Big baseball showcase Saturday at RHS
11/6/2009by Eliav Appelbaum, Simi Valley Acorn


Royal High is the place to be this weekend for local baseball fans.

The Highlanders are hosting the All Counties Baseball Expo on Saturday.

About 50 vendors will have booths featuring the latest gear from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Scouts will also evaluate high school players during a showcase from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Jack Wilson, a shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and former standout with Thousand Oaks High, is expected to attend.

Former Cy Young Award winner and Calabasas head coach Brett Saberhagen will also be on hand, along with other coaches, trainers and players.

One or two former Los Angeles Dodgers could also show up.

“We’re trying to have a great day of baseball,” said Dan Maye, Royal’s varsity baseball coach and an associate coach for Team USA.

Maye and members of the Royal booster club, including coordinator Dave Green, wanted to host a giant baseball expo because there wasn’t anything like it in the area.

“Every time I order baseball gear I have to travel to vendors and see their new uniforms, apparel or field stuff,” the coach said. “Why don’t we have anything here?”

At press time, 38 students had signed up for the showcase. The maximum capacity is 50.

Maye said there will be something for everyone, from coaches to parents to umpires to players.

Parents can learn about the college scholarship process, how to handle or avoid prevalent arm injuries, conditioning and nutrition tips, and almost everything under the sun involving America’s pastime.

“It’s a hodgepodge,” Maye said. “We’re trying to hit as much as we can in one day.”

Royal High is at 1402 Royal Avenue in Simi Valley.

For more information, visit www.royalhighlanderbaseball.com. The showcase is $75 per player, and general admission to the expo is $15 at the gate or $10 in advance.