2016 Coach Bob National Invitational

4/3/2016 9:41:11 AM

Champions:

National Division:

O'Connor, AZ

Runner-Up:

Boulder Creek, AZ

American Division:

Mt. Ridge, AZ

Runner-Up:

Redlands East Valley, CA

Premier Division:

Pine Creek, CO

Runner-Up:

Hood River, OR

Classic Division:

Lakeridge, OR

Runner-Up:

Apollo, AZ

All-Star Division:

Lincoln, OR

Runner-Up:

Shadow Ridge, AZ

4/3/2016 9:30:23 AM

Ketchikan, AK vs. Willow Canyon, AZ

Nathan Bonck, a Seattle University commit, is about as projectable as they come with his 6-6, 200 pound frame that has plenty of filling out to do.  Bonck threw 5 innings without giving up an earned run, from an effortless delivery and clean arm action.  Bonck gets downhill plane and occasional cutting action on his fastball from his three-quarter arm slot.  His fastball was up to 84 mph, but expect an increase in that as he continues to mature and get stronger.  He struck out eight hitters mixing in a slider and changeup.

Fernando Lugo showed the ability to go the other way, collecting two doubles to right field.  He has a shorter, compact swing with quick hands at the dish and runs hard out of the box.  Both doubles drove in runs, making his RBI total two for the day.

Nick Nanikivell was the timely hero for Willow Canyon.  Coming off the bench, Nanikivell took full advantage of his opportunity smashing a ball past the shortstop in extra innings to bring home the game winning run.  Nanikivell did show good strength in his size, and the ball came hard off the barrel. 

Cardinal Newman, CA vs. Desert Mountain, AZ

Sophomore catcher, Jack Silverman, showed good barrel turn on his sac fly to left field.  He displayed solid bat speed and strong pull side contact for a young player.  Behind the plate, he has a strong arm, tossing out a Cardinal Newman steal attempt with ease. 

Another sophomore, Holden Boyce impressed at the dish showing off some very quick hands and hard pull side contact lacing a ball through the right side.  Boyce moves well on the base paths and the outfield.  Expect him to look much more physical in two years after he matures and continues to fill out physically to his current 5-11, 165-pound frame.  

4/2/2016 9:47:43 AM

Xaverian, NY vs. Mullen, CO

Phoenix Hernandez showed a little bit of everything in today’s game.  He used a middle of the field approach once again sending a line drive back up the middle.  He put his athleticism on display making a great diving stop at shortstop, and also came into pitch in the seventh inning topping out at 83 mph.

Gabriel Madrid had a nice day at the plate picking himself up a couple of hits including an RBI double down the left field line.  Madrid swings on a linear, line drive swing plane and has quick hands.

Maverick Handley impressed again with his phenomenal defensive skills showing off premier arm strength and elite quickness behind the dish.  The Stanford commit has the ability to snap throw down to bases with the strength and speed most high school level players must load up to even come close to generating.  In his third at bat, his strength was shown off again hitting a laser pull side that was caught by the third basemen.

* Maverick Handley singled to right field in his first at bat and popped as low as 1.77 down to second base in game too as well.

Jake Barr picked up the game winning hit down the right field line to secure an exciting seventh inning win for Mullen.  Xaverian had picked up two runs in the top half of the inning after a hit by pitch and some timely hitting. 

Liberty Christian, TX vs. Desert Mountain, AZ

Starting pitcher and clean up hitter for Liberty Christian, Taylor Barber, showed a four-pitch mix tossing a very strong outing.  His fastball sat in the 83-85 mph range with a small breaking slider around 78 mph; he also mixed in a curveball and changeup.  Barber has a short arm circle through the back and consistently pounds low in the strike zone.  His ball showed good life and he did a nice job of staying composed.  Barber has a strong build, listed 6-1, 206 pounds and showed it off at the plate showing fly balls with some serious hang time.

Cale Hundley impressed with his speed down the line from the right side getting as low as 3.96 seconds on one sacrifice bunt attempt.  Hundley had two hits including a well hit ball through the 5.5 hole showing off some good pull side pop in his bat for his contact approach.  Hundley has a middle infielder’s build and some quick twitch athleticism that will play at the next level.

Left-handed pitcher Tristian Stockman did a nice job on the mound for Desert Mountain.  Stockman throws from a long arm action and generates downhill plane from a high three-quarters arm slot with good life on his fastball.  Stockman was able to get several hitters in the Liberty Christian lineup to strike up by climbing the ladder with his fastball which topped out at 84 mph.

2017 Jake Meyer hit a two-run home run to left field.  Meyer uses a pull side approach at the plate with ability to lift the baseball.  Behind the plate he does a nice job blocking pitches and popped as low a 2.00 second down to second, sitting in the 2.00 to 2.20 second range. 

Mullen, CO vs. Desert Mountain, AZ

Reid McLaughlin had a two RBI triple in which it only took him 12.13 seconds to fly around.  McLaughlin showed natural lift through the point of contact and good pop off the bat when getting extension.

Anthonly DeRogatis used some of his pull side power to double deep to the right field corner.  He did a nice job of turning his barrel when getting a pitch over the plate and showed good strength off the barrel. 

Trey Dillard is a very strong build kid with good size.  Normally a primary pitcher, Dillard played first base in the game and hit some very hard balls pull side.  It is worth noting, Dillard has been up to 92 mph in the past on multiple occasions.

Rocco Porreco homered to left field in his second at bat of the day.  Porreco is listed at 6-2, 190 pounds showing good size to play third base.  

3/31/2016 9:53:08 AM

Nansemond River, VA vs. Xaverian, NY

Xavier Vargas looks the part of a cleanup hitter when he steps into the batter box with his physicality. He starts with a high handset and bat wrap and shows good bat speed and pop off the barrel. His swing is long and loose and uses a pull side approach to hit the drive the ball.  His first at bat resulted in an RBI single through the right side. He put a very similar swing on the ball in his third at bat leading off the bottom of the 4th with almost identical results. Coming up in the bottom of the 6th, Vargas belted a ball just foul showing off his raw power before beating out an infield single.

Pitcher Christian Allegretti works extremely quickly and efficiently pounding the zone with his fastball and breaking ball. His fastball has a good amount of arm side life and commands his pitches nicely. The first base runner that reached was picked off almost immediately with a simple move over to first base.   He started to run out of gas around the 4^th and 5^th inning as Nansemond River strung a few hits together.

Simi Valley, CA vs. O’Connor, AZ

Shea Barry of Simi Valley was up to 91 mph sitting in the 87-90 mph range.  He throws from a deep, clean arm circle with good extension out front.  His arm works quickly and he generates late, sharp bite on his curveball.  When commanded, Barry consistently missed barrels and produced ground balls.  Although he gave up a few unearned runs in the game, he projects for a ton of upside on the hill and should continue to have a successful spring and future.  He is committed to pitch in college at UC Santa Barbra.  

Right fielder Bailin Markridge seemed unfazed by the velocity yesterday lacing a single the opposite way to leadoff the game for O’Connor.  He drew a few walks in his following at-bats followed by a well driven ball to the left-field corner.  Markridge floats around the bases with easy, long strides, looking effortless.

Tanner Baker also swung it well from the left side today getting barrels via a short, quick swing.  Baker moves well and showed it off swiping a bag.  The lefty is a gamer who could make an immediate impact on a college campus next spring with impressive athleticism.

Andrew Devine again impressed singling in his first at bat followed by a triple to bring Simi Valley with in two runs.  Devine showed average major league times down the line, and is just a freshman.  He has the type of toolset to be an impactful wherever he is placed in the field or lineup. 

Cal Hodgins once again hit another home run this time showing off some pull side power late in the game with some seriously long hang time.  Hodgins has now shown he has a hit tool to match the power and an appproach to all fields.  He currently plays center field but may move to a corner position in the future based on his size and strength.  

Moorpark (CA) vs. Kellis (AZ)

Moorpark shortstop and #3 hitter Matt Page was impressive with the glove on several occasions, making a sprawling play to his right and showing off good range throughout the game. He's also a solid hitting prospect, handling the barrel well with a line drive swing plane and good strength off. He's a solid runner as well, clocking a 4.08 time down the line on a true dig from the right side on a SAC bunt. 

Moorpark's starter, left-hander Kenny Brawner did an outstanding job of keeping Kellis off balance throughout the game. He's a funkier lefty, throwing from a low 3/4 arm slot with some slinging action, working 75-78 throughout and topping at 80 MPH with good running life to the arm side. He threw a lot of strikes and lived down in the zone, eliciting a lot of ground balls, and mixing in a quality slider when he got on top of it. 

Madison (ID) vs. Valley Vista (AZ)

Valley Vista's first baseman and leadoff hitter Andrew Frazier stands out immediately due to his body projection and athleticism, given that not many first basemen across the country have his athleticism and speed. He's an above-average runner with some feel to hit, and he has the potential to be a high-level defensive first baseman as well. 

Madison's starting pitcher Matthew Bolingbrooke showed well with both the bat and on the mound. The junior right-hander touched 85 a few times, setting in at 81-84 MPH throughout. He throws from straight over the top and generates some plane despite not being overly tall, and he also mixed in a swing-and-miss 12/6 CB with plenty of spin. He drove a double deep into the RCF gap in his first at-bat, showing the ability to use the whole field and hit the ball where it was pitched. 

3/30/2016 10:33:49 AM

Nansemond River, VA vs. Simi Valley, CA

2019 Justin Campbell really impressed in his first outing of the season for Simi Valley.  Campbell is an extremely tall kid with a lean build that screams projection.  He has a pretty clean arm circle through the back in his delivery with great extension out front.  He worked a three-pitch mix with the ability to spin a breaking ball.  His Fastball was up to 89 mph in the first inning from a very easy delivery with minimal effort.  Campbell has the make up to throw very hard down the road and be an elite pitcher if he continues to develop in the right direction.  He is one to watch closely over the next few years. 

Cal Hodgins once again hit a home run to right center field for Simi Valley, this time coming in near heroic fashion to take the lead in extra innings.  His clear size and strength translate well into constantly barreled baseballs, most of the time with authority. He is listed at 6-2, 180 pounds but may actually be bigger.  He plays center field but has the capability of moving to a corner position in his future.

A young prospect to keep an eye on for Simi Valley is outfielder Andrew Devine, a young freshman that starts. Devine can get down the line quickly and showed off an incredible arm for such a young player from right field.  He fields his position nicely covering plenty of ground.  He currently has a contact approach at the plate but it will be interesting to see how he fills out into his athletic frame.

Old Dominion commit, Michael Blanchard,  threw into the 8^th inning today and did nothing but compete.  After giving up a few hits and runs in the first, Blanchard did a fabulous job of competing make adjusments down in the strike zone producing several ground balls and a few strikeouts.  Blanchard throws from a near side arm slot with good arm side life.  He worked in the 83-86 mph range.  He is a very tall kid as well, listed 6-7 200 pounds with looseness and athleticism.  He also stroked a double into the left-center gap in the game.

Xaverian, NY vs. O’Connor, AZ

Catcher Jake Vesecky had a nice day at the plate collecting a pair of hits including a triple over the right fielder’s head.  Vesecky is only a sophomore, but does a nice job behind the plate working hard and doing a nice job receiving pitches.  Vesecky is hitting near .400 on the season in his 16 games while getting on base half of the time.

Colby Wyatt tossed six strong innings today striking out six batters while just walking two.  His fastball sat in the mid-80s today from his high three-quarter arm slot and compact arm action.  He still has some physical maturing to do, which could lead to more velocity as he continues to get stronger.  Wyatt is committed to Cornell University and is a tremendous student in the classroom.

Santa Barbra, CA vs. Valley Vista, AZ

Another exciting game in Valley Vista wrapped up thanks to some late game heroics at the hands of first basemen Andrew Frazier who singled over the shortstop’s head to bring in the go-ahead run, he later scored as well bringing the score 6 to 4.  Frazier is a very big kid who size doesn’t overcompensate his athleticism or ability to get down the line quickly.  He has the makeup and mobility to play other corner positions as well.

Junior Dylan Chelini tossed yet another hard fought game throwing six innings giving up three earned runs and his teammate, Tyler Smith, came out and struck out two and generating a groundout for the save.  Both are left-handed pitchers with good command of the strike zone.  Chelini constantly was mixing his stuff while Smith showed good heaviness on his fastball.

Three-hole hitter, John Jensen, showed good power potential at the plate driving a ball to the left-center field wall early in the game.  He showed good bat speed and good lift through the point of contact.  Jensen is well built kid, with present strength with room to put on additional muscle.  He played third base where he showed sure hands and good arm strength on throws across.  

George Washington (CA) vs. Joy Christian (AZ)

Joy Christian 1st baseman Isaiah Leach enjoyed quite the day at the plate, going 4-4 with a double and a 2 run HR. At 6'4", approximately 225, he's a big kid already, but his broad shoulders give him room for even more strength if necessary. He's very strong in general but the strength really shows in the box, where he displays good bat speed with lots of natural lift in his swing. He's a bit pull-happy at times, but he has big time raw pop to the pull field, and he his 4 missiles on Tuesday afternoon, including a double that was a rocket off the fence, and a HR that left zero doubt that it would get out. Joy Christian is currently 18-1 on the season, and there's zero doubt that Leach is a big part of why. 

Hamilton (AZ) vs. Basha (AZ)

In a heavyweight matchup of two very strong teams, Basha ended up winning by a score of 3-1. 

Basha starter Jack Schneider was outstanding as a pitchability lefty, keeping the Hamilton hitters off balance all game with a conurbation of stuff, command, sequencing, and feel. He worked 82-85 MPH, bumping 86 early on, working to both sides of the plate and basically putting the fastball wherever he wanted for the most part. His weapon pitch was the changeup, however, in the low 70's with excellent deception and fading action. He was not afraid to start hitters off with back to back changeups, getting them out in front and then painting the corner with 85 MPH inside, collecting several backwards K's that way. He mixed in a big breaking 1-7 CB from time to time as well just to change the eye level, but it was mostly FB/CH (or, CH/FB rather) for him on the day. 

Basha's Michael Scott also had a tremendous day overall, belting a 2-run HR to put Basha up 2-0, then cutting down a runner at the plate with a one-hop strike from right field to keep the score 2-0. His HR and defensive play may have ended up being the difference for Basha. 

Hamilton starter Zane Strand drew a handful of scouts and though the senior right-hander ended up taking the loss, it was still a good outing for him. Working 90-93 MPH and touching 94 early, he settled in at 88-92 for the majority of his start. When located down, the pitch has late, heavy sink; making it tough to square up. When he left the FB up, however, was when he got in trouble, surrendering a few laser shots on flat FB's up in the zone. His slider flashed above-average, with late, sharp tilt; and he showed the ability to back off on the pitch to throw it for strikes as well. 

Hamilton shortstop Drew Swift was responsible for the only Hamilton run, hitting an opposite field solo home run later in the game, a high arching shot that may have been wind-aided but was a good piece of hitting regardless. I also really liked him defensively, with lots of quick twitch in his defensive actions and enough arm to make it work from the left side of the infield. 

Basha 3rd baseman Gage Workman is ranked highly in our 2018 class rankings and is committed to Arizona State, and it's easy to see why. He's super projectable and athletic, with a combination of athleticism, project ability, and size that isn't often seen in sophomores. The swing from the left side is very loose and easy, with plenty of bat speed and big power potential. He drove a triple into the pull gap and showed solid speed getting around the bases, and it's easy to project HR power as he adds strength to his frame. He's also very good at 3rd base, with the athleticism and actions that may even play at shortstop, and plenty of arm strength for the left side of the infield. 

3/29/2016 12:54:34 PM

Roughly 80+ evaluators crowded the bleachers at Verrado High School on Monday night for the Santa Barbara-Verrado game, as a part of the Coach Bob National Invitational. They weren't there to take in a game between two solid teams, however. They were there to watch Santa Barbara's starter, senior right-hander Kevin Gowdy, take the mound. 

Gowdy, who starred at PG National and was great at the Perfect Game All-American Classic in August, has been talked about as a potential first round draft pick for the upcoming draft ever since his lights-out showing at National. The tall and lanky righty is super projectable, with a long and lean build, and plenty of room to gain strength. The delivery is very easy, with a very clean arm action through the back into acceleration, ending in a pretty traditional three quarters slot with very good extension through release. He's balanced throughout and does an excellent job getting out over his front side, and has consistently shown the ability to command the baseball down in the zone to both sides of the plate. 

On Monday night, perhaps inhibited by the strong, dry wind coursing throughout the field, Gowdy's command wasn't as sharp as it had been. He still flashed quality stuff, with the same easy delivery and ideal projection levels. His fastball worked 91-93 MPH early, settling in around 87-91 MPH over the course of his 4 2/3 innings. He struck out 10 and walked only 1, but was behind in the count often and struggled to command the ball to the glove side. He looked to be landing a bit more closed off at foot strike than he usually does, and was overcompensating in his upper half by over rotating a bit, which caused him to yank everything off the plate glove side. The overall mechanical profile, including the arm action, delivery, and natural athleticism he possesses, all still speak to above-average command at maturity. 

His slider was a bit inconsistent but flashed above-average, with late diving tilt and good vertical break in the low-mid 80's, showing as an average pitch throughout the evening for the most part. He only threw a few changeups on the evening, but the pitch is still a quality third offering for him. He throws it with conviction and very good arm speed, showing a clean release off his hand and good fading action when down in the zone.

At his best, an evaluator will see a projectable right-hander with a clean mechanical profile, above-average command projection, and a chance for 3 average-or-better pitches. While Monday night wasn't his best outing, the upside is still obviously there. 

3/29/2016 10:12:04 AM

Simi Valley, CA vs. Xaverian, NY

Xaverian starter, Alex Passarella, was up to 90mph in the first inning sitting 87-89 mph. He later settled into the 85-87 mph range with good run on his fastball and solid bite on his breaking ball.  Passarella was extremely effective when working down in the strike zone mixing in and out.  He has a strong build with the looks of a potential reliever down the road with his makeup while also working exclusivity out of the stretch.  He is currently uncommitted.

Simi Valley pitcher, Kody Mclain, threw from a shorter arm action but was very loose with a quick arm. Mclain has a long, lean build, with tons of projection listed a t 6-4, 170 pounds.  He mixed looks constantly and would throw anything out of his three-pitch arsenal at anytime.  McClain pitched 4.1 innings.  He was 84-85, topping 86 mph and maintained velocity out of the stretch.

Simi Valley three hole hitter, Cal Hodgins, showed off some raw power hitting a ball out to right center field in a hurry.  Hodgins squared up balls on multiple occasion, every one leaving the barrel with authority.

Lead off hitter, Phoenix Hernandez, put constant pressure on the defense and was difficult to keep off the bases.  Hernandez has an athletic build with good speed on the base paths.  Swings on a line drive swing path with quick hands at the plate

Xaverian catcher, Luke McDonald, showed the ability to drive the baseball, especially to pull side. He took full advantage to the opposition leaving balls over the heart of the plate, smoking a line drive that almost left the field over the left fielders head for a double.  McDonald is committed to Florida International. 

Nansemond River, VA vs. O'Connor, AZ

Nolan Gorman had himself a day at the plate going four for four with a triple shy of the cycle.  He opened up the bottom of the first with a grand slam hitting a ball well over the center field fence with serious pop, almost making a sound different from everyone else all day, off the barrel.  Gorman is only a sophomore but has impressive strength and power with a hit tool to match.

The brother combo of Keegan McCarville and Dawson McCarville made up a quality-pitching tandem this afternoon for O'Connor. K. McCarvile sat in the 87-88 mph range while topping out at 89 mph showing a curveball with sharp break and good depth.  His fastball seemed to jump out of his hands with his easy motion and clean arm action.    His brother came in to relief him in the 5th inning.  Only a junior, he has a slender build with long limbs and projects to add more velocity to his current 82 mph fastball. After a few errors in the first inning, D. McCarville impressed with his composure and ability to bounce back and continue to throw strikes and get outs.  He projects well as he continues to develop.

Tanner Baker and Bailin Markridge both were productive in their respective spots in the order consistently getting on base.  Markridge walked multiple times including a 9 pitch at bat in the fifth inning.  Baker showed off his athleticism posting a 3.88 second home to first time on a perfectly placed drag bunt down the third base line.  He also has arm strength in good actions in center field, hosing a guy on third trying to take an extra bag.

Marcos de Niza, AZ vs. Arcadia, AZ

Matt Schroer tossed a complete game two hitter in an impressive outing tonight.   Schroer had 5 strikeouts to no walks and generated 11 ground outs between his heavy fastball and well located curveball.  Schroer has very good arm speed wit good life on his fastball out of his hand.  He liked to mix his two seam and four seem giving hitters a very difficult time trying to time him up.  His curveball was very exclusive until the fifth inning, throwing 90% fastballs until then.  Schroer has tons of projection going forward and can swing the bat as well, launching a ball deep over the left field fence that was a no doubter the moment it left his bat.

Bobby Peirce broke the 0-0 tie by hitting a ground slam go left field.  Peirce has a young look, and also showed off his speed beating out an infield single running a 4.33 down the line.

Nick Dicarlo continued to show his high level of play making every play at shortstop with loose athleticism and strong throws across.  Dicarlo had a couple base knocks on the day and was almost automatically on second base taking the next bag with ease.  

Boulder Creek, AZ vs. TF South, IL

Mitchell Allen of Boulder Creek, a very strong, very well-built 1st baseman, continues to tear the cover off the ball this week. The swing is very quick with tremendous strength off the barrel, and he shows the ability to adjust to various velocities and pitch types. He's able to work to all fields, but as do most power hitters, he loves to pull the ball when he can. The HR power is legitimate, and he's working himself into draft consideration with every at bat. 

Junior Zach Baptist showed well at the plate as well, with good extension through contact and solid athleticism throughout his body. HE stung a few balls during the game, with developing strength off the barrel and good feel for contact. 

3/26/2016 7:57:41 PM

Pinnacle, AZ vs. Escondido, CA

Jake Holmes of Pinnacle high school had a nice day at the plate hitting the ball hard all day including a home run to left-center field.  Holmes has an easy stroke at the plate with natural lift through the point of contact that could lead to power potential in his future.  He also showed off his athleticism on the base paths taking second base immediately following the left fielder bobbling a base hit in his first at bat.  He then stole third base on the first pitch.  Holmes is committed to Arizona State University.  

Left-handed pitcher, Nick Goehring, gave up just one hit in his four innings of work, the hit coming off of a bloop single just over the third baseman’s head.  He had six strikeouts and was a groundball-producing machine impressively throwing 90% fastballs, rarely mixing in a curveball.  Goehring showed good arm side run on his fastball and was up to 80 mph in the first inning.

Escondido, CA vs. Verrado, HS

This game was all Verrado after an explosive 2nd inning followed by an even bigger 3rd inning.  Escondido did pressure in the first inning putting a run on the board in both the first and second inning.  Center fielder Carter Allen had a solid day at the plate showing a middle of the field approach and the ability to move down the line quickly.  

Sophomore Hayden Brown is listed at 6-3, 180 pounds but may actually be taller than listed.  Brown showed good leverage in his swing producing a 2 RBI triple hitting a screaming line drive over the second baseman’s head that made it’s way to the right-center field wall.  He motored over to third  base quickly clocking in right about 12 seconds flat.    Brown has a highly projectable build and will be interesting to follow as he further develops.  

Chapparel vs. Desert Mountain

In what started out as a potential blowout, with Chapparel jumping out to a 8-0 lead, Desert Mountain came storming back and ultimately made this game a football score, with Chapparel eventually reigning victorious 17-14. Yes, 17-14. 

Senior left-hander Alex Segal was intriguing, even if he didn't have his command. The XL-framed, super projectable lefty worked 85-88 MPH and touched 89 in his few innings, mixing in a sharp slider as well. The feel for his breaking ball came and went, but when he threw it hard and really snapped it out front, it was sharp with late diving tilt. 

Junior 3rd baseman Jacob Gonzalez hammered a pair of doubles deep over the CF's head and into the LCF gap in his first two at bats. The son of Luis Gonzalez has elite power potential that he's beginning to tap into in his right-handed swing, with the kind of raw strength and bat speed that is going to be very hard to ignore for scouts as we move towards his draft year. 

Junior Blake Paugh showed off the power that, among other things, has him ranked #116 in the class of 2017 by hitting a long home run for Chapparel. He's a very well-proportioned athlete with an excellent profile in the outfield, both from an athleticism and arm strength perspective; and the power he shows will allow him to profile in any of the 3 OF spots. 

3/25/2016 11:02:59 PM

Boulder Creek Double header:

Game 1: Pueblo Central, CO

Game 2: West Salem, OR

Coby Boulware showed off impressive speed and good actions at shortstop making multiple advanced plays including a backhanded play in the hole making a strong throw across.  Boulware gets big leads on the bases and is constantly look to take the next bag whether it be via stolen base or dirt ball read.  He is committed to Texas Christian University.

Zach Baptist was equally pressuring for the defense in the doubleheader today.  He was clocked at a solid 12.15 seconds on his triple to left while holding up a bit closing in on the bag.  He also did a great job on the mound in game for a primary infielder constantly missing barrels and keeping the hitters off balance.

Toby Allred swung it well in game one with a couple of line drive base hits.  He has a simple swing while still getting good extension through the baseball.

Mitchell Allen impressed again with his physicality and pure strength.  He had two hits in game two including a double on a pitch very low in the zone that seemed to jump off his bat unlike other high school hitters.  Allen also showed good awareness of the strike zone and will take the free pass if given.   Allen is commited to San Diego State University.  

Arcadia High School 

2017 shortstop Nick Dicarlo is a very intriguing prospect, both with the glove and the bat. While he's smooth defensively and the actions project, it's his bat that has made a lot of noise this week. He starts with a very low hand set, loads cleanly, and while the ultimate bat path can be inconsistent, at it's best it's very direct and quick with good strength behind it. When he turns the barrel with authority, there is strength there (with a lot more to come--the body projects very well), and he's able to drive the baseball on a line with good authority. Ultimately, the hit tool looks to project pretty well with power eventually coming, and he also projects well defensively on the infield. An uncommitted prospect right now with extremely high academic acumen, Dicarlo is undoubtedly a high level division one prospect. 

2016 catcher Sam Huff has shown big time power all week in addition to quality overall feel for hitting. At roughly 6'4", 230; Huff is an extremely large prospect by catcher standards, and his body could still withstand a pretty significant amount of strength gains. While his size may eventually shift him out from behind the plate, he's perfectly capable of handling the position now and in the immediate future, with quality receiving skills and solid catch-and-throw mechanics, popping right around 2.0-2.1 seconds consistently. He shows a good understanding of the strike zone when hitting as well, capable of laying off tough pitches (including off speed stuff), and waiting on a pitch he can drive. The swing can become a bit elongated but there is legitimate raw power in the bat; with potentially limitless power upside as he continues to get stronger. 

2017 Louisiana State commit Matt Schroer is a primary pitcher, but he's also the #3 hitter in the Arcadia lineup, and his at bats this week have shown legitimate two-way upside. Highlighted by above-average bat speed and leverage at contact, Schroer is a legitimate extra-base, gap-to-gap power threat right now, and the body projection speaks to future HR potential as well. That same projection also makes him an extremely intriguing pitching prospect. He threw one inning on Friday night to close out the game, striking out the side by working 85-87 MPH with his four seam fastball, showing late, heavy life on the pitch; and also mixing in a two seamer with hard, diving sink in under the hands of right handed hitters. The arm works very well and the body projects; again giving him a good upside on the mound. It's the two-way potential both on the mound and in the box that makes him the most intriguing, however. 

Arcadia cleanup hitter Mehki Beler is a seriously strong kid, with a lower body that resembles that of a professional linebacker, and that strength certainly plays into his swing. He got the barrel out and pulled quite a few balls extremely hard, some foul down the line, and finally timed one up enough to lace a double to the pull field with an exit velocity that would have at least been in the 90's. The bat speed and strength are legitimate with him, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him hit several home runs this spring. 

Arcadia starting pitcher Kyle Durchslag picked up the victory, allowing no runs on 2 hits, 1 walk, and picking up three strikeouts. He kept his pitch count low and did a good job missing barrels, eliciting a good amount of weakly hit pop ups and ground balls, keeping his defense active while not allowing opposing hitters to square him up. He mixed and matched with his fastball and off speed stuff, throwing consistent strikes with all of his pitches. It was a quick, tidy outing for him. 

4/1/2016 9:54:56 AM

The National Division Championship was played this afternoon between O’Connor (AZ) and tournament host Boulder Creek (AZ).  The schools are just 12 miles from each other, an easy 15-minute drive on the I-17.  Both teams had participated in both weeks of the event posting a combined record of 17-1, 9-1 (Boulder Creek,) and 8-0 (O’Connor) respectively.  Both teams featured promising young prospects, many of which have made commitments to division 1 programs.

To add to the excitement of this championship, these two teams are known to have a rivalry between each other, each game being a “Battle of the Bell”.  There is a large bell that is passed to the winner of each game of the rivalry, the last of which belonging to Boulder Creek.

Scoring opened up in the bottom of the first for Boulder Creek.  San Diego State signee, Mitchell Allen, drove in Texas Christian University commit Colby Boulware on a well hit ball to left field, once again showing off Allen’s pure strength off the barrel.  The lead did not last long for Boulder Creek.  Sophomore  and University of Arizona commit, Nolan Gorman, destroyed a pitch recorded 92 mph off the bat into the right-center field gap for a leadoff double.  He then tagged up to third base off a deep fly ball to center field from Trey Patnoe.  First basemen Ryan Alexander then drove Gorman in on a groundball to the second basemen.

Boulder Creek followed up with three runs of their own in the bottom of the second, two scoring off an error and one by an RBI single from junior outfielder Carter Lay.  O’Connor then brought in Brandon Moore who was able to get out of the inning without surrendering anymore damage by getting a shallow fly out to right field followed by a slick 5-4-3 double play keeping the score at 4-1.

Nico Burgarello belted his first home run of the season over the right field fence in the third, turning on an inside fastball bringing the score 4-2 in the top of the third.  He later flashed some leather in the bottom of the inning making a diving stop at shortstop before proceeding to throw out Allen at first, showing off his quick-twitch athleticism.  O’Connor pressured in the fourth, starting at the hands of Nolan Gorman once again, taking a fastball up and away into the left-center gap for his second double of the day.  Gorman then scored after a hard hit ball on the infield was booted into left field bringing the score 4-3.  The lead didn’t last much longer than that.  After a clean play and throw to home, the ball somehow made its way out of the catcher’s glove on the tag tying the game at 4.  A wild pitch then brought in senior Keegan McCarville giving O’Connor a one run lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Carter Lay drove a ball into the left-center field gap for his second hit of the day.  Zach Baptist then turned on a pitch, lacing a double to left field tying the game.  After an O’Connor error, and runners on the corner, a wild pitch brought in Baptist from third base giving Boulder Creek the lead at 6-5.

Top of the six led off with a Keegan McCarville single through the right side who later stole second base.  A Max Peters walk lead Nico Burgarello to the plate, who continued his fantastic day smashing a double down the right field line.   Neither team could string any runs together for the rest of the inning.

With the score tied in the top of the seventh, a couple hit by pitches and a walk loaded the bases with two outs for O’Connor, bringing arguably the hottest hitter in the lineup, Burgarello, to the plate.  Burgarello pounded a ball back up the middle just far enough out of Boulware’s reach for him not to have a play on it bringing the score 7-6.  O’Connor was able to drive in two more runs, one coming off of a Bailin Markridge RBI single to right-field.

The score was 9-6 going into the bottom of the seventh.  Making his third appearance of the week, Dawson McCarville came into the game in a save opportunity.  Boulder Creek was not going out without a fight, however.  Baptist led off with a leadoff walk and pinch hitter, Eddie Dopkowski, smashed a hard ground ball at the shortstop, who couldn’t quite come up with it cleanly.  Tyler Larson then hit a single to left field loading the bases for Boulder Creek with just one out.  McCarville picked it up a couple notches, possibly adrenaline induced, showing more life on his fastball than he had all week.  McCarville pounded the bottom of the zone getting a well hit ground ball at third basemen, Gorman, for a 5-4-3 double play ending the game.

The two teams will meet again for “Battle of the Bell” once again on April 20^th, a 3:45pm start at Sandra Day O’Connor High School.  Both teams played extremely well throughout the past two weeks and are very well coached.  All the players handle themselves with class on the field and are fierce competitors.  If one is looking for a pair of teams to watch in Arizona, these two teams bring the type of intensity that make the game extremely enjoyable to watch.  Expect a lot of success from both Boulder Creek and O’Connor the rest of the season.  

4/1/2016 9:49:19 AM

Mullen, CO vs. Moorpark, CA

Right-handed pitcher Dane Aguilar struck out 10 hitters in six innings of work.  The 6-4, 180-pound senior has a lean, loose body and throws from an easy arm action that produced a fastball that will occasionally showing cutting action. He showed two different breaking balls, both displaying tight spin. His changeup got even better as the game went along, each one proceeding to show more diving action low in the zone.  He is currently uncommitted.

Coming into close the game in the seventh for Moorpark was senior Conner Chapman.  He came in mixing a curveball with tremendous depth, freezing opposing hitters which led to him striking out three of the four batters he faced.  What impressed more was his bet at the plate as he belted a 2 RBI double over the center fielders head.  His frame shows current strength and translated well into the swing.  

Catcher for Mullen was Stanford signee, Maverick Handley.  With over a dozen scouts at the field to see him, Handley showed impressive reception skills as well as a strong arm in which he was able to show off in the first inning in a strike 'em out-throw 'em out situation.  He also later in the game picked a runner off first base.  His swift transfers and quick-twitch athleticism showed consistent pops in the 1.8-second range in between innings.  His high level defensive skills were very impactful in keeping the ball game close.  

Moorpark, CA vs. Apollo, AZ

Dante Sandoval showed quick hands at the plate with a contact approach.  He laced a line drive up the middle just out of the center fielder's diving reach. He would score later that inning

Connor Chapman doubled on short compact swing down left field line showing off his hot tool once again.  Chapman has the body and strength to play a corner spot at the collegiate level.

Left-handed pitcher Travis Weston tossed a complete game shutout in a terrific performance.  He has a clean, shorter arm circle through the back with an easy delivery.  He pounds the top of the strike zone with his fastball while mixing in a curveball with deep depth.  Weston is committed to San Diego State University.

3/25/2016 12:35:14 AM

Tournament Champions:

American: Mountain Ridge, AZ

Premier: Pine Creek, CO

Classic: Lakeridge, OR

All-Star: Lincoln, CO

Redlands East Valley, CA vs. Mountain Ridge, AZ

2017 Tommy Lowe of Mountain Ridge HS started the game for the Mountain Lions sitting in the 80-83 mph range with his fastball from a lower three quarter arm slot.  He had a three pitch mix showing a breaking ball at 71 mph and a changeup at 74 mph.  He mixed spots well and had good feel for his breaking ball.  He will occasionally mix arm slot further disrupting the opposition’s timing

Cameron Cannon had the first knock and run of the game for the Mountain Lions lacing a line drive the other way on a changeup left up in the zone.  Like previous stated, Cannon has all the showings to be a quality college defender and top of the order guy for the University of Arizona down the road.

Starter for Redlands East Valley was senior Brett Vansant who stands a very tall 6-7 and weighs in at about 185 pounds.  Vansant only threw two innings for Wildcats but showed an 86 mph fastball and the ability to throw two other pitches for strikes.  He throws from a long, high three-quarter arm slot with good extension out front.

Lincoln, OR vs. Shadow Ridge, AZ

Fabian Villegas is listed at 6-3, 170 pounds but looks much stronger and physical than listed.  Villegas struck out multiple Lincoln hitters through the first few innings showing a low 80’s fastball, a 76 mph slider, and a changeup with great deception with good late fade.

Thomas Rudinsky looked outstanding for Lincoln in their championship win.  Rudinsky looks the part of a catcher with strong, compact build and bulging forearms.  He opened up the game smashing a curveball back up the middle and later sent a ball left over the plate well over the left field fence.  He showed aggressive base running and got great jumps taking two bases on a passed ball with no problem.  He gloves it well behind the dish receiving the ball strongly.

Shadow Ridge center fielder, Jordan Bach, is a sophomore with plenty of room to fill out physically as he puts on additional strength which is promising for how well he played.  Bach gets quick jumps in the outfield and is able to play the gaps while still covering tons of ground.  At the plate he has a middle of the field approach on a line drive swing plane.  In his first at bat, Bach roped a line drive to center field.  He was robbed of his second hit nearly taking the opposing pitcher’s glove off with his screamer back at him.  He is a very promising young athlete that should only continue to improve. 

Pine Creek, CO vs. Hood River, OR

Jay Onken had himself a day at the plate, smashing two home runs, the first landing 350 feet over the fence, the second just left of the hitter’s eye sitting somewhere around 385 feet area.  Onken takes aggressive swings at the plate, looking to hit the ball with authority getting his barrel flying toward the baseball.  Although he is listed as a primary pitcher, he has the chance to be a very high level two way talent down the road.  Onken is listed a 6-2, 190 pounds and has a very athletic build physically.

Skyler Hunter showed a great glove in the field making multiple outstanding plays.  He plays the game extremely hard and was a gamer from the get go busting down the line quickly and also showing he is never afraid to give his body up for the team.

Creighton commit, Brice Johnson, sat 80-83 mph, topping 84 mph, coming in relief and ultimately collecting the win.  Brice throws from a three-quarter’s arm slot that stays loose.  He has a big, projectable body that should fill out an nicely and lead to more velocity down the road.

Riley Greogry showed good defensive actions behind the dish, keeping runners in check on multiple occasions.  He receives extremely well and is committed to Northern Colorado this fall. 

2019 Kyle Thompson immeaditly caught eyes when coming in to relief after the starting pitcher was forced out of the game with an injury after a liner back at him.  Thompson showed very quick arm and a quality three pitch mix he could throw in any count.  Thompson was up to 82 mph with a 68 mph breaker with good depth and a changeup that faded down late.  Thompson has all the makings to be a great pitcher down the road and should be exciting to watch develop as he continues to mature.  

Heritage High School's Riley Egloff, a 2018 right-handed pitcher, got folks buzzing early Thursday morning when he took the mound. Though the arm action features some hook in the back and there is some violence in the delivery, he has a good raw feel for his mechanical profile and projects well on the mound. He came out working 86-87 MPH and touched 88 MPH a few times, working down in the zone with the pitch and flashing the ability to run it in on right-handed hitters. He mixed in a solid slider at times, as well. The pitch is a bit inconsistent at this point, but he'll flash the ability to really snap it off out front and generate good tilt down and away from right-handed hitters. He threw strikes for the most part, and on the whole is pretty easily projectable as a Division One arm.

Egloff's Heritage teammate, 2017 SS/C Casey Orpitz, should be on the radar for next year's draft. He's a fast twitch prospect who can definitely play shortstop, but also has interesting projection as a catcher. He's popping pretty consistently in the 2.0-2.1 second range from behind the plate with good athleticism and quickness, with a lot to like about his catch-and-throw skills. A left-handed hitter, he shows a quick stroke with good plate coverage and an advanced approach. He can go gap to gap right now with projectable power, more than willing to take a walk, and on the whole looks like he's a pretty good prospect. 

3/24/2016 1:07:59 AM

Whittier, CA vs. Pueblo West, CO

Matt Sosa had a day at the plate with three hits while also driving in all three runs. Sosa has an athletic build and present strength in his frame.  He showed a middle of the field approach, hitting two hard ground balls up the middle for base knocks. He came up big in his third at bat smashing a ball past the shortstop with two runners in scoring position to take the lead.  Those runs were just enough to lead Whittier to a 3-1 victory.

Although he took the loss, Rocco Arguto did a nice job mixing his pitches and keeping most of the opposition off balance.  His fastball wasn’t over powering, but his curveball had very good depth and sharp break, looking almost untouchable by Whittier hitters at times.

Lead off hitter Cody McAteer manufactured the only run of the day for Pueblo West lacing a ball into the right center gap flying around the bases to score. McAteer has a young, slender build but showed quick hands at the plate with good discipline on tough pitches. He showed good speed and played well in the outfield.

West Albany, OR vs Farmington, NM

Bryce Washburn was loose, flexible, and athletic in everything he did in the field. He started the game at shortstop and made his way to the mound in the third inning.  Washburn shut down the worst offensive charge until ultimately giving up the game winning run on an infield single.  Washburn threw from a high three-quarter's arm slot with arm side run and a fastball that sat in the upper 70s. Washburn’s future however looks to be in the middle infield, making clean defense of plays in the first two innings.  He also produced quality at bats at the plate showing hard pull side contact as a top of the order guy.

Alex Pynes drove in three runs and put constant pressure on the defense with an uncharacteristically simple stroke from the clean up spot in the order.  He consistently produced with runners in scoring position.  His tall, lean build should continue to fill out and mature physically, possibly turning his base hits into driven balls in the gap.

Dominic Hines found the barrel in his first three at bats of the day flying out to left, hitting a line drive to right field, and a deep double over the left field gap.  Hines showed to have an above average power potential for his size.

Curtis Zamora was the hero for the winning team hitting an infield chopper at the shortstop for the game winning RBI. He also singled up the middle in his prior at bat.  Zamora took full advantage of the pitches he saw and opportunities he was given.  He swings on a line drive swing plane with a middle of the field approach. 

Lewis Palmer, CO vs. Deer Valley, AZ

Cody Morrow sat 80-83 MPH from an over-the-top arm slot. He showed good downhill plane and used his breaking ball twice as an out pitch in the first inning.   Morrow is committed to Solano CC.

Middle-infield combo Kevin Tims and Billy Cook played well at the top of the order. Both showed pull side approaches with multiple hard-hit baseballs.  You can tell that the two have been playing together for a good amount of time based on the connection they had on defense making double plays look easy.   Both were able to set the tone every time they stepped to the plate putting themselves in scoring position countless times.

Three-hole hitter Paul Tillotson was very impressive at the plate although his future looks more promising on the mound.  He's very physically mature with clear strength it is 6-2, 200 pound frame.  Tillotson drove in six runs, four of which came on his grand slam off of a hanging breaking ball.  On his outing on Monday, he showed a fastball that sat 90-94 mph, topping out at 95 mph.  Tillotson has impressive arm speed and attacks hitters right away.  He throws from a compact three-quarters arm slot with good lower half drive. His changeup displayed deceptiveness while also mixing in a breaking ball.  He is currently committed to the University of Nebraska.

Dear Valley's cleanup hitter, Lucas Wyant, had a nice day at the plate doubling over the left fielder's head in his first at-bat, walking in a second at-bat, and singling through the right side in his third.  Wyant has a strong build and good bat speed with the ability to hit all fields. 

Clackamas, OR vs. Apollo, AZ

Shortstop Channy Ortiz displayed great footwork on defense with clean transfers while being sure handed with the glove.  Ortiz is a switch hitter at the plate that has the ability to get out of the box quickly and swipe a bag with his above average speed.  As Ortiz continues to mature and gain even more arm strength, he has the chance to be a high level defender at the next level.  He is verbally committed to Grand Canyon University.  

Sprague, OR vs. O'Connor, AZ

O'Connor's starter, 2016 RHP Ryan Alexander, is committed to Grand Canyon and it's pretty easy to see the upside on the young right-hander. Working 85-87 for the majority of his outing, touching 88, he was able to consistently spot the fastball at the knees to the glove side. He was overpowering with his fastball at times. especially when commanded. The slider was inconsistent but at times it was sharp with good tilt; it was better the harder he threw it. He was within the zone throughout his entire time on the mound, and went right after the opposing hitters. 

2018 3B Nolan Gorman has a chance to be a very special hitter; as the young University of Arizona commit shows an advanced feel for the barrel with hands that take the bat head to the zone very quickly. He's a strong prospect already with projection for additional growth, so while he can drive the ball all over the yard now, it's only a matter of time before it's consistent HR power. The hands also work very well at 3rd base; with more than enough arm strength for the position. 

2016 Cal Poly commit Bailin Markridge has the type of athleticism and projection that gives him a supremely high upside. A high level quarterback on the football team, that athleticism and athletic intelligence translates well to the baseball field. He has the barrel control from the left side of the plate to use the whole field; and he also has some legitimate strength, as he drove a triple over the right fielders head. He could potentially end up a monster for the Cal Poly Mustangs. 

Sheldon, OR vs. Mountain Ridge, AZ

2016 Cameron Cannon has done a tremendous job in the past year or so as far as getting stronger throughout his body, and he now looks like a completely different player from the first time we saw him. He still maintains his quick twitch athleticism, and the defensive actions at shortstop are very clean and quick. At the plate, he flashes the ability to drive the baseball to both gaps with solid bat speed and the additional strength to his frame has done nothing but help him. He has a chance, with more polish, to be an immediate contributor at the University of Arizona. 

Sheldon's Sam Olson has some impressive physicality, with legitimate strength throughout his body and a well-proportioned, still-athletic frame. He laced a loud triple over the center fielders head, on a line. There was no TrackMan at the field, but it wouldn't be a shock that it was 100 MPH off the bat. There's some serious leverage and strength in that swing, with an up the middle approach. 

3/23/2016 3:13:35 AM

Grant, OR vs Golden, CO

Chris Fernandes caught some attention when he laced a line drive over the right fielders head for what would of been an easy triple if he wasn't restricted by base-runners in front of him.  Fernandes has explosive speed out of the box and on the bases displayed when he came flying in to score from second base after a dribbler was mishandled during an exchange between the pitcher and catcher. His aggressive style of play doesn't over compensate for his plate discipline and good plate awareness.

Luke Caruthers may have not had his best outing as he struggled with command combined with the defense behind him, he did show some good projectablity in his 6-4 --- pound frame. His long limbs generated good extension out front and when he was able to command his pitches, he flashed signs of effectiveness. His fastball sat in the low 80s with more to come as he further cleans up his mechanics.

 West Albany, OR vs. Boulder Creek, AZ

Jacob Miller had two strong innings of work before losing some velocity and command into the third.  Miller’s breaking ball was practically untouchable showing sharp, late break with great command.  Combined with his 80-81 MPH fastball, the Boulder Creek was initially kept off balance before eventually finding barrels.

Senior Mitchell Allen, a San Diego State University commit, made the biggest splash offensively exploding on an 0-1 fastball left over the plate for a no-doubt grand slam to left field.   Allen is listed at 6-2, 205 lbs. and shows physicality throughout his build.  His present strength and power was shown in how well the baseball carried off his barrel, even in at bats he didn’t completely connect.

 Rogers, AR vs. Central, Catholic, OR

Left-handed pitcher and Arkansas signee, Harrison Heffley, tossed four strong innings as Rogers HS collected another win in Arizona.  Heffley has a long, lean build with tons of projectablity off the mound.  He displayed a three-pitch mix with excellent feel for his curveball, which showed good depth and solid break.  His fastball sat in the 81-84 MPH with some arm side run and all signs point to more velocity come as he continues to put on additional strength.  Heffley has an old school windup that begins with a long, separating arm swing meeting again above his head into a small hip coil into his delivery.  His long arm action stays loose throughout with good flexibility throughout his body.  He works the third base side of the mound and lands slightly closed off with a tendency to work the outer half of the plate.   His changeup is developing and flashes the potential to be a good future third pitch.  He also struck out eight batters.

Leadoff hitter, junior Grayson Lee, had a nice day at the plate consistently hitting the baseball hard all afternoon.  Lee starts with a tall, upright stance with a calm approach.  He had three RBI’s through the first four at bats including an exit velocity of 88 MPH off the bat on his triple to left-center field.

Following Lee in the order was senior infielder Jay Young who drove in the first run of the day with a triple of his own to right center field.  Young has good barrel control and looks to get it moving through the zone quickly.  He is a high-energy player with good athleticism that plays the game hard and is not afraid to give up his body to help his club. 

Lake Oswego, OR vs. Valley Vista, AZ

It was quite the pitching duel between the two teams in a ballpark packed with scouts across the west coast.  Oregon State commit Mitchell Verburg fastball topped 91 MPH while mixing in a curveball that actually worked to be his strikeout pitch to multiple hitters.  Verburg works from a high three-quarter arm slot with very good arm speed and good downhill plane to the plate.  His two-pitch mix managed just one hit until the final inning in which Valley Vista was able to string together enough to pull out the victory.  Verburg did an excellent job competing on the mound and going deep into the ball game for his squad.  He struck out seven hitters on the day.

The winning pitcher, Dylan Chelini, was a bulldog tonight pounding the strike zone with his low 80’s fastball while showing good command of his off-speed arsenal as well.  Chelini struck out 11 Lake Oswego hitters in his complete game victory while only walking one hitter and giving up one earned run. 

With two outs in the bottom of the seven, there was a chance Chelini could of picked up a loss, which many could argue, neither pitcher deserved.  A 2 RBI double from Bradley Steube for a walk off victory was the final stamp on a fantastic game.  

ThunderRidge, CO vs. Knight, CA.

About a dozen scouts settled in for this one, all there to see 2016 RHP Jake Eissler throw. Eissler is ranked 4th among pitchers in the state of Colorado, and is signed to TCU. He was absolutely dominant on this day, working in the 87-90 MPH range for the entirety of his seven innings on the mound, racking up 15 strikeouts, allowing only two base hits and zero walks. He commanded his fastball very well, staying down in the zone for strikes one and two and then often elevating the fastball to the letters to get a swinging strike three. He showed a solid curveball early on, but realized he didn't really need it after the 2nd inning and was at least 90% fastballs the rest of the way. The arm action, while highlighted by a bit of a hook in the arm circle, is mostly quick and clean; and the ball jumps out of his hand. He gets downhill well and extends out front, creating a difficult downward plane on the pitch. He wasted zero time, with several 10-12 pitch innings, really attacking the opposing hitters and doing an outstanding job throughout.

3/22/2016 2:36:46 AM

Rodgers (AR) vs. Conifer, CO

Rogers (AR) High School showed a few guys with legitimate talent in their 12:30pm game at Sandra Day O’Connor High School.    Senior and Harding commit Sage White showed a high average approach while looking to hit the ball where it is pitched.  He uses a limited load and no leg lift staying very direct to the baseball not trying to do too much.

Arkansas commit, left-handed pitcher Harrison Heffley, showed off with the stick today rather than the glove going the other way with a hard ground ball for an RBI followed up with an RBI liner to left-center field.  Although it wasn’t the most orthodox of swings, Heffley showed great barrel control and a tough two strike approach.  His senior leadership was evident on the field and should continue to help his current and future ball clubs win games.

Thurston, OR vs. O’Connor, AZ

The Sandra Day O’Connor (AZ) Eagles took full advantage of the wind blowing out in today’s game, where the bats were live from inning one.

Senior right-fielder Bailin Markridge showed off his highly projectable toolset from the left side of plate.  Markridge has a smooth stroke with good bat speed while showing some natural lift through the point of contact.  He has currently been a dual sport athlete shining on the football field as well showing a very high ceiling now that is focus begins to harness completely into baseball as he has committed to continue his career at Cal Poly.

2017 Niko Burgarello flashed some high level leather on the diamond today showing an advanced feel for the game.  He showed smooth actions, clean transfers, and took away many hits with his next level defensive instincts.  He also scored twice in his two plate appearances.

University of Arizona commit, 2018 infielder Nolan Gorman went one for one at the dish with three RBIs including a double.  Gorman does not look the part of a sophomore on the field, looking very confident and relaxed. 

Marco Cotto stroked two doubles for O’Connor on his three hit day.  Cotto has the ability to lift balls low in the zone and drive them with good authority. 

Garrett Arthur continued the streak of hitting the ball hard for the Eagles.  His standup triple to right-center field over the center fielder and RBI liner to left-center field showed his ability to go gap-to-gap while driving the baseball. 

Senior Trey Patnoe and Tanner Baker also had very productive plate appearcens racking up three hits and five RBIs combined.  Patnoe showed a pull side approach that worked well for him.  He had great barrel turn on balls left over the plate, wearing out right field.

Colby Wyatt worked in the 84-86 range with his fastball while showing good feel for his off-speed pitches displaying the ability to throw them in any count.  Wyatt looks to get ahead on hitters getting on top of hitters with first pitch strikes through the first three innings of work.  Wyatt has some solid athleticism fielding his position nicely and can hold his velocity out of the stretch. 

Dakota Ridge, CO vs. Arcadia, AZ

A close game fought from both sides ending in a 6-4 win in favor of Arcadia, both squads showed a good core of players that has the chance to take them far in their perspective seasons.

One hitter who really stood out for Dakota Ridge was senior outfielder Bailey Collins.  His patient approach was very mature for such a hitter with higher level hit tools working the counts while only looking for pitches to drive early in counts.  Collins drove a ball deep to right field for a ground rule double in his second at bat that kept his team in the ball game for the following few innings.  His high leg lift while remaining quiet through his approach produced good bat speed and loud contact off the barrel.

Dante Tamez was a prototypical top of the order guy showing good speed, lots of hustle.  He consistently looked to take the extra base while also showing hard pull side contact on his double down the third base line.

Nick Dicarlo showed a more aggressive approach from the leadoff spot for Arcadia but was more impressive was his defensive actions in the field, showing clean actions and strong throws across.  Athletic instincts were also present as he was able to get great jumps on the ball in the field and on the base paths. 

Sam Huff uses his large build effectively in his simple swing.  The ball seems to fly off the barrel with ease, almost as if he isn’t putting anything behind it.  Huff has a middle field approach and great leverage in his swing taking a 2-0 pitch left over the plate over the center field fence to tie the game at three.  He also showed great leadership and a strong arm behind the plate constantly keeping runners in check.  Huff is committed to Grand Canyon University. 

2017 Louisiana State commit Matt Schroer didn’t pitch tonight but showed he can help the team with the stick too.  Schroer followed Sam Huff’s game tying home run with an absolute rope over the center fielders head and late scored on an RBI by Andrew Scheinert with his base hit up the middle.  Schroer has natural lift in his swing but does a nice job of keeping his barrel in the zone for an extended period of time.