2,075 MLB PLAYERS | 14,476 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story  | 7/6/2017

14u BCS July 5 Scout Notes

Photo: Perfect Game

14u BCS, Super25 Scout Notes July 3-4

Dominic Flacco (2021, Ormond Beach, Fla.) is a projectable 5-foot-9, 130-pound outfielder who has a good feel for hitting. His lefthanded swing starts from a wide, slightly open stance with a high back elbow. As he begins his load Flacco coils slightly by turning his back towards the pitcher. This helps build additional torque to his fluid swing, and he engages his lower half well to generate as much power as possible from a small frame. Flacco controls the barrel well, and his line drive swing plane will help him maintain good contact rates. Flacco’s defense in right field was impressive as well, and he demonstrated plenty of arm strength to play anywhere in the outifled.

One of the most highly regarded infielders in the class of 2021 is Brady House (2021, Winder, Ga.), and it’s no surprise why he’s deemed as one of the best players at his age. His size makes him stand out at 6-foot-2 and 180-pounds, and his advance physical maturity helps him crush opposing pitchers. House’s bat speed is already off the charts, and he has the size and power to translate that into extra bases galore. There’s no doubt that House’s bat is special. House’s actions at third base were good, and his arm strength will make sure to keep him on the left side of the diamond. House continues to be a prospect worth watching.

Jeffery Waters (2021, Mableton, Ga.) isn’t even 14 yet, but his tools are already loud and impressive. His righthanded swing is incredibly short, and his quick, strong hands make it appear even shorter. Waters’ athletic and projectable 5-foot-11, 188-pound frame already contains average power. As he continues to grow and get better barrel control he should add more power. Waters’ gets natural lift as well when contact is made. Waters is known to pitch too, and can get his fastball up to 87 mph. Waters finished the day going 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI.

Kristian Campbell (2021, Marietta, Ga.) is a baby faced 15-year old with a verbal college commitment to Florida International already in his back pocket. One of Campbell’s biggest assets is his projectability, as his 6-foot-1, 160-pound frame is ripe for growth and could help his career take off. Campbell’s swing is incredibly simple, and he repeats his mechanics well. His line drive swing plane should enable him to hit for good average, and as he grows he’ll look to add more power. Campbell showed impressive plate discipline as well by taking several close pitches for balls. Campbell is by no means a finished product, but impressive tools are already present.

Matthew Buchanan (2021, Lebanon, Va.) needed only one inning to demonstrate his potential as a lefthanded starting pitcher. His fastball coasted in the low-80s, hitting 84 mph once. Buchanan showed an advanced feel for pitching with his off speed pitches. He worked in his curveball and changeup consistently and threw both pitches for strikes. Buchanan has a short arm action that he can repeat well. He gets down the hill efficiently, as well. Buchanan’s 6-foot, 165-pound frame is projectable, and he should add velocity as he fills out. Presently Buchanan has the pitches to succeed, but when his fastball starts blowing by hitters, people should watch out for a stud lefthanded pitcher.

One of the younger players in the entire tournament is Ayden Digiacomo (2021, Buford, Ga.). The young right fielder is an athletic 6-foot-1, 185-pounds with good tools on both side of the ball. At the late, Digiacomo starts from a slightly open stance with high hands and back elbow. His hands are constantly in motion, but he moves them direct to the ball once the pitch is on the way. His impressive bat speed lets him sit on pitches for a long time before committing to swing. Digiacomo will eventually need to engage his lower half better as he ages to tap into his power, but his patience at the plate is already stellar. Digiacomo is still young and undeveloped, but he has the skill set needed to keep improving.

Kenneth Mallory Jr. (2021, Lawrenceville, Ga.) has one of the highest defensive ceilings of all the outfielders in this tournament. Mallory Jr. is already tall and lanky at 6-foot-3, 150-pounds. With so much projectability and present speed, Mallory Jr. will certainly be flying around the outfield for some time. His speed will certainly play in the outfield at the plate hustling to first base. It will be exciting to see Mallory Jr. routinely making great running catches in the outfield.

Gavin Kash (2021, Sour Lake, Texas) is an athletic 6-foot-2, 175-pound first baseman with the swing to hit in the middle of the lineup. Kash’s lefthanded swing is a sight to see. It’s effortless and fluid with good balance throughout. His slight upper cut swing plane generates good lift on balls put in play. And his bat speed will help him consistently make good, hard contact even when fooled. Kash has shown good plate discipline as well by working a walk while laying off several good off speed pitches. Kash is a player to keep an eye on during this tournament.

– Kyle Zwenge



Two quality squads kicked off the day on Field 6 at Century Link in a game that had important playoff ramifications for both the winning and losing club. CFL USA Elite and CF Outlaws Red 14u went toe-to-toe for seven innings. CFL USA Elite managed to hang on for a 7-4 victory, getting a big boost towards bracket play.

Lefthanded pitcher Andrew Smith (2022, Pelzer, S.C.), a long and lanky southpaw, toed the slab for CFL USA Elite to begin this very meaningful contest. His crafty style and repeatable mechanics highlighted a solid three pitch mix. The 5-foot-11, 155-pound Smith, leaned heavily on 71-73 mph fastball that showed solid arm-side run and sink, a baffling Bugs Bunny curveball that ranged between 53 and 57 mph, and solid changeup at 67 mph. His poise and composure, especially considering he was playing an age group or two above his classification, was truly remarkable.

The CF Outlaws Red 14u club was led both offensively and defensively by their standout, 5-foot-11, 170-pound catcher, Isaiah Montes (2021, Kissimmee, Fla.). The rising freshman at Bishop Moore High School was one of the top players on this, and quite possibly every, diamond at Century Link on this particular day. Montes showed a mature understanding of advanced hitting mechanics, using a solid base and quick trigger, in helping the physically strong righthanded hitter go 2-for-3 on the morning and drive in a pair of runs to help keep his club in the ballgame.

Defensively, however, is where this young player rose above the crowd. He showed college-level skills receiving and throwing against a very aggressive opponent. Montes threw out two would-be base stealers at second base with pro-like 1.97 and 1.99 pop times. Each throw had far above average carry and accuracy and helped quell an offensively minded ball club in CFL USA Elite.

In afternoon action for the CF Outlaws, righthanded pitcher Owen Flynn (2021, Windermere, Fla.) used an overpowering fastball and two different breaking pitches to help his club over 5-Star Carolina by a score of 8-2. The 6-foot-1, 160-pound Flynn saw his riding four-seamer clocked consistently between 83 and 85 mph. His smooth, easy, and repeatable mechanics made his fastball even more impressive. He also threw a tight spinning, 12-to-6 breaking curveball, and a sharp, late breaking slider. His curve was clocked at 69 to 70 mph and his slider was consistently at 75 mph.

One of the long time, very successful travel baseball programs that has used Perfect Game events in helping showcase their players is the Team Elite organization out of Georgia. Their 14u Prospects club, that played Wednesday morning on Field 4, is another strong team that follows in that tradition.

Six-foot, 170-pound righthanded pitcher Carter Bailey (2021, Snellville, Ga.) went the distance in leading the Team Elite Prospects nine to a 10-1 victory over 5-Star Carolina. The tall, solidly built Carter was in control from the first pitch, and showed a poise and confidence not usually displayed by players his age. His fastball velocity, while not overpowering, was in the very respectable 73-77 mph range. He coupled his well-commanded fastball with an 11-to-5 breaking, 63-64 mph tight-spinning curveball and a deceptive 65 mph changeup. He pitched to contact the entire game with smooth, highly repeatable mechanics. His final line: seven innings, six hits, one strikeout and zero walks allowed.

Leading the offensive onslaught for the Team Elite Prospects club was their two-hole hitter and second baseman, J.J. Rapp (2021, Hoschton, Ga.). The 5-foot-9, 145-pound, lefty hitting Rapp had a solid approach, showing great plate discipline from his slightly open stance. The short striding, quick twitch swinger, consistently got the barrel to the ball. His middle-of-the field swing path produced a 2-for-2 day, a run driven in, a walk, and a run scored.

The Brevard Aces Baseball Club didn’t allow the early 8:00 am start affect them too much as they bolted out to an early lead and never looked back in posting a 16-4 win over A-Team. Leading the way for the Aces were two impressive righthanded hitters, Brady Skradski (2021, Rockledge, Fla.) and Jason Woodward (202, Titusville, Fla.). Skradski, 5-foot-11, 140-pounds, and Woodward, 5-foot-11, 155-pounds, are both athletically built individuals with balanced swing paths that incorporate a slight lift on contact. They get their barrel to the ball with every pass. Skradski’s two-hit day included a solidly hit double that drove in two. He also scored two runs. Woodward also banged out two hits, one of which was a fence rattling triple. He scored three runs and also mixed in two walks.

Leading a very talented Cincinnati Spikes ballclub were their shortstop and pitcher, Kurtis Reid (2021, Hamilton, Ohio) and Kade Grundy (2021, Somerset, Ky.).

The 6-foot-1, 165-pound Reid started at shortstop for the Spikes where his polished and advanced skills were more than evident. His quick feet, easy movements, soft hands, and plus arm, show that this 2021 grad is way ahead of the curve defensively. His skills on defense make him a college ready prospect right now. Reid also went 1-for-3 at the plate and scored a run and he finished up on the mound for the Cincinnati based Spikes ballclub as they topped the New York Storm, 5-3.

Grundy, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound righthanded pitcher and outfielder, started on the bump for the Spikes where he allowed only one run. His powerful fastball ranged between 80 and 82 mph and showed some explosive late life, especially up in the zone. His tight spinning, 68-69 mph, 12-to-6 breaking curveball was the perfect complement to his above average fastball. At the plate, Grundy went 2-for-3, with a triple and a run scored.

The Naples, Florida-based JSB Tigers are another traditionally sound squad that makes its way up I-75 to Fort Myers to participate in many Perfect Game events. Their 2017 14u club is a very fundamentally skilled team. Leading the Tigers this day against the Florida Burn 2021 Platinum South club was starting righthanded pitcher, Jay Beshears (2020, Naples, Fla.) and outfielder/righthanded pitcher, Dalton Cleveland (2020, Naples, Fla.).

The 5-foot-11, 165-pound Beshears turned in a solid 5 1/3 innings of workmanlike pitching against the Burn in leading the Tigers to a 9-2 victory in mid-morning play on Field 2 at Century Link. Beshears kept his pitch count low by consistently pitching to contact, using a high three-quarters arm slot to routinely repeat his delivery. He had a six-pitch third inning and an eight-pitch fifth inning. His very effective fastball that featured consistent arm-side run, ranged between 74 and 77 mph. He mixed in a tantalizing 58-59 mph curveball and a deceptive 68-69 mph changeup. In addition to his exploits on the mound, Beshears – the Tigers three-hole hitter – went 3-for-3 at the dish, drew a walk and scored two runs.

Cleveland started the game for the Tigers in center field and with one out in the sixth inning relieved Jay Beshears to nail the Tiger victory down. The talented Cleveland had the biggest knock of the day for the Tigers. His two out, bases loaded base hit plated two Tiger runners and broke open a close 3-2 ball game in the fifth. His pitch economy was not much different from Bashears, as Cleveland retired the Burn club over the final one and two-thirds innings by utilizing only 17 pitches.

Afternoon play was highlighted by an emotionally played contest between two outstanding clubs. The final score really doesn’t paint the true picture as to how tightly contested this game was. The CFL USA Elite club used a six-run top of the seventh inning rally to break open a 4-2 ball game and best the Team Elite Prospects by a final of 10-3.

Both managers and coaching staffs were adeptly maneuvering their way through the Perfect Game rules on and for pitching and the game pace was slowed by numerous pitching changes by both clubs. The intensity and focus by both clubs, however, was present until the wheels fell off of the Team Elite wagon in the seventh.

Matt Levi (2020, Johnson City, Tenn.) was the offensive star for CFL USA Elite. His 3-for-4 day was highlighted by a booming triple in the decisive seventh inning uprising. The solidly built, 6-foot-2, 200-pound Levi is a gifted athlete with a powerful core that he uses to produce a swing path that projects to plus power as his career continues.

To single out any one particular player for the Banditos Scout Team is almost an impossibility as the Black and White juggernaut steamrolled two opponents by a combined score of 20-5. In morning action, the Banditos won by a score of 11-3 over the NW Futures.

Worth noting for the Banditos was their starting pitcher, Blake Purnell (2020, Boynton Beach, Fla.). The 6-foot-2, 175-pound righthander used smooth, efficient, and easy mechanics to pound the strike zone and get his powerful Banditos offense back into the dugout each inning. Purnell’s fastball was clocked in the 76-77 mph range and showed late life, especially down in the zone. He was able to add and subtract with his tight spinning curveball that ranged anywhere from 62-mph on the low end to 67-mph on the high end. He also showed a straight change that was clocked at 67-68 mph.

In their afternoon game against The Cubs, the Banditos jumped to a quick 9-0 lead and never looked back in posting a 9-2 victory. Highlighting the hitting barrage for the Banditos was a fence-rattling double by Ryan Del Corro (2020, Hialeah, Fla.). The 5-foot-9, 175-pound fireplug’s blast to deep left field plated two runs.

– Jerry Miller
PG Special Events
Travel, Lodging, Entertainment
PG Partners
Recommended
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2024 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.