Scouts Get a Good Look at Essex County All-Stars

Jordan Farber had never heard of the All-Star game at Kean University on Saturday.

When the Livingston coaches told him recently that he was named to the Underclassmen Essex County team, “I wasn't sure what it was about," said Farber, the Lancers junior shortstop. "I didn't know what to say, but I was pretty excited."

Saturday's Underclassmen Essex vs. Union County baseball All-Star game was only the second of its kind. But its goal is to give college scouts a good chance to look at some of the best area baseball players in one spot.

After lining out and flying out in his first at-bats, Farber would get on base with a single between center and right field in the bottom of the fifth inning. And he would end up going 2-for-4 on the day after an infield hit in the bottom of the seventh inning.

But his best moment probably came in the top of the sixth inning. Union County's Ryan Henkles was trying to get something going in the top of the sixth inning and appeared to have a base hit as the ball went deep in the hole between second and shortstop.

Farber grabbed it and threw him out for the first out of the inning. "To be honest I wasn't thinking about it," said Farber. "I was just trying to get the best angle of the ball."

The junior shortstop finished with a .337 batting average along with great defense to help Essex to a 12-1 win over Union County

For the 2012 season he is hoping to return to the mound after a year off since the Lancers had plenty of pitching this season. And he has other goals. "I am looking to hit .400," said Farber. "I want to hit the weight room."

During the summer, he will be playing for the Livingston Senior American Legion team where he will be working on his shortstop work and hitting. Farber was part of a Livingston Junior Legion team that made the state finals tournament last season.