LB Blaze began with a simple belief: young athletes in Los Banos and the surrounding communities deserved access to competitive baseball, quality coaching, and adults who were genuinely invested in their development.
Nearly 14 years ago, Jose Andrew Garza began building Blaze Baseball in Los Banos. What started as a local youth baseball team grew into a respected travel-ball program that has served players and families across multiple generations and age divisions.
By 2014, LB Blaze teams were competing in organized tournament baseball under Jose’s leadership. Over the years, Blaze teams earned tournament championships, traveled throughout California, and developed a reputation for playing hard, competing together, and representing their communities with pride.
From Los Banos to the East Bay
As the organization grew, Blaze expanded beyond Los Banos and operated teams in the Brentwood and Oakley area.
Working alongside his cousin, Vic Rivera, Jose helped create opportunities for athletes in both the Central Valley and East Bay. During this period, Los Banos Blaze and Oakley Blaze teams competed under the same broader baseball family, giving more players access to competitive travel baseball and experienced coaching.
Vic later continued his baseball journey with Wow Factor Nation Nor-Cal, where he now serves as the program’s Northern California director. Although the programs followed different paths, that chapter remains an important part of Blaze history and demonstrates how far the organization’s influence has extended beyond Los Banos.
More Than a Baseball Team
Throughout its history, Blaze has always represented more than wins, losses, trophies, or tournament finishes.
The program was built around hard work, accountability, toughness, loyalty, and family. Players were expected to compete with confidence, respect the game, support their teammates, and respond to adversity with determination.
Many athletes have worn a Blaze uniform over the years. Each player, family, and coach has contributed to the identity and tradition the organization carries today.
The championships are part of the history, but the lasting relationships, lessons, memories, and growth of Blaze athletes are the organization’s true legacy.
Today, LB Blaze is entering its most ambitious chapter.
Blaze has grown from an individual travel-baseball program into Blaze Youth Sports & Education Foundation, an organization committed to using athletics as a vehicle for education, mentorship, leadership, and community development.
Our goal is not only to build successful baseball players. We want to develop disciplined students, confident leaders, dependable teammates, and young people prepared to succeed throughout their lives.
The organization currently provides competitive youth baseball opportunities across multiple age divisions while building programs that emphasize:
High-level coaching and player development
Academic accountability
Leadership and character development
Mentorship
Access to training and competition
Scholarships and financial assistance
Community involvement
Pathways to college, careers, and future opportunities
Although Blaze has reached families and athletes beyond the Central Valley, Los Banos remains our home.
We are proud to serve student-athletes and families throughout Los Banos, Newman, Gustine, Santa Nella, Dos Palos, Firebaugh, and surrounding communities.
Our roots are local, but our expectations are high. We want Blaze athletes to understand that where they come from does not determine how far they can go.
Built on Tradition. Focused on the Future.
For more than a decade, LB Blaze has provided young athletes with a place to compete, develop, and belong.
The uniforms, teams, and seasons may change, but the foundation remains the same: work hard, stay accountable, support your teammates, respect the game, and represent Blaze with pride.
As Blaze Youth Sports & Education Foundation moves forward, we remain committed to honoring the program’s history while creating even greater opportunities for the generations that follow.
This is more than baseball. This is Blaze.
