Exposure Widens for Vermonters At Successful Fourth Annual VBCA Junior Showcase

July 1, 2015

CASTLETON, Vt. -- For the fourth straight year the annual Vermont Baseball Coaches Association Junior Showcase was a success as the underclass athletes worked out in front of coaches from 21 collegiate programs. This year's showcase was held Thursday, June 18, 2015 at Castleton State College's Spartan Field.

Fifty Vermont high school baseball student-athletes displayed their skills and participated in a simulated and controlled game for over 20 New England and Northeast region college baseball coaches from 21 different programs from all three NCAA divisions and a junior college. 

Coaches from the following collegiate programs were on hand to evaluate the prospects: Castleton State, Lyndon State, Norwich, Saint Michael's, Siena, Fairfield, Plattsburgh State, Wheaton, Endicott, Nichols, St. Lawrence, Clarkson, Franklin Pierce, Assumption, St. Joseph's (Maine), Keene State, Union, Skidmore, RPI, Union and Western Oklahoma State.

Among the highlights of the prospects skills were:  fastest 60-yard time: Curtis Gauthier (Williamstown, OF/LHP);  top catcher POP time: Ethan McCollister (Union 32, C) and Andrew Gonyaw (North Country, C); top pitcher-velocity, Henry Conroy (Rice Memorial, RHP); and top pitcher-accuracy, Joe Brown (Poultney, RHP). Three junior hurlers at the showcase averaged 84 mph or better in their outings: Conroy, Derek Sanderson (Colchester, RHP/SS) and Sam Mikell (Champlain Valley, RHP/3B).

Special thanks for their efforts for the fourth annual showcase go out to: Ted Shipley of host Castleton State College for the use of his program's facility; veteran Vermont umpires Larry Riegert and Denny Barnard for donating their time; Tim Mitchell of Mitchell Tees in Brandon; and the many head coaches and assistants from VBCA member schools for volunteering at the showcase.

For the third straight season nearly 90 former Vermont high school players from all four divisions statewide were represented on 2015 NCAA Division I, II and III baseball rosters. Many of the freshmen and sophomores on the 2015 rosters participated in the first two VBCA Junior Showcases.

For more information, please contact Bruce Bosley, VBCA Executive Director at:  bbosley.vbca@gmail.com