Bowman rated as best pure hitter in showcase

Carson High's Willie Bowman continued to receive recognition this week for his performance at the Area Code Games.

Bowman was rated as the event's best pure hitter at the showcase last week in Long Beach, Calif. by Baseball America's Josh Boyd, who was covering the event for the magazine. The picks were made by Boyd in conjuction with scouts at the prestigious showcase.

The Area Code Games is essentially a scouting combine in which the top high school players in the country can display their skills.

Bowman was one of 200 players from across the country to be chosen for the event. He was also one of a total of 36 players from the event to be chosen for the showcase's all-star game on Saturday.

He went 5-for-10 with a triple and four RBI in five games in the event and then went 1-for-3 in the showcase's Nike All-Star Game to finish the games with a .461 average (6-for-13). Bowman, a third baseman, was ranked ahead of Matt Bush, a shortstop/right-handed pitcher, from Mission Bay High in San Diego, who was rated as the second best pure hitter.

The top 20 overall prospects at last week's showcase were also ranked and Bush was rated as the top overall prospect. Bowman was not ranked in the top 20.

Each year, several Northern Nevadans are chosen for the Area Code Games. Bowman joined an elite list of Carson Country players chosen for the Area Code Games, which includes Galena's Billy Paganetti and Douglas High graduate Shawn Estes, who is now pitching with the Cubs.

Bowman joined Donovan Osborne as the second Carson player chosen for the games and also joined Paganetti as an all-star at the event.