All the talent in the world- or at least the U.S.
Four Marmonte League baseball standouts in Area Code Games
By Stephen Dorman sdorman@theacorn.com

BASEBALL ROYALTY- Former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, center, talks with scouts at the Area Code Games in Long Beach on Monday.

When Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda shows up to watch a baseball game between high school teenagers, it's a pretty big deal.

That was the case Monday afternoon at Blair Field in Long Beach, where Lasorda arrived for the third game of a triple-header at the Area Code Games.

"We're looking at prospects that are getting ready to go into college," said Lasorda, who was scouting for the Los Angeles Dodgers. "This is a great tournament they hold here. There are a lot of good ballplayers."

In its 21st year, the Area Code Games have become the preeminent national showcase for highly touted players who will be entering their senior or junior seasons in the spring.

This year's tournament, which runs through Friday, features eight Major League Baseballaffiliated teams- the Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees and two clubs from the Milwaukee Brewers.

Each team pulls talent from different parts of the nation. Players typically try out for the clubs before being selected to travel, expenses paid, to Long Beach.

Continuing the strong tradition of high school baseball in Ventura County, four local standouts were chosen to participate in this year's event.

Westlake High shortstop Cutter Dykstra is a member of the Brewers Blue squad. Playing for the Brewers Gray are Thousand Oaks pitcher Chad Smith and Westlake third baseman Shane Kroker. Royal pitcher Matt Magill is on the Diamondbacks' roster.

Dykstra, who went 0-for-3 with a stolen base during Monday's 11 tie against the Diamondbacks, has already made a verbal commitment to UCLA. The purpose of playing in the Area Code Games for a second consecutive year, he said, is to make an impression on the professional scouts in attendance, of which there are hundreds.

"I'm just trying to get more exposure," Dykstra said. "This is the highest level you can play at in high school. It's a great opportunity for all of us out here."

During the first two days- Sunday featured player evaluations as well as Speed Power Agility Reaction Quickness (SPARQ) testing- Dykstra created more buzz than any other athlete, so much so that he was featured prominently in an online article by Baseball America's Alan Matthews on Tuesday morning.

In the SPARQ tests conducted, in part, by Robert Steele of Atomix Sports Performance in Agoura, Dykstra finished with a cumulative score of 77.94 and was the highest-rated player on the board by a significant margin.

Dykstra's father, Lenny, who spent 12 years playing for the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies, couldn't help but smile as his son was honored during Monday's Scouting Symposium in the Grand Ballroom of the Long Beach Marriott.

"He put in the work," Lenny Dykstra said. "Cutter works as hard as anybody out there. He puts in time in the weight room, goes to work taking ground balls. He's always working. That's the only way to do it, the only way to get better."

Smith, the Thousand Oaks pitcher, threw two scoreless innings for the Brewers Gray team during Monday's 1-0 loss to the Yankees. Smith only allowed one hit and said he never felt nervous despite the presence of dozens of radar guns aimed at the mound.

"I've been to a few showcases before and have gotten used to everything that comes with it," Smith said. "I just think of it like another game. I don't have much to worry about because I'm already committed to USC . . .

"I've been working all my life to get a scholarship and being committed now makes it very nice. I feel real relaxed. If I get drafted, then we'll have to look at that. But right now I'm planning to go to college."

Kroker, Smith's teammate on the Milwaukee Gray, started at third base and had a pair of hits during Monday's game. Like he often does, Kroker went to the plate looking to make something happen.

"I'm always aggressive," Kroker said. "I don't want to go deep in the count and have these (pitchers) who throw 95 miles per hour drop a big curve ball on me. That can be pretty brutal."

Several weeks ago, during Milwaukee's tryout at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Kroker had to beat out another talented third baseman just to make the team. Now, with scholarship offers from various universities already on the table, Kroker has a chance to broaden his playing options beyond high school.

"I'm talking to a lot of schools right now, but I probably won't make a decision until after this event," he said.

Magill, Royal's hard-throwing pitcher who's with the Diamondbacks, was scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Rangers. Magill originally tried out with the Brewers, but was later recruited by a coach from the Diamondbacks to play on their club. He's the only Californiabased player on the Diamondbacks' roster.

"I'll go out there for two innings and try to throw hard," Magill said. "The scouts want to see velocity, and obviously they want to see poise and the ability to keep your composure. I'm going out there to throw strikes."

After receiving offers from five different universities in the state, Magill recently made a verbal commitment to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

At Monday's Scouting Symposium, players and their family members had the opportunity to speak with representatives from all 30 major league clubs. Several teams had their scouting directors in attendance, including Eddie Bane of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, who helped organize the event.

Guest speakers throughout the evening touched on many topics, including off-field behavior, agents, signability after the draft, the minor leagues and time management.

The pro personnel on hand didn't hide their disdain for superaggressive agents.

"They're not held in the highest regard in our industry," said Mike Radcliff, the Minnesota Twins' scouting director.

The speakers also made it crystal clear that their job is to try and sign top high school players before they go to college. A player can sign a professional contract and attend college during the offseason, the scouts said.

"Why not get the best of both worlds?" Bane asked.

It was a question many in the room will soon have to answer.