Morgan Gates
Published: October 12, 2005
The PJC baseball team carried out its 25th Annual Fall Tournament recently, featuring a nationally recognized baseball showcase on Oct. 1.
The weekend was full of opportunities, with scouts and recruiters from the university and professional levels. Most attended the showcase on Saturday, where about 150 high school junior and senior baseball players from across the nation performed to receive recognition.
Pro scout Max Semler with the Kansas City Royals said he came to find, “big-wiggers.”
Bob Rossi is another major league scout with the Chicago Cubs. Rossi said he was at the showcase to try to find a “complete player.”
“First, I look at their tools (physical abilities), then I try to find out about their backgrounds and their non-physical attributes. Next, I talk to everybody they know – their friends, family, girlfriends, coaches, and teachers. Then, I sit down and interview them and get a feel for how far they are willing to take their skills, and what level of accomplishment they want to reach, ” Rossi said.
“We look for players who have quality work habits and a tremendous passion for playing baseball. The ingredient that helps a player get better is constantly working at it. As good as these players are going to get is how hard they will work. A player who doesn’t have the right attitude may advance on skill alone but eventually that player will get beat out by another player who will work harder. What separates the ‘complete player’ from the rest is the drive to play his best. We want guys who have both the ability and the drive to keep working harder.”
Mark Smartt, an assistant coach from Troy State University, said he was here to enjoy the tournament and to evaluate players for the program at Troy State.
“PJC’s staff has put together one of the premium showcases in the country,” Smartt said.
“The showcase is very organized,” Hamilton said. “We send out flyers within a five – state radius, but people find out about it from all over.”
The Pirates worked with the high school players in one isolated area at a time. The recruiters and scouts judged on runs, outfield throws, infield throws, pitching accuracy and speed, hitting, and pop time for catching.
“It’s pretty organized,” said pitcher and short-stop Matt Creel, a junior from Baton Rouge, La. “I’m having fun in spite of the heat. It could be hotter. I just hope to get noticed today.”
Outfielder Tyler Selph, a junior from Cartersville, Ga. said, “The showcase is a really good opportunity to show your ability, consistency, and listening skills; that’s what it’s all about.”
Senior Jerry Brinkley, a centerfielder from Asheville, NC said, “The turnout was pretty good. There is bunch of people here, and quite a number of scouts too.”
Brinkley, Selph, and Creel said that being watched by numerous recruiters and scouts doesn’t make them nervous because they are used to it. However, the idea that this event could potentially determine the outcome of these athletes’ baseball careers is still intimidating to other players.
Another senior Nick Sweezy, a first baseman and pitcher from Baton Rouge said, “Yeah I’m nervous. I’m scared I’m going to choke.”
Both Sweezy and Brinkley said they would like to play for PJC. All of the players received a campus tour after the showcase on Saturday.