3/17/2012 1:16:57 AM
McClellan, RedlandsEast Valley hammers Cactus Shadows:
-Redlands East Valley 2012 RHP/1B Jackson McClelland continued to impress. after topping out at 93 on Monday in a loss to Seton Catholic, McClelland took the mound again today and dominated Cactus Shadows with at least five shutout innings. His fastball sat 88-92 and topped out at 94. His big slow curveball with a lot of depth registered at 70, his changeup showed big fade action up to79. Last pitch of the 5th inning was a 91 mph fastball in the bottom corner for strike three. Also showed off offensive ability by hitting a 2-run Home Run to the opposite field.
-REV 2012 MIFs Ryan England and Frank Alvarez each homered for the Wildcats. Alvarez also showed good instincts on the basepaths and both showed solid all around tools.
-REV 2012 SS/3B Hakim Haynes showed very good raw athleticism, at the plate he showed quick hands and runs well. Chance to develop into quality hitter, has the tools.
-REV 2012 OF Brian Chaparro continued to hit the ball hard this tournament, he creates big separation between his upper and lower halves to generate good bat speed with a long swing with the ability to drive the ball consistently.
-REV 2012 1B/LHP Justin Jancome drove a ball 94 mph off the bat to right center field, he projects to add power as he fills out his long lanky frame.
Saguaro overpowers Arcadia to advance to Cleats Invitational Championship
Boxscore via GameChanger
-Saguaro 2012 OF Austin Anderson tagged a deep Home Run to right field that clanked off of the sign commemorating the Sun Devils retirement of Barry Bonds' #24 jersey in Arizona State's Packard Stadium.Anderson finished the game 3-for-4 with 2 Runs and 2 RBIs and stole a base.
-Saguaro 2012 OF Zach Gibbons showed off his well rounded skillset as per usual, but his baserunning instincts were especially evident as he stole bases at will, going 3-for-3 on stolen base attempts.
-Saguaro 2012 OF Chris Akmon went 3-for-4 on the day and was a Home Run shy of the cycle.
-Arcadia 2012 C Max Schuman went 1-for-3 with an RBI double that registered at 94 mph off the bat.
-Arcadia 2012 OF Drew Butler smoked a line drive back up the middle that registered at 90 mph off the bat...but Saguaro SS Matt Morris reacted quickly, moved to his left to snag the liner and double off the runner at first for an inning ending double play. Morris went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Chaparral rallies toknock off Houston Christian to earn title game berth
box scorevia GameChanger
-Chaparral 2012 OF Dylan Cozens went 1-for-4 at the plate but was the hero of the game. Cozens came to bat with two on and two out and the game tied in the fifth inning. After going 0-for his first three ABs, Cozens smashed a screaming line drive to the left center field gap that registered at100 mph off the bat. Cozens showed good speed for his massive size (6' 5"230) to get three bases on a ball hit to left field. Cozens hit a pair of Home Runs in Chaparral's win over Cactus Shadows yesterday.
-Houston Christian 2012 RHP Brian Triegloff threw a complete game for the Mustangs, his fastball topped out at 92 mph and he hit 91 on each of his three final fastballs of the game. While he took the loss he showed a lot of heart battling against a strong Chaparral lineup that features five power hitting lefties at the top of the lineup. Triegloff also hit a 2-rundouble down the line in right field, making a good adjustment after seeing three changeups in the same at bat.
-Chaparral 2013 LHP/1B Dillon Bigcrane Jackson nailed down a three inning save for the Firebirds. His fastball sat 84-87 and touched 88 with short arm action and downhill plane when he managed to stay tall in his delivery. His sweeping 1-7 curveball showed big 2-plane break and he also worked in a pair of mid 70s changeups. Bigcrane also just missed hitting a 2-run Home Run, settling for an RBI double that hit off the top of the fence in right center.
-Chaparral 2012 LHP Nick Diamond, an ASU commit, made himself right at home in Packard Stadium. Diamond struck out 11 over four innings to pick up the win. His fastball sat 83-86, he took advantage of a wide strike zone, painting the outside black with a fastball that featured hard tailing action.
-Houston Christian 2014 MIF Devon Wilson showed a quick fluid swing and very good speed, stretching a sharply hit single to left into a double.
-Houston Christian 2012 SS Jonathan Bravo had the defensive gem of the night, leaping to rob a single and then throwing off his back foot to double off the runner at first for an inning ending double play. He would also come around to score after being conspicuously slow to get out of the way of a breaking ball on the inner half, which is an example of the many little things that Bravo does to help his team win.
Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville, TN) rolled Bowie (EL Paso, TX) in the early game 10-0 in five innings:
-MBA swept their doubleheader with a 24-16 win over Central(Grand Junction, CO). I think this is the most runs I have ever seen at a live baseball game, although I am racking my brain of the hundreds of games I’ve seen to make sure.
-MBA has a number of interesting underclass players led by IF William Penn Murfee (2013). Murfee played 2B in the first game and then 3B, showing good tools at both positions. He showed more feel at 3B and he projects for that position with his long, lean frame and arm strength. Murfee took good swings in the first game but didn’t square anything up. He showed off in the second game with a long HR to left center field, and hits to both right and left field, showing his plate coverage and ability to adapt to where pitches are thrown.
-C Tristan Chari (2014) is a young backstop to watch. He has an athletic frame and very good receiving skills. His body is still young and his foot quickness and arm strength figure to improve as he gains additional strength. He is a switch-hitter with loose, easy bat speed from the left side,driving the ball up the middle. Facing all right-handers, Chari did not get a chance to swing it from the right side.
-OF Will Campbell (2012) is a very good top of the order bat with a left-handed stroke with very good contact. A good athlete he runs and has pop in his bat and seemed to be one base about a dozen times over the two games. It is a possibility with the MBA offensive explosion in the second game.
-The bright spot for Bowie was RHP Danny Soto (2012) a lean,loose athlete who played shortstop for a few innings before coming in and throwing 84-86 on the mound with good feel for a 72-73 mph slider. His arm action is long but smooth and he could easily add 2-3 mph with more strength.He is currently unsigned and would be a very good arm for a Texas/New Mexico/Arizona juco.
Grand Junction (CO) standouts:
-Grand Junction HS (the second Grand Junction team in as many games) is one of the better overall teams I saw this week. It would have been interesting to see how they matched up against Houston Christian, Saguaro and Chaparral in the National and American Divisions.
-The top four hitters in the Grand Junction lineup could match up up with most teams in the Western half of the country.
-Leadoff man Sean Rubalcaba (2012) is a Northern Colorado QB and a very good prospect on the diamond as well. He has a long and strong build with quick twitch athleticism, running a 4.05 home to first on a leadoff bunt, also ripping base hits to the left side in his next two at bats.
-#2 hitter Marcus Wirth (2012) is a small compact build athlete with a quick bat and lots of speed. A true burner, Wirth is committed to Coppin State and doesn’t get cheated at the plate with bat speed. He looks to drive the ball and does have pull pop in his bat and is a above average CF defender with his speed and quick release.
-#3 hitter Casey Burns (2012) is the best position prospect of the group and is committed to St Mary’s. A long 6’3, 190 Burns brings to mind a slightly shorter version of Sacramento Jesuit and Texas Sun Devil SS Zach Green. Burns is athletic and very smooth at SS with strong actions and loose arm action with plenty of strength across.
-Cleanup hitter C Tyler Gastineau (2012), a Scottsdale CC commit, has one of the best bodies of the tournament with a muscular 6’1 185pound frame. He moves well and is a good defensive catcher with arm strength and a power bat at the plate.
-Steve Baldwin connected on a long HR to left field a good25-30 feet over the wall that was an estimated 350 feet away. It is always good to see a pitcher with athleticism that can hit.
Baldwin was 86-88 on the mound, throwing strikes with a quick arm and some effort in his delivery. He gets out front and downhill with his motion and uses his lower half well. He also showed very good feel for a74-75 mph slider with some downer break and good arm speed.
Here is video of Baldwin in the third inning Friday night.