QUINCY — While the scoreboard mattered during Monday night’s Massachusetts American Legion Sophomore/Junior Showcase at Adams Field, organizers say the event is about something much bigger than wins and losses.
The annual showcase, now in its second year under a revamped format, brought together top sophomore and junior players from across the state to compete in front of dozens of college coaches and recruiters. For organizer Steve Mays, the mission is simple: create more opportunities for American Legion players to be seen without the high costs often associated with travel baseball.
“This is all about the kids,” Mays said during a mid-game interview on MyFM 101.3. “It has nothing to do with me. If we can give these players an opportunity to play college baseball, then we’ve done our job.”
Unlike previous years when the event consisted primarily of a single all-star game, the showcase now features an expanded pregame workout with infield and outfield drills, live batting practice, and pitching sessions designed to mirror what college coaches evaluate during recruiting.
“We wanted to make it more like a showcase,” Mays explained. “Sometimes that’s all the scouts want to see.”
That change has paid dividends. According to Mays, dozens of college coaches attended this year’s event, providing exposure for approximately 40 undeclared sophomore and junior players from across Massachusetts.
“If you go to an AAU game, a college coach may be looking at two or three players,” Mays said. “Here, they’re looking at 40 guys. Every kid here wants to play college baseball, and we’re giving them that opportunity.”
The event is made possible through a statewide collaboration of Legion coaches. Mays said coaches from each district assemble their respective rosters while volunteers help coordinate player information, logistics, and game-day operations.
“It’s unbelievable the job the coaches throughout the state do,” Mays said. “I basically ask for help, and everyone gets behind this game.”
Among those Mays credited were Tyler Pascarosa of Franklin Legion Baseball and Steve Divitto of Milford Legion Baseball, who assist behind the scenes despite not coaching in the showcase itself.
The showcase is also part of a broader effort to restore the prominence of American Legion Baseball as a pathway to college baseball.
“Twenty years ago, Legion Baseball was summer baseball,” Mays said. “You ask these college coaches where they played, and it was Legion Baseball.”
While acknowledging the popularity of travel baseball, Mays believes Legion Baseball continues to provide tremendous value for players and families.
“Instead of paying all that money, you can play Legion Baseball and get seen by many of the same scouts,” he said. “We’re trying to narrow that gap.”
Mays’ passion for the program is rooted in his own playing career. A former American Legion player at Adams Field before starring at Fitchburg State, he credits Legion Baseball with changing the course of his life.
“Legion Baseball changed my life as a kid,” Mays said. “If I can do that for one kid over the last 20-plus years, then I’m doing alright.”
As Massachusetts American Legion Baseball continues refining the showcase format and attracting more collegiate recruiters each summer, organizers hope the event will continue opening doors for the state’s next generation of baseball talent while reinforcing the lasting impact of Legion Baseball.
