By Liam Morales
The “Chase Your Dream” Showcase held at Papago Sports Complex is a combined partnership between Chase and the Arizona Diamondbacks. The showcase allows participants to play games amongst the schools and develop their skill through instruction clinics. “We have 12 schools that participate in the Chase Your Dreams weekend,” Professional Instructor for the Arizona Diamondbacks Baseball Academy Sean Payton said Saturday morning.
Payton, who started this showcase, wanted to be sure the work of the grounds crew be noted. “These fields wouldn’t look major league style without the grounds crew. Without their hard work, dedication and most importantly their passion. They’re baseball guys.”
On these beautiful fields high school players gather to continue their dreams of becoming the best baseball player they can be. One player who knows a lot about following his dream is Diamondbacks’ pitcher Evan Marshall.
Marshall sustained a fractured skull after being struck by a line drive during a minor league game. Facing near death didn’t faze him as one of the first thing he murmured after his emergency surgery was, “I still think I can be a September call-up.”
That likely highly medicated murmur was spot on as Marshall got called up to the big leagues. “It’s cool to see these teams really building that dream, you see that high school baseball has come a long way…the coaching is better and with what Chase and the Diamondbacks are doing, the equipment is better.”
Marshall spent time in each dugout talking baseball, taking photos and signing autographs. “It was a great surprise, you usually don’t get to meet someone like that,” North High School’s Jesus Felix said.
Felix believes the showcase is a great opportunity for he and his teammates to improve their skills and have fun while doing it.
Marshall wanted to encourage these kids to follow their passion and left them with a great piece of advice.
“Persevere,” he explained. “They all have talent and it’s all about developing it now. They’re going to face obstacles on their journey, as we all have, just don’t give up. You’re going to run into problems and you just have to find a way to get through it.”
