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The second annual Reds Futures High School Showcase continues through Monday.

The showcase features 64 of the top high school baseball teams from Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana playing 32 games from March 25 to April 15 at area ballparks.

This weekend’s line up features LaSalle against Moeller at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, followed by Elder against St. Xavier at 7 p.m.

On Friday, Lakota West will battle Princeton at 5 p.m., followed by Lakota East against Mason at 7 p.m. and Fairfield versus Middletown at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday’s and Friday’s game will be held at Prasco Park. The 550-seat stadium is on the corporate campus of Prasco Laboratories at 6125 Commerce Ct., Mason.

On Monday, Kings will face off against Loveland at 4:30 p.m. at Kings High School, while Harrison plays Talawanda at 4:30 p.m. at Harrison High School.

Prasco Park admission is free and open to the public. Tickets for Monday’s games are $5 and include all games on that day, along with a voucher for a ticket to a future Reds’ game and a coupon for a free Skyline cheese coney.

Posted in: Events, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: baseball, harrison high school, kings high school, lakota, mason, prasco park, reds futures high school showcase, sports

Christian college teams from across the nation descended on Prasco Park this month in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Div. I and II Baseball National Championship World Series.

The Div. 1 championship game will be played at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Mason athletic facility. Oklahoma Wesleyan will look to defend its National Championship title against California Baptist University.

Toccoa Falls College beat out Florida Christian in the Div. II championship, held on May 12.

This is the fourth year for the NCCAA World Series at Prasco Park, which opened in 2008. The 550-seat stadium built to Major League specifications is on the corporate campus of Prasco Laboratories and is an initiative of the Arington Foundation, named for Prasco founder Thomas Arington.

Arington Executive Director Jeff Zurcher said the partnership is a matter of faith, in addition to providing a first-class baseball experience.

Arington’s mission is to positively affect the values of young people through Christian influence in sport, media and education — values which merge with the Christian intercollegiate athletic association, he said.

As part of their participation in the World Series, each team donates service hours at Matthew 25 Ministries, a Blue Ash-based charity.

The park maintains a code of conduct for guests, which prohibits profanity, alcohol and excessive displays of affection, and opens each game with a prayer.

“It’s a values match,” said Zurcher of the NCCAA. “We love God and we love people and we try to do that in a safe, pleasant experience. We’ve created a destination not only for baseball fans, but for families.”

In addition to hosting the NCCAA World Series, the park is the permanent home of the Cincinnati Spikes amateur baseball team. Select colleges, universities and youth programs also use the facility.

Admission is free and open to the community. In addition to the tournament are family-friendly games, activities, vendors and food in a festival-like atmosphere..

Prasco Park is at 6125 Commerce Court in Mason. For more information, go to www.prascopark.com.

Posted in: Events, Recreational events, Religion, Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: arington foundation, baseball, baseball national championship world series, california baptist university, christian, div. i, div. ii, florida christian, free, jeff zurcher, mason, national christian college athletic association, nccaa, oklahoma wesleyan university, prasco laboratories, prasco park, religion, thomas arington, toccoa falls college, world series

Mason’s Prasco Park will host the 2012 National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division I Baseball World Series Championships, which will begin Wednesday and last through next Saturday, May 16-19.

The tournament is in double-elimination format, and in some cases will involve games playing simultaneously on the two fields on Prasco’s campus – Prasco Park and Legacy Field. The NCCAA Division I championship game will take place on Saturday, May 19 at Prasco Park at 11 a.m., with a second championship game in the double elimination format to be played at 2 p.m. if necessary

Admission is free and open to the community. In addition to the games, there will also be family-friendly activities including a wiffle ball field, video game trailer, obstacle course, face painting, photo booth, inflatables and more.

Prasco Park and Legacy Field are located on the campus of Prasco Laboratories, 6125 Commerce Court in Mason. For more information about the event, visit PrascoPark.com, facebook.com/PrascoPark and @PrascoAGs on twitter.

Posted in: Events, Sports |

Tags: Tags: baseball, mason, national christian college athletic association, nccaa world series, prasco park, toccoa falls eagles

Adam Kiefaber reports:

The Mason Comets out-hit, out-pitched and committed less errors than the Lakota West Firebirds in the season opener for both clubs Monday in the inaugural Reds Future High School Showcase at Prasco Park Legacy Field in Mason.

Mason junior Andrew McDonald earned his first win of the season when the Comets defeated Lakota West March 26. The Enquirer/Adam Kiefaber.

The Comets winning pitcher, junior Andrew McDonald, gave up a run and loaded the bases in the second inning. After that, the 6-foot-5 right-handed junior settled down, striking out seven batters in five innings of work.

McDonald also gave up four hits, four walks and two runs, one of which was earned.

“Personally, I know that it wasn’t my best performance, but I am pleased with it because we walked away with a win,” McDonald said. “That is all that counts.

“It feels great to get a win against a rival like West.”

Meanwhile, Lakota West starting pitcher senior Zak Farmer lasted four innings and gave up seven runs. Only three of the runs, however, were earned. On defense, Lakota West committed six errors.

Offensively, the Comets were led their No. 7 and No. 8 hitters, junior first baseman Corey Quallen and senior designated hitter Josh Orlando. Both batters combined for four hits, two triples and three runs batted in.

“Anytime you get a win first time out of the gate, against a team like West, you have to take it,” Mason head coach Ken Gray said. “It is obvious that they didn’t play their best game and they are a lot better ballclub than what they showed.

“It was just one of those days where they had a bad day at the yard and we were able to take advantage of it.”

Mason 9, Lakota West 2

W-McDonald (1-0); Farmer (0-1). Leaders M- Galloway 2-2. 2 RBI, Highfill 2 RBI, Otte 3 runs, Quallen 3B, 2B, Orlando 3B 2 RBI. LW-Ma. Anderson 2-3, 2B. Mason (1-0, 1-0 in the GMC), Lakota West (0-1, 0-1 in the GMC).

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: andrew mcdonald, baseball, comets, corey quallen, firebirds, josh orlando, ken gray, lakota west, mason, mason high school, prasco park, reds futures high school showcase

The Reds Futures High School Showcase continues this afternoon with a Greater Miami Conference doubleheader at Prasco Park in Mason.

Mason takes on Lakota West at 4 p.m., followed by defending Division I state champion Lakota East versus Hamilton at 6:30 p.m.

The showcase, which started Saturday and runs through April 2, features 50 high school baseball games from Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky playing 25 games.

Players from all 50 teams will be invited to join the Reds on field before the April 3 Reds versus Futures Spring Showcase game.

“Adding this high school showcase as part of what we have planned for our Reds vs. Futures event at Great American Ball Park on April 3 ties yet another generation of baseball players to this celebration of our city’s rich baseball heritage,” said Phil Castellini, Reds COO.

Tickets are $5 for each event day and include all games on that day, along with a voucher for a ticket to a future Reds’ game and a coupon for a free Skyline cheese coney.  View the schedule of games on The Enquirer’s Enq & Press Preps blog.

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: baseball, cincinnati reds, comets, great american ball park, hamilton, lakota east, lakota west, legacy field, mason, prasco park, reds, reds futures high school showcase, sports

The National Christian College Athletic Association continues its Division I tournament World Series this week at Mason’s Prasco Park.

The Division I tournament runs May 18-21.  The NCCAA held its Division II tournament at the Mason park last week in which the Toccoa Falls Eagles emerged victorious.

• Click here for Division I game brackets

Admission to championship games is free and open to the community.  Contests and activities will also be held in addition to the games.

Prasco Park is at 6125 Commerce Court in Mason.  For more information or for highlights from last year’s tournament, go to www.prascopark.com.

Posted in: Events, Sports |

Tags: Tags: baseball, mason, national christian college athletic association, nccaa world series, prasco park, toccoa falls eagles

Mason’s Prasco Park will host the 2011 National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division I and II Baseball World Series Championships, which begin this week.

The Division II tournament will be held May 11-14 and the Division I tournament from May 18-21.

Admission to the championship game is free and open to the community.  Contests and activities will also be held in addition to the games.

Prasco Park is at 6125 Commerce Court in Mason.  For more information or for highlights from last year’s tournament, go to www.prascopark.com.

Posted in: Events, Recreational events, Sports |

Tags: Tags: baseball, division 1, division 2, games, mason, national christian college athletic association, ncaa, prasco park, tournements, world series