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Sunday, July 31, 2011

Area Code Baseball

The 25th annual Area Code Baseball Games have announced the players and schedule for the 2011 Games. Nearly 3,000 high school baseball players applied to the regional events which were held in multiple cities nationwide. The top 218 athletes will showcase their abilities in the 2011 Area Code Baseball Games at Blair Field in Long Beach, Calif. Aug. 5-10, 2011

The Area Code Baseball Games were created in 1987 in Lodi, Calif. by Bob Williams and the Northern California Major League Scouts. The goal was to bring together the best high school underclassman baseball players from geographical areas based on telephone area codes. Nearly 3,000 players compete nationwide for a chance to participate in the final Area Code Baseball games, the premiere search for the nation’s top baseball players. More than 350 Major League players have participated in Area Code Baseball.

Area Code Baseball offers players a unique opportunity to train like major league athletes and play in a competitive atmosphere. For some, this will be a precursor to careers as professional baseball players. The Games have produced more than 500 Major Leaguers including alumni such as Dustin Pedroia, Albert Pujols, Adrian Gonzalez and Josh Beckett.

The four games will be streamed live on Tues., Aug. 9, on ESPN3.com. Commentators for the Games include Jim Watson, Bob Scanlon and Beto Duran. The broadcast schedule is as follows:
8:30 a.m. PST: Reds v. Brewers
11:30 a.m. PST: Royals v. Nationals
2:30 p.m. PST: White Sox v. Nationals
5:30 p.m. PST: Athletics v. Yankees

Monday, July 11, 2011

Legion Playoffs begin

The double-elimination American Legion Area 4 playoffs begin on Tuesday at Paramount High School. The winner advances to the state tourney in Yountville.

Long Beach Wilson is seeded No. 1, followed by Paramount, Millikan, El Segundo, Long Beach Poly, Downey, Lakewood and Narbonne.

Opening games Tuesday: Millikan vs. Downey, 10 a.m.; El Segundo vs. Poly, 1 p.m.; Wilson vs. Narbonne, 4 p.m.; Lakewood vs. Paramount, 7 p.m.

Friday, July 1, 2011

DeJong Looking Good

Chase DeJong of Long Beach Wilson struck out seven in three innings at the U.S. 18U baseball trials on Thursday in North Carolina.

The USA Baseball Prospect Classic, a two-game exhibition series pitting the 18 and under trials team against the Collegiate National Team begins on Friday, July 1, 2001 in Durham, North Carolina.

The college team will send some first-round talent in its own right, highlighted by Stanford's Mark Appel, considered by many to be the top college pitcher in the class. A starter normally, the right-hander is pitching in relief for Team USA. Texas A&M's Michael Wacha is also on the team and the 18U hitters might not find Duke closer Marcus Stroman, who has struck out every batter he has faced in four innings leading up to the Classic, very easy to hit. Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero leads the college bats.

To view the complete prospect roster go to www.usabaseball.com