Some local baseball players given the chance to showcase their skills to college coaches this week hope the work they did helps them continue their athletic careers past high school.

Baseball players from around the state converged on Acadian Ballpark this week to take part in the 2009 Louisiana Select World Series Showcase that runs through Friday.

“I’m hoping that something comes of it,” said Shea Simmons of Catholic High, who played this summer for Blue Stream Services and tried out Tuesday in the outfield and as a pitcher.

Shea Simmons of Catholic High and Blue Stream Services, shown in action Tuesday against the New Iberia Holiday Sporting Goods Cajuns in American Legion action, was among the players taking part in the Louisiana Select World Series Showcase at Acadian Ballpark on Tuesday. - Lee Ball / The Daily Iberian Advertisement

“I did pretty well at the showcase,” said Kyle Clement, a teammate of Simmons at CHS and on the Blue Stream squad. “I know they can’t really talk or offer anything to me but it’s good to be out there.”

The showcase combines both workouts in front of college coaches and scouts with a tournament featuring mostly select teams from around the state.

“It’s a pro-style showcase which is associated with an event that we started last year which is the Louisiana Select Word Series showcase,” said director Jerry Martinez. “It’s a unique event in that we attach a showcase to a tournament so that college coaches can come in and identify what they are looking for in players and then can follow those players in game speed during the week.”

Martinez explained that most showcases feature workouts, but any games that might be used are in effect pickup game. This showcase allows potential recruits to play with established teams that have already played many games, giving the coaches a more accurate read on players in an environment in which they are comfortable.

Around 50 players participated in various drills at Acadian Ballpark Tuesday. The drills involved sprints, defense from outfielders, infielders and catchers, hitting evaluations and pitching evaluations.

“It’s probably been one of the most organized showcases I’ve been to,” said Clement, who worked out at shortstop and has been to two other showcases. He will be a junior at CHS in the fall.

“It was great. There were a few scouts there and a bunch of real good players trying out,” said Simmons. “I’ve been to a couple of other showcases but this was more organized than others I have been to.”

Games will be played today through Friday at Acadian Park. There will also be games held at Theriot Field and Sellers Field in Abbeville.

“Most of the kids range from 15 to 18 years old,” said Martinez. “There are some 2009 grads down to 2012 grads. The majority of players are on select teams that have come down for the event.”

Some of the teams participating in the tournament are the Louisiana Legends, Abbeville’s American Legion team and the Southland Hogs, a Houma team that routinely plays the New Iberia Cajuns every year.

“Everyone involved has some background in baseball, whether they have played or coached in college ball or played at the professional level.” said Martinez, manager of Next Level Academy in Lafayette.

“What we do with select baseball is play in venues that are designed to expose players to colleges. But we also have players from the area that are not in select baseball. New Iberia was gracious enough to give us this facility to play in which has been a great facility for a long time.

“Last year we did this showcase in the Covington area and we’ve made New Iberia and Abbeville the home for this event in the future.”

The tournament concludes Saturday and Sunday with the championship rounds in each age group at Sellers Field in Abbeville.