The long scorching summer days are not left alone to beach trips and family vacations. On the baseball diamond, ball players are still hard at work on all levels. In high school, teams split to join showcase or travel teams to get noticed by scouts in hopes of being drafted or landing a college scholarship.
Chad Buckley says,
"Summer ball is a big time where you can work on mechanics. You don't have to worry about the other stuff. You can just come out and play baseball and have fun."
Phareo McKnight adds,
"Playing on a showcase team like this is pretty fun because you never know who is in the stands so you always shave to be on your p's and q's."
This provides high school coaches a glimpse of what the future holds for their program.
Danny Redshaw adds,
"It helps us get a good look at what we have coming in February before we get to February."
On the college level, teams are dismantled and players are sent off the join leagues such as the Cape Cod and Alaska summer league. For the upper class men, summer brings around a time when players find out if they have a future playing the sport in profession baseball with the MLB draft.
Geoff Parker adds,
"Every since I think I was ten when I first said I want to play professional baseball and now it has finally come true. I get my chance."
It's this time of year when the boys of summer earn their nickname.