By Ed Townsend
LOCH SHELDRAKE – January 29 — Major league baseball scout Ed Daub, representing the San Diego Padres, joined 12 college scouts Sunday morning January 20 for the 15th Annual High School Baseball Showcase Evaluation Day held in the Paul Gerry Fieldhouse at Sullivan County Community College.
Put on by Pro Prospects of Monticello, the college showcase provides important exposure and guidance for high school and junior college student athletes. For the past 15-years, the baseball/softball training facility has had over 50 different colleges and universities attend these showcase events with hundreds of players moving on to play college and professional baseball.
The day provides players with an opportunity to display their skills in front of attending coaches but also to receive feedback and projections from the Pro Prospects staff. In addition, edited video of their performances is produced and can be passed along to other coaches not in attendance.
The showcase is coordinated by Pro Prospects Director of Player Development Jared (Jed) Carrier with assistance from Steve Alhona, a member of Pro Prospects college marketing service advisory staff.
Three junior college and 40 high school baseball players from as far away as Montreal Quebec, Canada and as close as Liberty attended this showcase from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Sullivan County was represented by eight high school ballplayers including Dillon Taggart (Livingston Manor), Rodney Jester (Tri-Valley), John Anzano (Tri-Valley), Tyler Wood from Bloomingburg attending Pine Bush, Patrick Pierce (Sullivan West), Jon Harned (Monticello), Benjamin Kapito (Monticello) and Jack Drapkin (Monticello).
College scouts from as far away as Georgia Highlands College in Cartersville, Georgia and as close as SUNY Sullivan took part in the showcase evaluations. Other colleges in attendance included Brockport State, Dominican College, Mount St. Mary, Oneonta State, Purchase College, SUNY IT, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Orange, Utica College and Wilkes College.
Padres major league scout Ed Daub is a native of Sullivan County, raised on a farm near Cochecton Center where he attended and graduated from Narrowsburg High School. He played high school baseball and was active in both a Delaware Valley and Honesdale travel league. A graduate of Cortland State with a physical education major he played college baseball. His position of choice was catching.
Daub now makes his home in Binghamton where he still teaches several days a week. He was a former major league scout for 11 years with the Cincinnati Reds.
When asked what he was looking for in these young baseball players Daub said, “I’m looking for good athletes.”
Carrier said he has known Ed for a couple of years as the Padres scout usually attends a few SUNY Sullivan games as well as the Pro Prospects Junior College Showcase at Dutchess Stadium.
“He’s been a Binghamton area scout for a long time and is a real gentleman that gives everyone a fair look,” Jed said.
Said Tim Havas of Georgia Highlands College in Cartersville, Georgia, a fledging program coached by former SUNY Sullivan and Monticello skipper Mike Marra: “I’m looking for players with skills and tools.”
Each student-athlete was graded by the scouts in running the 60-yard dash and from home plate to first base. Outfielders were judged by their approach to ground balls and fly balls, their crowhop, release, mph/arm strength while catchers were graded for footwork, release, accuracy and pop to pop throws.
Infielders were graded in footwork, hands, release and mph/arm strength. First basemen were looked at for footwork, hands, release and bag footwork. Pitchers had to show their skills in mph with a fastball, curve ball, change up and their overall mechanics. Offensive batting skills were judged by mechanics, contact and power.