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During the hot summer months of June and July, the Amateur Baseball Report (ABR) hosted eighteen (18) regional tryouts divided between the six (6) different regions for the USSSA All-American Games.
The top individuals from each of the regions were invited to a regional tryout by ABR to showcase their talents and compete for a roster spot at the National event in Kissimmee, Florida. Each participant came to the event with the “USSSA All-American Games” embedded in their head. “...Every player stepped up and showed their worth,” explained Dan Murray, ABR National Scouting Director who additionally ran the Missouri, Ohio and Florida regional events.
Amongst the competing individuals were a few familiar faces from the NTIS events ABR hosted in 2008. Ryan Smith (AR), Ryan Spaulding (IN), Zach Morgan (MO), Alex Degoti (FL) as well as others had previously been through the regional process, consisting of a complete evaluation, and came ready to compete in 2009. 2008 14U National Team Members Bryant Hodge and David Petrino returned competing like veterans at the Norman, OK regional taking the new and inexperienced individuals under their wings.
Many new talented faces emerged in 2009. 14U Clinton Hollon (14U) impressed scouts at the Chicago tryout with his 86mph fastball, 15U Hunter Wood shined in Norman Oklahoma, and 16U LJ Newman impressed with his versatility at the South Carolina regional. These three individuals are just a few of the many new elite faces that impressed at the ABR regional tryouts.
With the depth of talent present at the different regional tryouts, it was not an easy task for ABR to the final teams. “…All participants showed immense desire and their love for the game was evident. Many athletes showed they were ready for the next level of competition…,” explains Dan Murray. Each of the regional scouts offered their recommendations for the regional teams, and ABR filled the final roster spots based upon the positions needed.
With minor changes underway for the 2010 regional format and the recognition gained on a national level, ABR is excited for the talent that will emerge in the 2010 “Journey to the Dream.” |