In an era where youth athletes increasingly specialize in a single sport, Encinitas Edge Baseball co-owners Billy Burris and Daniel Reitz are making a case for the old way of doing things.
“With our group, we made it very clear in the beginning we want you playing as many sports as you can,” Burris, 42, said. “A lot of kids are picking a main sport way earlier than when we did. College baseball when I was in high school looks like high school baseball now. It’s a totally different animal.”
The philosophy guiding Encinitas Edge took root after a 2022 interview with retired Major League Baseball star Alex Rodriguez, which left a lasting impression on Burris.
“I hold the A-Rod interview dear,” Burris said. “They asked him, ‘Hey, if you want your kid to play professional baseball, what’s your recommendation?’ He was like, ‘Every sport all the time.’ A lot of the kids here embody that. In our demographic, the kids play four different sports.”
Building on Experience
Now in its 10th year, Encinitas Edge has entered a new chapter under Burris and Reitz. The two are wrapping up their first year running the program, which emphasizes professional coaching and a community-based approach to baseball.
“There’s a ton of options out there,” Burris said. “I have three boys that are hardcore into baseball, and what we wanted to get out there was a program that had professional coaches, not parent coaches. We’ve brought in coaches who have been in this business for years.”
Burris and Reitz, director of baseball operations at Encinitas Edge, assembled a staff that includes Edgar Morales, a former UC Riverside player, and Dave Waite, a former player at Fallbrook High School and Cal Poly Pomona.
“Just because the program is new doesn’t mean Daniel and I are new,” Burris said. “Coach Reitz is a former Division I player. His idea was to truncate a DI training regime and adapt to the age and size of the kids. With us, they train like college athletes and have a good time.”
Reitz played at Gahr High School under legendary coach Gerardo Perez, where he developed a passion for player development. After a collegiate baseball career at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo, Reitz became head coach at Whitney High School in Cerritos, guiding the team to its first winning record and CIF qualification in over 25 years.
He later joined the staff at San Dieguito Academy, focusing on offense while developing infielders and catchers. In 2021, Reitz founded Reitz Baseball Camp, serving North County youth baseball and softball players.
Waite, Encinitas Edge’s hitting coach, excelled in baseball at Fallbrook High, where he played on the school’s nationally-ranked varsity team in 1985 and ’86. His father, Bill Waite, a respected coach at Fallbrook High, led the team to multiple titles.
Morales, head coach for the Encinitas Edge 9U team, started playing baseball at age four. After competing in everything from T-ball and Little League to travel ball, high school and scout ball, he entered the collegiate level at UC Riverside. After two years with the Highlanders, Morales played two more at Palomar College and finished at Cal State San Marcos.
Growth, Community and Challenges
With 55 kids enrolled, Encinitas Edge currently fields three teams: 10-and-under, 9U and a developmental team for eight-year-olds. Burris expects participation to grow, with the program potentially expanding to six teams in its second year.
“This is something we love to do,” Burris said. “The collateral value is the 11, 12 and 13s as we scale into that, help out with the younger kids. We had a program where we had the 8s matched up with a buddy from the older group for the day. When you are a little kid and they throw a bigger kid at you, you think it’s the coolest thing in the world. We are a big community of baseball and we want to keep a real positive influence wrapped around that.”
Encinitas Edge runs from May through December, allowing players to stay active without conflicting with Encinitas Little League, which Burris highly regards.
“It’s a mistake not to take advantage of recreational baseball,” he said. “Playing at Encinitas Little League is an incredible atmosphere run by great people. If your kid misses that, they are missing an important part of growing up. It’s not just about baseball; it’s about running around with your friends. It’s what growing up is all about.”
Field availability has been one of the program’s biggest challenges, often forcing Burris to get creative.
“We have pieced it together where we can when we can,” he said. “We’ve asked that our families stay flexible with us. Sometimes we try to get on the field really early if it’s a space that can’t be reserved. We also try to play a lot of away games.”
With a foundation set in its first year under new leadership, Encinitas Edge looks forward to growth and continued success. Burris credits founder Ted Haberfield, a longtime baseball coach and past president of Encinitas Little League who stepped away after his kids aged out, for laying the groundwork.
“It’s a great group of kids and families,” Burris said. “It was an exciting year. No program is without its challenges in Year 1. We are learning and getting better and moving forward.”
For North County families interested in joining the program, contact Burris and Reitz at Edge Baseball Encinitas.
