3/30/2012 1:24:02 AM
American Division Championship: Valley Vista (AZ) vs North Canyon (AZ)
Valley Vista entered the matchup with a 5-1 record at the Coach Bob National Invitational, with their lone loss coming in the Open Section a week ago against back-to-back defending New Mexico state champions Piedra Vista (NM). The Monsoon pulled out a few tough matchups in pool play, pulling away from Ponderosa (CO) late in a 5-1 victory, knocking off Churchill (OR) in an extra innings slugfest 11-10 and again out slugging Prescott (AZ) 15-11.
North Canyon bounced back from a 12-1 trouncing on their home field in the opener against Pine Creek (CO). They came back with gritty one-run victories over Clackmas (OR) in 12 innings and ThunderRidge (CO).
North Canyon jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first before the Monsoon came storming back with six runs in the bottom of the first. They would continue to hammer the ball all over the yard, cruising to a 13-3 victory in six innings.
Valley Vista's prospects have been covered at length previously in the blogs and the team will also be represented in the post-tournament top prospect list.
-North Canyon 2014 OF Kyle Lewis is young and physically immature, but he impressed not only with his long two-strike battle in which he spoiled several potential strikeout pitches, but also with his quick fluid swing. As he matures physically and adds strength he will begin to drive the ball with more authority and has a chance to develop Home Run power.
-North Canyon 2013 MIF Alberto Higuero showed a short compact swing path, taking his hands directly to the baseball well, showing why the Rattlers coaching staff penciled him into the leadoff spot in the order.
-North Canyon 2013 RHP Jesse Kinney showed some ability with the bat, the ball sounds different when Kinney squares it up and he generates solid bat speed with a longer swing, with development he could become a dangerous hitter.
Regis Jesuit (CO) vs Willamette (OR)
Getting another look at the defending Colorado 5A state champions did a lot to give us a better idea of the physical capacity of several of their prospects.
-Regis 2014 MIF Max George showed a very good leadoff approach. He continued to show good bat speed and a short swing but today we got a better look at his advanced feel for hitting, as he showed good bat control and made adjustments as his at-bats went along. He also showed off his range making a highlight caliber diving catch on a popup down the right field foul line, ranging aprox 150 feet to his left to steal an out for his pitcher.
-Regis 2013 SS Brody Weiss was even more impressive today. Weiss had exactly two bad swings all game long, but both of which were actually positives. The first swing he fisted into right field for an excuse-me single, but the other really showed off his raw bat speed. One an outside pitch that he could have driven the other way, Weiss tried to get long and swing around the ball to pull it with authority. No scout is going to care that he misjudged one pitch in an early season game his junior year of high school, but what we will take away is how much bat speed he was able to generate when he took a full swing. He generally keeps his swing short and under control, generating his bat speed with ease. The exception confirmed our expectation as to the caliber of his raw bat speed, and certainly is nothing to be concerned over given his usual level of hitability. He further cemented the assessment of his bat speed later with a fly ball that hung in the air for 6.02 seconds (MLB average). He also continued to show off his arm strength, with good carry on his throws and is a very interesting prospect to watch closely going forward.
-Regis 2013 OF Andrew Schmidt showed a quick bat, blasting a double to right center field and had two high popups in his first three at bats. The hangtime on his fly balls were 5.50 and 5.63 seconds, his swing features good leverage and extension through the baseball, a common theme amongst Regis hitters.
-2014 LHP/1B Reagan Todd showed off his ability as a position player today after pitching well in his season debut on Tuesday. He made several tough plays on fly balls near the fence and opposing dugout on the RF line defensively. At the plate we got to see his left handed swing, in which he incorporates his lower half well and showed quick hands.
-Regis 2012 1B Jordan Kennedy continued to show his power potential from the cleanup spot, crushing a ball deep to right field and also driving another one that registered at 88 mph off the bat.
-Regis 2012 RHP/OF Eddie Schreuber's effort paid off on a towering pop fly to 2B, as he ran hard the whole way while his towering popup gave Wilamette's infield trouble, the ball dropped in and Schruber wound up on second as a result.
-Willamette 2012 OF Zach Selby crushed a double to deep left field, it was a towering fly ball that held up in the air for 6.22 seconds. Selby takes a big swing and can generate good bat speed as a result, he also has some good athleticism.
-Wilamette 2013 OFs Jalen Drath and Cole Hathaway also stood out. Hathaway runs well and covered solid ground in centerfield, while Drath showed a quick bat and leverage in his swing with good pop.