Getting on the radar
- Updated: July 5, 2015
[corner-ad id=1]3 Calhoun County rising juniors excel for Blue Wave 16U in Tennessee showcase
Oxford’s Jacob Sears (L) and Vestavia’s Christian Cusimano were invited to the Prospect Wire All-American Games after Excel Blue Wave 16U went 3-1 in Nashville this weekend.
By East Alabama Sports Today
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Three Calhoun County rising juniors had such a big day in the invitation-only Music City Classic, showcase organizers virtually took up residence in the Excel Blue Wave dugout trying to get the lowdown on them.
Taylor Hayes and Oxford teammates Jacob Sears and Nate Lloyd all took big steps for their baseball futures helping the Blue Wave win two of three games Sunday and go 3-1 overall on the trip.
Piedmont’s Hayes pitched a five-inning no-hitter, Sears gave up one run in three strong innings and Lloyd had four hits, including one that broke up a no-hitter to spark a last-inning game-winning rally.
“Those three guys really did exactly what they needed to do up here – not only help our team win but help their position by showing out in front of the right people,” Blue Wave 16U coach Josh Beshears said. “This is the biggest couple weeks of the summer for them. This is the time they’re able to get in front of these college coaches and … start getting noticed and their names out there. It was so huge for those guys what happened.”
Hayes struck out seven and walked two in a 7-0 win over Batters Box Elite of St. Louis at Vanderbilt. Because of the rain that hit the area the day before, teams were reduced to five-inning games Sunday at various university stadiums around the city.
“He threw amazing,” Beshears said. “He was lights out from the beginning and honestly he overmatched the other team. He caught the eye of a lot of college coaches who were there today. He did very well for himself.”
Sears gave up one run in his start against Building Champions of Kansas City and his fastball topped out near 90. The Blue Wave was getting no-hit when Sears was lifted, but Lloyd broke up the gem in the fifth with a single to start the game-winning rally.
After the game, Sears was invited to the Prospect Wire All-American games in Tampa July 28-30.
“He competed well,” Beshears said. “The team he threw against was really good and he threw fantastic. Even the other coach was coming over telling me how well and how hard he was throwing. It didn’t take long for the guys running the tournament coming to the dugout wanting more info on him.”
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