2013 Norcal Showcase Blogs

9/29/2013 9:15:39 PM

2014 LHP John Gavin (San Jose, CA) allowed just a pair of hits over four dominant innings, striking out seven of the 12 batters he faced. Gavin topped out at 87 mph with his fastball and paired it with a 68 mph curveball with deep 1-7 break and a 70 mph changeup. The Cal State Fullerton commit also showed off the leather at 1B making an impressive pick on a throw in the dirt to extinguish a Gold rally in the 5th inning.

2016 SS/RHP Matt Fields (Lakewood, CA) came on late in relief, and while he's not currently a primary pitcher, he showed a quick projectable arm and may wind up developing into one over the next few years. Fields sat 80-82 from an over the top arm slot and projects to add significant strength over the next few years, he also showed off one of the best curveballs of the event with a deep 12-6 hook at 69-70 mph. Fields also had a single in his second at-bat to finish the day 1-for-2 at the plate.

2015 Blake Nelson (Kent, WA) went 2-for-3 with a single, a double and a stolen base. He also nearly scored from 2B on a wild pitch, showing good awareness hustling around third and was called out on a very close play at the plate, and he may very well have gotten in under the tag.

The defensive highlight of the game came from 2014 OF Arnold Escobedo (Lawndale, CA) who cut down a runner attempting to tag up and take third on a flyout to right field, Esobedo put a solid throw online to convert the inning ending double play.

Switch hitting 2016 3B Ryan Marsh (Danville, CA) had another good day at the plate today, picking up an opposite field base knock from each side of the plate today. He led off the game with a cleanly hit single into right field on a 86 mph fastball away from lefty John Gavin, and then stroked a double down the left field line in the seventh inning. It was a strong showing all weekend for a player who has yet to play his sophomore season in high school.

2015 RHP Luis Pantoja (Santa Maria, CA) got the start for the Gold team and matched Gavin's impressive line with four shutout innings of his own, allowing one hit and facing one over the minimum, topping out at 78 mph.

9/28/2013 10:43:34 PM

Name	Pop	Grad	School	City	St
Eric Benedetti	1.82	2014	St Francis	Mountain View	CA
Marcos Jimenez	1.99	2015	Bear Creek	Stockton	CA
Christopher Zapata	1.99	2014	Archbishop Mitty	Saratoga	CA

9/28/2013 10:39:46 PM

Name	IF	Grad	School	City	St
Kaelan Crisosto	79	2014	Enterprise	Redding	CA
Keala Young	79	2014	Lemoore	Lemoore	CA
Ryan Marsh	78	2016	Monte Vista	Danville	CA

9/28/2013 10:38:54 PM

Name	OF	Grad	School	City	St
Jodd Carter	83	2014	Hilo	Hilo	HI
Kevin Black	81	2014	Woodcreek	Roseville	CA
Isiah Saguar	80	2016	Benicia	Benicia	CA

9/28/2013 10:37:39 PM

Name	60	Grad	School	City	St
Kaelan Crisosto	6.85	2014	Enterprise	Redding	CA
Jodd Carter	7.00	2014	Hilo	Hilo	HI
Lucas Halstead	7.08	2014	Monte Vista	Alamo	CA
Arnold Escobedo	7.13	2014	Lawndale	Lawndale	CA
George Escobedo	7.16	2014	Lawndale	Lawndale	CA

9/28/2013 10:35:32 PM

The hardest hit balls of the game come from the three most physically imposing players in attendence: 2014 C Lucas Halstead (Alamo, CA), 2014 C Eric Bendetti (Mountain View, CA) and 2014 1B Luke Rasmussen (Los Gatos, CA). On back to back at-bats Bendetti and Rasmussen each smoked 91 mph shots up the middle, Rasmussen was rewarded with an RBI single, while Bendetti was a double play victim, though the two sharply hit grounders up the middle were nearly identical. Halstead roped a double over the left fielder's head in the 9th inning, he then stole third base standing up after getting a massive jump.


Switch hitting 2016 3B Ryan Marsh (Danville, CA) also added a double while hitting from the left side, joining Halstead as the only members of the Gold team to record a hit against the Columbia Blue pitching staff. 2014 RHP/1B Robert Beckman (Sacramento, CA) and 2015 C Marcos Jimenez each had very effective days at the plate, going 3-for-3, while their teammate 2016 SS/RHP Matt Fields (Lakewood, CA) went 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI sacrifice fly.

2015 RHP/1B Jake Dent (Pinole, CA) not only had a hit, but also threw four no-hit innings, striking out four and topping out at 80 mph. The affore mentioned Beckman got the start and also threw four no-hit innings to go with his three hit effort, topping out at 79 and facing the minimum and striking out four hitters.

9/28/2013 3:15:11 PM

Kaelan Crisosto (SS, 2014, Redding, CA) - Shows good middle infield footwork and has carry on his throws across the diamond. He’s an athletic defender with the tools to potentially stick at shortstop.

Eric Benedetti (C, 2014, Mountain View, CA) - Showed flashes of above average arm strength from behind the plate, and posted an event best 1.82 pop time. He has a strong build that fits well behind the plate and very quick feet.

London Penland (SS, 2017, San Leandro, CA) - Even as the event’s youngest players, Penland was one of the absolute standouts in the defensive workout. He’s still developing arm strength, but he has an extra smooth, fast transfer and overall fluid fielding actions at shortstop.

Christopher Zapata (C, 2014, Saratoga, CA) - Posted one of the day’s best pop times, checking in a 1.99 and showing good carries in his throws from behind the plate. Shows energy behind the plate and gets good momentum into his throws.

9/28/2013 2:05:58 PM

Kaelan Crisosto (2014, Redding, CA) - Hitting from an upright stance, Crisosta, showed good loft to the middle of the field and stayed consistently compact to the baseball. He looked very relaxed in the box.

Jodd Carter (2014, Hilo, HI) - Although his round got off to somewhat of a slow start, Carter ended up hitting some hard line drives and showed that he knew how to hit to the opposite field as well.

Luke Rasmussen (2014, Los Gatos, CA) - Working from a spread stance, Rasmussen showed good lift in his swing during his BP round, and hit the ball well to the middle and opposite fields.

Eric Benedetti (2014, Mountain View, CA) - After posting the day’s most impressive pop times, Beneditti was impressive at the plate as well. He puts his strong, 6-foot-2, 205 pound frame to work, using his lower half well and driving balls to the opposite field. He uses the middle of the field very well.

Austin Muller (2014, Aptos, CA) - Using his lower half effectively, Muller produced some hard line drives to his pull side. His round started slow, but once he got going he generated some loud shots.