kids play against their own.
Player development
Mechanics, baseball IQ and confidence — tracked with a written development plan for every player.
Real competition
Regional and South Dakota events, from Rapid City pool play to weekend brackets across North Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado.
Experienced coaching
Youth-focused instruction from coaches who have played and coached the game at a high level.
Little League first
We are an extension of Canyon Lake Little League, not a replacement. Play both — we schedule around rec games, and we give back to the fields we share.
Balanced commitment
We build schedules families can actually run — and we encourage multi-sport athletes year-round.
Little League first
An extension of local ball, not a replacement
Canyon Lakers was started by Canyon Lake Little League families and still runs out of the same complex. Our players are Little League players — most are on a rec roster the same spring they are on ours, and we build the practice schedule around those games rather than against them.
We are not trying to pull kids out of local ball. A healthy Little League is where our next 9U team comes from, so it is in our own interest to leave it stronger than we found it. Our coaches volunteer for CLLL, our families work the concession stand, and proceeds from our home tournaments go back into the fields we all share.
If a Little League game and a Lakers practice ever collide, go play the game. Tell your coach and it is handled.
Season at a glance
What the 2027 season looks like
Off-season
Tryouts in January. Hitting and pitching training at the CLLL facility October through February, optional and open to every rostered player.
Spring
Team practices start mid-March, 1–2 each weekend on Saturdays and Sundays. First tournaments in late April, scheduled around Little League.
Summer
Every team is guaranteed three tournaments; most add more through June and July, closing with the state qualifier and the end-of-season party.
Canyon Lakers in action
On the field
Support the club
Sponsors keep kids on the field
Tournament entries, field time and uniforms add up fast. Local business sponsorships and family donations cover the gap so cost never decides who gets to play — and proceeds from our home tournaments go back into the Canyon Lake Little League fields we all share.
Sponsorship packages start at $250 and include a dugout banner that travels with the team, logo placement on team gear, and recognition across our site and socials.
