Showcases/Area Code etc

Not a scout so I hesitate to reply but I have heard of Area Code showdowns in several areas across several states. Only the scouts that respond can advise on it's value to attend. I know a year or two ago there was one in NorCal. I didn't personally attend but you can watch a you tube video for more info. It's seems from the video to be more instructional but again I did not attend. Maybe the video will help you decide. http://youtu.be/L0JD3CQ96Wc

What the heck are you "showcasing" a 14YO for? Think about this, what decisions are being made and at what age? Read through the timeline here which should be helpful. 

First step is to make the HS frosh squad, 14 YO is a good time to get some quality instruction, and you don't need to be in an academy to get this. 

An academy is defined as a place of study or training in a specialized field. If the academy with which you have been in contact claims that attending a showcase is "gravely" important to your son's development as a 14 year old baseball player, you can ask how that showcase helps him within his study or training in the specialized field of baseball.

On a related note…a baseball "academy" is a misnomer, and likely a money-maker.

Your son does not need to be showcasing anything right now. He should focus on getting stronger, fine-tuning his baseball skills, and continuing to improve. If the folks that run the "academy" disagree, feel free to direct them here and I'd be happy to echo those thoughts to them.

if you are in their program that you will have the best exposure to scouts/colleges

The above statement may very well be true, I can't speak to the quality of the particular program they run. But I can tell you that it's not true for a 14 year old. I'm pretty friendly with some scouts and some college coaches and I can assure you, they we are not looking for anyone that age.

SFGiants, you are on the right website.  Do a little search on here and you will find a large number of threads on this subject.