7/23-25 Impact Baseball Showcase @ UNC

There were only scheduled workouts and guest speakers originally scheduled for today @ the UNC Impact Showcase event (60 yd. dash, OF-INF-1B-Catcher Throw, BP) and only Batting Practice was gotten in due to inclement weater @ an indoor facility. No games were originally scheduled to be played on Wednesday, 7/23.

Games are scheduled for Thursday, 7/24, as originally scheduled, weather permitting. Friday plans to be determined.

 

all games were played today . All games were about 2 hours behind schedule due to the workouts before the first 3 games . 60's , infield , etc...

The Grey team made a good showing , winning both games by large margins.

Grey team had players from North Meck and AL Brown.

 

As far as my observations went, I felt that the White and Gold teams were the most dominant during the Impact games on 7/24 @ Chapel Hill.

The players from the Gold team that were selected for the Impact "Select" game on Friday, 7/25, are:
Alex Martin - Providence - LHP-OF
Lee Blalock - Sun Valley - RHP-1B
Josephy Cutler - Providence - RHP
Kyle Shelton - South Meck - SS/2B/3B
A.J. Mason - Providence - LHP-OF
Daniel Bourassa - Randleman - SS-2B

Out of the 130 players in attendance @ the Impact Event, the college coaches and pro scouts in attendance chose the players that will form the two "Select" teams that will play in a nine inning game on Friday @ 1:00pm. Approximately 36-40 players made the two Impact "Select" teams. 4 out of 18 catchers were chosen for the two "Select" teams with the majority of the remainder of the two "Select" rosters being pitcher/position player combinations and several just IF and OF player positions for both teams.

 

I'm curious to know how many select players chosen were rising juniors. I thought there were way to many for this showcase.
It's just my opinion but i would think 90 players divided up into 15 man squads would have been better than trying to play 2 games with 21 players.
Even with the rain pretty much destroying Wednesday's workouts it was still an OK showcase.

 

Imimidator coach, It was an ok ONE DAY showcase for 80 out of 120 kids. The format was changed after everyone sent in their money for a 3 day showcase where everyone had the same opportunity to showcase their skills. If everyone paid the same why do a "select" few getting more for their money? I spoke with more than one scout in attendance and all 3 did not know anything about the selection process for Friday.

 

I attended this showcase and I agree that it was ok and all and that I wished I could have played one more day but being a catcher and them only selecting 4 out of 18 my chances were slim....but I do think that the Gold and White teams were the best because they have played together and a lot of them were apart of the Region 6 and Region 5 State Games team...just thought they should spread out the teams better

 

I've heard it all before when it comes to these showcases, pre-selection, ect. But people continue to go back. Personally, I think, if the HS coaches would do a better job of staying in touch with college coaches, and trying to get their kids in schools "they can play at", there would be no need for these expensive dog and pony shows.

 

i saw someone above asking where Todd Eberhart goes to school... he will be a Junior (pretty sure...) at Green Hope HS.

 

Some of the Select Team Members

Charlotte Area (from what I have heard of so far) Select Players:
Morgan Tyson
AJ Mason
Kyle Shelton
Lee Blaylock
Alex Martin
Joseph Cutler
Mike Cavasinni
Sam Pierce
Daniel Bourassa

 

I agree with NCBB as well. What was originally advertised did not indeed happen and that the Impact showcase event was basically a 1 day showcase for the majority of players. Now my particular player was still thankful for the little bit of exposure that he thought that he got, but it still was not what he had hoped for?!?

Now there was nothing that Impact could do about the rainy day all day on Wednesday but that would have been even all the more reason for Impact to showcase the 6 teams of 126 players to the college coaches and scouts in more games on Friday, 7/25.

And, it did seem that the majority of the 2 select teams had been predetermined. I do feel that the 2 select teams were good strong teams, but I know of several players that had very little playing time on their team on Thursday that made the select teams very easily on Friday. Mind you, these players that I have in mind did not play badly in their 2 inning in each game on Thursday but at the same time, they did not do anything that was that necessarily outstanding to gain themselves a spot on the roster of either select team and, therefore, I can only assume that they were given positions on the select teams due to their past preformances at Impact.

Also over half of the white team, (which indeed was a strong team but at the same time were members of an Impact organized team), were selected for one of the select teams. In fact, when the select game began on Friday, the majority of the starting players on one of the select teams were from the White/Impact team.

I can't help but think that the overall selection of the 2 Impact select teams were predetermined after seeing all of the above first hand at the game @ UNC on Thursday. I do, however, feel that the 2 select teams were loaded with good baseball talent but, again, just felt like it was probably heavily based on past performances.

Just my own personal thoughts and observations and ...after all that I have said in these few paragraphs, my player will probably return to the next Impact showcase event again in hopes of obtaining the recogniztion that he needs for his hopeful college baseball experience as my player has not yet gotten enough exposure to the college coaches as yet and will just have to take whatever little bit of exposure that he can get at any given time at any place and time.

And yes, Mudcat, if the high school coaches would do a better job of staying in touch with college coaches, and trying to get their kids in schools "they can play at", there would be no need for these showcase events as well, but until that happens, many high school baseball players, like my son, will continue to try and promote themselves through these showcase events due to last of assistance and connections?!?