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Tournaments  | Story  | 10/3/2016

Florida Qualifier Day 3 Notes

Brandon Hohl     
Photo: Perfect Game

Daily Leaders | Day 1 Notes | Day 2 Notes

Moving day, playoff day-one, and day three of the PG WWBA Florida Qualifier in Fort Myers, Fla., began with an early pool-play game featuring FTB Platinum pitcher Michael Perez (Orlando, FL 2017). If the name sounds familiar, it should because we saw Perez earlier in the tournament and raved about his tools on the mound in a short relief appearance – three pitches total. Sunday, we were able to get a full outing from him as he started in the first game of the day for FTB.

The Florida International commit is tall and lean with an athletic frame, with room to fill and presence on the mound. His smooth delivery to the plate, clean arm mechanics, and arm action creates a sharp descent angle on his primary pitches. Paired with a high, three-quarter crossfire release point makes him devastating when working to his glove side. Four-seam fastball shows life at 89 miles per hour. Sharp, sweeping slider with 2/7 arc at 78 mph kept hitters off balance and missing barrels. Perez's line for the game was six innings, no earned runs and struck out 10.

In the game that proceeded FTB Platinum at the Player Development 5-Plex, SCORE International and right-handed pitcher Tommy Mace (Tampa, FL 2017) took the field. The Florida commit has a smooth high leg kick, kicks out and falls in to a long stride, landing directly towards home plate. Mace has a long and very fast arm swing leading to an over-the-top release point. Working his fastball at 86 to 87 mph with arm side run to both sides of the plate early in the count. He would then finish with a devastating slider at 74 mph 11/4 coming out of the fastball plane before diving out of the hitter’s reach. Very impressive appearance showing command of both pitches and keeping the game in reach for Score International. Extension appears to be adding perceived velocity on both pitches. Mace went four innings and scattered six hits while allowing only two earned runs.

Usually when you think of the term “catch and throw” and its application to baseball rhetoric, the catcher position immediately jumps to mind. However, catch and throw can easily be applied to the work ethic and game pace of nationally ranked right-handed pitcher of the Orlando Scorpions-Gerber, Jack Leftwich. Literally; Leftwich will deliver a pitch, receive the ball back from the catcher, be back on the rubber in one step and set for the next pitch. He’s is the definition of efficiency on the mound. Every movement he does is mechanically sound from leg lift to release point. Consistently 90 to 92 miles per hour on the four seam fastball with precise command. He attacks hitters early with the fastball before going to his devastating curve ball. In long relief, Jack went four and two-thirds innings, allowing only one hit, no walks and eight strikeouts.

Hitting fourth and playing center field for the Orioles Scout Team was Luis Hodge (San Francisco de Macoris, DU 2017) We got a chance to see him more this morning in the first round of playoffs at the 5-Plex. Facing off against the Central Florida Gators, the Orioles had their hands full but the offense did not seem to be over matched. That can especially be said for Hodge who has a tall loose stance with comfort and presence in the box. Starts the swing with gather to rear hip, high leg lift sets the body in good coiled position, lands torqued at heel strike. Great bat speed and path. Sound lower half mechanics and quick twitch hips generate bat speed and great barrel path up to the ball. Loud contact on deep right field fly-out off quality velocity. Looks comfortable playing center and looks like he can stay there in the future. Great reads and covers a lot of ground.

Impressing at the plate for the Orlando Scorpions-Gerber was Miami commit and 158th-ranked player in the country, Raymond Gil (Miami, FL 2017). Raymond stands with a wide base, hands high above the shoulder, holding the barrel at 45-degree angle. He has a simple load and stride to begin his swing. Gil gathers into the rear leg, takes a short linear stride, and tips the barrel while landing in a torqued position. From watching his takes, he drives all of his weight in to the lead leg with great lower half mechanics. Gil drives his back knee forward with explosive hips, incredible bat speed, working up to the ball with the body and creating a positive attack angle. Putting himself in a great position to be successful at the plate and setting him up for a bright future at the University of Miami. Gil was hitting .500 with a double and home run in the PG WWBA Florida Qualifier, leading the way for the Scorpions.

Another SCORE International standout is Duncan Hunter (Riverview, FL 2017). The Jacksonville University Commit is an athletically built outfielder hitting fourth. He has an upright stance, hands above the shoulder, holding the bat flat. As the pitcher begins his motion Hunter starts his swing with a gather to the rear leg, drops the hands while tipping the barrel, then stride separates to a strong launch position. Duncan creates elastic tension in the body and generates impressive bat speed and positive attack angle. He is an integral part of SI’s run through the playoffs in the WWBA Florida Qualifier, currently hitting .333 with a double, triple, two RBI and three runs scored.

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