Andrew Drennen; ESPNRISE.com

The New York Yankees' Area Code Baseball Tryouts will get under way, starting on Wednesday, June 17 at the home of the Washington Wildthings in Washington, Penn.  This is the first of five total tryouts in which a roster will be built to represent the Northeast at the 2009 Area Code Baseball Games this August. 

	Courtesy of Aviles Family
	Aviles looks to earn a trip to Long Beach

Last year's Yankees Area Code Team roster featured some of the best players in the Northeast led by three players who made the All-Area Code Team.  Mike Trout (drafted No. 25, Angels) was the highest player on the Yankees team taken in this year's MLB Draft. 

One of the players who will be at the Area Code Tryouts this year in the Northeast is Robbie Aviles out of Suffern, N.Y.  Last year, he attended the tryout and made the final roster, but was unable to attend.

This year he is looking forward to the tryout and hopefully a shot at getting to Long Beach. 

"I attended [the tryouts] last year,” Aviles stated, "and I couldn't get out to California.”

"It was an awesome experience,” he added. An experience that included a trip last year to Yankee Stadium, last July.  The entire Yankee Area Code Team roster was invited for a tour of the ballpark, something that Aviles and his teammates experienced. 

When players attend the tryout for the first time, there is usually a heightened sense of anxiety and nerves because of the opportunity the lies before all players.  For Aviles there were some nerves, but going into the tryout this year he seems to be more relaxed. 

"I went with one of my teammates form high school last year and we were both very nervous,” he remarked.  "We knew we were playing in front of scouts and college scouts.” 

"I think after going through it the first time, I should be more relaxed and perform better,” he said.  He will attend the tryout at Waterfront Park in Trenton, N.J. 

A player attending the tryout for the first time is Cito Culver, a utility player out of Rochester, N.Y.  At Irondequit, Culver hit .437.

"First I thought it was an honor. Growing up the Yankees have always been my favorite team. It was a shock,” said Cito Culver, who is attending the tryout in Allentown, Penn.  For Culver it is his first time attending an Area Code Tryout. 

"I really don't know what it is going to be like, cause I have never been invited to this before,” remarked Culver, who is in the same boat as Aviles was last year. 

Right now Aviles and Culver have not yet made their decisions about school. Culver said his front runner, though, is LSU.

Both will get a shot for a roster spot.
 

There were two changes to the Yankees' Area Code Baseball Tryouts today.  The first change is that the tryout in New England is moving from Pawtucket to Waltham, Mass., at Bently College.  The second change is on June 22, the tryout is moving to the Diamond in Richmond, Va.  The tryout times will remain the same.

For more information on Area Code Baseball visit areacodebaseball.com.

Posted by Andrew Drennen

 •    The University of Tennessee had 16 new faces to their program complete their first week on campus.  According to a release by the university's athletic department eleven of the newcomers are true freshmen.  Vols head coach Todd Raleigh said that they addressed their needs and added depth at every position. Four of Tennessee's newcomers have been drafted in the past. Infielder Cody Hawn, right-handed pitcher/designated hitter Stephen McCray and right-handed pitcher Aaron Tullo were drafted two times. Freshman right-handed pitcher/catcher Matt Ramsey has been drafted once.

•  

	Andrew Drennen for AC Baseball
	Righty Jarrod Parker at the 2006 Area Code Baseball Games.

 Portsmouth high school standout Mike Fransoso, committed to play ball at the University of Maine. Fransoso helped his Portsmouth High School team and his Portsmouth Legion team win state titles this year.  The shortstop said the Bears were showing the most interest in him, which was a big factor in his choice.

•    Former Area Code Baseball player, Jarrod Parker will make the final start in Memorial Stadium.  Back in 2006, Parker played for the Chicago White Sox Northeast team at the Area Code Baseball Games.  In the 2007 Major League Baseball draft the then 6-foot-1, 170 pound righty hailed from Bluffton, Ind., and Norwell High School.

•    Ian Andrews was a sophomore pitcher on the Coon Rapids High School junior varsity team, when a teammate hit a line drive that struck Andrews in the head.  Now, he is playing quarterback for the Coon Rapids High School football team, and while not participating in any drills Andrews is still out there.  He will return to the baseball team this upcoming spring.

•    Connecticut Bombers AAU U-18 baseball team won 44 games this year and reached the Connie Mack World Series in Farmington, New Mexico.  There they went two and two and were eventually eliminated by a team out of Midland, Ohio.