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Tournaments  | Story  | 7/16/2018

15u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 3

Photo: Nick Bitsko (Perfect Game)

15u WWBA National Championship: Event Page | Daily Leaders
Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2

Rawlings Southeast MAD Mavericks had a strong day with a 2-0 record and saw two strong performances on the mound from righthander Zach McWilliams (2021, Hendersonville, Tenn.) and lefthander Hayden Skipper (2020, Manchester, Tenn.).




McWilliams started the second time slot of the day over at Etowah High School and turned in a characteristic strong performance in a five inning win for the Rawlings team. McWilliams is a lean and projectable righthander with a solid delivery, little wasted movement, and a loose, fast arm stroke on the mound. He topped out at 85 mph on the afternoon, he touched 86-87 mph a couple of weeks ago, and sat mostly in the 80-84 mph range throughout. The extended three-quarters release allows McWilliams to flash some run on the fastball when locating the pitch to the arm side and what makes a difference in the profile is the feel for the breaking ball he has. The pitch adopts more of a slider shape in the mid-70s and he gets a good amount of break and life to the pitch with glove side tilt. Rawlings took a daunting lead early in the game and McWilliams hit cruise control from there, pounding the strike zone, getting swing and miss within the zone, and overall showing off what makes him an appealing prospect.




Skipper did it all for the Rawlings squad over there two games, not only impressing on the mound during a win in game two, but also hitting in the middle of the order and playing quality defense in the outfield too. The lefthanded two-way player, and also a two-sport player on the football field, is a very good athlete and has a very quick, short arm on the mound. The arm stroke results in an over the top release angle. He pounded the zone well with the fastball in the 83-86 mph range and went to the breaking ball often which was a very good pitch for Skipper. He could manipulate the shape of the breaker that could end up with an over the top, 12-to-6 breaker landed for strikes or give it more slider-like shape for a lot of swing-and-misses, especially when buried low in the strike zone. The lefthanded swing has plenty of bat speed and loft, and he showed off the arm in the outfield as well, hosing a runner at the plate. Skipper finished the day with seven strikeouts in over four innings while allowing no runs, and certainly is drawing interest as a two-way type at the next level.

Rawlings saw a lot of contributions from their position players as well, a couple players who stood out were Camden Hayslip (2021, Lebanon, Tenn.), Sam Kirkpatrick (2020, Franklin, Tenn.), and Blake Barton (2021, Franklin, Tenn.).

Hayslip is a good-bodied outfield prospect with length, projectability, and athleticism too. The outfielder splits time with Skipper between center and left field but runs well and has long strides to balls in the outfield with correct reads and accurate jumps off the bat. He has some present hitting tools with loose, quick hands at the dish which allows him to turn the barrel over the inside part of the plate well. He also shows the ability to drive high fastballs, sometimes to a fault as he will chase at times, but puts forth a patient approach and is working to work walks too.

Kirkpatrick had an excellent day, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. The shortstop has some quick-twitch athleticism to his actions and moves well to either side and made multiple highlight reel plays during the two games, as he transfers very smoothly and gets to his feet very quickly. He made a couple plays where he slid up the middle, got to his feet quickly, turned, and fired strikes across the diamond. Though he only converted one of those plays the range to get there and body control to even attempt those plays in the first place.

Barton is a physical backstop with some present strength and hits in the heart of the order. The swing is strong through the hitting zone and that strength plays in the form of arm strength as well with pop times in the 2.0s in between innings. The bat is the calling card, however, as there’s some looseness in the swing which allows him to drive the ball hard off the point of impact to either side pretty well and flashes some pull side juice.

Pitching in the night slot for the Tri State Arsenal Scout Team were talented arms Owen Flynn (2021, Windermere, Fla.) and Gavin Brasosky (2021, Kalamazoo, Mich.). Both pitchers showed flashes of what makes them such intriguing prospects and overall had fairly good showings, despite the team’s loss.

Flynn had impressed recently at the PG Jr. National Showcase and looked like he had his strong stuff going pretty early on. He worked 83-86 mph, touching 88 mph, in the first inning of work before settling into more of an 82-85 mph range. He operates from a longer arm strok through the back and whips the arm forward through release which allows him to generate short sinking life and plane on the pitch when on time and low. There were some timing issues throughout, but the pitch was very effective, especially at getting ground ball outs, when working and leveraging in the lower third of the strike zone. The breaking ball was a big-breaking 11/5 pitch that showed some sweep and break out of the strike zone to induce change and he flashed the ability to throw three pitches for strikes in a short look.

Brasosky, a recent commitment to Tennessee, was dealt the loss, but it’s worth noting the ingredients and elements to his profile on the mound which explains why Tennessee wanted to get into Michigan to get him. The lefthander has a very athletic, and fluid delivery with a loose arm stroke that delivers the ball from a lower arm slot. The fastball touched 87 mph early in his relief appearance, but mostly settled in the 82-84 mph range. The breaking ball was solid and he could land the pitch for strikes effectively.

In a game that was fought to a 1-1 tie, Academy Select starter Gavin Perryman (2021, Dallas, Tex.) showed some intriguing tools on the mound. The uncommitted righthander is currently ranked No. 177 for the class and it’s easy to see why when you look at the projectable frame and present arm speed. The arm stroke is full through the back with a shorter stride down the mound, though he does show the ability to get to both sides of the plate. The breaking ball has good spin and shape on the pitch and he can induce some swings-and-misses with it too.

– Vincent Cervino



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Tyler Wiederstein (2020, Greensburg, Pa.) was up to 88 mph on Sunday morning while showing some projection in doing so as well. The young 2020 graduate started the game and sat in the 87-88 mph range from the windup while losing some heat from the stretch and sitting 83-86 mph. Widerstein is a 6-foot righthander with some maturing still left and the ability to create some angel when located down. The Michigan commit did struggle some with command in this viewing but when he was on time with his arm and released out in front, his pitches were well located. The righthander mixed in a slider that flashed tightness when thrown with conviction. His delivery is mostly clean with drop and drive actions and a loose arm action with a slight plunge of the arm through the back. Wiederstein has some upside and is a quality arm when locating his pitches.




Austin Stracener (2021, New Braunfels, Texas) may have not collected a hit on paper in his game today but he did show raw bat speed and the ability to hit the baseball on the barrel consistently. Stracener has a clean weight shift into contact with loose hands that play well into his swing. He gets some whip from the barrel getting it through the hitting zone cleanly. In three different at-bats in his game, he hit the baseball on the nose each time showing his feel for the barrel and ability to square the ball up consistently. His actions in the middle infield are very advanced for his age and will only get smoother with due time. The lefthanded hitting shortstop committed to Texas A&M is a special talent and should be followed closely moving forward into his high school years. 




Getting the start on the mound for the Banditos Scout Team was John Rizzo (2021, The Woodlands, Texas). The 6-foot-1 righthander is not overly physical but gets good velocity from the effort he exerts and his quick arm stroke. Rizzo tops out at 87 mph with an uptempo delivery and across his body. The righthander loses some velocity from the stretch but still is able to locate the pitch to either side of the plate well and mix in a low-70s curveball in for strikes as well. There was plenty of heat in to see him and his Banditos play on Sunday and the righthander showed some potential on the mound with his projectable frame that, if filled out well, could add even more velocity to his already fast arm.

Clemson catching commit Joe Mack (2021, Williamsville, N.Y.) had a slow day to start but in his final at-bat showed the ability to do something not many hitters his age can do. On a 2-2 curveball that was well off the outer half of the plate, Mack extended his barrel and showed his pure pop and sent the ball off of the right field wall for a double. Mack is as physical as any at the backstop position and has huge raw pop in his bat. The lefthanded hitting catcher has plenty of bat speed and tremendous strength through extension that can produce big-time jump off of his barrel when hit on the nose.

Some times overlooked by the loaded roster he plays with, Jeffery Waters (2020, Mableton, Ga.) is a young graduate in the 2020 class who shows two-way potential himself. On the mound in this game, Waters came in to close out a win for Team Elite Prime and showed good velocity 86-89 mph while not showing a breaking ball in the contest. Waters throws a lively fastball that has outstanding life to armside repeatedly when he throws. The recent verbal commitment to Maryland earned the save in the contest working a clean inning. Waters has a projectable 5-foot-11, 185-pound frame that has filled out nicely since he first burst onto the PG scene and will only continue to fill out well in due time.

In a start that was halted due to multiple lightning delays and eventually a rain out, Kade Grundy (2021, Somerset, Ky.) showed big-time projection on the mound with the ability to fill the strike zone up with a heavy diet of upper-80s fastballs and a low-70s curveball. His fastball ranged from 86-88 mph while bumping 89 mph once and created angle from his 6-foot-1 frame. Grundy has a clean and online delivery with low effort and projects for more as he continues to mature. The righthander from Kentucky filled up the strike zone with both of his pitches for two innings and 29 pitches before the game was ultimately postponed for weather. Grundy did give a nice short glimpse of his potential on the mound with the viewing, however.

A pair of other pitchers had their starts postponed due to rain as well. Deceptive lefthander Anthony Solometo (2021, Sicklerville, N.J.) for Zoom Baseball and uncommitted and extremely projectable righthander Justin Webster (2021, Pembroke Pines, Fla.). Each showed good velocity for their age and the ability to spot up a fastball to the glove side part of the plate.

Solometo, a verbal commitment to North Carolina, has a unique delivery that causes plenty of deception to hitters of either handedness. His high hand raise and leg kick along with his very long arm circle allow him to make it hard for hitters to pick up the baseball out of his hand. The 6-foot-2 pitcher sits 85-87 mph with his fastball that has natural life to armside. He mixes in a short tight slider that was located to armside as well. His start was unfortunately cut short due to weather but the quick look was interesting in itself.

Webster, in a quick look, sat 80-84 mph but the frame and athleticism in his delivery is interesting. He stands at 6-foot-4, 180-pounds and moves well for his size off the mound and those athletic movements are noticeable in his motion. Webster’s arm works cleanly and full through the back before coming up to an extended arm slot to generate a lot of angle to the strike zone. Webster does slow his motion up some on his off-speed pitch but the curveball is still a good pitch for him as he is able to locate it down in the zone. There is plenty of projection left for Webster and if the uncommitted righthander makes the next jump in velocity, the final product could be special.

– Gregory Gerard



It was another quick but impressive outing for 2021 righthander Nick Bitsko (2021, Doylestown, Pa.) who worked the final inning for the Dulin’s Dodgers, again showing premium velocity on his fastball. A PG Select Festival alum and physically imposing presence on the mound at a long limbed 6-foot-3, 210-pounds, Bitsko has all the components and makings of a big time arm in the 2021 class. It was a quick look, as in 17 pitches quick, but every fastball he threw registered in the 92-94 mph range with more 4s than 2s while showing a fast, whip-like arm with solid extension out front. He works exclusively out of the stretch and employs a rather simple set of mechanics, stays balanced through his gather while staying on line down the mound. The future Virginia Cavalier worked mostly off his fastball that he did shows a tight curveball in the upper-70s with late, short break through the zone.

It's crazy to say he’s been on the national radar for over a year now considering he just finished his eighth-grade year of school but that’s the case with righthander Logan Forsythe (2022, D’Iberville, Miss.) as he’s always shown advanced arm strength and has more than held his own playing up in tournaments. Already listed at 6-foot, 160-pounds, Forsythe sports the build of a loose, athletic middle infielder and shows athleticism on the mound, staying simple through his delivery while generating big velocity with little effort.

Up to 88 mph this past fall, Forsythe rarely threw a fastball below 88 in this look, working in the 88-90 mph range early in the outing while bumping as high as 91 in the first inning of work. There’s obvious arm strength and quickness to the profile for Forsythe given his age and while he wasn’t his sharpest and walked five in three innings of work, there aren’t any glaring checkpoints in his delivery that suggest he won’t fill the zone in the future. When everything was on line and on time for Forsythe he showed the ability to generate plane, but more impressive was the late boring life in on the hands of righthanded hitters he showed.

The curveball is a pitch that continued to develop for him as the innings progressed, peaking at 78 mph while living in the mid-70s with the pitch. His best curveball of the day came at the end of the third inning, showing nice bite and depth for a swinging third strike. His overall ease of operation and ability to run the fastball up there without much effort hard highly intriguing, especially when you consider the fact he has yet to enter high school.

Ty Blecha (2021, Shawnee, Kan.) may not have lit up the radar guns like the arms mentioned above him, but the uncommitted lefthander for the Building Champions Grey showed the ability to mix and match with comfort, holding a talented Louisiana Knights team at bay for six-plus innings. Blecha, a long and lean 6-foot-1, 141-pounds, sat comfortably in the 78-81 mph range from his first pitch to his last and even bumped an 82 in the fifth from an extended three-quarters release, generating steady running life on the ball. Facing a lefthanded dominant lineup, Blecha’s ability to generate life on the fastball proved more than enough to elicit weak contact off the barrel while mixing both a changeup and curveball to rack up seven strikeouts. His changeup was the go-to secondary and one he threw with confidence, showing fading life down while showing a curveball in the upper-60s for strikes.

Blaze Jordan (2021, Southaven, Miss.) has been an established name around the baseball world for quite some time and despite being under a microscope of sorts, the Mississippi State commit continues to perform and refine his overall game. There’s no questioning his ability with the bat as he’s once again hit a home run in every WWBA this summer (17, 16, and 15u) and though he didn’t go deep in this look, he did turn on a first pitch curveball for a hard line drive double down the pull side which registered 102 mph off the barrel. Even more impressive than the double was the defensive play he made at third base where he got the start. Charging in on a slow chopper down the line, Jordan went to the backhand, picked the ball in stride while working through it and showing an easy arm across the diamond. He’s listed as a primary first baseman but should he continue to show well at third, it’s only going to enhance his overall profile long term.

Alex Ulloa (2021, Cutler Bay, Fla.) continues to develop every time we see him, taking a big jump offensively from last fall to now. Rangy and athletic up the middle with plenty of arm strength, Ulloa offers a swing from the right side that you can project to hit for both average and power. A young 2021 commit to the University of Miami, Ulloa picked up his second triple of the tournament while showing a short, compact stroke through the zone with plenty of strength to his hands, driving an inner half fastball to the pull side gap for a three bag knock.

An uncommitted third baseman out of Tennessee, lefthanded hitting Cooper Kinney (2021, Chattanooga, Tenn.) enjoyed a productive day offensively going 2-for-3 in his team’s first game before doubling in his first at-bat in game two which was eventually suspended due to weather. Of the three hits, two were two the opposite field showing his overall comfort at the plate while also flashing strength and life off the barrel. There’s no doubting his ability to hit as he went through the left side for both a single and a double, though he also turned on a 3-2 pitch putting an impressive swing on the ball. After working ahead 3-0 and taking the next two pitches for strikes, Kinney let his loose hands go to work, driving the ball to the right-center field gap for a standup double which registered 91 mph off the barrel.

Cason Henry (2021, Florence, Ala.) and Jack Walker (2021, Lake Charles, La.) both threw for the Louisiana Knights, showing big arm strength between the two despite each just finishing their freshmen years of high school. Henry, who is already committed to the University of Miami, didn’t have his sharpest command in Sunday’s pool play game though he did show a quick right arm which ran his fastball up to 87 mph. There’s more velocity in the tank as he continues to fill his 6-foot-2, 160-pound frame and incorporate his lower half into his drive, but he did maintain his mid-80s velocity and running life to his arm side.

Walker came in for relief of Henry and while not as projectable as Henry, he’s more physical at present with a strong 6-foot, 185-pound build. Using that physical strength and a quick right arm Walker ran his fastball up to 88 mph but more impressive than the velocity was the heavy life he was able to generate, sinking the pitch down in the zone with a spin rate of 1800 rpm per TrackMan. As he continues to learn to harness the life of his heater he’s only going to induce that many more ground ball outs while mixing in a curveball in the 72-74 mph range with tilting life through the zone.

Making his Perfect Game tournament debut, righthander Andrew Spaan (2021, Camp Hill, Pa.) is a name college coaches are going to want to have on their radar, especially as he continues to develop physically and fill out his current 6-foot, 155-pound build. Though he went six innings and allowed five runs, the athleticism and projection (along with his current arsenal) are all pieces to the puzzle that make him an alluring arm moving forward.

There’s plenty of arm quickness for Spaan as he opened up with a fastball that sat in the 84-87 mph early on, still showing 84s late into his outing. The pitch itself shows nice life through the zone, whether it’s riding life when up or running life to the arm side when locating to the lower third. He worked exclusively out of the stretch as to keep his delivery simple without many moving parts and mixed in both a changeup and curveball. A 70-72 mph pitch, Spaan’s curveball shows tight rotation and though there isn’t big depth or bit e to it yet, the feel is there for spinning while also turning over a changeup at 75 mph.

– Jheremy Brown



Hulking first baseman Cole Tolbert (2021, Laurel, Miss.) brings a physicality to the dish that few at this age level can. At 6-foot-3, 205-pounds, he already profiles as a power threat and consolidates the size with some nice plate skills. He has a short swing and good bat speed, which allow him to let the ball travel a bit longer and make contact at the optimum point in the swing. He also showed the ability to take the ball where it is pitched, seen when he deposited an outside fastball to the opposite field in right for an RBI double. Tolbert moves fairly well around the bases for his size and displays some athleticism in his footwork and stretches at first base. A primary third baseman, he is ranked third in the Mississippi class at the position, and despite limited opportunities to look at the glove-work, the bat really stood out today.

Braden Calise (2021, Fort Pierce, Fla.) consistently barreled up the ball Sunday en route to a two-hit, three RBI day. He does a great job of getting the bat head through the zone and squaring the ball up out front, and there is some natural leverage to the pull swing. Calise, with a medium, athletic build, shows the makings of someone who can really handle the shortstop position well, with soft hands and a fairly strong and accurate arm. On one particularly impressive play, he ranged to his left, made a sliding stop to corral the baseball, and recovered in time to fire to first and retire the runner. Calise is a good looking player on both sides of the ball and merits some additional attention in the future.

One of the unluckiest batted balls on the day had to come off the bat of Ryan Miller (2021, Dublin, Ohio). He smoked a ball 95 mph to right, only for it to be hit on a line almost directly at the right fielder for an out. No matter though, as Miller atoned for this misfortune later on with a 94 mph laser that one-hopped the wall for a triple. He boasts one of the sweeter lefty swings this scout has seen in this tournament thus far, with tremendous bat speed and a feel for the barrel. Listed as a primary catcher, the tall and athletically built Miller played third today, displaying great focus and situational awareness. While he definitely will warrant a look behind the plate, the bat really shined and should play anywhere.

Carlson Reed (2020, Marietta, Ga.), a tall and lithely-built righthander for the East Cobb Redbirds, was anywhere from 84-87 mph with the fastball, and the highly projectable frame bodes well for increase on that front in the future. He paired the heater with a curveball that was very sharp at times and registered over 2600 rpm at least once. Reed’s delivery includes a high leg kick and a powerful stride towards home, and for the most part he repeats his mechanics well, despite occasionally coming offline. He did struggle with command today, and the fastball, a little straight, did get touched up a little bit when in the zone, especially with runners on where it lost some ticks. However, he showed strikeout prowess with six of them through four frames. The overall raw profile but positive indicators in velocity and breaking ball spin rate make Reed an arm to watch to see if he can refine his game and take the jump to the next level. He is currently uncommitted and stands as the 26th-ranked righty in the Georgia class. Reed also hit for himself and scorched a triple to the gap from the cleanup spot.
– Cameron Hines



In what was one of the most exciting matchups of the night, Elite Squad 15u Texas and Florida Burn Platinum 2021 featured a trio of good arms. For Florida Burn Platinum, Anthony Ursitti (2021, Fort Myers, Fla.) tossed 4 1/3 strong innings. Ursitti was 83-88 with a good fastball, eventually running it up to 89 in the second inning. Ursitti was able to create plane with a high three-quarters delivery, and he was also able to get some good sink to the arm side. Ursitti was also able to throw a low-70s curveball for strikes, using it to keep hitters off balance late in the count. Ursitti has a tall and lean 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame, and his loose and quick arm action make him an exciting pitcher to follow in the 2021 class. Ursitti has very repeatable mechanics that allow him to command the zone well, and he is currently uncommitted.

For Elite Squad 15u Texas, starter Gerardo Cuevas (2020, Edinburg, Texas) also turned in an impressive 4 1/3 innings. Cuevas was able to scatter five hits while striking out seven in his scoreless outing. Cuevas has an electric fastball that he maintained in the upper-80s for a majority of his outing before ultimately topping out at 91. Cuevas had great feel for a curveball in the mid-70s, and he was able to throw it as both a strike and put away pitch. The Houston commit worked quick and efficiently, and the physical right hander was able to get the most out of an explosive and powerful lower half. Cuevas is able to deceive hitters some with a quick and compact arm stroke, and he also showed an impressive ability to field his position on multiple bunt attempts.

Out of the bullpen, Khristian Curtis (2020, Groves, Texas) showed flashes of being a solid college arm in his 1 2/3 innings of work. Curtis worked from 84-88 with a heavy fastball, and he was also able to toss in a high-70s curveball for strikes. Curtis is an athletic 6-foot-4, 175-pound primary shortstop, but the athleticism definitely plays well on the mound. There are things to tune up for the rising junior that is committed to Texas A&M, but he is a two-way type player to keep an eye on as his career goes on.

At the plate, Gavin Kash (2021, Sour Lake, Texas) delivered one of the more impressive swings of the day with a long two-run home run over the wall in right. The swing by Kash was one of the only kinks in Anthony Ursitti’s armor on Sunday night. The ball left Kash’s bat at 90 mph, and it was just a glimpse at the strength and power he has. Kash has a strong and athletic 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame, and the uncommitted rising sophomore is ranked as the 57th-best player in the 2021 class. Expect Kash to continue driving balls and putting on even more impressive displays at the plate as he develops over the next three years.

Over on Field 11, Joseph Acosta (2021, Murrieta, Calif.) turned in a strong start for Dykstra Baseball 2021. Acosta worked up to 87 with a good fastball on Sunday night before settling in anywhere from 81-85. What was most impressive was Acosta’s ability to maintain the low-to-mid-80’s velocity during his entire outing. Acosta worked five shutout innings, striking out six and allowing just three hits. He has a good 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame that projects well as he continues to add strength in the legs. Acosta has a long and loose arm action, and at times it looked effortless to fill up the zone with strikes. Acosta was also able to show good feel for a breaking ball that he could throw in any count. The rising sophomore is definitely an arm to keep an eye on as his career progresses.

In game this morning, a pair of excellent players for Team Beast Black 15u were impressive. Devin Rivera (2020, Valley Cottage, N.Y.) Rivera worked up to 85 with a heavy fastball on Sunday. He tossed three shutout innings, and while his breaking ball was off and on, it was an impressive pitch when he was on time. Rivera has a very projectable 6-foot-1, 186-pound frame, and he will continue to add velocity as he gains strength and cleans up his lower half. Rivera was able to make big pitches when he needed to during his outing, and the uncommitted rising junior is an arm to keep an eye on.

Throughout the game, it was clear that Christian Moore (2021, Brooklyn, N.Y.) is a name to keep an eye on in the talented 2021 class. Moore played a strong second base for Team Beast on Sunday, and the highlight of his day at the plate was a lined double down into the left field corner. Moore is a physical kid and a very gifted athlete. Standing at 6-foot-1, 195-pounds, Moore is clearly one of the most athletic players on the field at all times. Moore is committed to Tennessee, and he has also been up to 90 on the mound in events past. While it is yet to be seen whether Moore projects better on the mound or at the plate, his quick hands and good bat speed was impressive on Sunday.
– Nate Schweers
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