Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Third Annual VBCA Junior Showcase a Success

CASTLETON, Vt. -- The annual Vermont Baseball Coaches Association Junior Showcase was held on Friday, June 20, 2014 at Castleton State College's Spartan Field in Castleton, Vt. and was a great success for the third straight year.

Forty Vermont high school baseball student-athletes displayed their skills and participated in a controlled game for New England and Northeast region college baseball coaches from 16 different programs from all three divisions. 

Coaches from the following collegiate programs were on hand to evaluate the prospects: Castleton State, Lyndon State, Norwich, Saint Michael's, Southern Vermont College, College of St. Joseph (Vt.), UAlbany, Plattsburgh State, Wheaton, Endicott, Nichols, St. Lawrence, Clarkson, Worcester State, Colby-Sawyer and New England College. 

Among the highlights of the prospects skills were:  fastest 60-yard time, Deegan Poland (Champlain Valley, OF);  top catcher POP time, Andrew Graziano (St. Johnsbury Academy, C) and Skylar LaFerriere (Rutland, C); top pitcher-velocity, Tyler Davis (Blue Mountain Union, RHP); and top pitcher-accuracy, Tyler Lamphere (Milton, RHP).

Special thanks from the VBCA go out to: Ted Shipley of Castleton State College for the use of his program's facility; Vermont umpires Larry Riegert and Denny Barnard for donating their time, and the head coaches and assistants from VBCA member schools that volunteered at the showcase.

For the third straight season nearly 90 former Vermont high school players from all four divisions statewide were represented on 2014 NCAA Division I, II and III baseball rosters. Many of the freshmen on 2014 rosters participated in the first VBCA Showcase in 2012. Several Vermonters earned all-conference honors or participated on teams that advanced to the NCAA Baseball Championship.

Details regarding the fourth annual VBCA Junior Showcase will be available in Spring 2015.

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