Courtesy of the Evan Skoug Fundraiser web page

Evan and Kate

   UPDATE: Evan Skoug was in the featured group of hitters in the Home Run Derby. Skoug hit three home runs including a long of a 422 feet. Skoug tied for the most home runs of the lefties. The winner was Jorge Garcia from California.

   Senior baseball player Evan Skoug, will be going to hit in the Power Showcase in early January in Marlins Park in Miami.

   Skoug has been the varsity catcher since midway through his freshman year and has already committed to Texas Christian University (TCU), where he is hopeful to get an opportunity to start his freshman year. The next step after college baseball in a prospect’s career would be the big leagues.

   Well, he is taking a step in that direction from January 2-5, when he will attend the Power Showcase in Florida for a select few high school baseball prospects from around the world. This will be the eighth year for this event, which will be played in the Miami Marlins home ballpark and has seen some elite baseball prospects. Past participants include 2013 Cubs first-round draft pick, Kris Bryant (participated in 2009), 2012 National League Rookie of the Year Bryce Harper (2009), and Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo.

   January 2 is a light workout and welcome dinner, the 3rd will be a scout day, where the players will work out in front of the scouts from major league teams. January 4 will be the preliminaries for the home run derby, and the championship will be on the 5th, and later that day the games will be played. The All-World Classic will be one of the two games, where the top 20 underclassmen born in the United States will play against the top 20 international prospects. Lastly will be the East vs. West matchup, where all the invited Americans will match up. Skoug will be playing on the West team.

   Skoug was one of the select few players who were invited to this, but the players will need coaches. Libertyville varsity head coach Jim Schurr will be going along, and will be an assistant coach on the West.

   “It is an honor [to be able to coach Evan],” Schurr said.

   Besides the publicity, the chance to hit in a major league stadium, and the opportunity to play more baseball, there was another reason that Skoug wanted to do this event. That reason is a second grader named Kate Mitchell. She goes to Butterfield and has Nemaline Myopathy, which is a disease that causes extreme muscle weakness. Kate’s disease has made her unable to walk without her scooter that she drives around.

   “[Kate] is really smart, and she doesn’t let [the disease] affect her as a person, it just affects her body,” Skoug said.

   Part of the deal for these athletes to participate in this event was that they needed to sponsor or fundraise for someone who is less fortunate. Many of the athletes that do the event are born talented to go along with their constant hard work, but the ones who they sponsor are the ones who need some publicity to raise money and awareness. You can donate for Kate Mitchell’s cause online by donating to Evan and Kate’s – Home Runs that Help!

   “We are trying to raise money to help with the treatment, so she can walk and do normal things that you and I can do,” Skoug said.