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First-Year Players Sign Up For Bay League
Outpost News Service

Is your favorite Bay League team languishing in the bottom half of the standings with no hope of climbing out of their hole any time soon? Are you looking for the sort of hope that players like Allison's Walter Sebring -- a star in his very first season -- bring to a team? The Outpost News Service is proud to bring you the following discussion between our Bay League experts Frank Mayes, Mary Anderson and Jose Alcala. The preseason tryout schedule has just ended, and between these three, they have seen every player declaring eligibility for Bay League play. Want to know if your team's in the running for a top talent? Read on, fans.

Frank Mayes: The Tifton Generals have the first selection this year, and have a tough choice ahead of them.

Jose Alcala: Agreed. Their team's strength is very clearly in pitching, and their top prospect, Ahmad Reese, is already wondering how he's going to squeeze into a rotation of Bonner, Hawkins and Woollum, especially when Bonner's the oldest at 30 years old. The top player available is pretty clearly the 17-year old pitcher from Pelish, Tyrus Fuchs...

Mary Anderson: ...I don't think you can say "pretty clearly", Jose. We both saw Steven Underwood at the Elliott Springs regional tryout, and that kid can do it all. There are a lot of great first basemen in the league right now, but I think Underwood can keep up with any of them, given some time.

JA: Underwood's got talent, I won't argue that point. What I was going to say was that while Fuchs has a huge arm, the Generals almost have to go with Underwood to help solve some of their hitting woes.

FM: Are we forgetting about Tim Bohm? I've talked to some Bay League managers who are pretty high on this kid. He may not hit for the gaudy average that Underwood might, but he's got good power and an unbelievable amount of plate discipline.

MA: Bohm's a good player, and will probably go to Elliott Springs with the 3rd pick, but he's not much of a defensive player, and Underwood's got a much higher ceiling.

JA: I agree with Mary.

MA: When was the last time you said that, Jose?

JA: Don't get used to it! I'd have to project the first three picks as Underwood, Fuchs to Gentry Hills at #2, and Bohm at #3.

FM: I think that's reasonable. But after that it becomes a crap shoot. Deepvale's up at #4. You'd have to think they'll go pitching, which probably means Chezley Harris. I don't think he'll be a star, but he's young enough that he could pick up another pitch in the city leagues and turn into something.

MA: It's Harris or Arlie Hammick, who doesn't have the control Harris does but already has that pitch Harris needs to learn.

JA: The Spelunkers are said to be looking pretty closely at 3B Mekeli Masters and C Charles Dye at #5. I'd go with Masters, myself. With a bit of help in the lineup, Allison could challenge for the title, and Masters is 23 years old and not far from the Bay League.

FM: The Greens at #6? Pitching or hitting?

MA: Flip a coin.

JA: They've got a couple young pitchers coming up. I think they go with whichever of Masters or Dye the Spelunkers don't select.

MA: Why are you so high on Charles Dye? He couldn't throw me out on a steal and I'm 54 years old.

JA: Because he's something that's always hard to find: a catcher that can hit a little bit.

FM: I'm going to have to go with Mary here, Jose. Dye's not all that special. Even harder to find is a shortstop who can hit, so I'm projecting Seth Maybin at #6.

JA: We'll agree to disagree on that count, and move on. The Marsein Knights come in at #7 and have to go with pitching. They're already a top-notch offensive team, and I think they take either Harris or Hammick, whichever one is left.

MA: A reasonable expectation. So who do the Whales take with the final pick in the first round?

FM: I think they go hitting. The only halfway decent hitter we haven't talked about yet is CF Josh Perry. He's got a bit of speed and can play center or right, and has some pop in his bat.

MA: I've heard mention of Garrick Rivera, but I saw him in Gentry Hills and the kid swings at pitches that haven't even been thrown yet. Perry's a good guess. Jason Driggers isn't quite as good a hitter -- and I use the term "good" loosely -- as Perry, but he's a great gloveman in center.

JA: I'm with Frank. Perry's the choice here.

(...the discussion continues on with a discussion of the 2nd and succeeding rounds)