Weatherford tryout was yesterday.
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I thought there were about 100 kids there including pitchers. Rumor had it that the team was already picked and they were just looking for a few adds.
I guess I'm fairly naive... thought the team was picked based on talent not politics...
It was fun to watch. Lots of talented players.
I guess I'm fairly naive... thought the team was picked based on talent not politics...
It was fun to watch. Lots of talented players.
MAV,
you should know by now that you can not get away from the dreaded POLITICS!!!!!
I'm pretty sure it was just an exercise.
you should know by now that you can not get away from the dreaded POLITICS!!!!!
I'm pretty sure it was just an exercise.
Unless your son is a pro prospect today, don't worry about the AC team. I imagine there were 40-50 college guys there to identify kids for their programs. That is the value of the AC tryout.
agreed
Mav, Why do you think the team was already picked?
Can we please not get into this? 
It's inevitable DTiger. 
Dtiger,
PLEASE......just go ahead and spell it out for everyone so we can move forward
PLEASE......just go ahead and spell it out for everyone so we can move forward
I won't spell out anything except that I chose not to attend despite being offered because of my... "style of play." (And because I didn't want to miss a summer team's game)
It can be a good spot to get seen. If one really is interested in what gets so frustrating, I imagine there are previous threads about past Area Code tryouts. They probably have a locked symbol on them because...
It can be a good spot to get seen. If one really is interested in what gets so frustrating, I imagine there are previous threads about past Area Code tryouts. They probably have a locked symbol on them because...
Overall the tryouts yesterday went very very well. No the pitchers were not "pre-picked" along with the scrimmage team. The players that made the game were simply the players that preformed best. There is also a lot of players that are chosen due to a good tryout and enormous potential.
The players chosen for the game were a lot of familiar faces and names and the game did not disappoint. Every pitcher taken hit 90+ or above in there bullpen showing. It is known that that number seems to be the magic number and scouts love to see.
The players chosen for the game were a lot of familiar faces and names and the game did not disappoint. Every pitcher taken hit 90+ or above in there bullpen showing. It is known that that number seems to be the magic number and scouts love to see.
AC includes the best players in their respective regions. When players go to the tryouts, I would imagine scouts already have a good idea of who they want to be on the team...they have been scouting these players for a few years, so they know who are the best. There are also a few that I am sure surprise everyone.
When I went (tryouts and actual event), everyone, including the players, had a general feel of who was going to be on the team. The tryout is for a)the college coaches and other scouts to be able to see the regions players and b)to reaffirm what the scouts think about players before the selection.
When I went (tryouts and actual event), everyone, including the players, had a general feel of who was going to be on the team. The tryout is for a)the college coaches and other scouts to be able to see the regions players and b)to reaffirm what the scouts think about players before the selection.
I've been told (because I don't keep up with the actual results) that the Texas team has had lots of struggles recently in the AC games in terms of winning. What could be the cause of it? Or is it just the luck that comes with baseball? Since Texas is so highly ranked in terms of prospects (I am 95% sure Baseball America had Texas as a 5 star state for prospects), why does the AC team struggle?
Texas was a 2 Star state in terms of Draft Talent this year according to Baseball America's ranking system.
I agree with everyone that said the exposure the kids got was great even if they didn't make the team.
About the pre picked team. lol Didn't mean to stir up anything I just heard several of the scouts talking about it.
About the pre picked team. lol Didn't mean to stir up anything I just heard several of the scouts talking about it.
"It can be a good spot to get seen."
It is a showcase where they pick about 20 out of 200 to go to California to play the Area Code tournament.
The team is pretty well known before the tryout happens. That don't matter.
I could probably name 25 boys, that were at the tryout the year my son was there, that are now at D1's or in minor league baseball THAT DID NOT MAKE THE TEAM TO GO TO CALIFORNIA.
The Area Code tournament is a tryout where many young players learn for the first time that there are many, many more talented baseball players in the world.................
It's a long hot seemingly unorganized day.
There will be many boys there that go on to play college baseball because they were seen at the Area Code tryout.
And, if you go, you will possibly offend your summer teammates and coach, if you miss some summer ball.
The tryout is usually on a Monday or Tuesday so that it interferes as little as possible with summer team schedules.
It is a showcase where they pick about 20 out of 200 to go to California to play the Area Code tournament.
The team is pretty well known before the tryout happens. That don't matter.
I could probably name 25 boys, that were at the tryout the year my son was there, that are now at D1's or in minor league baseball THAT DID NOT MAKE THE TEAM TO GO TO CALIFORNIA.
The Area Code tournament is a tryout where many young players learn for the first time that there are many, many more talented baseball players in the world.................
It's a long hot seemingly unorganized day.
There will be many boys there that go on to play college baseball because they were seen at the Area Code tryout.
And, if you go, you will possibly offend your summer teammates and coach, if you miss some summer ball.
The tryout is usually on a Monday or Tuesday so that it interferes as little as possible with summer team schedules.
My son was invited to an Area Code Tryout this May. Great experience. Perhaps the best thing most kids get out of it are exposure and the ability to use the lead Scout's name as a reference when filling out the college forms.
Is there a list posted anywhere of the players that were chosen?
Not an official list but I know the some kids from our area.
Chad Kettler
Matt Shortall
Johnathan Walsh
Colton Cain
Ryan Ford
Ronnie Mitchell
Jacob Morris
Andrew Lacombe (sp?)
Matt Lipka
Zach Lee
Max Muncy
Austin Elkins
I cant think of any more so anyone help me out.
Some of these players stood out more than others but the game sure had some very good players
Chad Kettler
Matt Shortall
Johnathan Walsh
Colton Cain
Ryan Ford
Ronnie Mitchell
Jacob Morris
Andrew Lacombe (sp?)
Matt Lipka
Zach Lee
Max Muncy
Austin Elkins
I cant think of any more so anyone help me out.
Some of these players stood out more than others but the game sure had some very good players
Hoby Milner LHP/OF FW Paschal
Damien Magnifico RHP North Mesquite
Josh Easley RHP Weatherford
Kyle Arnsberg 1B Arlington Lamar
Josh Turley & Slade Heathcott the lefty duo from Texarkana Texas High both made the scrimmage.
Todd Glaesmann was a good looking outfielder from Waco Midway.
Damien Magnifico RHP North Mesquite
Josh Easley RHP Weatherford
Kyle Arnsberg 1B Arlington Lamar
Josh Turley & Slade Heathcott the lefty duo from Texarkana Texas High both made the scrimmage.
Todd Glaesmann was a good looking outfielder from Waco Midway.
Glaesmann is a beast!
Weatherford Texas- Once again it is the Texas Rangers Area Code Team Tryouts kicking off the long journey to the 2008 Area Code Baseball Games. On Tuesday, the tryouts kicked off at Weatherford College, just as they did a year ago this June.
One of the first things you may think of when you look at baseball in the Lone Star State are the arms. And once again this year will be no different, the Rangers should have some solid pitching in August. This has been a reoccurring theme for the Rangers in recent memory.
At today's tryouts the arms certainly did not disappoint, and it began in the bullpen before the simulated game. Right from the start, one could not help but notice that the kids from Texas do not just throw hard, but have solid stuff.
When the pitchers, who had made the final cut, played in the simulated game they overpowered the hitters. A couple of pitchers, who stood out today, were Hoby Milner and Slade Heathcott. Both southpaws had dominating performances on the hill during the game.
Milner stands in at 6-foot-2, 155 pounds out of Paschal High School (Texas). The Fort Worth native is long and lean and threw well. He had a good fastball and worked the hitters. He kept them off balance and showed that he could mix his pitches well. Ironically, one of the few hits in the game, that only yielded two runs, came from Milner and he got his single off of fellow southpaw Slade Heathcott.
Heatchcott stands in at 6-foot-0, 195 pounds. He has a good body for a pitcher and he threw hard. His fastball was consistently 89-90 mph and at times hit 91mph on the gun. His curveball also had a hard break on it, clocked at 78mph. His stuff looked even better when he got into the game, as he fanned three of the five batters he faced. Like Milner, Heathcott changed speeds well and keep the hitters off balance. It looked like his breaking ball was his out pitch. Not only did he change speeds on the hitters, but he changed their eye level, too.
Another arm that made an impact today was Damien Magnifico, a right handed pitcher out of North Mesquite High School. The Amarillo native was clocked 88-90mph with a nice breaking ball. He may not have been as known as some of the other pitchers in attendance, but he certainly made a name for himself today.
Local product, out of Weatherford High School in Weatherford, Texas, Josh Easley had himself a good day at the tryout. He was 89-91mph on the gun with his curveball coming in at 71-72mph.
There were a trio of outfielders who made a name for themselves today. Ronnie Mitchell out of Southlake Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas came in sort of unknown to scouts, but by days end that certainly changed. He started the day off running the 60 7.20 seconds was competitive with the other outfield times. At the plate he showed good hands with the ball coming off the bat well.
Fellow outfielder Cody Robinson made an impression today. He started off by running a sub seven 60-yard, coming in at 6.90. When he ran the 60-yard a second time, he got even better posting a solid 6.76 time. Like Mitchell, Cody had good hands and because of this hands and combined with a solid lower half, he was able to generate some good bat speed.
Last, but certainly not least, Randal Grichuk had an impressive showing as well. Like Robinson, Grichuk[/db] ran two sub seven 60-yard dashes, the first coming in at 6.85 and a second coming in at 6.95. During the defensive evaluations, from right field, he showed that he had one of the best arms at the tryout. The strength continued to show at the plate, when he hit everything hard.
Overall, it was a strong workout at the Texas Rangers Area Code Baseball Tryouts. Pitching and speed, would be themes from today and there is still one more workout to go. The second workout will take place at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas on June 17. Days later the first Area Code Baseball Roster will be announced.
TOP 60 TIMES
Max Muncy | 2B | Keller | 09 | 6.96/6.92
Charlie Martin | 2B | Heath | 09 | 6.70/6.85
Will Poythress | 3B | Northwest | 10 | 6.95
Austin Elkins | 3B | Coppell | 09 | 6.94/6.95
Jamondrick McGruder | SS| First Baptist | 09 | 6.66/6.78
Matt Lipka | SS | McKinney | 10 | 6.83/6.68
Logan Vick | SS | Tivy | 09 | 6.80/6.89
Jordan Lewis | SS | Naaman Forest | 09 | 6.98/6.86
Jacob Morris | OF | Coppell | 09 | 6.64/6.60
Todd Glasesman | OF | Midway | 09 | 6.96/6.94
Chase Durham | OF | Flower Mound | 6.84/6.82
Cody Abraham | OF | Lamar Consolidated | 10 | 6.97/6.80
Cody Robinson | OF | Lamar Consolidated | 09 | 6.90/6.76
Nathan Lyons | OF | Berkner | 09 | 6.87/6.79
Reggie Rodriguez | OF | Fossil | 09 | 6.98/6.96
Randal Grichuk | OF | Lamar Consolidated | 09 | 6.85/6.95
Hoby Milner | OF | Paschal | 09 | 6.93
Dexter Kjerstad | OF | Randall | 10 | 6.79/6.80
Slade Heathcott | OF | Texas | 09 | 6.82/6/77
One of the first things you may think of when you look at baseball in the Lone Star State are the arms. And once again this year will be no different, the Rangers should have some solid pitching in August. This has been a reoccurring theme for the Rangers in recent memory.
At today's tryouts the arms certainly did not disappoint, and it began in the bullpen before the simulated game. Right from the start, one could not help but notice that the kids from Texas do not just throw hard, but have solid stuff.
When the pitchers, who had made the final cut, played in the simulated game they overpowered the hitters. A couple of pitchers, who stood out today, were Hoby Milner and Slade Heathcott. Both southpaws had dominating performances on the hill during the game.
Milner stands in at 6-foot-2, 155 pounds out of Paschal High School (Texas). The Fort Worth native is long and lean and threw well. He had a good fastball and worked the hitters. He kept them off balance and showed that he could mix his pitches well. Ironically, one of the few hits in the game, that only yielded two runs, came from Milner and he got his single off of fellow southpaw Slade Heathcott.
Heatchcott stands in at 6-foot-0, 195 pounds. He has a good body for a pitcher and he threw hard. His fastball was consistently 89-90 mph and at times hit 91mph on the gun. His curveball also had a hard break on it, clocked at 78mph. His stuff looked even better when he got into the game, as he fanned three of the five batters he faced. Like Milner, Heathcott changed speeds well and keep the hitters off balance. It looked like his breaking ball was his out pitch. Not only did he change speeds on the hitters, but he changed their eye level, too.
Another arm that made an impact today was Damien Magnifico, a right handed pitcher out of North Mesquite High School. The Amarillo native was clocked 88-90mph with a nice breaking ball. He may not have been as known as some of the other pitchers in attendance, but he certainly made a name for himself today.
Local product, out of Weatherford High School in Weatherford, Texas, Josh Easley had himself a good day at the tryout. He was 89-91mph on the gun with his curveball coming in at 71-72mph.
There were a trio of outfielders who made a name for themselves today. Ronnie Mitchell out of Southlake Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas came in sort of unknown to scouts, but by days end that certainly changed. He started the day off running the 60 7.20 seconds was competitive with the other outfield times. At the plate he showed good hands with the ball coming off the bat well.
Fellow outfielder Cody Robinson made an impression today. He started off by running a sub seven 60-yard, coming in at 6.90. When he ran the 60-yard a second time, he got even better posting a solid 6.76 time. Like Mitchell, Cody had good hands and because of this hands and combined with a solid lower half, he was able to generate some good bat speed.
Last, but certainly not least, Randal Grichuk had an impressive showing as well. Like Robinson, Grichuk[/db] ran two sub seven 60-yard dashes, the first coming in at 6.85 and a second coming in at 6.95. During the defensive evaluations, from right field, he showed that he had one of the best arms at the tryout. The strength continued to show at the plate, when he hit everything hard.
Overall, it was a strong workout at the Texas Rangers Area Code Baseball Tryouts. Pitching and speed, would be themes from today and there is still one more workout to go. The second workout will take place at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas on June 17. Days later the first Area Code Baseball Roster will be announced.
TOP 60 TIMES
Max Muncy | 2B | Keller | 09 | 6.96/6.92
Charlie Martin | 2B | Heath | 09 | 6.70/6.85
Will Poythress | 3B | Northwest | 10 | 6.95
Austin Elkins | 3B | Coppell | 09 | 6.94/6.95
Jamondrick McGruder | SS| First Baptist | 09 | 6.66/6.78
Matt Lipka | SS | McKinney | 10 | 6.83/6.68
Logan Vick | SS | Tivy | 09 | 6.80/6.89
Jordan Lewis | SS | Naaman Forest | 09 | 6.98/6.86
Jacob Morris | OF | Coppell | 09 | 6.64/6.60
Todd Glasesman | OF | Midway | 09 | 6.96/6.94
Chase Durham | OF | Flower Mound | 6.84/6.82
Cody Abraham | OF | Lamar Consolidated | 10 | 6.97/6.80
Cody Robinson | OF | Lamar Consolidated | 09 | 6.90/6.76
Nathan Lyons | OF | Berkner | 09 | 6.87/6.79
Reggie Rodriguez | OF | Fossil | 09 | 6.98/6.96
Randal Grichuk | OF | Lamar Consolidated | 09 | 6.85/6.95
Hoby Milner | OF | Paschal | 09 | 6.93
Dexter Kjerstad | OF | Randall | 10 | 6.79/6.80
Slade Heathcott | OF | Texas | 09 | 6.82/6/77
Thanks for the top 60 yard dash times. Does anybody have the best mph results for outfield throw, infield throw, and pitching? That would be most interesting. Thanks in advance.
Here's what I have recorded:
Infielders top mph:
86: Garrett Powell, Chad Kettler
87: Matt Lipka, Max Muncy
88: Brett Doe, Josh Easley, Dillon Buhrkuhl
OF top mph:
I thought Ronnie Mitchell threw harder than anyone, but didn't hear his mph.
88: Jacob Morris
Infielders top mph:
86: Garrett Powell, Chad Kettler
87: Matt Lipka, Max Muncy
88: Brett Doe, Josh Easley, Dillon Buhrkuhl
OF top mph:
I thought Ronnie Mitchell threw harder than anyone, but didn't hear his mph.
88: Jacob Morris
Coach, If you find a web site with all of the throwing speeds recorded let us know. Thanks. It would be nice to see something as detailed as the 60 times. Do the Rangers post an official set of stats?
Hoby Milner was 88-91 mph from the outfield. No other outfielder hit 90.
There were a couple of more 87's across the infield, and 88's from the OF.
Breham, TX - Texas Rangers Area Code - Tuesday, 6/17/08 - Blinn College
The DFW area was well represented with 15-20 players attending that could not attend the Weatherford even due to conflicts in schedules.
Here are a few of the recognized attendees (I'm sure there were others but....)
Bryan Dickenson OF/Highland Park HS/Team DeMarini
Drew Harrison 1B/Waxahachie HS/Dallas Tigers
Zak Hermans P/Coppell HS/Team DeMarini
Max Lamantia 1B/Flower Mound HS/Team DeMarini
Tyler Mapes OF/Newman Smith HS/DBAT
Cameron Rice 3B/Wylie HS/Team DeMarini
Both Max Lamantia and Drew Harrison made the final cut and advanced to the evening Game with both representing N.Texas well.
Like many others who have posted before, it was a long/hot/productive opportunity to allow all the players to assess there skills, demonstrate their abilities and perform in front of over 60 scouts representing many programs (professional and college).
Everyone who attended should walk away proud to have been invited.
The DFW area was well represented with 15-20 players attending that could not attend the Weatherford even due to conflicts in schedules.
Here are a few of the recognized attendees (I'm sure there were others but....)
Bryan Dickenson OF/Highland Park HS/Team DeMarini
Drew Harrison 1B/Waxahachie HS/Dallas Tigers
Zak Hermans P/Coppell HS/Team DeMarini
Max Lamantia 1B/Flower Mound HS/Team DeMarini
Tyler Mapes OF/Newman Smith HS/DBAT
Cameron Rice 3B/Wylie HS/Team DeMarini
Both Max Lamantia and Drew Harrison made the final cut and advanced to the evening Game with both representing N.Texas well.
Like many others who have posted before, it was a long/hot/productive opportunity to allow all the players to assess there skills, demonstrate their abilities and perform in front of over 60 scouts representing many programs (professional and college).
Everyone who attended should walk away proud to have been invited.
Does anyone now have a complete list of the players who made the scrimmages?
As the Founder of the Area Code Games [1987-2004].
The Texas tryouts were always professionally operated. The cooperation between the scouts is amazing. Very few talented players are missed
by the scouts. The college coaches always called
before for the schedule of tryouts as I coordinated the tryouts with all teams to benefit the scouts as I flew from SF to Texas to
Florida and then to the Northeast USA.
Many college coaches followed my flight schedule.
Thousands of players benefited from the tryouts.
In 1998 the year of Josh Beckett and his 97 mph fast ball, an unknown player was placed because of a phone call from an agent in Kansas City.
Of course I listened and Albert Pujols was discovered in Long Beach. The rest is history.
My objective was to "out scout" the scouts.
This was "fun". We now "out scout" the scouts with our International Australia Goodwill Series.
Please visit <www.goodwillseries.org>
In the June draft, we had 6 players drafted from our Australia December games. 12 games in 14 days and 6 pro scouts traveling as coaches.
Good Luck on your careers!
Bob Williams
The Texas tryouts were always professionally operated. The cooperation between the scouts is amazing. Very few talented players are missed
by the scouts. The college coaches always called
before for the schedule of tryouts as I coordinated the tryouts with all teams to benefit the scouts as I flew from SF to Texas to
Florida and then to the Northeast USA.
Many college coaches followed my flight schedule.
Thousands of players benefited from the tryouts.
In 1998 the year of Josh Beckett and his 97 mph fast ball, an unknown player was placed because of a phone call from an agent in Kansas City.
Of course I listened and Albert Pujols was discovered in Long Beach. The rest is history.
My objective was to "out scout" the scouts.
This was "fun". We now "out scout" the scouts with our International Australia Goodwill Series.
Please visit <www.goodwillseries.org>
In the June draft, we had 6 players drafted from our Australia December games. 12 games in 14 days and 6 pro scouts traveling as coaches.
Good Luck on your careers!
Bob Williams
Did anyone see this? How did he look at Area code? When is area code chosen? Is there a list somewhere? How did area kids do at PG Nat Showcase? Any frontrunner predictions for Connie Mack WS?
Zach Lee
Photo Gallery
Pitcher
McKinney (TX) McKinney
Ht/Wt: 6-foot-4/195
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
GPA: 4.8
Draft: 2010
Position Ranking: NR
The Latest: Leach offers 2010 signal caller — 6/17/2008
Getting an offer to play quarterback from Mike Leach is quite an accomplishment. Getting an offer from Leach one month removed from the end of one's sophomore year is nearly unheard of. McKinney quarterback Zach Lee...[details]
Zach Lee
Photo Gallery
Pitcher
McKinney (TX) McKinney
Ht/Wt: 6-foot-4/195
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
GPA: 4.8
Draft: 2010
Position Ranking: NR
The Latest: Leach offers 2010 signal caller — 6/17/2008
Getting an offer to play quarterback from Mike Leach is quite an accomplishment. Getting an offer from Leach one month removed from the end of one's sophomore year is nearly unheard of. McKinney quarterback Zach Lee...[details]
quote:Originally posted by NTXDAD:
Breham, TX - Texas Rangers Area Code - Tuesday, 6/17/08 - Blinn College
The DFW area was well represented with 15-20 players attending that could not attend the Weatherford even due to conflicts in schedules.
Here are a few of the recognized attendees (I'm sure there were others but....)
Bryan Dickenson OF/Highland Park HS/Team DeMarini
Drew Harrison 1B/Waxahachie HS/Dallas Tigers
Zak Hermans P/Coppell HS/Team DeMarini
Max Lamantia 1B/Flower Mound HS/Team DeMarini
Tyler Mapes OF/Newman Smith HS/DBAT
Cameron Rice 3B/Wylie HS/Team DeMarini
Both Max Lamantia and Drew Harrison made the final cut and advanced to the evening Game with both representing N.Texas well.
Like many others who have posted before, it was a long/hot/productive opportunity to allow all the players to assess there skills, demonstrate their abilities and perform in front of over 60 scouts representing many programs (professional and college).
Everyone who attended should walk away proud to have been invited.
Congrats to all the Area Code invitees including the the Team DeMarini contingent.
Looks like they again had some success.
quote:GPA: 4.8
I understand the SAT scores and the composite(from the old days)
Someone Please explain how you can get a 4.8 GPA? (satire)
4.0 is perfect!
anything more is cheating. just because you took a harder class shouldn't give you better than perfect. you are expected to take hard classes.
My son recieved hundreds of dollars and gifts for graduating...his comment....It is stupid for someone to reward me for something i am expected to do!
Off my box...
quote:4.0 is perfect!
anything more is cheating. just because you took a harder class shouldn't give you better than perfect. you are expected to take hard classes
Couldn't disagree with you more!
But that's another argument for another thread. Don't want to hijack this thread.
nortex-
Some GPA's are out of 5.0... some 100pt scale.
Having taken a good amount of regulars and honors classes, I can assure you that (at my high school) honors or AP was twice the work/dedication to succeed, AND that when colleges view a kid's gpa, MOST look at one they call a "raw" or "unweighted" score where the "credit" given for honors/AP classes is not considered. However, those I found that do that, have a seperate category to deal with strength of schedule (in academic terms).
Sorry tguf- But academics are something I feel strongly about, and I don't blame nortex, but some people don't know/realize.
Some GPA's are out of 5.0... some 100pt scale.
Having taken a good amount of regulars and honors classes, I can assure you that (at my high school) honors or AP was twice the work/dedication to succeed, AND that when colleges view a kid's gpa, MOST look at one they call a "raw" or "unweighted" score where the "credit" given for honors/AP classes is not considered. However, those I found that do that, have a seperate category to deal with strength of schedule (in academic terms).
Sorry tguf- But academics are something I feel strongly about, and I don't blame nortex, but some people don't know/realize.
quote:Having taken a good amount of regulars and honors classes, I can assure you that (at my high school) honors or AP was twice the work/dedication to succeed
Couldn't agree with you more Dtiger!
My amazement had nothing to do with the gpa. Although it is impressive,I didn't even see that. Mike Leach offering him a football scholly - that is what caught my eye. The info was on the rivals.com database. Anyone able to see the rest of the article?
Also, back to my original reason for posting, where is the Area Code team listed?
Also, back to my original reason for posting, where is the Area Code team listed?