One hundred and twenty three student/athletes representing some of the finest senior baseball talent in the PSAL, took the field Saturday morning at beautiful Keyspan Park, for the 9th annual Senior Fall Showcase. Their mission was to catch the eye of one the many college coaches and professional scouts in attendance. By all accounts, their mission was accomplished and the coaches and scouts were very impressed!

Last Sunday morning at this very same site the PSAL held their 6th annual Junior Fall Showcase. On that day, a talented group of ninety three juniors provided plenty of firepower. Today, not wanting to be outdone by their junior teammates, the seniors were up for the challenge.

As evidenced by a pair or right-handers Jose Zuniga, Grand Street Campus and Andrew Garcia of Bronx High School for Law, Government & Justice led the charge on the mound topping out at 86mph. You may recall Jose Zuniga, he's the one who pitched no hit ball for 6.2 innings with 13 strikeouts against Francis Lewis then followed that up with a no hitter against Bushwick on May 6th. He finished 6-0 with a 0.60 ERA in 35.2 innings and 52K's. Today, Zuniga showed excellent breaking balls to go with the heat that he was throwing. On the mound, Andrew Garcia was some what reminiscent of last year's performance by Michael Corona at the 8th Annual Senior Fall Showcase, when as an unheralded right-hander from the "B" division Heath Profession /Human Services Vipers, Corona impressed everyone by topping out at 88mph. He went on to help Heath Profession /Human Services win the "B" championship. This morning, Michael Garcia demonstrated improved velocity over his showing of last year at the 5th Annual Junior Fall showcase when he clocked 82mph and looks to improve on his strikeout total of 82k's in 49innings. Zuniga and Garcia were followed by John F. Kennedy H.S., short stop turned pitcher Roberto Cabral, who registered multiple readings of 84mph.Next up was another unpublicized player Saul Ramirez of Eleanor Roosevelt High School who came in at 83mph and showed how he was able to strikeout 50 batters in 20.2 innings. He was followed by a pair of right-handers at 82mph, Victor Pena who is a teammate of Zuniga and a member of their deep pitching staff at Grand Street Campus, will be looking for more work this year after this performance. The other pitcher Matthew Abramowitz is also a member of a deep pitching staff at McKee/ Staten Island Tech, where he had a 3-1 record and gave up only 11hits in 25.1 innings with a 1.12 ERA. Today, he demonstrated an excellent slider to go with his fastball. They were followed by Jose Aquino of Richmond Hill H.S., Laurence Marsach of Herbert H. Lehman H.S., and Jose Quelix of Morris High School all of whom registered 81mph.Rounding out the list of pitchers coming in at 80mph were German Moya, East New York Transit Tech and Rafael Ponce of Manhattan Center High School. In addition, pitchers of note included, Alexander Pangourelias, Bayside High School, Algenis Vicente, H.S. for Graphic Communication Arts, Arencio Perez, Taft H.S., Christopher Rodriquez, Academy of American Studies, Edwin Gonzalez, H.S. of Art & Design, Esteban Diroche, EBC/Bushwick H.S., Jeffrin Gutierrez, Grace Dodge H.S., Raymond Maldonado, Thomas Jefferson Campus, Ronald Shea, New Utrecht High School, Staling Adames, Richmond Hill High School, Sammy Zantout, Fort Hamilton High School and Edward Lenahan of James Madison High School, all of whom impressed coaches and scouts.

Running on what was described as a slow track, pitcher, Luis Rivera, Bushwick Campus, registered the fastest 60-yard time, when he ran 6.79. He was followed by outfielder Stan Simmons of H.S. Telecommunication Arts & Technology, at 6.81 and City Champion Norman Thomas outfielder Jose Rodriquez who came in at 6.91. In addition, both Simmons and Rodriquez had very impressive days in the field and at the plate. Next in was Jose Diaz, of Aviation High School, at 7.03. He was followed by a pair of outfielders Andrew Nunez, Benjamin Cardozo H.S. and Angel Rosario of Long Island City High School, in identical times of 7.06. They were joined by Jason Vargas, second baseman, Flushing H.S., 7.09, Freddy Liniauo, Long Island City High School, 7.10, and Bernardo Pinales of Murray Bergtraum High School, 7.13. Again in identical times of 7.16 were Bayside High School pitcher Alexander Pangourelias, and William Cullen Bryant High School, short Stop Dennis Strawsacker. They were followed by Bryan Wysocki of Academy of American Studies in a time of 7.17. He was followed by a trio of runners John Madera, Murray Bergtraum High School, Jason Medina, Chelsea High School, and Jean Pierre Louis, Lafayette High School, in at 7.18 followed by Roberto Cabral of John F. Kennedy H.S., at 7.19. Followed by six runners coming in at 7.25, they were, right-hander Laurence Marsach of Herbert H. Lehman H.S., Victor De La Cruz, Frederick Douglass Academy, short stop Alberto Morales of Norman Thomas High School, Jose Rosario, Wings Academy, Dwayne Howington, Cobble Hill School of American Studies and Juan Diaz Jr., Seward Park Campus, 7.25

Speaking of arm strength, many of the catchers demonstrated a quick release and strong arms, as evidenced Melvin Rios of Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School showing a pop time of 2.00 and 74mph on the radar. He was followed by Samuel Dominguez of John F. Kennedy H.S., in 2.09 and 75mph. registering the fastest time of the day at 78mph was Freddy Liniauo of Long Island City High School with a pop time of 2.16. Next in were Miguel Varela of Art & Design and Nicolas Patino of Robert F. Kennedy High School with a pop time of 2.22. They followed by Eric Ulino of Frank Sinatra High School in at 2.25 and Brandon Rosenthal of Benjamin Cardozo High School in a time 2.28 and 73mph.They were followed by Leutrim Hoxha, Forest Hills High School 2.30, then a trio of catchers Aaron Shapiro, Bayside High School, John Madera, Murray Bergtraum High School and Joseph Trezza of McKee/ Staten Island Tech, at 2.31. Both Madera and Trezza came in with 73mph readings on the radar gun.

Many of the infielders scored well on arm strength coupled with good range and actions, such as Justin Sims of The Beacon School, Luigi Martinez, Walton High School, Gabriel Pena, Herbert H. Lehman High School, Jason Vargas, Flushing High School, Nelson Marin, Bushwick Campus, Jason Medina, Chelsea High School, Jesus Nunez, Martin Luther King High School, Bernardo Pinales, Murray Bergtraum High School, Jose Diaz, Aviation High School, Jose Rosario, Wings Academy, Rudy Burdier, John Adams H.S., and Steven Rodriquez, East Side Community High School . In addition, Juan Lluveres, Chelsea High School, Jessue Alvarado, George Washington High School, Alberto Morales, Norman Thomas High School, Julio Casiano, H.S. for Environmental Studies and Dennis Strawsacker of William Cullen Bryant High School demonstrated plus arms.

The following outfielders scored well, Andrew Nunez, Benjamin N. Cardozo High School, Angel Rosario of Long Island City High School, Joseph Calascione, James Madison High School, Raymond Rosario, New Utrecht High School, Miguel Reyes, Norman Thomas High School and Alomar Guzman of George Washington High School. In addition, Jose Rodriguez, Norman Thomas High School and Stan Simmons of H.S. Telecommunication Arts & Technology, drew high grades for arm strength.

The list of players who handled the bat well is lead by, Aaron Shapiro, Bayside High School, Argenis Paulino, A. Philip Randolph Campus High School, Freddy Liniauo, Long Island City High School, Haris Kolenovic, Midwood High School, Leutrim Hoxha, Forest Hills H.S., Nicolas Patino, Robert F. Kennedy High School, Daniel Mendez, Fort Hamilton High School, Gabriel Pena, Herbert H. Lehman H.S., Jason Medina, Chelsea High School, Jermaine Nichol, Springfield Gardens High School, Joseph Morales, Brooklyn Studio Secondary School, Alberto Morales, Norman Thomas High School, Bernardo Pinales, Murray Bergtraum High School, David Carreon, Port Richmond High School, Jose Diaz, Aviation High School, Jose Rosario, Wings Academy, Roberto Cabral, John F. Kennedy High School, Dennis Strawsacker, William Cullen Bryant High School, Andrew Nunez, Benjamin N. Cardozo High School, Daniel Schoenhardt, New Dorp High School, James Bell, Juan Morel Campos Secondary School, Jose Rodriguez, Norman Thomas High School, Joseph Calascione, James Madison High School, Raymond Rosario, New Utrecht High School, Stan Simmons of H.S. Telecommunication Arts & Technology, Thomas Krohn, Seward Park Campus, Zachariah Vazquez, East Side Community High School, Miguel Reyes, Norman Thomas High School and Alomar Guzman of George Washington High School.

In addition to handling the bat well, the following players exhibited good power ratings, Eric Ulino, Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, Melvin Rios, Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School, Samuel Dominguez, John F. Kennedy High School, Justin Sims of The Beacon School, Michael Esposito, Midwood High School, Jessue Alvarado, George Washington High School, Julio Casiano, H.S. for Environmental Studies and Joseph Calascione, James Madison High School.

Congratulations to all participants. Continue to strive for excellence in the classroom!

ALL PHOTOS IN FLICKR ARE PROVIDED BY PSAL PHOTOGRAPHER - RICHIE MALDONADO

Photos by David Allen - BeaconBaseball.com