Hinsdale South players compete in showcase

Hinsdale South’s Emmanuel Morris was very busy during the Stevenson Showcase, held June 17 and 18.

When Oak Park-River Forest catcher Jack Picchiotti couldn’t play because of illness, Morris was left as the only other catcher available to represent the West Suburban Conference in the eight-team event.

Morris worked behind the plate for each of the conference’s nine-inning games at Stevenson. The WSC played the DuPage Valley squad on June 17 and the North Suburban crew June 18.

The event is designed to expose players to the dozens of college recruiters and several major league scouts attending the two-day event and evaluating players from the Class of 2012. Each of the Chicago area’s top eight conferences fields a team.

Morris was joined by Hinsdale South teammates Sean Beesley, an outfielder, and pitcher-first baseman P.J. Schuster.

“It was not that bad. I enjoyed it,” Morris said. “I had help from my teammates around me. The atmosphere was fun. My blocking was great and I did not get tired catching all 18 (innings) the whole weekend.”

Morris, Beesley and Schuster returned to Hinsdale South’s summer league team the following week. During weekends, Morris plays for the Illinois Sparks 17-U travel team, based in Orland Park.

Morris, who started last season for the Hornets in the infield, eventually moved to catcher later in the season. With the Sparks, Morris has played second base, shortstop and even some outfield.

“I’ll do what the team needs,” Morris said. “In high school, I’m a team player. If they need me to hit, I’ll go and hit. I was a catcher during my freshman year.”

Beesley and Schuster are playing together for the Midwest Dodgers, who won the CABA Midwest Regional Sunday. The teammates will spend the weekend in Marietta, Ga., for a wood bat tournament. Another member of the Dodgers is Hinsdale South infielder Mitch Duckhorn.

Beesley, a center fielder and leadoff hitter for the Hornets, has taken on both roles for the Dodgers.

“This summer, I’m working on my speed,” Beesley said. “I was not slumping, but I was not hitting (toward the end of the 2011 season). I have to play my style of game.”

Schuster, who was one of Hinsdale South’s top starters in the spring, pitched two innings of relief Sunday in leading the Dodgers to victory at the CABA tournament.

“SStevenson) was a great experience out there meeting all the kids,” Schuster said. “The biggest part was the scouts watching. There were at least three dozen scouts. I’ve been working on my arm strength, agility and speed — especially my hitting, too.”

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