Compton, Calif. – The 2021 California Collegiate League Showcase Game took place Wednesday night at the MLB Youth Academy in front of fans, numerous scouts, and a Bally Sports West live audience and featured 60 of the CCL’s finest split between North and South teams. The North took an early 2-0 lead before the South ultimately scored six unanswered runs and let a four-run sixth inning propel them to a 6-2 win.

Tony Robie (Texas St.), Andrew Pogue (Illinois), and Dwight Allen (Georgia) represented the Orange County Riptide and the South team with Davis Diaz (Vanderbilt) and Kyle Booker (Tennessee) earning starting nods. They each batted ninth and seventh in the order as Booker played right field with Diaz manning shortstop. Eric Bigani (UNLV) was also a South all-star.

Offensively, Booker (Tennessee) had the best performance of any South all-star in Wednesday’s game by going 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Perhaps the biggest play of the night came when he capped off a four-run sixth inning with a two-run double that stretched the South’s lead to four.

Booker became the only member of either team to have more than one RBI, was one of two North/South players with multiple hits, and was the only South all-star to start and finish the game.

Kyle Booker (Tennessee) was the only South all-star to start & finish Wednesday night’s game, going 2-4 with two RBIs. (Photo Credit: Alina Nelson)

“I definitely want to do [the CCL Showcase Game] again for sure,” said Booker. “There was definitely some good competition out there so it was fun to be out there kicking it with those guys.”

Pogue (Illinois) saw the first Riptide action on the mound when he entered for the South in the top of the second. After surrendering a leadoff single and a subsequent walk, Pogue sent down the next three in order with a strikeout, fly out, and a line out to keep the 0-0 score intact.

Robie (Texas St.) represented the second Riptide hurler to take the bump when he faced four men in the fifth inning and allowed no runs on one hit while logging a strikeout. Robie has proven to be one of Mitch LeVier’s most reliable pitchers as the all-star leads the team in strikeouts and innings pitched while posting a 2.00 ERA.

Diaz (Vanderbilt) only had two plate appearances before getting subbed out but he drew a walk in his second after grounding out in his first. Allen (Georgia) also drew a walk before grounding into a fielder’s choice in his second plate appearance in the eighth inning.

Overall, Riptide hitters went a combined 2-for-6 at the plate in the 6-2 South win with two RBIs and two walks as the pitching staff did not give up any runs and struck out three in their two innings of work.

The Riptide return to action Thursday night at OC Great Park against the MLB Academy Barons. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and it can be live-streamed on the OC Riptide youtube channel along with all other home games.

2021 CCL Showcase Game – Box Score