3/21/2012 12:53:35 AM
Day 2's schedule was highlighted by the matchup between Broken Arrow (OK) and O'Connor (AZ). The host Panthers are currently ranked No. 1 by the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) and have received consideration for the Southwest Region's Top 25 rankings. Broken Arrow finished the 2011 season ranked No. 2 in the nation after winning their first Oklahoma 6A state championship since 1991 and are currently ranked No. 12 in the Texahoma Region (third highest team in Oklahoma).
Both teams won their most recent games Monday, with Broken Arrow edging out Quartz Hill (CA) 4-3, while O'Connor cruised to a 9-0 victory over Hennessey (OK).
The game lived up to expectations, with a strong pitching matchup. O'Connor sent 2013 RHP Jade Bridley to the mound to counter Broken Arrow's 2013 RHP Trey Cobb.
Both threw well, Bridley used good command and solid pitchability to frustrate the Tigers' lineup with his fastball that sat 80-84, supplementing it with a 74 mph curveball with good depth and 76 mph changeup. Cobb's stuff was very impressive, with his fastball sitting 85-88, touching 89. He works very fast and has very little effort to his delivery. His long loose arm action is quick and projects well, his fastball features good tailing life. Cobb's breaking ball varies between a big sweeping 11-5 curveball in the low 70s to a tight diagonal slider-like shape with late break in the low-mid 70s. Moving forward he would be well served to refine each version of breaking ball into more distinctly different pitches, his ability to impart hard spin on the ball suggests he will be able to do so well.
Cobb pounded the zone with 67% strikes, striking out 8 while walking three and did not allow an extra base hit. LHP/1B Jacob Evans went 2-for-3 with a towering Home Run in the 7th to give Broken Arrow what proved to be a crucial insurance run, after having blasted a high fly ball to the warning track earlier in the game for his only out. Evans is an Oklahoma commit who will take the mound on Thursday night and is a legitimate two-way player.
O'Connor 3B Brendon Erickson showed well with the bat in a losing effort, going 2-for-3 with a Run. His direct swing path and good hand-eye coordination allowed him to square up quality pitching and he uses his present strength well.
Both teams started sophomore shorstops, and both showed well defensively. Broken Arrow's Nick Roark showed quick athletic actions, a low 3/4 whippy arm and solid defensive feel. Roark went 1-for-3 with a single that registered at 88 mph off the bat and showed quick hands in his left handed swing. O'Connor's Greg Saenz has a strong build with more room to fill with a strong arm.