Prep Dig 250 Expo – Searching for the Next Shohei

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You might be asking what does a volleyball event have to do with a baseball player. If you read further you will find out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Years ago, I enjoyed listening to music. Not just any music but the more obscure type. Bands that lacked familiarity. Once these bands became popular I lost interest in them and went on the search for new bands. Eventually as I got older this search for obscure bands was replaced by baseball. The challenge became identifying top prospects in the minor leagues who would achieve greatness on the major league stage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On a trip to Japan, I got my first exposure to international baseball. A new interest unfolded as I found great baseball is not limited to the United States. This led to the creation of a website where my focus steered towards international baseball. I travelled to the Dominican Republic to witness the Series del Caribe, to Panama to watch the World Cup and to Taiwan for the Asian World Series. There were also trips to the Netherlands to watch the Honkball tournament (In Dutch Honk translates to Base in English). During all these trips I watched talented players no one in the States knew about. One of those talented players was Shohei Ohtani.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At ballparks in the United States I would brag about this player in Japan who everybody claimed was the next Babe Ruth. Pitches flew out of his hand at 100 miles per hour. Baseballs exited his bat at more than 100 miles per hour. He was a potential superstar if he came to the United States to play in the major leagues.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some of the more knowledgeable baseball fans would just nod their heads. They were probably thinking who is this crazy guy comparing anyone playing in Japan to Babe Ruth. When Shohei finally came to the United States he proved to be probably better than Babe Ruth. I wonder if any of those people remembered that crazy guy at the ballpark comparing a Japanese ballplayer to the Yankee legend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That is the kind of excitement I now take to showcases and volleyball matches. The focus is on finding the next level 5 volleyball player. When watching players like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='357402' first='Coco' last='Lewis']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='528707' first='Annika' last='Dandridge']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan'] </strong>perform for the first time that Shohei feeling sweeps over me. So, for the Prep Dig 250 Expo events in Rockville and Baltimore the excitement level rises with the opportunity to see all the unfamiliar names in attendance. Will I find the next Shohei among those participants?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year on December 10 we had our first ever Prep Dig 250 Expo in Virginia. One year later ten of those players who attended that event can now say they are state champions. From Georgetown Day you have <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='292644' first='Caycee' last='Chhum']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='434853' first='Elizabeth' last='Higday']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490811' first='Ella' last='Higday']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='472234' first='Tessa' last='Fergusson']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='355124' first='Fiona' last='McDermott']</strong>. Other state champions include <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='491007' first='Ana' last='Djordjevic']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235748' first='Ema' last='Djordjevic']</strong> (Richard Montgomery), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235322' first='Avery' last='Prendergast']</strong> (Bishop O'Connell) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377330' first='Chloe' last='Lin'] </strong>(Langley). One of our top performers from our recent frosh showcase in August of this year <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='554770' first='Rujuta' last='Singh']</strong> (Langley) powered the match winning kill to win the Class 6 state championship 15-13 for Langley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You never know what you will discover when you watch a showcase or volleyball match. So, I am looking forward to getting another look at some of the players who impressed me during the high school season. Identifying more Top Performers. Names like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='500510' first='Violet' last='Masiello']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='587036' first='Olivia' last='Black']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='529439' first='Jasmine' last='McBorrough']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='630678' first='Iris' last='Jin']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='725981' first='Gabriela' last='Donley']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='541140' first='Maris' last='Francescon'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='716365' first='Skyler' last='Riley']</strong> caught my attention this year. Then there are some of our returning Top Performers such as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='491007' first='Ana' last='Djordjevic']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='587625' first='Riley' last='Stever']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='550688' first='Sienna' last='Mitchell']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='569865' first='Eireni' last='Scott']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448705' first='Danika' last='Swanson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='587884' first='Charlotte' last='Dittmar'].</strong> Once a top performer always a top performer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The event in Rockville will have over 70 participants. Hopefully, we will have one or two scouts watching on BallerTV for any prospects I may not catch. The event in Baltimore will be less crowded. If you still plan to sign up for an event I would recommend Baltimore. Remember if you sign up use my code of "AbelsExpo2024" to get $10 off.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Looking forward to seeing many new faces at the Expo 250 as well as those familiar faces. You just never know where you will run across the next Shohei Ohtani. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->