530, 916 represented at Area Code Baseball showcase

A handful of Gold Country area athletes competed in the annual Area Code Baseball Games in Atlanta, Georgia, over the weekend. Some of the best players from Northern California's classes of 2021 and '22 traveled to the East Coast to meet top talent from seven other regions across the United States. To be selected for this tournament is no small feat. Area Code Games date to the 1980s and boast alumni that include Major League Baseball MVPs Albert Pujols, Clayton Kershaw, Giancarlo Stanton, Kris Bryant and Bryce Harper, to name a few. Colin Kaepernick pitched in this tournament when he was at Pitman High School in Turlock. The five-day wood bat showcase is a hotbed for scouts who represent all 30 MLB clubs and top NCAA coaches. It's a chance for young talent to open eyes and put the next level on notice with hopes of being considered for the MLB Draft. "I thought it was great exposure to get to be around MLB scouts all week and see some of the best players from around the country," said Lincoln senior pitcher Jack Nilsson. "It was great to see what the competition looks like with what we'd be seeing in the bigs." The Oakland A's parent the NorCal regional teams, which featured several locals on their two rosters. Nilsson's future college roommate at the University of Oregon, Anson Aroz of Placer, had a solid showing in the batter's box and behind the plate. "I think I swung the bat really well," said Aroz, noting he's been using wood bats all summer. "I haven't picked up a metal bat since our last game (for Placer). There's definitely a different timing, and you always have to find the barrel." Aroz finished the tournament with three hits in five at-bats, including a double off of future Oregon State Beaver Jacob Kmatz of New Mexico. Another Foothill Valley Leaguer on the A's roster was Ponderosa's Stanford-bound righty Ty Uber, Whitney righthander and UC San Diego commit Lex Dillon and Folsom catcher Ryan Stafford, who is headed to Cal Poly after this season. "I can't wait to play against all those guys from our area," Nilsson said. "Going into my senior year, I'm focusing on being more locked in and competing more instead of playing." On the A's underclass roster were two Rocklin standouts in rising juniors Payton Brennan and Toran O'Harran. Brennan, a UCLA-committed infielder/outfielder, picked up a hit and a stolen base in Sunday's competition while O'Harran, who is committed to pitch at Stanford in 2023, went three innings Saturday and allowed four hits, one earned run and struck out three. He also delivered an RBI single and scored a run Sunday. Other Sacramento-area players competing in Atlanta included Brandon Forrester of Bella Vista, Malcolm Moore of McClatchy, Nolan Stevens of Franklin and Korey Williams and Ryan Zamora of Elk Grove.