Like a massive firing squad, they raised their guns in unison – dozens of them, all aimed at Luken Baker. These were radar guns, of course.

Oak Ridge’s Luken Baker has caught the eyes of USA Baseball, playing for the American team against Canada at Minute Maid Park last year, and is in the process of impressing the pro scouts.

Chris Andritsos, The Woodlands

They belonged to the 63 major league baseball scouts who showed up for Oak Ridge’s season-opening game against Magnolia, which Baker limited to four hits and one unearned run in a 3-1 victory.

“They got snowed out up in Dallas, so they all came down to Houston, and they were interested in Luken, so we had two scouts from each team and some with more,” Oak Ridge coach Mike Pirtle said. “It was cool. It really was.”

The Eagles haven’t had that many scouts at a game since, but they saw a handful every time out in District 16-6A, which boasts at least three pitchers who could be selected in Major League Baseball’s amateur draft in June. click here for complete story