While some local kids are just settling into summer vacation, several La Jolla Country Day (LJCD) School baseball players have been using the time off from classes to audition for one of the top squads in the country.
Mike McKenna (catcher), Greg Wisenberg (pitcher/shortstop), Kyle Reese (pitcher/second base) and Zack Kusnir (pitcher/first base), who are all slated to graduate in 2008, were chosen to participate this month in tryouts for the Area Code Games.
McKenna, Wisenberg and Reese planned to participate this past Monday, June 19 in Orange County, while Kusnir auditioned the previous week in Oakland.
What began in 1987 as a small regional event in Lodi, Calif., has developed into a highly regarded high school talent showcase.
The founder of the Area Code Games was Bob Williams, a Northern California native who collaborated with the Northern California Major League scouts to construct the top high school underclassman players from geographical areas based on telephone area codes.
According to LJCD Head Baseball Coach John Edman, “The Area Code Games is probably the biggest high school baseball event of the summer in the country. Players can only attend the tryouts if they were recommended by a Major League scout. Milwaukee Brewers’ scouts recommended all four of our players after having come to see them play during our regular season.”
Edman added that players who are chosen go on to another round of tryouts and then the best are selected to compete in a tournament in August.
“There are tons of Major League and college scouts at each event (even the tryouts),” Edman noted.
So what were the players looking for from this experience?
“The thing I would like most to accomplish at the tryouts would have to be allowing myself to be recognized by both pro and college scouts to let them see what I am all about,” Wisenberg said prior to his audition. “I want them all to recognize my work ethic and note my leadership role. I also more importantly want to go out there and compete with the other players. I want to test my abilities with the skills I have attained through hard work and dedication to the game.”
Reese was out of the country traveling, but his father Dave noted his son’s excitement for the opportunity.
“My son Kyle Reese was one of those invited,” Dave Reese said. “He is in Europe on vacation and won’t be back in time for the tryouts this month. He was excited about being invited to the tryouts and was looking forward to the opportunity to play with some of the top players in the country and is highly motivated to continue improving his game.”
The elder Reese added, “The parents of the players are excited by the work John Edman and his coaching staff have done to create a positive environment that has allowed the boys to develop individually and as a team. Not coincidentally, this has resulted in very positive results on the field.”
Kusnir made his pitch earlier in the month in Oakland, and noted, “I feel that I did pretty good at the tryouts. I hit well and I pitched well. It was quite an honor to be on the field with the caliber of players that were there.”
And what were the tryouts like for Kusnir and others who participated?
“The process started with us running and stretching,” Kusnir said. “After we loosened up, infielders took ground balls and threw to first. First basemen took ground balls and threw to third. Next we got two rounds of five cuts each using wood bats. In the afternoon, all the pitchers threw to three batters each. I got to work out at first base and pitcher. I feel that Coach Edman and Coach Hinzo had me well prepared.”
Prepared for a shot to continue their games at the next level when their high school days at La Jolla Country Day School are over.