Coach Bob Invitational Event Site | Event Schedule
As the middle of March approaches, so does the time of year high school fields all over the state of Arizona will be filled with talented players, across 14 different states, looking to be crowned champion of the eighth annual Coach Bob National Invitational. The two week tournament begins Monday, March 21 and blends nicely with a majority of the team’s spring schedules, allowing teams from all over the country to partake.
The teams participating in the event will be playing in one of six divisions: National, American, Premier, Classic, All-Star, or Open. Of the divisions, American Division champion Liberty High School (Ariz.), and Premier Division champion Valley Vista High School (Ariz.), return to defend their crowns.
The tournament’s name originates from legendary high school coach Bob Weinheimer, who concluded his outstanding 44-year coaching career at Boulder Creek High School, one of the main sites for the tournament. Tournament director Joe McDonald has done an exceptional job honoring Weinheimer’s coaching legacy once again by bringing in 113 teams to this year’s event.
Two teams among the field start within Perfect Game’s initial National High School Top 50 team rankings, 37th ranked Raymond S. Kellis High School of Glendale, Arizona and 42nd ranked Desert Mountain High School of Scottsdale.
Perfect Game All-American and potential first day draft pick, Kevin Gowdy, who has been known to run his fastball up to 94 mph, will be in attendance with Santa Barbara High School as well as many other strong prospects.
Here is a list of the top prospects that will be in attendance as broken down by class along with their college commitments:
2016:
Kevin Gowdy, RHP, Santa Barbara HS (Calif.) – UCLA
Maverick Handley, C, Mullen HS (Colo.) – Stanford
Mitchell Verburg, RHP, Lake Oswego Senior HS (Ore.) – Oregon State
Sam Huff, C, Arcadia HS (Ariz.) – Grand Canyon
Cameron Canyon, MIF, Mountain Ridge HS (Ariz.) – Arizona
Wyatt Featherston, OF, Green Mountain HS (Colo.) – Western Kentucky
Jake Eissler, RHP, Thunderridge HS (Colo.) – TCU
Elliot Willy, 2B, Bend Senior HS (Ore.) – Oregon State
Drew Gillespie, RHP, Sandia HS (N.M.) – New Mexico
Shea Barry, RHP, Simi Valley HS (Calif.) – UC Santa Barbara
Mitchell Allen, 1B, Boulder Creek HS (Ariz.) – San Diego State
Frank Dickson, LHP, Desert Mountain HS (Ariz.) – Arizona State
Austin Wood, RHP, Silver Creek HS (Colo.) – Furman
Brice Johnson, LHP, Pine Creek HS (Colo.) – Creighton
Bailey Hansen, RHP, Air Academy HS (Colo.) – Pacific
Jake Halland, 3B, Desert Mountain HS (Ariz.) – Uncommitted
Ronnie Rust, C, Central Catholic HS (Ore.) – Oregon State
Easton Bents, 3B, Grants Pass HS (Ore.) – Uncommitted
George Mendazona, SS, Ridgeview HS (Ore.) – Oregon State
Justin Williams, 1B, Raymond S. Kellis HS (Ariz.) – Uncommitted
Jordan Williams, OF, Raymond S. Kellis HS (Ariz.) – Uncommitted
Kenny Johnson, SS, Lancaster HS (Calif.) – Uncommitted
Chase Sandman, LHP, Mountain Ridge HS (Ariz.) – Hawaii Pacific
Matthew Dyer, C, Mountain Ridge HS (Ariz.) – Uncommitted
Nathan Bonck, 1B, Ketchikan HS (Alaska) – Seattle
Cole McKissok, SS, Air Academy HS (Colo.) – Appalachian State
Riley Gregory, C, Pine Creek HS (Colo.) – Northern Colorado
2017:
Trey Dillard, RHP, Desert Mountain HS (Ariz.) – Uncommitted
Matt Schroer, RHP, Arcadia HS (Ariz.) – Louisiana State
Jake Holmes, SS, Pinnacle HS (Ariz.) – Arizona State
Logan Easley, MIF, Rogers HS (Ariz.) – Wichita State
Elijah Davis, RHP, Elsinore HS (Calif.) – Uncommitted
Travis Weston, LHP, Moorpark HS (Calif.) – San Diego State
John McKee, C, Redlands East Valley (Calif.) – San Francisco
Luke McDonald, C, Xaverian HS (N.Y.) – Florida International
Antoine Mistico, OF, Chandler HS (Ariz.) – Uncommitted
Scott Mehan, 3B, Cactus Shadows HS (Ariz.) – Uncommitted
Nick Dicarlo, SS, Arcadia HS (Ariz.) – Uncommitted
Jake Meyer, C, Desert Mountain HS (Ariz.) – Uncommitted
Coby Boulware, SS, Boulder Creek HS (Ariz.) – TCU
Mason Millett, RHP, Boulder Creek HS (Ariz.) – Gonzaga
R.J. Dabovich, RHP, Pueblo West HS (Colo.) – Wichita State
Jordan Mambaje, C, Clackamas HS (Ore.) – Oregon State
Tyler Smith, LHP, Valley Vista HS (Ariz.) – Cal State Fullerton
2018:
Nolan Gorman, SS, Sandra Day O’Connor HS (Ariz.) – Arizona
Jake Dukart, SS, Lake Oswego Senior HS (Ore.) – Arizona State
Vinny Tosti, OF, Cardinal Newman HS (Calif.) – Oregon
Justin Olson, OF, Pine Creek HS (Colo.) – Uncommitted
Hunter Owens, 1B, Fairview HS (Colo.) – Uncommitted
Owen Sharts, C, Simi Valley HS (Calif.) – Nevada
Dawson Dimon, C, Quartz Hill HS (Calif.) – San Diego State
Jayce Easley, 2B, Sandra Day O’Connor HS (Ariz.) – Oregon State
Cole Winn, RHP, Silver Creek HS (Colo.) – Notre Dame
2019:
Justin Campbell, RHP, Simi Valley HS (Calif.) – Uncommitted
Dominic Tamez, C, Dakota Ridge Senior HS (Colo.) – Uncommitted
Games to Watch:
Mullen High School (Colo.) vs. Desert Mountain High School (Ariz.) | April 1, 3:00 p.m.
Mullen High School is just shy of 13 hours to Desert Mountain High School but both teams feature strong, talented prospects.
Stanford commit, Maverick Handley, returns to the Mullen Mustangs for his senior season after a great summer making All-Tournament Teams at the PG/Evoshield National Championship (Upperclass) and the 17u Perfect Game World Series. He also made an impression at the 2015 National Showcase making the top prospect list. Handley is a high-level defender that puts a stop to opposing teams’ running games regardless of who is on the basepaths.
Lefthanded pitcher and Arizona State commit, Frank Dickson, has been clocked in the upper-80s with good arm speed and command of all his pitches. Dickson has been known to go right after hitters which could set up a good matchup between he and Handley. Desert Mountain also brings to the table third basemen and North Dakota State commit Jake Halland, catcher Jake Meyer and the top ranked 2017 righthanded pitcher in Arizona, Trey Dillard. Halland and Meyer bring experienced bats and leadership to the lineup while Dillard has shown a fastball up to 92 mph.
Pinnacle High School (Ariz.) vs. Raymond S. Kellis High School (Ariz.) | April 2, 12:00 p.m.
2017 shortstop and Arizona State commit Jake Holmes impressed scouts in Jupiter with his consistent loud contact and his athletic 6-3 frame. His current gap-to-gap approach is complemented by his impressive bat speed and natural loft as he continues to develop more power.
Raymond S. Kellis High School will have to learn to play without current Arizona State freshman outfielder Tyler Williams who last year produced a line of .564/.617/.936 with 23 extra-base hits and 39 RBI. His younger twin brothers, Justin and Jordan Williams, will look to pick up where their brother left off in hopes of having another successful season.
Simi Valley High School (Calif.) vs. Xaverian High School (N.Y.) | March 28, 12:30 p.m.
When you typically hear of a young man that is 6-foot-5, 185-pounds, you probably would think of a high school senior preparing for life after high school, either at the college or professional levels. When Justin Campbell takes the mound (expected to be in the first game of the tournament for Simi Valley High School) scouts and fans may not realize that he is only a freshman. Currently ranked within the top five of the Perfect Game 2019 rankings, Campbell impressed many last summer being the youngest player at the 15u Team USA trials and topping out at 87 mph with his fastball. This all comes while still having a lot more filling out to do physically. With being able to add over six months maturity to his frame, many schools and scouts anticipate big things from this young arm.
Santa Barbara High School (Calif.) vs. Verrado High School (Ariz.) | March 28, 6:00 p.m.
With this being the first game for Santa Barbara High School (Calif.) in the tournament, there is a strong possibility Kevin Gowdy gets the call on the bump. A possible first round pick come June, Gowdy shows incredible promise on the mound standing 6-foot-4, 175-pounds, with anticipation of more growth and velocity to his already lively fastball. He currently has a three-pitch mix with incredible feel for his changeup. Gowdy is committed to UCLA and likely would make an immediate impact if he makes it to campus.