3/13/2012 2:09:00 AM
Notes and Observations on the Teams and Players from Day 1of the Cleats Invitational Classic
Desert Ridge Cruises to an Easy Win Over Marcos de Niza
-SS Riley Unroe (2013) is an interesting follow from DR. Good athlete with easy defensive actions and solid arm strength, smooth overall player.
-Other interesting prospects from Desert Ridge: Caleb Rodriguez (2014), listed 6’4, 220 and looks it. Strong with athleticism, power bat with power to come. Keaton Cenatiempo, long rangy build, showed quickness in bat and smooth swing, more to come as body fills out. CF Jordan Mesa, good athlete with defensive tools, quick actions and solid online arm action.
-Marcos de Niza RF Rashad Baker (2012) hit the hardest ball all day, driving a pitch to the base of the left- center field wall an estimated 375-380 feet away at the cavernous confines of Marcos de Niza HS.Good, looking athlete with strength, power looks to be his calling card.
-MdN OF Nick Fatica (2012), Central Arizona CC commit. Quick twitch athlete who can run. Quickness in bat, hustles player who plays very hard. Interesting follow.
Arcadia posted a come from behind 4-3 win in 8 innings over Desert Mountain.
-Arcadia RHP Gary Cornish (2012) threw well. FB 76-78, lot of strikes, good feel for 68-70 mph slider. Lean build, loose arm action.
-Arcadia C Max Shuman (2013) continues to prove he is one of the top hitters in the state. Leaner and stronger physically than last time PG saw him. Very good idea at plate with advanced approach. Showed versatility at plate, able to pull off speed pitches into RF, take outer half fastballs to LCF, and stay back and drive pitches in wheelhouse. Singled to RF, flew out to deep RF, tied game in 7th with opposite field double to left-center. Good athlete who runs well.
- Arcadia RF Andrew Naderer (2012) long, loose athlete with lots of smoothness to his game. Bats R, Throws L. Swing plane is good with easy extension, arm works well with looseness. Hoping to see on mound.
-Arcadia 1B Drew Butler (2012) provided the highlights with a walk off solo HR in the 8th inning to left-center field. Strong compact build with leverage in swing. Good bat speed, ball comes off very well.
-Desert Mountain is a strong team with an interesting future as many of their top players at 2013 and 2014 grads.
-DM SS Cody Erickson (2013) stood out with his all around play. Good athlete with compact build. Short, line drive swing at the plate with good bat speed and strength. Excels as defensive SS, very good going to 5.5 hole and starting double play. Feet quick, has body control. Arm plays at both SS and 3B. Pitched in relief 84-86. Very interesting follow.
-DM RF Keaton Boysen (2012). Strong athlete with smooth swing that produces line drives. Ball comes off the bat well and is able to backspin balls. Moves well in the OF, arm works. Player to be watched closely. Gateway CC commit.
-DM 1B Ben Rodriguez (2013). Big strong player with power right-handed bat. Solid athlete who fields position well. Good approach at the plate with good pitch recognition. Can hit the ball a long way.
-RHP Matt Lewis (2012). Fastball 80-81, lots of strikes, repeats well, online with mechanics. Very pitchable. Good feel for 70-71 mph change.
Saguaro Hangs on for 6-4 Win over Rival Chaparral
-Chaparral 2012 3B/RHP Chance Adams was 85-87, touched 89, 73 slurve, 80 change. Athletic kid, has arm speed, works heavily off of slurve, CH has some life with fade. Settled in after 1st and didn't give up another run in his 4 innings of work.
-Chaparral 2012 RHP Tyger Tulley was an easy 87-89 with more in there, wipe out 82 slider, solid 80 mph change. Carved up Saguaro, struck out 7 of 9 hitters he faced in 3 perfect relief innings.
-Chaparral hits 5 straight lefties at the top of their lineup, was an effective strategy against Saguaro 2012 L3/4 RHP Daniel Akmon,who was 81-84 with some funk. Righties struggled; lefties hit some balls hard, lot of loud outs.
-Chaparral 2012 CF Austin Singer showed easy bat speed,direct path, ball comes off pretty well, has some pop and is athletic. Realnice player.
-Chaparral 2013 1B/LHP Dillon Bigcrane Jackson has good raw power, wore out both foul lines, hit the ball hard a few times.
-Saguaro 2012 1B/OF Reed Austin has good raw tools, can hammer a fastball.
Ruggiero No-Hitter Wins Nightcap for Seton
-Seton Catholic RHP Troy Ruggiero (2012) threw a complete game no hitter, striking out ten, walking five and hitting a batter. The big righty sat 84-86, touching 87 and has been up to 88 at past PG events. He also flashed three off-speed pitches, a 75-76 mph slider, 70 mph curveball, and 73-74 mph changeup.
Here is video of Ruggiero from Monday night.
-While Ruggiero was impressive the biggest story of the night was Relands East Valley RHP Jackson McClelland. The big righty is a physical specimen at 6’5, 235. He sat 90-92 up to 93 twice in the first inning.He is imposing and throws with short arm action, working downhill. The ball comes out easy and there is not much effort in his delivery. McClelland has all the makings of a draft pick and will have to tighten up a curveball that was 69-71. He showed a straight changeup in between innings. McClelland’s body, arm action, and velocity were extremely impressive. Below is video from Monday night.
-Other position prospects of mention were: Redlands East Valley OF Casey Sheehan (2014) a young athlete to follow, Redlands East Valley DH Blake Braun (2013) who showed strength and bat quickness, and CF Brian Chapparo (2012) and SS Frank Alvarez (2012) both of who showed quality defensive actions and athleticism.
-Redlands East Valley LHP Justin Jacome (2012) is a long, lean arm to dream on. He sat 82-84 and touched 85 multiple times, backing it with a 66-68 mph curveball and will gain velocity as his body adds strength. He already shows quickness in his arm and is committed to UC-Santa Barbara.
-Seton 3B CJ McGrady (2012) showed a quick bat and good plate coverage with pop in his bat, and SS David Garlid (2013) has good arm strength and athleticism and showed power to right-center field.