3/15/2012 12:51:21 AM
Wednesday's marquee game of the Cleats Invitational was an exciting 3-2 win by Houston Christian over Arcadia with a pitching match up of Mitchell Traver vs. Andrew Naderer that was featured as our National High School Game of the Week. Todd Gold will have a full recap with video of both pitchers. Check the Perfect Game front page for the article.
The other big match up of the day was a Mountain View/Basha game at Mesquite High School. 2012 draft prospect and Arizona St. commit Willie Ethington was impressive sitting 88-90 touching 91 during his first three innings. He also showed a 74-76 mph curveball with 11/5 break and a 78-79 mph change with sink. Ethington is consistent with his mechanics and the ball comes out well. He also does a good job of maintaining slot on his off-speed pitches and throws them both for strikes.
Ethington is a good athlete who plays SS when he is not on the mound, ripped a long homerun to left field, a no doubt shot in which he showed good leverage and strength in his swing.
-Tyler Wiehl started the game with a solo homerun of his own. The left-handed batter is agressive at the plate and stays inside the ball well, with the ability to drive inner half fastballs, which he showed on the homer.
-Basha SS Jamie Westbrook got a chance to show off his defensive skills today and is a solid middle infield defender with quick feet, soft hands and good feel for the position. His bat is his best tool and he again showed a quick bat with the ability to drive it to all fields as well as balance and pitch recognition as he stayed back and drove an Ethington curveball back up the middle for a base hit during his second AB. Here is video of Westbrook's 1st inning strikeout against Ethington.