Last minute pitcher shines at Tournament of Stars

Blair Betts’ summer didn’t quite go according to plan—in fact, it turned out better. Betts, a senior at Athens Drive and pitcher for the Cary Bulls American Legion Junior Team, wasn’t originally on the Tournament of Stars (TOS) roster, but was invited to play after several players were injured. He pitched so well during the tournament that he played four innings for team NABF instead of the predetermined two or three innings.

“It was almost like pro ball…it was a good test,” said Betts about playing with so many talented young baseball players.

USA Baseball annually selects 144 young rising baseball stars that are international age-eligible to participate in TOS. The event lasted from June 22 to June 29 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary, N.C. Eight youth baseball groups compete at TOS including the AABC, American Legion, Babe Ruth, Dixie, PONY, NABF, RBI and USA Baseball teams.

Betts admits he thought he would “hit a lot of ground balls,” but instead hit seven strikeouts. Ron Powell, Betts’ coach for the Cary Bulls American Legion Junior Team, said Betts has made tremendous progress since his time on the team.

“He set the single season strikeout record last year,” said Powell. “This year he came back as one of the leaders on the team, one of the best players.”

Coach Tracy Smith of Indiana University also noticed Betts’ talent after watching him play at TOS. Powell said Smith was interested in Betts because he is a strong, left-handed pitcher—a hot commodity in baseball. Betts has long been a fan of the University of Maryland, but decided to take the scholarship he was offered from Indiana because he will have the opportunity to throw in rotation and work his way up to a starting role on the team.

Last year, Betts’ strikeout record was 83 batters in 57 innings. In 2009, Powell said he pitched 64 K’s in 34 innings and “led the team in runs batted in.”