Winter 2025-2026 18u HS Tournament Team

The Merchants will select top HS players for their 18u Winter Tournament team. This team is designed to help players get ready for the Spring season. With a busy holiday season the focus is playing tournament games and less on field practice. We will hold 1 indoor practice/workout for each tournament on the schedule. Use the link to fill out a player application.  https://forms.gle/KBCsE6np88RdLgrj9

Coach Mills is a true Merchant. From 2011-2016 Mills was the OF coach, 1st Base Coach, and main recruiter for the Merchants. With over 145 wins and counting, Mills was also a big part of the Merchants back to back Championship runs in 2013 & 2014. 

Moving to Alameda in 1981 at the age of 6. Mills attended St. Joseph's Notre Dame High School where he played Varsity Baseball from 1989-1992 under SJND Hall of Fame Head Coach Ray Freitas and HOF Asst Coach Pete Piombo. In 1991 Mills was named to the Cal-Hi All State Team and many other postseason all star rosters. In 1992 SJND finished top 5 in the state with a record of 25-4.

Coach Mills spent the next 5 years playing college baseball with stops at the University of  San Francisco, Seminole State in OK, Hawaii, and Sacramento State.

In 1997 Coach Mills hung up his playing cleats and went to work for the Federal Government. Set to retire in September 2025, Coach Mills may consider coaching on a full time basis.

IN HIS OWN WORDS:

"This Program means a lot to me because it is the oldest existing Summer baseball program in Alameda (Little League, Babe Ruth, American Legion, are all gone at the HS and above levels). I take great pride in being a part of this program. Alameda is a true "Baseball Town". For most of my life its had a population of less than 70,000 yet we have had a long list of talent come off this Island. That list continues to grow. The Merchants have played their part in that history and Im just proud to be a part of that legacy."

- Dan Mills

#Merk4life