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Tournaments  | Story | 12/29/2021

Regional Review: Pacific Northwest

Isaiah Burrows
Photo: Dominic Hellman (Perfect Game)
Regional Review: Texas | California | Georgia

With the Perfect Game scouting staff spread throughout the country and another action-packed season in the books, we'll take a look back at some highlights from individual states over the next couple of weeks, from the 13u level all the way up through the collegiate ranks and the MLB Draft.





Biggest 13u Moment/Breakout Player

A recent 12u Select Festival player, Zayne Hookala strung together dominant performances on both sides at the 13u level. He is the top arm and lone player inside the 2026 top-100 from Hawaii following an impressive 2021 season. On the hill, he shows an advanced feel for spin in the form of a potent 12-6 curveball with tight shape and depth. The fastball consistently sits in the high-70s with more in the tank as he physically matures. At the plate, Hookala swings with intent and shows good amounts of pull-side pop. He is a name to watch closely moving forward.



Biggest 14u Moment/Breakout Player

It was hard to find a more impressive performer in the region than LHP/1B Kruz Schoolcraft this year. He features advanced feel for all three pitches in his arsenal, sporting a fastball already up to the low-80s with two distinct off-speeds in a curveball and changeup that force plenty of swing-and-miss. He continues to rise up the rankings following a dominant showing at the WWBA 14u World Championship. At 6-foot-2, 150 pounds, his pitchability from the left side makes him one of the most intriguing products in the class with the upside and projection to match as he physically develops. Meanwhile, a pair of Oregon State commits in Xavier Neyens and Mason Pike each had breakout moments at this year’s 14u Select Festival. Neyens is a physical left-handed backstop with loud tools on both sides. Pike is a fluid infielder with quick hands from both sides of the plate, generating easy bat speed and loft in the path that projects well at the next level. Both players rank inside the top-20 of the 2025 class.



Biggest Summer Moment

To have a round of batting practice as a nominee for the biggest moment of the summer, it must be loud. That’s exactly what took place when University of Oregon commit Dominic Hellman stepped up to the plate at PG National. In one of the most impressive displays of raw power ever seen at the event, Hellman peppered the left field bleachers seemingly with every pitch he saw. Scouts simply sat back and enjoyed the show. Standing a towering 6-foot-6, 245 pounds, Hellman’s physical two-way skill set makes him an intriguing product for the upcoming 2022 MLB Draft. The ball explodes off the barrel to the pull side with endless power projection, and he also runs his fastball up to 90 mph off the mound. Hellman was already a well-known product before his display at PG National, but it made quite a buzz for the months that followed.



Biggest Breakout Player

University of Arkansas commit Nolan Souza put his talents on the map after a loud summer. The ability on both sides has catapulted him as one of the best prospects to come out of Hawaii in many years. You can break Souza down in a multitude of ways, but it starts with the hands. Defensively, his quick transfers and clean movements at shortstop compliment good amounts of arm strength from different slots. The feet and hands are in-sync and work well off one another. At the plate, Souza employs a loose and easy left-handed swing with feel for the barrel to all fields. He loads into the backside, but the hands get deep and really extend through the zone for loud contact. Souza has begun to tap into loud pull-side power geared for such a compact swing, and more is in store as he fills out his lean frame. The hit tool, athleticism and skill set helps Souza make the game look easy at times. He broke out in a big way in 2021.
 
Biggest College Moment

Led by Head Coach Mark Wasikowski at the helm, the Oregon Ducks had a breakthrough 2021 season and are well on the rise heading into 2022. The Ducks were in contention for a PAC-12 title and played in its first Regional final since 2014, finishing the year 39-16 overall and 20-10 in conference play. Aaron Zavala was named PAC-12 Player of the Year, batting .398 with seven homers and 58 runs scored. He led the conference in on-base percentage (.538) and walks (49) on the season. Several other Ducks filled out the All-Conference team list in what was quite an impressive turnaround of a year. 
 
Biggest Draft Moment 

The University of Oregon also fared well at the 2021 MLB Draft, as three Duck alums were taken on day two. Coming off his impressive 2021 campaign, Zavala was selected No. 38 overall in the second round by the Texas Rangers. Zavala showed glimpses of a plus hit tool since his prep days at South Salem High School, and it truly came to form at the college level. Right-handed pitchers Robert Ahlstrom and Cullen Kafka followed in Round 7 and Round 9, helping Oregon finish the year on a strong note. Washington State University also made an appearance, as Cougars first baseman Kyle Manzardo went No. 63 overall in the second round to the Tampa Bay Rays. Washington State pitcher Zane Mills was also a fourth-round selection by the St. Louis Cardinals. As a whole, the Pacific Northwest showed out with a pair of high draftees. 
 
Top Pacific Northwest Travel Teams

2022 Grads: Hawaii Elite 2G
National Rank: 27

2022 Grads: Baseball Northwest National (WA)
National Rank: 95
 
2024 Grads: NL Diamond Jaxx (WA)
National Rank: Honorable Mention
 
2025 Grads: New Level Baseball 14u-Cowan (WA)
National Rank: No. 47
 
A Look Ahead




High School: There is a bevy of prep talent still scattered around the region. USC commit Tate Shimao is one of the top bats from the Aloha State with an innate feel for the barrel and strength/loft to the pull side. Zachary Justice is sound defensively at catcher with a quick transfer and plenty of arm strength. The Oregon commit can also hop on the bump and throw a mid-80s fastball and subtle changeup. Ian Ritchie Jr. will be getting plenty of draft buzz this spring, and for good reason. The UCLA commit has explosive traits that stand out amongst the loaded arms in the class, featuring plus arm speed consistently in the low- to mid-90s and improved feel for a tight slider that has the signs of a prominent swing-and-miss secondary at the next level. The physical projection and profile is hard to ignore. 
 
College: After a disappointing 2021, Washington baseball could be in store for a bounce-back 2022 season. The Huskies added Assistant Coach Andy Jenkins to the staff, who can bring a veteran presence to the entire operation, including the development of catchers following his successful stint at Oregon State. Head Coach Lindsay Meggs enters his 13th season with the Huskies to go along with an enticing lineup full of underclassmen ready to take the next step. 
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