Local baseball talents Gabe Gaeckle of Aptos and Langston Burkett of Santa Cruz were selected to compete in the prestigious Area Code Games.

Both pitchers will compete on the Oakland A’s regional team in the five-day showcase tournament at University of San Diego on Aug. 6-11. Gaeckle is a 5-foot-11, 185-pound right-hander and Burkett is 6-6, 215-pound right-hander.

It’s the first time since 2012 that two Santa Cruz County players have been named Area Code teammates. Soquel right-handed pitcher Chris Viall and Aptos catcher Bryan Bucher competed for the A’s in 2012.

The top 220-plus high school baseball players from across the country in the class of 2023 and 2024 make up eight regional teams.

The tournament serves as the beginning of a year-long interview process culminating with the Major League Baseball Draft the following summer.

Scouts from all 30 Major League teams, as well as top NCAA coaches, will be in attendance. Gaeckle is committed to UCLA and Burkett is uncommitted.

Other Santa Cruz County residents previously chosen to compete on the A’s team include infielder/outfielder Glenallen Hill Jr. (Santa Cruz, 2018), left-handed pitcher Haydn King (Archbishop Mitty, ‘16), right-handed pitcher Troy Miller (Soquel, ‘14), and third baseman Joe Gillette (Scotts Valley, ‘13).