MARIETTA,
Ga. – The Evoshield Canes (4-0) used an eight-run inning and solid
pitching to run-rule the Florida Hardballers 16u Black (2-2) 10-0 in
just five innings in a Monday afternoon pool S matchup at the 2012
WWBA 16u National Championship.
Justin
Bellinger (2014, St. Sebastian’s School, Mass.) delivered the major
blow, blasting a grand slam to left-center off right-hander Jake
Thompson (2015, Buchholz H.S., Fla.) to cap an eight-run second for
the Canes.
Bellinger,
who verbally committed to Vanderbilt University shortly after his
freshman season began at St. Sebastian’s in 2011, fouled off a
pitch before unloading on Thompson’s offering high in the strike
zone. The left-handed hitter, who plays first base as well as seeing
time on the mound as a left-handed pitcher, already is listed at
six-foot-six, 226 pounds.
He
attended the Junior National Showcase last month in Minneapolis,
Minn., and earned high marks from the likes of David Rawnsley,
Perfect Game’s National Director of Scouting. Rawnsley said
Bellinger’s power “comes very easily” and that he “has a very
good idea and approach” at the plate.
Perfect
Game ranks the Massachusetts product as number 13 in the high school
class of 2014 as well as its number one first baseman.
“Justin’s
just a freakish 16-year-old,” said Evoshield Canes head coach Jeff
Petty after the victory. “He’s got power at the plate obviously.
I think he has a chance to be an extremely high-level draft pick out
of high school.”
Bellinger,
who describes himself as a power hitter, said Vanderbilt’s baseball
program stood out to him.
“Their
coaching staff is the best in the country in my opinion,” said
Bellinger, who also visited University of Virginia before pledging to
Vanderbilt.
In
spite of his verbal commitment, Bellinger said he has looked at
programs like Georgia Tech, University of Miami (Fla.) and Stanford
University.
“I
still have my options open,” said Bellinger of the state of his
recruitment.
On a
team that has surrendered no runs through four games and 19 innings, Bellinger
is far from the only standout player on the Canes.
“On
this team alone, I think we have 10 or more guys committed to
college,” said Petty, who serves as the organization’s general
manager and owner. “I think in the draft in June we had 18 guys
that played in our organization at one time or another get picked.”
As
far as the class of 2013, outfielder Jake Fraley (2013, Red Lion
Christian Academy, Del.) looks to have a promising future ahead of
him. Perfect Game pegged Fraley as the nation’s number 71 player in
the high school class of 2013 after he attended last month’s
National Showcase, also in Minneapolis.
“It
was great,” said Fraley of the National Showcase. “It’s really
good for a position player because you get to feel out what the best
pitching in the country is for a couple of days.”
Fraley,
who has been with the Canes since the fall of 2010, has left a
favorable impression on many a coach and others with his play.
“He
plays as hard as he can all the time,” said Petty of the
centerfielder. “A scout was complementing him the other day. We
were beating some team last week by 12 runs, and he was legging out a
hustle double. It was 100 degrees outside. He just never takes a
pitch off. He’s got a great arm, he can run and is showing some
signs of power.”
The
six-foot-one, 185-pound athlete gave his verbal commitment to
Louisiana State University in the fall of 2011. He also considered
University of North Carolina, University of South Carolina and
University of Maryland.
“Every
single time I’ve gone up in a level of baseball, I’ve always had
that certain coach that I’ve clicked with and who has taught me a
lot,” Fraley said. “I went to LSU, got to talk with the coaches
one-on-one and I just knew it was the right spot.”
Joining
Bellinger in the Canes’ class of 2014 are third baseman Charlie
Cody (2014, Great Bridge H.S., Va.) and shortstop Jack Gerstenmaier
(2014, Douglas S. Freeman H.S., Va.).
“They
both run really well. They have great baseball instincts,” said
Petty of the left side of the Canes’ infield. “Great defenders.
Go-getters and they don’t take anything for granted or anything
lightly. They play hard all the time.”
Cody,
a starter at third base as a freshman on Great Bridge’s 2011 state
championship team, described himself as athletic, fast and versatile.
He verbally committed to Virginia last month.
“I
really felt like I fit in there,” said Cody of Virginia. “I
really liked the coaches and the atmosphere. And they obviously have
a great baseball program, and their academics are very good.”
Cody
also considered North Carolina, Vanderbilt and Miami among others.
The
six-foot-one, 180-pound infielder attended the Junior National
Showcase last month, and ranks as Perfect Game’s number 131 high
school class of 2014 player.
“I
was very impressed with that and had a good time there at the
Metrodome,” said Cody of the Junior National.
Last
but not least there is Gerstenmaier, who began his Canes career in
the fall of 2010.
“It’s
just a great organization and a lot of exposure,” said the
six-foot-one, 188-pound infielder. “I went to a tryout in 2010 and
it went well.”
Gerstenmaier
also verbally pledged to Virginia last month. In addition, he
considered North Carolina and South Carolina.
With
the likes of Bellinger, Fraley, Cody and Gerstenmaier among others,
it is easy to see why the Canes have yet to lose or allow a run yet
in this tournament.
“We’ve
played sound defense, and like I said we’re not taking anybody
lightly,” said Petty of the team’s play in this event. “Our
guys understand that down here you can get beat at any given time. If
you take a pitch off, that can cause you to lose down here. All the
top players in the country are here right now in this age bracket.”