2011 Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Showcase and Wood Bat Tournament
by Andy Morales on Jan. 15, 2011, under SportsKINO Sports Complex: January 14-16
Dallas Correa during blocking drills
You would never know that Major League Baseball had abandoned Tucson last spring with 300 of the nation’s top high school prospects taking part in an important showcase at the Kino Sports Complex this weekend.
The athletes took part in instruction, pro-style drills and video taping Saturday morning before taking part in controlled games Saturday afternoon in front of various pro scouts.
Kids from Connecticut, New York, Florida, Washington, Hawai’i and even Panama are attending the event with coverage provided by Major League Baseball, Baseball America and ESPN Rise.
Ryan Penaflor
Only four athletes from Arizona are taking part with Salpointe infielder Ryan Penaflor being the lone Tucsonan. Other athletes include Jordan Kipper, Troy Ruggiero and Scott Hoffman.
Alvie James tries a new bat
Kipper is a right handed pitcher out of Phoenix Mountain Pointe. The Pride lost to top seed Desert Ridge in the 5A-I championship game last year. Kipper is a senior and has received some interest from Oregon, Utah, ASU and Minnesota.
Ruggiero is a junior out of Seton Catholic in Chandler. He will be attending a showcase at UCLA on Saturday and will also be visiting USC this weekend.
Hoffman is the ace for Desert Ridge and was an ESPN national player of the week recipient and the Arizona Player of the Year last season with a 13-0 record (1.80 era). He has committed to ASU and plays for the Dodgers scout team.
Penaflor made the Angels scouting team along with Ironwood Ridge star Brandon Matthews. He batted .342 for the Lancers last year, including 8 doubles. Penaflor is only a junior but has already captured the attention of several college recruiters.
Other players of note include Harold Arauz and Alvie James of Panama and Dallas Correa of Hanapepe, Hawai’i. Both of the boys from Panama have already seen action in the Dominican Republic and Correa is seeking a spot with San Diego.
Troy Ruggiero & Jordan Kipper
The showcase ends with a wood bat tournament with games scheduled from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm.
Talks are also underway for the Kino Sports Complex to host the 2011 Cecil Fielder Elite World Series this summer in two age groups.
Leah Jo Wallace tapes her son's bat. Cameron plays for Kennett, Missouri. "We are hoping this opens some doors," Wallace told me. Photos of Cameron are on the flickr link below
MORE PHOTOS OF THE SHOWCASE: http://www.flickr.com/photos/andymorales
