Here & There Column 9-25-12

Are "Showcase" Tournaments Real ?

  When parents and sponsors of 17u and 18u pay Showcase boys baseball tournament directors hefty fees and then also have to add in additional travel gasoline, motel and eating expenses they expect to receive what this type of tournament is designed for........and that's college scouts to see the talent these teams come to the tournament to display.

  The Northeast Pride Showcase 17u team traveled some 4 to 5 hours to State College Pa. (Penn State) the weekend of September 7-9 to have their ballplayers get exposure to college scouts. 

  Unfortunately a steady  rain cancelled tournament play on Saturday but indications were made that teams would be provided with the opportunity to play 3 games on Sunday.

  There is always some favoritism and politics that takes place in tournaments like this and such was the case where all Evoshield Canes teams played at the Penn State University complex (and your guessed it folks), Evoshield ran the tournament. 

  Evoshield Canes Dynamic Baseball promised a 4 game guarantee (true the rain dealt a blow here) but the Northeast Pride team got shut out from playing on the Penn State stadium complex and in a revised Sunday schedule the Pride boys got pushed to the bottom of the barrel and were given two (one hour and forth-five minute games) while Evoshield Canes team were given the right to play nine inning games.

  In the revised Sunday schedule the Northeast Pride team (who was one of the teams that traveled the longest distance to and from this tournament) was pushed into a 4 p.m. slot and waited till 5 p.m. to begin play because favoritism was given to one of the Evoshield Canes teams that was not forced to adhere to the hour and fourth-five minute rule.

  Penn State local tournament director Jim Peterson made poor decisions and forced the Pride team to use their own baseballs at $48 a dozen and in something we have never witnessed before a $15 parking fee was charged every car to come into the Shaner Field complex parking lot. It got a little nasty in the last game of the day when one of the tournament crew told us when we walked by them, "if you don't like it go home."

  Jeff Petty, owner of Evoshield Canes and Dynamic Baseball should be ashamed of what did and did not take place at this "Showcase" tournament which might have had one coach (scout) (Penn State) in attendance.... coaches we spoke to said they did not see any scouts or coaches in attendance. 

  A strong suggestion here is that all Showcase travel baseball teams should avoid everything Dynamic Baseball is trying to sell and all coaches of Showcase teams should take the responsibility to receive a guarantee in writing of scouts and coaches that will be in attendance at tournament games and legal contracts should be signed designating what is to be provided by tournament officials and that if scouts do not show up tournament fees must be refunded. 

  Proper business procedures have to be followed even when it comes to travel baseball events.