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    South Division wins California Collegiate League Showcase Game
    • July 13, 2023

    Cal Lutheran and Conejo Oaks catcher Brendan Durfee won the home run derby at the California Collegiate League’s North vs. South Showcase event on Wednesday at the MLB Youth Academy in Compton. (Photo courtesy of California Collegiate League)

    Cal Lutheran and Conejo Oaks catcher Brendan Durfee won the home run derby at the California Collegiate League’s North vs. South Showcase event on Wednesday at the MLB Youth Academy in Compton. (Photo courtesy of California Collegiate League)

    Some of the state’s best college-level talent participated in the California Collegiate League’s North vs. South Showcase event on Wednesday at the MLB Youth Academy in Compton. The day featured a skills combine, a home run derby and a nine-inning All-Star game. (Photo courtesy of California Collegiate League)

    Some of the state’s best college-level talent participated in the California Collegiate League’s North vs. South Showcase event on Wednesday at the MLB Youth Academy in Compton. The day featured a skills combine, a home run derby and a nine-inning All-Star game. (Photo courtesy of California Collegiate League)

    Some of the state’s best college-level talent participated in the California Collegiate League’s North vs. South Showcase Game on Wednesday night at the MLB Youth Academy in Compton. (Photo courtesy of California Collegiate League)

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    COMPTON — Sitting on the bleachers just behind home plate at the MLB Youth Academy field were more than a dozen baseball scouts – both college and pro – from across the country. The group watched intently, taking notes as the California Collegiate League’s best players prepared for an all-day showcase of their talents.

    On Wednesday night, the CCL’s top 30 players competed in the league’s annual showcase game, which was preceded by a skills combine and a home run derby.

    In a closely contested game, the South Division erased a four-run deficit to defeat the North, 9-8.

    South Division pitcher Robert Cranz was named the pitcher of the game and North Division outfielders Damian Bravo and Noah Rabine were named the defensive and offensive players of the game, respectively.

    Cal Lutheran and Conejo Oaks catcher Brendan Durfee won the home run derby, hitting seven in the final round to take the event.

    “It’s inspiring to see all the talent we have on the field,” CCL commissioner Michael Simpson said. “Major League Baseball has been very good to this conference. For us to have a facility of this quality, for our players to be honored and acknowledged, it’s terrific.”

    Representatives from USA Baseball along with MLB were in attendance. San Diego Padres broadcaster Bob Scanlan called the game for a live broadcast on the Bally Sports regional networks, and several player development coaches from MLB and USA Baseball helped run drills during the player combine.

    The region was well represented with many players having ties to area high schools or colleges.

    One of those players is Kamau Neighbors, a shortstop for the MLB Academy Barons who is going into his senior year at Cal State Northridge.

    Neighbors, who has played for the Barons for the past two seasons, credits his work ethic for why he was selected as an all-star this season.

    “It’s an honor to get here,” Neighbors said. “One of my goals from the beginning of the summer was to get to this game. So really, it’s just God and hard work that got me here.”

    The home run derby featured six players competing in a tournament-style event in which each batter had three minutes to hit as many home runs as they could.

    Durfee came into the derby as the No. 6 seed, but he defeated higher-seeded players in all three rounds to win it.

    “I didn’t know what to expect going into it. I saw the pro guys do it yesterday and I was like, ‘shoot, that is a lot of home runs,’” Durfee said. “I was pretty tired even after round one, but it was a super fun experience. I got to go against some dudes with some serious strength. So, overall, super-stoked.”

    The showcase game was competitive in the early innings with the South taking a 3-2 lead in the third inning after catcher John Newman scored on a wild pitch.

    The North dominated the middle innings. After tying the score in the top of the fourth inning, a two-run homer to right field by infielder Noah Rabin gave the North a 5-3 lead.

    The North padded its lead in the seventh inning when Max McGee’s two-run single made it 7-3.

    The eighth inning was a turning point for the hosts. The South scored four runs on four hits to open a 9-7 lead going into the ninth inning. The North scored a run in the ninth, but the South held on for the win.

    “We just persisted, kept chipping away,” Cranz said. “Eventually we knew we were gonna get there.”

    The CCL season will continue this month leading up to the league’s state championship game on Aug. 1. The South’s showcase game win means the South champion will host the state title game, with details to be announced at a later date.

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    ​ Orange County Register 

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