LIVE: From the Omaha Pro Select Training and Tournament - Recap

Dave Lax: We're There

When Mother Nature decides that there is going to be rain, there is not a whole lot that man can do to change her mind. After a great start to the week with players going through workout rotations early in the day and finishing with competitive games in the evening. However, the best laid plans often go awry as rain descended on the Omaha area for the final two days of the event, knocking out any chance for any team to officially be crowned champion. Despite the weather, the Omaha Pro Select Training and Tournament was a successful event again this year. Four teams remained in the Championship hunt at the conclusion of the event. They were the Shockers, Hurricanes, Owls and Seminoles.

The event was also highlighted with some great college baseball. All players were able to attend two College World Series games, including the epic North Carolina dismantling of LSU and the Georgia comeback against Fresno State in the opening game of the Championship series. It was truly a great atmosphere for baseball!

At the conclusion of the camp, the coaching staff decided to give out the grand prize, Under Armour bags, to one deserving player on each team. The coaches for each team chose the player based on a combination of performance, attitude and work ethic during the week. The winners were:

Anteaters – John Peluso
Bulldogs – Ryan Debo
Cardinal – Joseph Riley
Hurricanes – Michael Howard
Owls – Adam Decker
Seminoles – Sanchez Tucker
Shockers – Scott Ackley
Sun Devils – Andrew Soto
Tar Heels – Trevor Ramos
Titans – Thomas Mora
Wolfpack – Sam Bruner
49ers – Tyler Hauf

Here at the Baseball Factory, we tip our caps to those players, as well as all the players who consistently worked hard to polish their craft as a baseball player. Good luck to each of you.

Ryan Pineda - Cal State University, Northridge

Justin Roswell: Where Are They Now?

Ryan Pineda, former Baseball Factory standout and current freshman at Cal State Northridge, was recently named the Big West Conference Freshman Player of the Year. Pineda led Big West freshmen with 17 doubles, six home runs, and 32 RBI in 2008 and capped the season with a walk-off home run in the final game of the year.

Pineda participated in a National Tryout that we held in Las Vegas, Nevada back in February 2006. His performance at that event merited an invitation to attend the inaugural 2007 Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament, powered by Baseball Factory.

Pineda is the first Matador to claim the honor since Northridge joined the Big West in 2001. A member of the biggest freshman class in the nation in 2008, Pineda was a touted shortstop from Bonanza High School of Las Vegas. After working out at second base through the fall, he eventually found his way to third early in the regular season and made his first start at that position in the tenth game of the year.

He would go on to make 44 starts at third base, seven more at second, and one at designated hitter. He was the Matadors most oft-used freshman and was one start shy of Richard Cates and John Parham (former Baseball Factory Participant), who led the team with 53 starts.

Pineda's season peaked with a 5-for-5 performance against the University of the Pacific; a day in which he smacked homers in his first two at bats and finished with three RBI and three runs scored. The production spilled over into the following day when he reached base in his first four plate appearances. He was on base a staggering nine consecutive times between the two games.

He was also responsible for arguably the most exciting moment of the 2008 season. Leading off the bottom of the ninth with his team tied 5-5 with UC Davis, Pineda sent the first pitch he saw deep into the trees beyond the left field wall for a walk-off home run.

Pineda leads a group of six Matadors on the All-Conference list. Pineda, TS Reed – 2B, John Parham – Util, and Phil Hann – SP, were each tabbed honorable mention while Richard Cates – Util and Edwin Quirarte – RP, were named to the Big West Second Team.

Another freshman infielder, TS Reed came out of nowhere to lead the Matadors and all Big West freshmen with 16 stolen bases. The second baseman also posted a .310 batting average for the year. Reed attended the 2006 Team One West Showcase and later the 2007 Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament, powered by Baseball Factory.

Parham checked in with a .348 batting average that was second best on the team, and his six home runs were knotted for first on the squad.

We would like to acknowledge Ryan and his Matador teammates on their tremendous accomplishments as student-athletes.

Check out the Northridge roster and team stats.


Justin Roswell joined the Baseball Factory in 2001 serving in the scouting, event coordination, and player development departments. In 2007 he became the Senior Director for Team One Baseball, the showcase division of Baseball Factory. As Senior Director, he leads the player identification process for all Team One Regional Showcases. Justin also runs the Under Armour Tournament Division. Justin graduated from California State University - Fullerton, where he received his degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis on management.

Glenn Gray – Occidental University

Justin Roswell: Where Are They Now?

Glenn Gray (San Diego, CA) was recently named to the 2008 Second Team All-SCIAC for the Occidental University Tigers. Glenn finished the season for the Tigers with a .373 batting average, four homeruns, .449 on-base percentage, and 28 RBI’s.

For the second consecutive year Gray, a sophomore left fielder, earned this honor. During SCIAC play Gray batted .375 with 21 hits (fourth on the team) including a pair of triples and homeruns. Additionally, Gray drew a team high seven walks. He drove in 12 runs (fourth on the team) while scoring 13 runs (second on the team) as he finished SCIAC competition with 34 total bases. His .607 conference slugging percentage also led the Tigers as he accumulated a .438 on base percentage. Gray was responsible for 27 putouts with one assist and no errors in the outfield.

Four years ago was the first time that we had the privilege of watching Glenn Gray workout for our organization. In May of 2004, we held a National Tryout at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California. Players that day tried out for various Baseball Factory events. I was glancing through the scout cards while the players were stretching, and noticed a player who had written Scripps Ranch High School, which is my alma mater. It was Glenn Gray, an outfielder with above average speed, a good glove, and a smooth swing from the left side.

Our scouts that day enjoyed watching Gray perform and invited him to attend our Dodgertown World Series, which was being held at Dodgertown, Spring Training Home of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Gray happily accepted the opportunity and was looking forward to stepping on the same field as some of the Dodger greats, even though he was a San Diego Padre fan at heart.

At the Dodgertown World Series, Gray performed very well during the workouts and tournament play. Because of his outstanding performance, we invited Glenn to attend the 2005 and 2006 Baseball Factory Pre-Season All American Tournament (now the Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament) that was being held at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.

In addition to his participation at the Dodgertown World Series, Gray represented Baseball Factory at the Best of the West Hawaii Tournament, participated at the Mac Seibert Training Camp, and our Exclusive College Recruiting Program.

Gray will head up to the Northwest to play for the Moses Lake (WA) Pirates of the competitive West Coast Collegiate Baseball League (WCCBL).

Occidental finished the season with a 15-24 overall record and a 7-14 mark in SCIAC play.

We would also like to acknowledge several other players who have participated in Baseball Factory events.

Best of luck to those outstanding student-athletes as they continue their baseball careers at Oxy.

Ross Pomerantz, Freshman, LHP, 5’11”, 165, L/L, Marin Academy, Kentfield, CA

Spencer Woolwine, Junior, Util/RHP, 5’10”, 180, R/R, Middle Park HS, Winder Park, CO

Nicholas Smallman, Freshman, RHP, 6’0”, 175, R/R, Carson HS, Carson City, NV

Check out the team roster and overall stats.


Justin Roswell joined the Baseball Factory in 2001 serving in the scouting, event coordination, and player development departments. In 2007 he became the Senior Director for Team One Baseball, the showcase division of Baseball Factory. As Senior Director, he leads the player identification process for all Team One Regional Showcases. Justin also runs the Under Armour Tournament Division. Justin graduated from California State University - Fullerton, where he received his degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis on management.

5 Days & Counting!

See You There!