College scouts throughout the state will convene at North Collins High School today to watch the inaugural Western New York Baseball and Softball Showcase for underclassmen.
Underclassmen from Western New York and beyond will strut their stuff today for scouts from St. Bonaventure, St. John Fisher, Erie Community College, Canisius, Medaille, D'Youville and Hilbert to name a few. The baseball game will begin at 3 p.m. and the softball game will take place at 6 p.m.
"Around here, you don't get a good look from colleges," organizer Rob Catalino said. "It's tough to get noticed. The kids have to sell themselves. If I could get some of these kids looked at before their senior year, they will get a better chance at a better college."
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Fredonia’s Trent Thompson will take part in today’s inaugural Western New York Baseball and Softball Showcase at North?Collins High?School.
This past Tuesday, softball players from Western New York took part in several drills in front of scouts. Scouts used a radar gun to see how fast a shortstop and third baseman can throw the ball to first base, players ran from home plate to first base and outfielders were also tested.
One of the players who impressed Catalino was Dunkirk's Khee Nance, who ran the fastest time from home plate to first base in 2.9 seconds. Her throw from shortstop to first base was clocked at 61 mph.
"She is a talented, talented player," Catalino said. "She swings the bat real well. She has raw, athletic skills that she can get better at. She has huge upswing to her. Whoever is lucky enough to get her, she will play."
On Thursday, the baseball players participated in the same drills.
Locally, Catalino was impressed with Fredonia's Nick Hart and Trent Thompson.
Thompson's fastest pitch was clocked in the low 80s, according to Catalino.
"We have got some talented pitchers hitting in the 80s," he said.
As for today's game, Catalino thinks fans will see some of the best baseball the area has to offer.
"I expect the kids to put on a show," he said. "We put out a fence for both games. I think we will see some fireworks in the softball game. We will also see some good pitching and defense. Scouts will be look for players hustling and good attitude. Coaches are looking for team players."
Admission to the games are free. There will be a concession stand available as well as a Chinese Auction and 50-50. There might also be contest for players between innings.
"It is something we are going to build on for next year," Catalino concluded. "I expect it to be packed with scouts from the top colleges. We are trying to make it a fun day. People like to watch and be entertained."
Baseball Game Rosters
White Team - Team Burnside
# Name School
1Bradley PalmertonEden
2Dane CalaLake Shore
3 Jared BaldinelliSt. Joe's
4 Ryan BoutelleGowanda
5 Brandon JewettFrontier
6 Evan JohnstonFrontier
7 Thomas RaiportPine Valley
8 Tyler ShawHamburg
9 Drew ScharraSpringville
10 Billy DickensonSpringville
11 David Baskerville Eden
13 Tyler FreemanLake Shore
14 Matt BrzozowiecLake Shore
15 Drew BorowskiWarsaw
16 Jared KeppelNorth Collins
17 Alex KovacsSt. Joe's
22 Christ ConleyLake Shore
24 Donny KilianSt. Joe's
Blue Team - Team Barrows
# Name School
1 Bubba HollinsOrchard Park
2 Nick HartFredonia
3 Adam CartenutoiJFK
4 Eric CartenutoJFK
5 Jake KopaczSt. Joe's
6 Adam PlevaForestville
7 Brian RatajczakNewfane
8 Coyote SokoloskiIroquios
9 Randy SzymkowiakCheektowaga
10 Philip WellsSt. Joe's
11 Reston PettitBolivar-Richburg
12 Jon McCarthyOrchard Park
13 Trent ThompsonFredonia
14 JD AndresseenSt. Mary's
15 Michael PrenticeSt. Francis
24 Chris SadenFredonia
25 Matt MatreSt. Joe's
Softball Game Rosters
White Team - Team Warren
# Name School
1 Jessica LawtonNorth Collins
2 Christine BlidyNorth Collins
3 Khee NanceDunkirk
4 Laura CrooksNiag-Wheatfield
5 Kati HanlonDunkirk
6 Emily MaziarzCleveland Hill
7 Madalyn HilleryWest Seneca East
8 Jessica AckleyLake Shore
9 Sarah MertowskiHamburg
10 Hayley HammerLake Shore
11 Kailee RamaekersHamburg
12 Charlotte MillerKenmore West
13 Shelby DonnhauserKenmore West
14 Darian EvansLake Shore
15 Katie MiloneClarence
15 D. Szymkowiak Cheektowaga
16 Moriah HarrisClarence
17 Allison SalernoHamburg
18 Alicia DeeringFredonia
Blue Team - Team Hennessey
# Name School
1 Maria GabrieleSacred Heart
2 Molly HennessyImmaculata
3 Breanna OperaLancaster
4 Emily MartinWill. South
5 Stephanie BielecNiagara Falls
6 Tori PolkNiagara Falls
7 Rachel JohnsonOrchard Park
11 Jessica PutcherBrocton
12 Rachel ZiarnowskiHoly Angels
13 T. FleckensteinLewiston-Porter
14 Laura KrawczykWest Seneca West
16 Melissa MagieraWill. South
18 Nicole SorrentinoLackawanna
19 Alexa FarnerGowanda
22 Jerri Ann OrfanoNiagara Falls
- Lacy Clark Dunkirk
- Jenna Pearl Silver Creek
- Mary Jo Pearl Silver Creek
