1/19/2015
Keyed by a nine-run 7th inning, the AZ Prowlers beat the Dbacks Elite Scout Team 12-8 Monday evening at the Camelback Ranch Complex to win the 2015 18U PG MLK Championship.
The Prowlers pounded-out 11 hits on their way to securing the title, including three from Ryan Nelson (2015, Phoenix, AZ). Nelson went 3-for-4 with a double and four RBI. Teammates Aaron Prado (2015, Phoenix, AZ), Harrison Altieri (2015, Chandler, AZ) and Cole Bygum (2015, Castaic, CA) recorded two hits each. Kyler Murphy (2015, Glendale, AZ) added two walks, two runs and two RBI.
SS/RHP Tyler Wyatt (2015, Peoria, AZ) started and pitched 4.0 innings for the Prowlers. He showed an 84-88 mph heater with life, plus a curve in the low-70s and changeup in the mid-70s. Teammate and Kansas commit SS/RHP Rudy Karre (2015, Peoria, AZ) faced four batters in relief, featuring power stuff in the 87-90 mph range.
Alejo Lopez (2015, Glendale, AZ), Matthew Kroon (2015, Scottsdale, AZ) and Erick Migueles (2015, Tucson, AZ) each had two hits for the Dbacks. Kroon and Migueles also tripled; Kroon scored three runs and Migueles drove in three.
RHP Saturnino Santa Cruz (2015, Sahuarita, AZ) started and pitched 3.0 innings for the Dbacks, striking out four. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Arizona commit was around the plate with all his pitches, flashing outstanding armspeed and missing bats with regularity. Cruz worked in the 90-93 mph range with armside run. He also showed a low-70s curve and upper-70s slider.
SS/RHP Giovanni Lopez (2015, Goodyear, AZ) worked in the 84-90 mph range for the Dbacks, peaking at 91 in his inning of relief. Lopez also flashed a mid-80s changeup and upper-70s breaking pitch. San Diego State commit C/RHP Logan Boyer (2016, Chandler, AZ) and RHP Nathan Sweeney (2016, Greenwood Village, CO) also displayed impressive velos in relief. Boyer was in the 84-89 mph range; Sweeney was clocked at 84-87.