High School Baseball Showcase at Busch Adds Skills Clinic
St. Louis, MO—May 2, 2012: For the third year in a row, the PNC Bank High School Baseball Showcase presented by Rawlings will give 50 select high school seniors the opportunity to show NCAA coaches and professional scouts that they have what it takes to make it in the big leagues. This year, they’ll also get the chance to use their talents to brighten up the summer for some exceptional young athletes.
With a 1:15 pm first pitch at Busch Stadium on June 18th, the High School Baseball Showcase game will feature both MO and IL high school All-Stars, nominated by area high school coaches and chosen by a selection committee of sports writers from both sides of the river.
“As a team manager for last year’s Showcase, I got to see firsthand not only how good these guys are, but also how much it means to them to play in Busch Stadium,” said St. Louis Cardinals Manager Mike Matheny. “We’ve all seen some pretty inspiring baseball around St. Louis lately, and these kids put their whole heart in the game—it’s a great day for the game.”
John Mabry, Matheny’s former teammate and current assistant batting coach for the Cardinals, will again manage a team in the 2012 Showcase along with Chris Duncan, former Cardinals and current ESPN Radio Personality.
For the first time, the Showcase players will share tips and skills with kids in the YMCA’s Inclusion Services Program at a special High School Baseball Showcase Clinic on June 11 at Mike Matheny’s Catch 22 accessible baseball field in Chesterfield. The Y’s Inclusion Services Program provides support to individuals of all ages with diagnosed disabilities to successfully participate in Y programs. “We continue to look for ways to expand the Showcase and become more involved in the community, so working with the Y is a natural fit,” says Rick Sems of PNC Bank. “It gives our players a chance to give back and gives kids with special needs the opportunity to have some fun and learn some new baseball skills.”
For the second year, all Showcase players are also eligible to participate in a Home Run Derby/Skills Competition which will take place at Busch Stadium at 10am on game day. Designed to highlight the talents of individual players for scouts, the Challenges include a Home Run Derby, Speed Challenge, and Throwing Accuracy drill.
Tickets to the PNC Bank High School Baseball Showcase and Skills Challenge are FREE. For more information, visit wwww.highschoolbaseballshowcase.com.
