Before the Showcase, River Cats' Community Relations guy Tony Asaro
orients Team Powers about the on-field individual introduction process.

Former professional ballplayers served as on-field coaches for the Showcase teams.
Left to right: Larry Wolfe, Gary Powers, Brad Kilby, emcee Tony Asaro, Leon Lee, Leron Lee, Clint Brill, Dion James and Greg Vaughn.

Davis teammates Ben Eckels (left) and
George Hatamiya started as the battery for Team Powers. On the hill, Eckels pitched two scoreless innings, topping out at 92 mph on the Blaser Gun.
Eckels is expected to go high in this week's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Two-Game Recap by Mark McDermot / Photos by Rick Cabral

Trailing 10-8 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Sutter's Caleb Parker singled home Oakmont's Ryan Gearing, who had two triples and a single, with the winning run as Team (Gary) Powers downed Team (Dion) James & Co. 11-10.

In that second game, right-handers Ben Eckels of Davis High and Sacramento State-bound Sutter McLoughlin of Rio Americano looked good for Team Powers while right-handers Mark Reece of Roseville and Tanner McVey of Rocklin for Team James & Co.

In the first game, Team Anderson (Guy) defeated Team Powers 11-4 behind the bats of River Valley's Jake Phillips, who had three hits, Oakmont's Logan Coggeshall and Nevada Union's Spencer Cho. Rodriguez right-hander Jesse Scholtens, headed to the University of Arizona next year, was sharp for the Team Anderson.  

Jared James (McClatchy) slides into third base as Mitch Samson (Casa Roble) goes up for the throw.

Pitcher Malik Pruitt (Laguna Creek) and catcher Joey Thompson (Rio American)
retreat to the mound to discuss strategy.

Pitcher Logan James (Jesuit) fires to Alex Mugnaini (Rio Americano)
whose 2-run single added to Team Powers' lead.

Event Promotion

For their inaugural High School Baseball Showcase, the River Cats have selected many of the top senior high school players in the greater Sacramento area, drawn from the 42 schools that participated in the River Cats High School Baseball program and the All-City seniors that attended the high school awards ceremony on May 13.

Admission and parking to Sunday’s games are free, although fans in attendance are encouraged to donate to the Sacramento Food Bank on the day of the games. Any fan making a cash donation of $5 or more—or any canned good donation—will receive a ticket voucher good for any Monday—Wednesday River Cats home game during the 2012 season.

Each of the four teams competing in the showcase will be comprised of 25 of the top high school baseball players in the area, who will have the chance to shine in front of college coaches and professional scouts. All 100 participating players will be guaranteed game action, and each team will take batting and infield practice on the field prior to its game.

The four teams will be managed by former Major League players, including Dion James, Clint Brill, Greg Vaughn and many more.