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PG Series  | PG Series Classic  | 8/2/2018

14u PG Series Classic Notes

Photo: Grant Hussey (Perfect Game)

2018 14u PG Series Classic Day 1 Notes

Four evenly matched, fundamentally sound and very talented teams advanced out of pool play to the semifinal rounds of the 2018 14u PG Series Classic. The result was two thrilling contests that were not finally decided until the last pitch of each game.

On Field 3, the South squad met up with the Gulf Coast team in a nail-biter. The Gulf Coast club held on to capture a 3-2 win. This victory only came after the never-say-die South club rallied, scoring one run in the seventh inning, and leaving the tying and winning runs in scoring position. The true competitiveness and sportsmanship of both teams belied their youth. To their great credit, each young player left it on the field and each individual and team should be highly commended.

Omari Hinton (2022, St. Petersburg, Fla.) is the outstanding leadoff hitter for the South club. The righthanded hitter can swing the stick. He incorporates a very strong lower half into a swing path that has a slight lift at contact. The result is a developing power stroke that looks as if it will continue to get much better as his career continues. He has both the frame and athletic build that will allow this young player to improve as a position player and at the plate. He is also a very gifted runner, who reaches top-end speed in only a few strides. He understands how to run the bases and is very instinctive and aggressive. 

Starting on the mound for the South club and holding down the vaunted Gulf Coast offense was Trey Wheeler (2022, Indiatlantic, Fla.). The lanky lefthander is a command and control pitcher who threw with poise and the presence of a veteran hurler. He continually worked the edges with a fastball that had plus arm-side run and sink. He never gave in, and rarely made a mistake over the middle of the plate. He complemented his fastball with a 12-to-6 breaking curveball and a plus changeup that he threw out of the same window as his fastball, and more impressively, with the same arm action.

Like he has done all week Schyler Arroyo (2022, Chuluota, Fla.) was outstanding on Thursday. The scrappy, tough and gritty backstop for the South club is an advanced receiver who is mature beyond his years. He plays like a player much his senior. He calls an advanced game and understands sequencing pitches and setting up hitters. He also is a sound technician with an easy set up and an ability to present the pitch to umpires like a veteran. He transitions well and has a quick trigger. He has a playable arm that is highly accurate. More than anything, he sets the tempo for his defensive club with his style of play and his vocal leadership. He also can swing the bat. He hunts fastballs early in the count and uses a flat bat and a short, quick swing path. He is also an aggressive runner who can, and will, take a bag.

Pacing the victorious Gulf Coast club’s offense was Bradley Hodges (2022, Fleming Island, Fla.). The speedy center fielder is a patient, top-of-the-order contact hitter who never expands his zone unnecessarily and attacks fastballs with a contact-first, line drive swing path that is extremely quick. He works to get on base and set the table for the Gulf Coast’s big middle-of-the-order swingers. Hodges is also a daring and aggressive baserunner who puts great pressure on the opponent defenses.

The gifted three-hole hitter for Gulf Coast is Andrew Barrett (2022, Debray, Fla.). In addition to his outstanding offensive skills, Barrett is also a very talented right fielder. Barrett is a patient hitter who patiently looks for his pitch and never appears overly anxious. His poise at the plate is commendable. He has an ability to drive pitches to the gaps and then use his plus speed to stretch hits to extra bases. In the outfield, he has the speed and coverage ability to probably play center field confidently. His No. 1 defensive tool is his impressively strong and accurate arm.

The unflappable Jake Smith (2022, Dothan, Ala.) never got caught up in the importance of his start on the mound against the South team. All in attendance knew that the winner would advance to the finals and get the honor and privilege of playing in JetBlue Stadium (Fenway Park South). That fact never appeared to be a cause for concern or angst for the young righthander from Alabama. He just pumped strikes for five plus innings. He used an economy of pitches and worked almost exclusively with his fastball. His four-seamer had explosive, riding life at the dish and was rarely hit squarely. He challenged hitters throughout the morning and seldom pitched from behind. He did show a solid breaking ball that had sharp 12-to-6 break, but he never strayed too far from his well-commanded heater.

Entering the game late in the seventh inning, with very little wiggle room, and his club’s precarious one-run lead in danger against the hard-charging South club, was Nate Selmont (2022, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.). With one out and runners on second and third, Selmont had to face down the heart of the South order. After issuing an intentional walk, the calm and cool righthander recorded the second out by coaxing a short fly to right field, that wasn’t deep enough for the runner at third to tag on. And then, with the crowd noise at its loudest and pressure of the situation at its highest, Selmont calmly tossed a called third strike to secure the victory for the Gulf Coast nine. He worked with two pitches during his short, yet clutch appearance. His heavy sinking two-seamer was clocked between 75 and 77 mph. His riding four-seamer was in the high-70s and was especially tough on righthanded hitters.

Over on Field 4, playing an equally entertaining ball game, was the scrappy, fundamentally sound Coastal squad against the poised and polished team from California. The Coastal club battled the California team for seven tough innings. In the end, the undefeated team from the West Coast held on for a hard fought 4-2 victory over the team from the east coast.

There was no better hitter in Fort Myers this week than Grant Hussey (2021, Washington, W.Va.). The barrel-chested lefthanded swinger can power the ball to both gaps with authority. His plus, gap-to-gap pop is accomplished using a swing that is direct to the ball and has an extended finish. His powerful lower half helps the 6-foot-3, 200-pound slugger drive the ball consistently to the deepest parts of the park.

Garrett Allred (2022 Colfax, N.C.) is a gifted receiver who calls a great game and handles his pitching staff like a much more experienced player. He has soft hands and frames pitches extremely well. He has plus transition skills and makes the transfer to throw with efficiency. Allred’s quick trigger and accurate arm enable him to limit the opposition’s running game. His calm presence in the semifinal game helped his pitchers hold down what many consider the top offensive club in the tournament.

The Coastal club had two solid pitchers toe the bump against the unrelenting California batting order and both turned in admirable performances. Austin Williamson (2022, Denver, N.C.) started and did the lion’s share of the work on the hill. He deserved a better fate, too. All you need to know about this young man’s desire and dedication to his craft is this. After the game, played in Florida’s hot summer sun, Williamson could be found getting his running in, in the outer field that serves as the parking lot of JetBlue Park. The tough-minded righthander was a strike-thrower and he consistently challenged the California hitters. More times than not, he was successful. His well-commanded fastball was consistently in the high-70s and showed solid movement, especially down in the zone. He complemented his fastball with a sweeping breaking ball that was more slurvy than curvy. His poise and presence were noteworthy and his ability to consistently throw strikes was commendable.

Williamson turned the ball over to Jimmy Shetzler (2022 (Kernersville, N.C.). Shetzler is a no-nonsense power throwing righthander who took the hill with a challenge-first mentality. His two-pitch mix was thrown with a purpose and plan. He used a four-seamer with riding life that appeared much faster than the 81-82 mph shown on the radar gun. His hid the ball well and it appeared to jump out of his shoulder. This deception didn’t allow for too many Cali hitters to square it up. He also showed a sharp-breaking 12-to-6 snapping curveball that had late depth at the plate.

The California squad has been tough on every opponent they have faced this week. Their pitchers all throw strikes, their defense is probably the most fundamentally sound unit in Fort Myers and their hitters are relentless. In total, the kids from the West Coast play a brand of baseball that is very advanced.

Jack Burnes (2021, Tiburon, Calif.) sets the tone for the California offense hitting out of the leadoff spot in the order. He didn’t wait long Thursday morning in getting the California team on the board. The strong and athletically built righthanded hitter powered a pitch out of the ballpark in his second at-bat to give his club an early lead that they would not relinquish. Having a powerful stick at the top of the order says a lot about the abilities of the California offense.

Hitting behind Burnes in the California batting order is a truly gifted hitter and defender. Carson Crawford (2021, Rohnert Park, Calif.) is an accomplished hitter and a top-flight defender at third base. He shows range in either direction and is especially good moving to his glove side. He has a strong and accurate arm and can make all the throws. At the plate is where he truly shines. Crawford showed his ability to drive the ball to the gaps and use his plus running ability in the California victory Thursday morning.

Handling the California pitching staff was catcher Matt Little (2022, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.). Like all the players from the West Coast, Little is a very poised individual who calls a veteran’s game. He has plus catch-and-throw skills and can block pitches as good, if not better, than any receiver in the Series. He also keeps his infielders on their toes with his verbal leadership. He is also an accomplished hitter who showed plus pull-side power out of his righthanded stance.

Patrolling the middle of the California outfield all week has been Drew Gustafson (2022, Northridge, Calif.) and he was especially on point on Thursday. He can cover a lot of territory in center field allowing his corner outfield mates to play closer to the lines. He has great anticipatory skills and understands positioning extremely well. He also has a plus average arm that is highly accurate. At the plate, the speedy lefthanded hitter is a slasher and runner. He uses a flat bat path and a short and compact swing to hit the ball up the middle and to the off field. Once on the bases he is a burner who can and will steal a base.

One of the many California pitchers to take to the mound this week was Jeremy Giesegh (2022, Upland, Calif.). The righthanded command-and-control pitcher was a picture of efficiency Thursday morning in pitching his club to the all-important semifinal win. He used a three-pitch mix, working the edges of the dish and throwing to all quadrants to keep the Coastal club off balance most of the morning. His fastball was especially effective up in the zone. His looping curveball had big break and was an effective secondary pitch. His changeup was a mature pitch that was thrown with the same arm action as his fastball. He pitched to contact and forced the action early in the count. His poise and the pace at which he pitched helped keep his defenders on their toes and get his team back in the dugout.

– Jerry Miller
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