NorCal Valley 17s shine against older baseball teams

The brochure doesn’t lie.

NorCal Valley exists to create college opportunities for young baseball players from Atwater to Sacramento. The proof is in the long list of college commitments on the team website and a calendar chock-full of showcases and tournaments.

But then there are moments like this, moments that turn dreamers into believers: The NorCal Valley 17-and-under team went 5-1 at the Ultimate Wood Bat Championships in Stockton this past weekend, losing the final to the San Jose Red Sox in extra innings.

What’s so special about that?

The Red Sox – and the rest of the field, for that matter – were composed of 19-year-olds, many with at least one year of college ball under their belts, according to manager Steve Marks. So while NorCal didn’t walk away with the trophy, they hit the summer season’s penultimate tournament knowing that when the scouts come and the offers follow, they’ll be ready.

“To be honest, I don’t think (playing up in age group) fazes them much. We’ve had these players all year and we really preach to them presentation and what you can bring to the table,” said Marks, whose club also went 7-0 against under-19 teams at a tournament in Reno earlier this summer.

“We’re constantly preaching it’s not who you play, but what we do as a baseball team.”

NorCal qualified for the Ultimate Wood Bat final by winning all five of its round-robin games, including two the morning of the final.

Trailing 6-1 after six innings, Marks huddled with his players in front of the dugout.

“I told them ‘Let’s go out strong. We’ve played a great tournament and let’s go out there and see what happens,’ ” he recalled. “We hit through the lineup.”

Jordan Walls of Beyer High smacked a two-run single to make it 6-5. Elk Grove’s Ryan Robards collected the game-tying hit as pitching-depleted NorCal Valley extended the game.

San Jose struck first, scoring two runs in the ninth inning to take an 8-6 lead. But the kids from NorCal Valley rallied in the bottom half of the inning and had runners on the corners with one out.

For a split-second, Buhach Colony’s Logan Coe was poised to be the hero. He laced a ball down the third-base line that was snared on a bounce by the Red Sox third baseman to start the game-ending double play.

“It was an unbelievable game – back and forth, back and forth,” Marks said. “We didn’t win it, but our presentation was outstanding and their effort ... they showed so much heart out there.”

NorCal Valley will close its summer season at the Under Armour Southwest Championships in Los Angeles, beginning Thursday.

In the past, the Under Armour championship has been fertile ground for college scouts. Marks said NorCal Valley had two players sign at the tournament last year.

NorCal will travel with 23 players.

“NorCal Valley is a college developmental program,” Marks said. “Our No. 1 goal is to get them placed, get them scholarships. They’re all prospects.”

This story was originally published July 28, 2015 at 7:18 PM with the headline "NorCal Valley 17s shine against older baseball teams."