THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 6, 1996 TAG: 9610060168
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 80 lines
Baseball in October used to mean one thing - the World Series.
Now it's seems like every kid with a fastball and a dream is still playing when the leaves change.
What began several years ago as a short instructional season under the quaint moniker of ``Fall ball'' has evolved for the top high school players into a full-fledged competition of skills with college scholarships and major league contracts on the line.
These ``Showcase'' tournaments, as they are often called, draw teams from throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and with them the recruiters and scouts anxious to see the best players from different areas compete head to head.
The Tidewater Fall Baseball Invitational is the latest stop on this informal tour. The three-day event, featuring 10 teams from five states, concludes today with eight games at Old Dominion University and Greenbrier Christian Academy.
The home-team Tidewater Orioles, may be the best group of area juniors and seniors ever assembled. The 16-player roster features four first-team All-Tidewater players and two second-team members.
Nine of them, including USA junior national team member Mike Cuddyer from Great Bridge and All-Tidewater player of the year Jason Dubois from Cox, were teammates on the gold-medal winning Commonwealth Games East squad.
Cuddyer, who will have played more than 80 games for various teams this year when he hangs up his spikes in November, loves the showcase concept.
``It's a great opportunity for everyone to be seen by the scouts,'' he said. ``The competition is top-notch and that steps it up even more.''
The Tidewater Orioles are the brainchild of Robert Jones and Lee Banks. Jones, who lives in Portsmouth and is an associate scout for the Baltimore Orioles, is the general manager. Banks, who managed American Legion Post 113 Princess Anne, is the manager.
``There are a lot of great players in Tidewater and we went after the ones who can play at the next level, either in college or professionally,'' Banks said.
It was Jones' idea to host a tournament, Banks said.
The Orioles were 6-2 entering the Tidewater Fall Invitational and will play 24 games before ending their season Oct. 27.
There are several advantages to playing a fall season, including strong competition and good weather. But the biggest advantage for the aspiring college or pro player might be the extra opportunity it affords them to be scouted.
More than 40 college recruiters and pro scouts are expected here this weekend and the NCAA's early signing period starts Nov. 13.
College coaches are limited by their own schedules in how much they can scout in the spring.
``At this level I don't get out to see many players. My top two assistants do the scouting,'' Old Dominion coach Tony Guzzo said. ``I'm excited this week because I'll get to see the guys they've been coming back and telling me about.''
Guzzo said the Monarchs are recruiting several players in the invitational and some have requested unofficial campus visits.
Cuddyer isn't one of them. He's trimmed his recruiting list to Clemson, Auburn, Florida, Florida State and Georgia Tech. Likewise Dubois has a top two of Virginia Commonwealth and N.C.-Greensboro.
There isn't much Cuddyer can do this weekend to embellish his resume beyond slugging a home run in every at-bat and propelling himself into the first round of the major league draft.
But Dubois is another story. A 6-6, 215-pound pitcher and outfielder, he would appear to have the tools to play in the ACC or SEC. ``I've gotten a couple of letters recently from Miami and Tennessee. I'm ready to narrow my list soon,'' he said.
Dubois considers himself a pitcher, despite a series of slugging exploits this spring and summer. That might be a mistake, said one major league scout who planned on being here this weekend.
``I like him as a hitter,'' the scout said. ``He has power and size and speed for his size.''
Dubois will play both positions this weekend and other scouts and recruiters can make up their own minds.
That's what Showcases are for. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
L. TODD SPENCER
John Curtice gets high fives after his home run in a 16-1 Tidewater
Orioles pounding of the Mid-Atlantic Rookies. by CNB