Our History

Clairemont Hilltoppers Little League (CHLL) was founded in 1957. This year we are celebrating 70 years!

1967- Development of the Cadman Fields. Where the Hilltoppers continue to play, are the first fields developed in the city of San Diego as a "joint effort". Through the efforts of many Clairemont Hilltoppers, lead by Frank Adams, & the "Cadman Park Associates", led by Les Turner, the Little League Fields are built on Cadman School property. This first "joint venture" is between the City of San Diego, the City Park and Recreation Department, the Clairemont Hilltoppers, the San Diego School District, and Cadman School, and is undertaken so that Cadman School and the Clairemont Hilltoppers would both share the baseball fields.

1969 - Iconic Hilltoppers snack bar is built.

Committed to Little League

Award Presented to Mike Van Cleave

Clairemont Hilltoppers Little League's Vice President Mike Van Cleave, joined the Hilltoppers as an 8-year-old player in the 1970s. He has played, coached, umpired and been a board member for over 50 years. In 2019, at Game 2 of the World Series at Fenway Park, Mike Van Cleave was awarded the Chevy Cares Award as Youth Baseball Coach of the Year for his commitment to youth baseball. Mike has coached hundreds of Clairemont kids.

Our Programs

District 32

Our league is one of nine Little Leagues in District 32 – Coronado, Peninsula, Point Loma, Presidio, Mira Mesa, University City, Scripps Ranch and Rancho Penasquitos are the others. Our District 32 leagues work together to play interleague games in some divisions and to hold postseason tournaments.

There are 8 Little League districts in San Diego and Imperial Counties. District 32 is part of the West Region of Little League, which is made up of 15 western states. It is headquartered in San Bernardino, CA, one of five regional offices in the United States. Little League is played in all 50 states and over 80 countries worldwide.

Past Presidents

Mr. Teppel 1957-1958
Dick McKesson 1960-1961
Dave Shoquist 1963-1965
Frank Adams 1966
Jesse Lowry 1967, 1972
Tom Franklin 1968-1969, 1971
Mike Judge 1970
Ben Weissman 1973
Robert Del Moral 1974
Harold McCoy 1975
Dave Stephenson 1976, 1984, 1986-1987, 1991-1992
Bob Absher 1977
Bud Hanen 1978
Jim Van Cleave 1979
Bill Dillon 1980-1981
Jerry Miller 1982
Jim Gerstenslager 1983, 1985
Bill Polick 1988
Bill Morrow 1989-1990
Dave Pursel 1993-1994
Kit Grogg 1995
Dawn Grogg 1996-1997
Liz Schleifer 1998-1999
Bill Salonius 2000-present