2013 Mid Atlantic Top and Underclass Showcase Blogs

8/25/2013 9:00:56 PM

Sean Rodriguez, LHP, Nutley, N.J. (2015) - Also hit a single in this game, but impressed on the mound with his projection. Topped out at 81 mph, and showed a feel for a 66 mph curveball and 70 mph changeup.

Sam Kessler, RHP, Mount Sinai, N.Y. (2016) - Worked at 80-84 mph with his fastball and showed some depth on a hard 75 mph breaking ball.

Joe Enea, 3B, Manhasset, N.Y. (2015) - Had one of the big swings of the day, blasting a home run over the high left field fence. Showed off some of the best loft of the event and had a good game action approach.

Quentin Holmes, OF, East Elmhurst, N.Y (2017) - Holmes is one to watch very closely. While he didn’t collect a hit in the box score, he had two of the hardest hit balls of the day, lining out to center field twice. One of his line drives read 87 mph off the bat. He’s a very interesting young hitter.

Ryan Coulon, 1B, Lindenhurst, N.Y. (2015) - Coulon has swung the bat well all weekend, and hit one of the hardest line drives of the day on Sunday.

Andrew Orzel, SS, Newark, DE (2016) - Showed a compact stroke and collected two singles on the day.

8/25/2013 8:58:31 PM

Jorge Meran, RHP, Bronx, N.Y. (2015) - After throwing 94 mph from the outfield, the live armed right-hander showed big velocity on the mound as well. He pitched at 84-87 mph with his fastball and showed a sharp, late breaking slider at 76-78 mph. He’s a swing and miss type arm that attacked hitters and created some deception with his three-quarter arm slot.

Colin McGuire, 3B, Springfield, PA (2015) - McGuire had one of the most impressive single swings of the event, belting a home run just to left of straight away center field. He showed good bat speed and natural lift in his swing. He followed that home run with a booming double to the left center field gap late in the game.

Tim DiLoreto, C, Harleysville, PA (2016) - showed off an array of tools on Sunday, not only swiping a base and showing his speed but also collecting two singles on the day.

Michael Melady, C/1B, Philadelphia, PA (2015) - showed a short, compact stroke and used it effectively on Sunday, picking up two hits on the day.

Nicholas Rowland, OF, Blue Bell, PA (2016) - Rowland picked up two hits on the day, showing off solid bat speed and good balance at the plate in the process.

Nick Schnell, RHP/OF, Marlton, N.J. (2015) - While it may not show in the box score, Schnell struck the ball as well as any player at the event on Sunday. He hit the ball on the nose three times, including one line drive that left the bat at 87 mph. Officially, he went 1-4 on the day, but his bat truly stood out.

8/25/2013 8:49:35 PM

J.J. Cicala, RHP, East Norriton, PA (2015) - Cicala was very effective on Sunday, allowing just one hit over 3 innings of work. He struck out 2 batters and attacked the strike zone consistently. The athletically built right-hander showed good life on his fastball at 78-82 mph and flashed an 11-5 curveball at 67 mph.

Max Hawkins, SS, Manasquan, N.J. (2015) - Showing a sound contact approach, Hawkins collected two hits on Sunday and showed off some good speed.

Alex Baratta, SS, Gladstone, N.J. (2015) - Also collected two hits on Sunday, both of them doubles, including a rocket to left center field. He gets on top of the ball well and gets the bat head out consistently. Also showed good speed on the bases.

John Bondi, 2B/SS, Murrysville, PA (2015) - Showed off his wheels in a big way in this game, reaching base on two singles and collecting three stolen bases. His home to first time on an infield single was 4.30 seconds.

Daniel Bakst, SS, New York, N.Y. (2016) - Had one of the most impressive game swings of the weekend in this game, smoking a line drive off the left center field fence for a double.

8/25/2013 5:21:41 PM

The following players stood out during the Gold vs Cardinal Game.

Scott Zimmer (2014, RHP, Moorestown HS, Morrestown, NJ)pitched in the 85-88 range with a heavy fastball.  Velocity projects as he grows into his bodyand adds strength to his frame.  Mixes ina slurve at 74 with good action and showed a split that dropped off table.

John Mastrangelo (2014, 3B/RHP, Steinert, Hamilton Township,NJ) was on loan from the Green team to the Cardinal team and closed out thegame sitting in the 84-86 range topping at 88. He mixed in a sharp 72 MPH curveball with 11/5 break.  Curveball showed plus potential.  A little raw on mound but very interestingarm to follow.

Matthew Yuhas (2014, OF, Immaculata, Martinsville, NJ)showed a nice short swing and a gap to gap approach collecting 2 hits today.

Mike Brambilla (2014, LHP, Cherry Hill East, Cherry Hill,NJ) topped out at 85 from a high ¾ arm slot, he also mixed in a nice 1/7 tightcurveball with depth.  Has good idea howto pitch.

Joshua Terry (2014, OF/RHP, All Hallows, Bronx, NY) sat withhis fastball in the 81-83 range topping at 84. He flashed a 11/5 curveball with good bite.  He also had a double in the game.

Gabe Makarem (2014, OF, Mamaroneck HS, Mamaroneck, NY)showed a nice swing on a double to right field.

Christopher Campbell (2014, MIF, Benjamin N Cardozo,Sunnyside, NY) is an athletic baseball player with strength in body, hit ballhard all weekend.

8/25/2013 5:18:17 PM

The Following players stood out during the Green vs BlackGame.

Jack Dougherty (2014, RHP, New Hope Solebury, New Hope, PA)sat in the 80-84 range topping at 84 with good life.  Used 4 pitches, slider had late tight break at75, curveball had good down action at 67 and he had feel for a 74 MPH change upwith sink and run.

Evan Holland (2014, OF, Timber Creek, Erial, NJ) continuedhis impressive weekend with 2 hits including a double.  He has shown good balance and the ability tostay back and take the ball to the opposite field with power.  Will be in interesting follow this fall andnext spring.

Eric Feliz (2015, OF, IMG Academy, Englewood Cliffs, NJ)also had a good weekend and showcased his hit tool during the game hitting theball hard all 3 times.

Zack Gakeler (2014, LHP, Northern Burlington HS, Jobstown,NJ) topped at 83 today, the young left hander has a projectable build and morevelocity in body, legit 4 pitch pitcher, with a downer curveball, sharp slider and a sinking change up.  Has lot of upside.

Kyle Stefanic (2014, RHP, Conestoga, Berwyan, PA) topped at84 with good feel for a sharp 11/5 curveball. Flashed plus arm side run and sink on fastball.  Very projectable build.

Denzel Faniel (2014, OF, North 13^th Street Tech,Orange, NJ) showed gap power with a double.

Daniel Hadad (2014, 1B, NYC Lab HS-Collaborative Studies,New York, NY) had the lone home run at Veterans Park on the last swing of theTop Prospect showcase as he showed good pull power driving the ball out to leftfield in the bottom of the 10^th.

8/25/2013 6:05:15 AM

The White team used a dramatic 8th inning to come from behind and pull out a 4-3 win over the Vegas Gold team to cap off opening night of the 2013 PG Mid-Atlantic Underclass Showcase.

Trailing 3-2 coming to bat in the bottom of 8th, 2015 OF/RHP Tyler Bitchatchi (New York, NY) led off the inning with a drive that easily left the cozy confines of Switlick Park to the the game a 3-3, the radar gun picked up an exit velocity of 87 mph off the bat on the shot to right center.

2015 MIF Randy Taveras (Bronx, NY) followed up the homer with a bunt single that caught the Vegas Gold infield by surprise. But he was just getting started showing off his speed, in spite of having already legged out an infield single in his previous at-bat. Taveras then stole 2nd...then 3rd...and eventually won the game for the White team with a straight steal of home. He finished the game 5-for-5 on stolen base attempts, and scored half of the White team's four runs.

2015 LHP Lucas Maldonado (Hawthorne, NY) was very impressive as the White team's starter, and was arguably the top pitching prospect of the day. While his fastball velocity (topped out at 82 mph) isn't eye popping, he not only projects to throw harder with a loose arm action, but has a lot of deception. He hides the ball very well from his low three quarters arm slot and spins a quality mid 70s slider (up to 75) with good depth and shape, showing the ability to locate it back door for called strikes against right handers and getting lefties to swing and miss.

2015 LHP/OF Sean Rodriguez (Nutley, NJ) won't take the mound until tomorrow but made a strong impression at his secondary position, showing well in center field and driving a pair of doubles at the plate in his three ABs. He also stole a base and played a strong defensive CF, including a throw to the plate that the radar gun picked up at 86 mph.

2016 OF/MIF Nick Rowland (Blue Bell, PA) was the standout for Vegas Gold, showing off very good speed. He legged out an infield single in his first at-bat, getting down the line in 4.29 seconds and then stole second and came around to score Vegas Gold's first run of the game. 2016 C/3B Tyler Stockwell (La Plata, MD) went 2-fo-2 with an RBI.

2016 C/IF James Boria (North Massapequa, NY) stood out defensively behind the plate, throwing out both of the would-be basestealers that attempted to run on him, and showed good agility and the makings of quality receiving skills.

8/25/2013 5:40:46 AM

In spite of dropping a 2-1 decision, the Red pitching was the story of the game as four pitchers combined to pile up 21 strikeouts.

Starter 2016 RHP/3B Dylan Caldwell (Hollywood, MD) set the tone by punching out 7 of the 9 batters he faced in three perfect innings of work, and didn't allow a ball to leave the infield. Caldwell topped out at 84 mph, using a deceptive delivery to hide the ball well and combined his fastball with a 73 mph curveball and 76 mph changeup. Caldwell also went 2-for-3 with a double at the plate.

2015 RHP/OF Sam Walsh (Syracuse, NY) came on in relief and mathed Caldwell's strikeout total of 7 over three innings, and also matched him with a game high fastball velocity of 84 mph. Walsh turned it over to 2015 SS/RHP Joe Enea (Manhasset, NY) who also posted an impressive line, throwing three shutout innings and added six strikeouts of his own, topping out at 82 mph.

While the Royal team didn't generate a lot of offense (just four hits), 2015 OF/RHP Chris Butera (Collegeville, PA) came up with a timely double to the wall in left center with two outs in the sixth inning and the game tied at 1-1. Butera then stole third and came around to score what proved to be the wining run on a wild pitch. Teammate 2015 C/OF Kyle Ondar (Marlboro, NJ) had the hardest hit ball of the game, lining a ball off of the pitcher's foot that came off the bat at 85 mph for an infield single.

8/24/2013 9:27:47 PM

Top

Evan Holland, OF, Erial, N.J. (2014) - After running a 6.36 60 yard dash, Holland put together a strong round of BP, and is capable of an even better round. He used the whole field, uses his lower half exceptionally well, and showed quick hands through the zone.

Eric Feliz, OF, Englewood Cliffs, N.J. (2015) - Feliz took perhaps the most dynamic round of BP on the day, send missile after missile to left field high off the extra high left field fence at Switlik Park. His power stood out in a big way, as did his bat speed and raw strength.

Nick Perez, SS/RHP, Lebanon, N.J. (2015) - Perez showed good loft to his pull side, working from a high hand set, and he consistently got to the ball quickly and showed a sound approach.

Fernando Guerrero, RHP/3B, Elizabeth, N.J. (2014) - Guerrero showed off some of the day's best pure bat speed. He uses a high leg kick and attacks the baseball with quick hands, and also shows off big lift in his swing.

Jeremy Cerda, MIF/3B, North Bergen, N.J. (2014) - Cerda may have hit more line drives than any player in batting practice on Saturday. He showed a middle of the field approach and very consistent mechanics.

Underclass

Sonny Ulliana, C, South Hackensack, N.J. (2016) - A young hitter with a mature approach, Ulliana drove the ball consistently to all fields in his BP round. His hands are extremely quick to the ball and his consistency really stands out.

Ryan Coulon, Lindenhurtst, N.Y. (2015) - Coulon showed an impressive opposite field approach, driving the ball with authority the other way, using a compact swing and a balanced lower half.

Nick Moglia, 1B/RHP, Brick, N.J. (2015) - Flashed easy pull power and a great deal of raw strength. Shows a sound approach and good balance at the plate.

James Boria, C/3B, North Massapequa, N.Y. (2016) - Still a young hitter, Boria doesn't show his youth in his swing. His power stroke is very projectable and he shows very advanced swing mechanics.

Jorge Meran, OF/RHP, Bronx, N.Y. (2015) - Meran showed tools that play on all parts of the field on Saturday, and his bat stood out as well. He showed good bat speed and has a swing path that should produce consistent line drives.

8/24/2013 9:26:20 PM

The following players stood out during the Purple and Orange game.

Alex Miller (2015, RHP, Montgomery HS, Belle Mead, NJ) showed a real nice 12/6 curveball with bite anddepth, he also topped out at 84.

Jake Wapinsky (2016, OF/RHP, Fleetwood HS, Blandon, PA) topped at 83 with a good downhill plane on hisfastball.  He also showed a good approach at the plate and had a double.

Mark Silvestri (2015, RHP, Livingston Sr HS, Livingston, NJ) topped at 84 and showed a nice 12/6 curveballat 75.

Brian Chaballa (2016, RHP, Howell, Howell, NJ) topped at 81 with good arm side run.  Has a deceptive delivery and the ball gets on you quick.

8/24/2013 9:22:06 PM

The following players stood out during the Green vs Gold Game.

Jeremiah Muhammad (2014, RHP, Immaculata HS, Somerset, NJ)topped at 89 today sitting in the 84-88range, he mixed in a 71 MPH curveball with good bite and depth. 

Nick Nemeth  (2014, RHP, Fox Lane, Bedford Hills, NY) topped at 85 with good clean arm action.  He mixed in a 77 MPH cutter and 74 MPHcurveball.  He flashed change uppotential.

Andrew Smith (2014, MIF/OF, Conestoga HS< Wayne, PA) collected two hits showing a relaxed and balance set up and a good contact approach.

John Mastrangelo (2014, 3B, Steinert HS, Hamilton Township, NJ) had two hits showing good bats peed and line drive power.

Eric Feliz (2015, OF, IMG Academy, Englewood Cliffs, NJ) had a doulbe and showed good bat speed and power.  He hit the ball hard.

8/24/2013 9:16:18 PM

The following players stood out during the Black and Cardinal game.

Evan Dymond (2014, LHP, Pascack Valley HS, River Vale, NJ) Sat 80-83 topping at 85 with good arm side run,he mixed in a slider and change up.  Hedoes a good job of keeping his arm speed up on his change up.

Richard Nesler II (2014, MIF/RHP, Riverdale Baptist, Lanham, MD) topped at 84 with more to come.  Has feel for sinking change up and sharp 12/6curveball.

Fernando Guerrero (2014, RHP, Elizabeth HS, Elizabeth NJ) topped at 90 today and sat mostly in the86-88 range with a good loose arm action. He mixed in  a 71-73 MPHcurveball, a sharp 78 MPH slider and a 80 MPH change up.  Has feel for all 4 pitches, with his sliderand change up showing plus potential.

Adam De La Cruz (2014, OF, St Raymond HS for Boys, Bronx, NY) shows a line drive swing with some gap pop.

Michael D' Elia (2014, OF, Arthur L. Johnson, Clark, NJ) had 2 hits on the day.  He does a good job of letting ball travel.

Jordan Smith (2014, OF, Trinity Episcopal, Midlothian, VA) showed a nice short swing and had a double.

8/24/2013 7:40:06 PM

Name	Pop	Grad	School	City	St
Steve Hewa	2.03	2015	Absegami	Galloway	NJ
Jared Abelson	2.06	2015	South Lakes	Herndon	VA
Dominic D'Alessandro	2.06	2015	Glassboro	Glassboro	NJ
Felix Camacho	2.07	2015	St Raymond HS For Boys	Bronx	NY
Michael Melady	2.12	2015	Chestnut Hill Academy	Philadelphia	PA

8/24/2013 7:39:15 PM

Name	C	Grad	School	City	St
Dominic D'Alessandro	77	2015	Glassboro	Glassboro	NJ
James Boria	75	2016	Farmingdale	North Massapequa	NY
Christopher Caiazzo	75	2015	Iona Preparatory	Yonkers	NY
Steve Hewa	75	2015	Absegami	Galloway	NJ
Sonny Ulliana	73	2016	Bergen Catholic	South Hackensack	NJ
Felix Camacho	72	2015	St Raymond HS For Boys	Bronx	NY
Jake Kucharski	72	2015	Westminster	Westminster	MD

8/24/2013 7:34:09 PM

Name 1B Grad School City St Mark Silvestri 82 2015 Livingston Sr Livingston NJ Alex Miller 80 2015 Montgomery Belle Mead NJ Ryan Coulon 78 2015 St Anthonys Lindenhurst NY Andrew (AJ) Korczynski 76 2015 Archbishop Curley Perry Hall MD

8/24/2013 7:33:13 PM

Name	IF	Grad	School	City	St
Daniel Bakst	82	2016	Poly Prep Country Day	New York	NY
Dominic D'Alessandro	81	2015	Glassboro	Glassboro	NJ
Zachary Forsyth	81	2015	Bethel Park	Bethel Park	PA
Christopher Caiazzo	80	2015	Iona Preparatory	Yonkers	NY
Alex Baratta	79	2015	Seton Hall Preparatory	Gladstone	NJ
Jon Hansen	79	2015	Cherry Hill East	Cherry Hill	NJ
Sam Kessler	79	2016	Mount Sinai	Mount Sinai	NY
James Myers	79	2015	Smithtown East	St James	NY
Rob Tammaro	79	2015	Smithtown West	Smithtown	NY
Joe Enea	78	2015	Manhasset	Manhasset	NY

8/24/2013 7:32:23 PM

Name OF Grad School City St Jorge Meran 94 2015 All Hallows Bronx NY Christopher Butera 86 2015 Malvern Preparatory Collegeville PA Alex Giglio 84 2016 Collegiate New York NY Sean Rodriguez 84 2015 Nutley Nutley NJ Brian Chaballa 83 2016 Howell Howell NJ Jake Wapinsky 83 2016 Fleetwood Blandon PA Jon Hansen 82 2015 Cherry Hill East Cherry Hill NJ Jared Abelson 81 2015 South Lakes Herndon VA Trevor Powers 81 2015 St Elizabeth Bear DE Ryan Malloy 80 2015 Holy Ghost Prep Holland PA

8/24/2013 7:31:31 PM

Name 60 Grad School City St Nicholas Rowland 6.64 2016 Chestnut Hill Academy Blue Bell PA Max Hawkins 6.71 2015 Manasquan Manasquan NJ Randy Taveras 6.82 2015 Salesian Bronx NY Jorge Meran 6.96 2015 All Hallows Bronx NY Quentin Holmes 7.05 2017 Monsignor McClancy Memorial East Elmhurst NY Alex Baratta 7.06 2015 Seton Hall Preparatory Gladstone NJ Christopher Butera 7.06 2015 Malvern Preparatory Collegeville PA Ryan Malloy 7.09 2015 Holy Ghost Prep Holland PA

8/24/2013 7:30:22 PM

Name Pop Grad School City St William Talarico 2.00 2014 Mainland Reg Linwood NJ Jack Seibert 2.01 2014 Holy Ghost Prep Yardley PA Michael Lahoud 2.03 2015 Egg Harbor Twp Egg Harbor Township NJ Sean Becker 2.06 2014 Lansdale Catholic Telford PA Patrick Halloran 2.06 2014 St. Bernard Oakdale CT Jordan Jackson 2.07 2014 Ridgefield Park Little Ferry NJ Kyle Adams 2.08 2014 Salisbury White Plains NY

8/24/2013 7:28:31 PM

Name	C	Grad	School	City	St
Kyle Adams	79	2014	Salisbury	White Plains	NY
Jack Seibert	76	2014	Holy Ghost Prep	Yardley	PA
Sean Becker	75	2014	Lansdale Catholic	Telford	PA
Jordan Jackson	74	2014	Ridgefield Park	Little Ferry	NJ
Michael Lahoud	74	2015	Egg Harbor Twp	Egg Harbor Township	NJ

8/24/2013 7:25:51 PM

Name	1B	Grad	School	City	St
Brendan Tripodi	81	2014	Iona Preparatory	Rye	NY

8/24/2013 7:24:53 PM

Name IF Grad School City St Fernando Guerrero 89 2014 Elizabeth Elizabeth NJ John Mastrangelo 85 2014 Steinert Hamilton Township NJ Reynaldo Guillen Jr. 84 2014 St Raymond HS For Boys Bronx NY Adam Rossit 83 2014 Cardinal Newman S.S. Stoney Creek ON Albert Dominguez 82 2014 George Washington bronx NY Kevin Almonte 81 2014 James Monroe Bronx NY Jeremy Cerda 81 2014 High Tech North Bergen NJ Richard Nesler, II 81 2014 Riverdale Baptist Lanham MD Nick Perez 79 2015 The Hun Lebanon NJ Patrick Halloran 78 2014 St. Bernard Oakdale CT

8/24/2013 7:23:36 PM

Name	OF	Grad	School	City	St
Jeremiah Muhammad	92	2014	Coral Springs Christian Academy	Somerset	NJ
Adam De la Cruz	91	2014	St Raymond HS For Boys	Bronx	NY
Joshua Terry	90	2014	All Hallows	Bronx	NY
Evan Holland	88	2014	Timber Creek	Erial	NJ
Eric Feliz	85	2015	IMG Academy	Englewood Cliffs	NJ
Riley Burton	84	2014	Kennett	Kennett Square	PA
Justin Cosing	84	2014	South Lakes	Reston	VA
Jack Dougherty	84	2014	New Hope Solebury	New Hope	PA
Gabe Makarem	84	2014	Mamaroneck	Mamaroneck	NY
Nick Nemeth	84	2014	Fox Lane	Bedford Hills	NY
Kevin Howard	81	2014	Old Bridge	Old Bridge	NJ
Justin O'Reilly-Pattinson	81	2014	Orchard Park Secondary School	Stoney Creek	ON
Michael Follet	80	2014	Cherokee	Marlton	NJ

8/24/2013 7:22:22 PM

Name 60 Grad School City St Evan Holland 6.36 2014 Timber Creek Erial NJ Domenic Boresta 6.74 2014 Ridgewood Ridgewood NJ Adam De la Cruz 6.82 2014 St Raymond HS For Boys Bronx NY Richard Nesler, II 6.82 2014 Riverdale Baptist Lanham MD Riley Burton 6.86 2014 Kennett Kennett Square PA Joe Fernando 6.87 2014 Beacon Brooklyn NY John Mastrangelo 6.87 2014 Steinert Hamilton Township NJ Kyle Taylor 6.87 2014 Timber Creek Sicklerville NJ Nick Nemeth 6.94 2014 Fox Lane Bedford Hills NY Joshua Boyce 6.96 2014 Cherry Hill East Cherry Hill NJ Luis Jose Almanzar 6.97 2014 Mary Cristy Haina DOM Michael Follet 6.98 2014 Cherokee Marlton NJ Reynaldo Guillen Jr. 6.99 2014 St Raymond HS For Boys Bronx NY Kevin Almonte 7.01 2014 James Monroe Bronx NY Joshua Terry 7.01 2014 All Hallows Bronx NY Matthew Yuhas 7.01 2014 Immaculata Martinsville NJ Jack Dougherty 7.06 2014 New Hope Solebury New Hope PA Jeremiah Muhammad 7.10 2014 Coral Springs Christian Academy Somerset NJ