AREA CODE GAMES: IT WAS BIG LEAGUE, DOWN TO THE BATS.Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer There was the stadium, the big-league uniforms, Tom Lasorda giving a pep talk and others with links to the majors sitting in the stands along with the hundreds of scouts. Last week's Area Code Games at Blair Field Blair Field is a stadium in Long Beach, California. It originally opened in 1956 and is primarily used for baseball. It holds 3,238 people. Located in Recreation Park, Blair Field is one of the few semi-professional baseball facilities in California. did not look like typical high school-level baseball. It didn't sound like it either. Absent was the ``ping'' of the bat. Players used wooden bats instead of aluminum to give scouts a truer indication of their readiness for the pros. Players overwhelmingly liked the different bats. Especially the pitchers. ``It's a lot better, you can throw inside,'' said Calabasas' Tony Sulser, who retired six consecutive batters in a two-inning outing for the Dodgers. ``I love pitching against wooden bats,'' said Valencia right-hander Jeff Green Jeff Green may refer to:
``Pitchers love wooden bats. Hitters hate 'em.'' Even the hardest-hit balls usually ended up far short of the outfield fence and hard, inside pitches resulted in broken bats instead of solid hits, but the batters weren't complaining much. ``They're actually starting to grow on me,'' Westlake's Jon Shepard said. Crescenta Valley The Crescenta Valley is a small inland valley in Los Angeles County, California. Its name derives from its crescent-like shape, with the convex portion facing roughly northeast and the concave portion southwest. second baseman second baseman n. Baseball The infielder who is positioned near and to the first-base side of second base. Noun 1. second baseman - (baseball) the person who plays second base second sacker Mark McCauley said it takes time to adjust. ``It's a lot tougher,'' McCauley said. ``You've gotta stick with it longer. It's harder to hit it inside. You have to hit it on the sweet spot, make solid contact. ``It's pretty fun. Hopefully I'll be able to do it a lot more in a few years.'' The hot corner: Out of need, Conor Jackson Conor Sims Jackson (nicknamed Co-Jack or Action) was born May 7, 1982 in Austin, Texas. He is a first baseman in Major League Baseball who plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He bats right handed and throws right handed. He is 6'2" and roughly 225 pounds. ended up playing out of position for the Area Code games. The El Camino Real El Camino Real (Spanish for The Royal Road or The King's Highway) was the name of a series of pre-automobile highways linking the various New World colonies of Spain:
``I kind of raised my hand and said I'd do it,'' Jackson said, adding he'll ``definitely'' be back at shortstop for his senior season. He was shaky at times, but impressive at others. In the first inning of Thursday's game against the Angels, he made a diving stop of a shot down the line and threw to first in time for the out. Jackson was immediately reminded of the increased importance of quick reflexes at the position. His hard-hit ball in the opener hit Dodgers third baseman third baseman n. Baseball The infielder stationed near third base. Noun 1. third baseman - (baseball) the person who plays third base third sacker Ryan Brown in the face. Brown needed eight stitches above his left eye, but was back for the Dodgers in the next game against the Pirates 900 and Brown's St. Francis teammate Fernando Valenzuela Added incentive: Palmdale's Matt Harrington Matt Harrington (born February 1, 1982) is a baseball player who holds the record for the most times being chosen in the Major League Baseball amateur draft. Between 2000 and 2004, Harrington, a top prospect coming out of high school, was chosen in all five drafts, but never signed had more at stake than impressing scouts at the Area Code Games. The right-hander's parents promised him a car if he was selected to play in the Goodwill Series. Players for the team that takes on Japan later this month and in early September are picked from Area Code participants. Harrington made the team along with 818 teammates Jason Kubel Jason James "the Future" Kubel (born May 25, 1982 in Belle Fourche, South Dakota) is a professional baseball player who plays in the outfield for the Minnesota Twins. He bats left and throws right. of Highland, Jamie Shields of Hart and Jackson. Harrington was consistently clocked in the 90s as he struck out five and gave up one hit in two shutout innings during Wednesday's win against the Pirates 900 team. He pitched an inning in the team's final game Saturday against the Diamondbacks. The only baserunner he allowed reached on an error. Overflowing with catchers: Aside from pitcher, the toughest position for local players to get playing time was at catcher. Notre Dame's Matt Cunningham, Newbury Park's Joey Hamer, Chaminade's Jonathan Higashi and Mike Nickeas Michael James Nickeas (born on February 13, 1983 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) is a minor league catcher for the New York Mets. Early life Born in Vancouver, while his dad played for the Vancouver Whitecaps of the NASL]. of Westlake were among the five catchers on the 818 team. The Dodgers were one of only two other teams to have as many as four catchers. The catchers often were used as designated hitters, but limited innings behind the plate meant mistakes became even costlier in a catcher's effort to prove himself to scouts. ``There's a lot of pressure in that aspect,'' said Hart's Brandon Montemayor, who played for the Dodgers. ``But if you think about it too much, it affects your game. It's a real test. ``It's frustrating frus·trate tr.v. frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing, frus·trates 1. a. To prevent from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; thwart: sitting there, but you're playing against the top players in the nation. I knew coming in I wouldn't get a lot of time.'' CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Tony Sulser of Calabasas liked pitching against hitters using wooden bats. He retired all six batters he faced in two innings. Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer |
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