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Tournaments  | Story  | 6/16/2018

LakePoint Scout Notes


There is a lot to like about Ahknaton Shabazz (2022, Marietta, Ga.), starting with his size. He is an impressive physical specimen for his age at 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds, generally bigger than most everyone on the field. Shabazz shows an advanced plate approach with a good eye, however, he is perhaps a bit too patient and would do well to swing at more balls in the zone, as there is a lot of pop in his bat. He made this apparent by tripling to the left field wall. One area to focus on for improvement could be baserunning: with better routes around the bases he could take better advantage of his gap power. Shabazz holds down centerfield well, displaying good range and a decent arm, too.

A potential ace in the making, Chase Meyer (2023, Canton, Ga.) flashed above average velocity while also showing great feel for the curveball. He topped out at 75 mph with the fastball and exerted little effort in doing so. His curve showed good horizontal movement and he was routinely able to throw it for a strike. The result of this combination was a day in which Meyer was almost unhittable, as he allowed just one base knock, while striking out eight and walking just one. Still with a year left before he even enters high school, Meyer will be an intriguing talent to monitor throughout the coming years.

Bryant Beranek (2022, Spring Hill, Tenn.) displays promising potential with his tall, athletic build and strong plate presence. He has a swing suited for line drives and will likely start hitting for power as he develops and builds on his good frame. He showed good bat speed and made hard contact in his at-bats Thursday, looking quick as he ran the bases fluidly. The rising freshman and Tennessee native played left field on the day, but profiles as a two-way player, with pitcher listed as his primary position. Beranek could be someone to keep an eye on as he looks like a player with a bright future.

Tallying three hits in three tries at the dish, Reid Tintsman (2023, Eaton, Ohio) was an offensive force on Thursday. The burly first baseman consistently got the barrel to the ball as he absolutely crushed a pair of doubles to the wall on his way to a two-RBI day. Tintsman, another player who won’t begin high school for another year, possesses a lot of raw power in his compact, stocky frame, power that will only continue to develop. The Ohio native adds intrigue as a switch-hitter and it will be interesting to see if he can rake like this from the right side, too.

Garrett Madliak (2021, Carrolton, Ga.) made the most of his first at-bat of the tourney, crushing a home run to left to give his team an early 2-0 lead. He had no trouble catching up to the above-average velocity the pitcher was slinging, as he was able to get out ahead of it and pull it to left. Madliak hits with a slightly open stance and brings his front foot back to square on time, using his footwork as a timing mechanism with two short, quick steps. His swing looks tailored for line drives and flies, suggesting that more damage at the plate should be expected in the future. Behind the plate, Madliak was impressive turning borderline pitches into strikes with his framing skills. He could also be found making his way down the line on ground balls to back up throws to first base, showing his team-first attitude and hustle.

Josh Davis (2020, Tuscaloosa, Ala.) stood out on Friday for his all-around game. He lasered the second pitch of the game over the third baseman’s head for a double to start things off and, in his second AB, squared around for a sac bunt but beat the throw with his wheels for an infield hit. Davis was busy in the field, manning shortstop comfortably. He displayed a good internal clock in turning a double play, aware that he had plenty of time to tag second base himself before firing to first. In a separate double play, he showed good lateral movement to his right to snare a grounder, before looking fundamentally sound in making a throw to second, staying low as he threw for the out. His shorter stature limits his power potential despite good bat speed, and if he adds some height and weight over the next few years, given his good offensive skills and clean defensive mechanics, he has building blocks that could make him even more intriguing.

With no need to waste any time, Josh Sosa (2021, Snellville, Ga.) jumped a first-pitch fastball and drove it over the left-center wall for a loud home run that very well could have cleared the fences with a wood bat, too. He used his strong, quick hip rotation to lead his hands as he demolished the offering and has a very pretty-looking finish to his swing. By no means purely a free swinger, Sosa worked the count in his second AB, fending off a couple of good two-strike pitches before coaxing a walk. The athletic-looking Sosa should continue to be an offensive threat and start to garner the opposition’s notice when they see his name on the lineup card.

One of the more notable arms on Friday turned out to be Seth Lloyd (2021, Seymour, Tenn.). Pitching downhill with a slight crossfire delivery, Lloyd was registering 78-79 mph on the radar gun before settling down to the 75 range in later frames. His curveball averaged 64 mph and was thrown from a similar arm slot as the fastball. While it didn’t generate many whiffs, it was useful in drawing weak contact. He would occasionally pitch backwards, dropping in the curve for an early strike before finishing off batters with heaters. Lloyd ran into some command problems with three walks, however, and did leave some balls over the plate. If he can iron out his occasional location issues, he will be an interesting player to keep track of, as he is a tall and strong mound presence with room to add velocity in the future. He finished the day with five punchouts in 4 1/3 innings.

– Cameron Hines



Blaze Nelson (2022, Cumming, Ga.) had a strong day at the plate for the East Cobb Colt 45’s, going 2-for-3, highlighted by a triple that was struck deep to the left center field gap. The triple had an exit velocity of 80, and Nelson’s natural bat speed will allow him to continue to drive the inside pitch for power as his career goes on. Nelson also showed the speed to continue batting leadoff, making his triple look effortless as he ran the bases. Nelson, who had three RBI today, also threw two-thirds of an inning on the mound.

On the mound Trent Reddick (2021, Dallas, Ga.) delivered a strong inning, striking out two batters. His fastball was up to 81 on the day, but Reddick sat in the high-70s for most of his outing. Reddick was also able to flash a changeup for strikes. The fastball spin rate was anywhere from 1800-2000, and his effortless arm action had easy whip. Reddick showcased smooth and repeatable mechanics that will continue to benefit him as he grows into his body. With a 6-foot, 145-pound frame, there is room to fill out and continue to develop strength as his career progresses. Reddick also had a four RBI day at the plate in Titans Baseball’s second game of the day.

A pair of bats had strong days for the Georgia Bombers 14u Amerson. Tyler Holsworth (2022, Peachtree Corners, Ga.) went 2-for-3 with three RBI. After a hard-hit double in a previous at-bat, Holsworth went with an outside fastball to the right field gap for an inside the park homerun. The ball was 76 mph off the bat, and Holsworth showed excellent speed out of the box, scoring with ease on the play. Holsworth has a 5-foot-10, 132-pound frame, and will continue to develop power to all fields with growth.

Hitting directly behind Holsworth in today’s Georgia Bombers batting order was left fielder Joe Hingson (2022, Dunwoody, Ga.). Hingson was 2-for-3 on the afternoon, highlighted by a roped single up the middle that had an exit velocity of 80.6 mph. Hingson has a very balanced stance at the plate, and was able to use that balance to keep his approach up the middle. An athletic kid standing at 5-foot-10, 143-pounds, Hingson, like Holsworth will look to grow and add strength to become a projectable hitter as his career continues.

Trippe Moore (2020, Forsyth, Ga.) had a good day at the plate for BigStix Gamers Prime 16u. Moore was 2-for-2 with a walk on Friday, and was able to rip two balls for a single and a double. With three RBI on the day, Moore showed an ability to have selective at-bats in big situations. With a very balanced stance, Moore shows the ability to fight off pitches until he gets one he can drive. Moore can run well, flashing a 4.56-second turn on the double. He was also consistently looking to take the extra base, and understood the game situation at all times. In the field, Moore was able to track balls well both to his left and right on Friday, and has a 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame that will become more and more athletic as he continues to develop.

Another standout performer from the BigStix team was Jim Brown (2020, Bremen, Ga.). Brown crushed a two-run home run over the left field wall at Southern Poly. The ball jumped off his barrel with both hits today, and the big righthander will continue to hit for power as his career goes on. On the mound, Brown tossed five strong innings, allowing just one earned run. The fastball was up to 82 on the day, but sat in the upper-70s for most of the day. Brown has great feel for his changeup, and it will continue to be a pitch he can use at the next level. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame will continue to provide power both on the mound and at the plate, but time in the weight room will benefit him as his career moves forward.

On the 15u side of things, Dukes Baseball got a great start from left hander Hunter Miller (2021, Harrisonburg, Va.) in their win over the North Alabama Tribe. Miller’s fastball was up to 83 on the day, though he lived closer to 80 for most of the outing. Miller has a 5-foot-9, 180-pound frame, and he showed his ability to use his body to get down over his front side. There is some effort at release, but that will clean up as Miller learns to use his lower half more early in his delivery. Miller also showed excellent command with both his fastball and breaking ball, striking out 13 batters and walking none in his six innings of work.

The East Cobb Sun Devils also received a great outing from their starter on Friday as Mitchell Herr (2021, Acworth, Ga.) threw two strong innings in the victory. Herr also flashed a fastball up to 83, and was anywhere from 78-82 the rest of the way. Herr struck out two and walked a pair in his outing, while also flashing a breaking ball at 65 mph. Herr is a name to look out for in the 2021 class. As his body continues to develop and fill out, expect the velocity to climb as well.

James Peyton Smith (2021, Springfield, Tenn.) had a strong outing on the mound Friday. Smith sat 83-86 with his fastball in his first three innings of work, and coupled that with a breaking ball in the low-70s. Smith has a 6-foot-1, 167-pound frame, and look for him to continue adding velocity as his body fills out. Smith has a low three-quarters delivery, and while there is some effort in the arm action, he uses his body and gets down the mound well. Smith’s lower half mechanics are repeatable and smooth, allowing him to fill up the zone with good command. Look for Smith to continue to impress as his career goes on.

– Nate Schweers
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