3/28/2012 12:14:16 PM
Day two of the American and National Divisions of the Coach Bob National Invitational saw a general theme emerge: left handed pitching. Espeically from the state of Colorado, as each of the four teams from the Centennial State that we caught yesterday started a lefty.
Regis Jesuit (CO) vs Columbine (CO)
-Regis Jesuit 2014 LHP Reagan Todd got his first career start for the defending 5A state champions. He pitched well for four innings, sitting 78-82 with his fastball and backing it with a big deep upper 60s/low 70s curveball that topped out at 72. He showed loose arm action and an idea how to pitch, while mixing in an occasional changeup to right handers that registered at 73. He ran out of gas in the fifth after having found his rhythm in the third and fourth innings, exiting with the lead. He would take the loss in the game after the bullpen allowed some inherited runners to score but showed a lot of promise for the future.
-Columbine 2012 LHP Ryan Earnest countered Todd for the Rebels. Earnest threw from a low 3/4 arm slot with short arm action in back and an extended release. He got out front well and threw with a low effort delivery that gave him good command. His fastball sat 77-81 and he used his offspeed stuff liberally, occasionally doubling up on his sweeping 71 mph curveball and 73 mph changeup.
-Columbine 2014 MIF Tyler Mohr hit a two-run Home Run to right field during Columbine's huge fifth inning rally that saw them take the lead for good. His older brother 2012 C Jaxon Mohr would be the more likely candidate to go yard, with a strong sturdy build and good strength at contact, and while his younger brother had the highlight moment today, Jaxon showed the tools to hit a few Home Runs of his own.
-Regis Jesuit 2013 SS Brody Weiss didn't fill up the box score, but he did show impressive ability. His defensive actions are polished for his age and good arm strength with a quick release. He showed good bat speed and a sound swing, while he it wasn't obvious that he can hit for power, his underlying tools hint at it.
-Columbine's offense got to show their hitting tools quite a bit, as their offensive outburst gave us more looks at each hitter than you'd normally get in one game. 2013 OF Michael Dowling showed off his ability to generate bat speed with an aggressive swing, driving one ball that registered at 92 mph off the bat. 2012 OF Noah Durkin had loose easy swing, but also showed bat speed, hitting one ball that registered at 87.
-The left side of Columbine's infield stood out, as 2013 SS Michael Burns and 2012 3B Jake Fuller each made a positive impression. Fuller's short swing and all fields approach at the plate combined with his arm strength from 3B make him an interesting player. Burns' ability to battle with two strikes was impressive, as was his energy and aggression on the bases, he shows a good feel for the game and carries himself well.
-Regis 2012 1B Jordan Kennedy showed power potential at the plate. He has a loose easy swing that creates loft on the ball, he didn't homer in the game but he did make hard contact several times and showed good leverage in his swing.
-Regis 2014 MIF Max George showed a short compact swing and consistent hard line drive contact, he is a young player to keep an eye out for going forward.
Sheldon (OR) vs. O’Connor (AZ)
This game seemed to go back and forth all game. Bothteams possessed some quality players and were very similar in terms of ateam. O’Connor may have had more big names, but no name was bigger thanSheldon’s Brett Nielson.
-Sheldon 2013 LHP Brett Nielson was the player to be watched at thegame today. Nielson was a big bodied lefty that showed a lot of promiseon the mound. Being from Oregon, he only had one start beforetoday. He did look like he was shaking a little rust from the tank,working on hitting his spots and locating his CB as opposed to dominatingplayers with his FB as we have seen before. Nielson topped out at 85 mph(we have seen him higher), but sat more comfortably in the low 80’s. HisCB showed some very tight break occasionally, but like his FB, seemed a bitinconsistent due to the lack of mound work he has been able to have so far thisseason. Very few are worried that this kid won’t be the elite prospectthat he is later in the season.
-Sheldon 2013 INF Cooper Stiles also impressedtoday. Stiles played SS for Sheldon, but looks and moves more like a 3Bor 2B at the next level. He is extremely athletic and looks the part of areal player. He showed a plus arm in the field and some potential powerat the plate. He ended up with a few ground balls, but the BS wasdefinitely present. He seemed to be extremely tuned into the game, mustbe an attribute he picked up from his dad who is currently on the Oregoncoaching staff. There is a lot of upside to this Junior from Oregon.
-Sheldon 2013 OF/LHP Mike Ralston caused a lot of eyes to popwhen he stepped into the batters box. Ralston is big, athletic, man buildof a kid. He looked very raw at the plate, but possessed the strengththat could turn into some serious power when he fine tunes his swing. The big lefty will take the mound on Wednesday.
-O'Connor 2014 LHP Cameron Ming was a very scrappy lefty that seemed to get a lot ofouts. When he was on his game, his location was very impressive. Occasionally he left a few out on the plate that turned into hits, but overallwas impressive. Ming did not overpower any of the Sheldon hitters withhis FB sitting in the high 70’s, but frustrated every hitter in the Sheldonlineup by constantly keeping them off balance. Ming could be O’Connor’stop pitcher this year so the sky is the limit for this young sophomore.
-O'Connor 2012 3B Brendon Erickson startedat 3B for the Eagles. He actions in the field made me first take noticeof this senior. He moved extremely well for his compact build. Heshowed some solid arm strength as well. His ability in the field was thenovershadowed with his first AB. Erickson has some serious pop with hisbat and solid BS. He has the ability to drive through the ball and gofrom gap to gap. His present power is above average, but his ability todrive the ball will result in a lot of doubles with the occasional home run
Pine Creek (CO) vs Clackmas (OR)
-Pine Creek 2013 LHP Reagan Biechler showed impressive raw arm speed for Pine Creek. He sat 80-83, and topped out at 85, but his arm speed suggests that once he gets into midseason form he could climb a bit higher. His thin athletic 6-foot-1 155 pound frame projects for increased strength as well. He mixed in a 72 mph changeup and a 68 mph curveball that flashed hard spin.
-Pine Creek 2012 RHP/OF Ryan Warner took an 0-for-3 day, but his outs were some of the loudest of the tournament, his gigantic 6-foot-7 frame gives him tremendous leverage in his swing, allowing him to post a hangtime over six seconds on his first two flyouts, including 6.35 in his first at-bat. Warner is committed to North Carolina State as a RHP and will take the mound on Wednesday.
-Pine Creek 2013 LHP/1B Josh Prater hit a two-run Home Run to left field after flashing the power potential earlier in the game. His swing features big seperation of his upper and lower halves and good extension through the baseball, allowing him to drive it. He also came on in relief late in the game.
-Clackmas 2013 RHP/3B Austin Kelly got the Win in relief, sitting 81-84 and showing a tight breaking ball at 72. He also stood out offensively for his loose easy swing that generates solid bat speed and showed good athleticism at 3B.
-Clackmas 2014 SS Aaron Ahlstrom got the start on the mound and was effective while pitching in the upper 70s (topped at 78) but showed more promise as a position player. He showed good all around athleticism and his body projects well.
-Clackmas 2013 3B/SS Jake Iverson really looks the part at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds with a well proportioned build. He showed good athleticism defensively in spite of playing away from his natural position (3B) in an early season game, he showed a short compact swing with good strength at contact and the ability to drive the ball to all fields.
Heritage (CO) vs Apollo (AZ)
-In the nightcap at Apollo HS, Heritage made it a clean sweep as every Colorado team we saw sent a lefty to the mound, as they ran 2012 LHP Derek Rohleder out against Apollo. He threw well, keeping Apollo's hitters off-balance and didn't give up much of anything.
-Heritage 2015 MIF Nick Shumpert showed a lot of long term potential. His thick compact build has good present strength and athleticism for his young age, and he showed promising hitting tools. His approach is a little overaggressive and loud at present, but he has the tools to develop into a very good hitter. He showed good all around athleticism and made the plays defensively at 2B. He showed the makings of a very good ballplayer.
-Heritage 2013 SS Aaron Cook has a long loose projectable body, he showed good athleticism defensively and a short compact swing at the plate.
-Heritage 2012 C/1B Kyle Calhoun got the start at 1B so we didn't get a chance to see his receiving skills in action, but he absolutely looks the part at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds.
Lowell (CA) vs. Hillsboro (OR)
-Hillsboro 2013 Jack Coates sat mid to upper 70’s. He had a long stiff AA that caused is FBto run in on hitters. He occasionally flashed an 11-5 CB that was usedmore to set up his hitters rather than being a strikeout pitch. He tendedto start in on the hands to righties with his FB before throwing his CBoutside. After getting them off balance, he would come back in on thehands and produce a lot of ground balls.
-Hillsboro 2013 Stefanos Panayioutou was a brightspot in the lineup for the solid hitting Hillsboro lineup. Most of theteam had a similar approach to the plate, being line drive contact, notoverpowering hitters. Stefanos was one of the rare exceptions. Hehad the ability to drive the ball with some power in the gaps and looks to havethe ability to hit for some power in the future.
-Lowell 2013 Elijah Saunders looked verycomfortable at the SS position. He feet worked well and had some abilitywith the glove. He was a raw athlete in the field, but had the makings ofa solid middle infielder at the next level. Saunders swung from the leftside of the plate and had the same look in the box as on the field. Heshowed some definite tools with the bat, but was a bit raw at this point in hiscareer. With more experience on the field, Saunders is one to watch offof the Lowell squad.