Area Code Tournament Provided Stage for Talent

No titles were awarded, no teams advanced to another regional and no all-tournament teams were chosen. But the recent Area Code Games at San Jose Municipal Stadium served as a showcase for several high school baseball players.

The Angels, who represented the 818 area, compiled a 3-0-1 record during the four-day, 10-team tournament that concluded Sunday.

“The purpose of the games is to expose the kids to the scouts,” said Don Hornback, one of the coaches of the 818 team. “And I feel like several of our kids showed them they could play.”

Alemany High’s Andy Dominique drove in a team-high five runs as the 818 team outscored its opponents, 28-9. Casey Snow of Crespi, Glen Carson of Notre Dame and Dan Cey of El Camino Real each had four hits and Snow knocked in three runs.

After winning its first two games by scores of 3-1 and 16-0, the 818 team tied the 206/503/509 Mariners, 4-4, on Saturday. On Sunday, the Angels defeated a team sponsored by the Colorado Rockies, 5-4.

A hearing scheduled for Friday in Lancaster Superior Court involving the Southern Section and Canyon High football Coach Harry Welch has been postponed again, this time until Sept. 18. The hearing originally was set for Aug. 14.

Southern Section officials will seek to remove an injunction that has prevented them from investigating the Canyon football program until a suit filed by Welch against the section, Canyon and the William S. Hart Union High School District comes to trial.

The Southern Section, which accused Welch of conducting an illegal practice last year, says it has uncovered new evidence of violations, including a videotape that the section claims shows Canyon coaches conducting an illegal practice.

The section also claims Welch deliberately used an injured player during a game last season.

Welch, who is entering his 11th season as head coach at Canyon, denies the allegations.