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Friday, October 19, 2001
Islanders show scouts their stuff
Salinas believes enough in baseball team’s ability to invite MLB reps to practice
By Matt Young
Caller-Times

Caller-Times file

Islanders baseball coach Hector Salinas (middle) invited several Major League baseball scouts to watch practice at A&M-CC.

College baseball season is still four months away, but the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi baseball players had Opening Day jitters Thursday.
   The Islanders went through drills in front of scouts from 13 different Major League baseball teams.
   "I called a scout I know and kind of spread the word to get as many scouts as possible down here to see our players," A&M-Corpus Christi coach Hector Salinas said. "I've never done this in the past, because I didn't want to waste the scouts' time. Now, I feel like we at least have some players that will definitely get drafted and are pretty good prospects."
   One of those possible prospects is Islander shortstop Roberto Santana, who impressed scouts with his slick fielding.
   "Oh yeah, I was definitely nervous with all the scouts watching me," Santana said. "You just have to go out there and do everything well and do everything like you're supposed to. I tried to make good clean throws and field all the balls cleanly. Hopefully, they noticed."
   The amateur draft isn't until June, so Thursday's workout wasn't that critical to the players' professional future, but a good performance could lead to more visits from Corpus Christi.
   "We go to various schools during this time of year to try to get a head start on the season," Baltimore Orioles scout Joe Almaraz said. "If we see someone we like, then we make a note of it and make sure to see them during the season."
   A MILLER HALL OF FAME HONOREES: Six athletes from the 1960s will be inducted into the Buccaneer Hall of Fame on Saturday at Miller High School.
   The inductees are Alfred Boyd (Class of 1964), Louis Marshall (1969), Glen Holloway (1966), Godfrey White (1969), Kirby Sams (1967) and Andrew Crawford (1966).
   There will be a ceremony at 4 p.m. Saturday at the high school and a presentation during halftime of the Miller-Harlingen South game Saturday at Buc Stadium.

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