More than 50 players on hand for Baseball Showcase

LANCASTER – It was all business Tuesday at the Ohio American Legion Baseball Showcase at Beavers Field.

It was the second consecutive year for the showcase, which is for any player that has high school eligibility left. Players not playing in the American Legion State Baseball Tournament were not excluded.

“This was basically to see how good we are,” said Fairfield Union’s Thomas Green, who will be a senior.

“They rate you with the hopes that you can get some attention from colleges. It was also good to see where you stack up against other players from around the state,” he said.

A year after having 80 players participate in 2014, showcase Director Randy Bachman said there were only 40 players that preregistered, but there were 17 walk-ups on Tuesday.

“You never know how many are going to come,” Bachman said. “We had a great turnout last year, and even though we only had 57 (Tuesday), it is still a good turnout.”

World Baseball Academy out of Fort Wayne, Indiana, ran the showcase again. Players worked at stations such as running, throwing and hitting. Along with local players, there also were players from across the state.

Each player was graded, and their results will be sent to 92 college coaches. There were some college scouts on hand Tuesday.

Bachman said the players’ grades will be sent to colleges in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Kentucky.

“We will grade all the kids out and will proceed to get all their information to the college coaches,” Bachman said. “Even though college coaches aren’t in attendance, they are still going to get the grading so if they see kid they are interested in, as far as speed, hitting, pitching, they will have access to the player.”

Green, who is a three-sport athlete for the Falcons, said he hopes to play baseball in college. He attended Tuesday’s showcase to get his name on the radar of college coaches.

“I felt like I pitched really well,” said Green, who also is a golfer and basketball player. “I do as well hitting as I would have liked. There were some scouts here watching us, and hopefully, I did well enough to get some looks.

“I would love to go to more showcases, but it is tough when you play three sports.”

Bachman said the time of the showcase is ideal because it is the day before the state tournament starts.

“It is just a great way to get these players some exposure,” Bachman said. “It lets college coaches see that these guys have interest in playing at the next level. To have it the day before the state tournament is perfect.

“Players come from all over the state and some of the teams that made the state tournament. It is ideal for there players because they are already here,” he said.

twilson@lancastereaglegazette.com

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