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High School  | General  | 3/5/2019

High School Notebook: March 5

Steve Fiorindo     
Photo: Dawson Netz (Perfect Game)

The high school notebook is designed to share notes and video on players that stand out during the high school season and new features will be released regularly. This will include in-game looks, reports, analysis and video from Perfect Game's scouting staff. If you have news on a player in your area that is performing at a high level that we should have eyes on please reach out to Vinnie Cervino at vincent@perfectgame.org. Also feel free to share your video highlights on Twitter @vcervinopg.

High School Notebook: March 1




Dawson Netz, RHP, 2019, Maranatha High School
This outing proved to be another performance that’s become a regularity for PG All-American Dawson Netz as the Arizona commit once again filled the zone with a full four-pitch mix. The heater worked in the 89-93 mph range, bumping 94, though it’s his ability to lean on his curveball up to 76 mph for strikes and land either his changeup or upper-70s slider with comfort. He battled on the mound and turned in another quality start, something that has been the norm for Netz over the years. Along with his contributions on the mound, the righthander added a couple of knocks at the plate and swiped a bag as well.




Marcus Johnson, RHP, 2019, Etiwanda High School
Johnson will be heading to the opposite coast for his college years having committed to Duke, and the overall projection on his long and lean build is near endless, which of course will only impact his game in a positive way. His fastball worked in the 85-87 mph range in this outing, bumping into the upper-80s, and he utilizes a breaking ball as his go-to secondary, showing some slurvy shape through the zone. While that combo proved to be his 1-2, Johnson also mixed a short cutter at 80-82 mph while flashing a changeup to round out the arsenal. Johnson’s repertoire plays well at present and he isn’t close to being a finished product given his outstanding projection and athleticism.


Jack Holman, IF/C, 2021, Etiwanda High School
Holman already offers present physical strength to his frame though it isn’t hard to envision even more given his 6-foot-4 frame. The loudest tool of Holman’s collection is his lefthanded stick and it’s one with which he shows a patient approach and the ability to work all fields. Against Serra HS he showed the ability to go the other way for a sac fly before barreling another pitch to his pull side. Defensively he has suited up behind the plate and played first base, but it’s his offensive upside that will be most enamoring to college recruiters.


Jashia Morrissey, IF/RHP, 2019, Serra High School 
Cal State Bakersfield has a good one signed in Morrissey and he’s the type of athlete who could prove to be an impact two-way type talent. A primary shortstop, he shows a solid approach and overall feel for the game, though he got the start on the mound in this look. Running his fastball up to 91 mph, Morrissey has some mechanical refinements to make but shows feel for his mid-70s curveball and offers ample projection on the rubber.




Mahki Backstrom, 1B, 2019, Serra High School
It’s no secret that Backstrom has some of the best raw power in the class of 2019 and it was on display with a single swing, barreling up an 88 mph fastball for a long home run to right-center field. Despite his 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame, Backstrom shows solid athleticism and offers physical projection with room to fill. With continued success this spring, and the aforementioned power and projection, the Fresno State signee and PG All-American could really make some noise.


Damone Hale, OF, 2019, Serra High School
Signed with the University of Michigan, PG All-American Damone Hale offers enticing tools in center field, revolving around his speed, which allows for solid range in the outfield and also plays up on the bases. In this viewing the range was on display as he tracked down a couple of balls with solid reads, including one near the wall in left-center field. It was to that part of the field that he made an offensive impact as well, driving a triple to the gap as part of a two-hit day, the other being an infield single which helped once again highlight his speed.




JaMore Ward, RHP, 2021, Gahr High School
The younger brother of former PG All-American Je’Von Ward, who is currently in the Brewers organization, JaMore Ward continues to make strides on the mound, showing added control of his body throughout his delivery. Working in the low-80s with his fastball, the uncommitted Ward came out attacking hitters while mixing in a curveball in the mid-70s for strikes. Much like his brother, the projection is near limitless for the 6-foot-5 younger Ward, and given his ability to already control his long levers, watch closely as he continues to fill out and develop physically.


Matt Clark, OF, 2021, Damien High School
Matt Clark looks the part in the righthanded batter’s box with a physical build and he’s shown solid progress from last year to current day with his offensive tools. He shows a solid approach in the box, looking for his pitch, and when it’s there he attack the offering, showing solid barrel skills twice in this look, including a line drive single to center field. He’s one of the top prospects in the class of 2021, currently ranked 110th, and has already committed to play at Arizona.


Matthew Polk, OF, 2021, Gahr High School
UCLA commit and outfielder Matthew Polk is another prospect who calls Gahr High School home. Like the other class of 2021 players listed, Polk has added physicality to his frame which has resulted in improved arm strength on his throws. His speed is a tool that has been noted in prior viewings and it was on display once again while showing a handle for the barrel and squaring it up a couple of times in this look.




Tyson Heaton, RHP, 2019, Yucaipa High School
Once he settled in against a scrappy South Hills club, Heaton battled and ultimately came away with a complete game victory. Strongly built at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, the BYU commit features a fastball that bumped 92 mph early on lived in the upper-80s throughout, though it was his off-speed that he relied on mostly. His curveball ranged anywhere from 69 to 76 mph, working more consistently on the lower end of the band, while flashing both a low-80s slider and an occasional changeup for strikes. His delivery is clean, incorporating his lower half well as he drives down the mound and works on top of the ball, creating solid plane through the zone.


Wesley Scott, RHP, 2019, Woodcrest Christian
Despite being on a pitch count, PG All-American Wesley Scott still turned in a dominant three-inning performance, living in the low-90s with his fastball while touching some 92s from a lower three-quarters slot. He showed the ability to work to either side of the plate, showing a bit more present comfort working to his arm side with solid running life as part of his three-pitch mix. The feel for his 78-80 mph curveball was on from the beginning, landing the pitch for strikes at will while also utilizing it as a chase pitch. To round out the arsenal, the Vanderbilt signee flashed a changeup at 79 mph, though his fastball-slider combo was more than enough to make an impression.




Ricky Tiedemann, LHP, 2020, Lakewood High School
The 6-foot-3, lefthanded Tiedemann might be currently uncommitted but that’s something that may not last much longer. Currently working in the 86-88 mph range and bumping 89, there’s plenty more in the tank as he refines his delivery and incorporates better directionality towards the plate, though he does show comfort living to his arm-side part of the plate. While the fastball is intriguing, Tiedemann’s changeup may just be his best pitch at present, playing well off his fastball with solid life to the bottom of the zone in the 75-78 mph range. His curveball picked up some swing-and-misses as well, snapping off the pitch in the 72-75 mph range with solid shape, rounding out his three-pitch mix.




Jared Jones, RHP, 2020, La Mirada High School
There’s no doubting Jones’ athleticism on the diamond, whether it be on the mound, up-the-middle or out in center ield where he covers ample ground, and he also picked up three hits in their first game. He brings that athleticism with him to the mound, showing an up-tempo delivery in which he incorporates his lower half, driving on line with ample arm speed. Despite his lengthy stride he maintains his balance upon release and ran his fastball up to 98 mph, bumping that mark a few times with solid running life, especially to his arm side. Working within the 91-98 mph range throughout this game, Jones showed both a slider and curveball which lived in similar velocity bands but offered different shape while flashing a firm changeup with present feel for the 86-88 mph offering.


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