2/28/16

While PG's youth tournaments were taking place on surrounding fields, the four division one programs that were in town this weekend took the field to play their fourth and final game. Nebraska Omaha took on Arkansas State in a thrilling affair that wasn't decided until the 11th inning, while the Eagles of Morehead State played St. Louis. 

The standouts from today's action included:

Fr. RHP Peyton Culbertson, Arkansas State University

The talented freshman earned the start for the Red Wolves to try and earn them a winning record on the weekend. Culbertson showed a long, loose arm action on the mound and threw from a three-quarter arm slot. He attacked hitters and worked downhill well getting good extension down the mound. He utilized a four pitch mix featuring a fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. He worked his fastball very well and was actually incredibly effective against left handed hitters with sharp arm-side run away from them, or running under their hands. Culbertson maintained his velocity well sitting 87-90 mph and running it up to 91 mph on several pitches. His curveball worked with a 11-5 shape and often came across as a get-me-over offering just to change the site lines of hitters. His slider however flashed some sharpness up to 81 mph with a 10-4 shape that showed tightness and good downward plane. Culbertson also was supremely confident in his changeup, throwing it in any count and did show feel for it at 83 mph with slight arm-side fade. Culbertson had high levels of pitchibility on the mound, working a groundball to escape a jam when he needed to and often pitching hitters backwards by letting both breaking balls and changeup set up his fastball. 

For video of Culbertson, please follow this link.

So. LHP Aaron Leasher, Morehead State University

The very projectable 6-foot-3, 190 pound lefty has plenty of room to fill left in his frame. Leasher worked quickly, starting from the third base side landing on a stiff front leg with athletic actions off the mound. He showed a loose, live arm and worked from a three-quarter arm slot. His fastball offered slight arm-side life and sat between 87-89 mph throughout his start, topping out at 90 mph. His command worked in and out during his seven innings, occasionally being hurt by a fastball left over the middle of the plate, but its heavy action led to most of those being hit on the ground, albeit hard. His curveball worked up to 78 mph with good depth and 2-8 shape. He also flashed a changeup with sink, but threw it with irregularity. The Sophomore left-hander did really well to let his fielders work for him, he mixed pitches well and generated lots of ground balls. 

For video of Leasher, please follow this link.

Jr. C Jimmy Wright, Morehead State University

The Eagles' starting catcher, listed at 6-foot, 205 pound has very clear strength in his frame and moves well for his size behind the plate. What he did at the plate gets Wright a nod in today's edition of the blog, following up a three-run home run in yesterday's game, Wright delivered a solo shot in the first inning of today's. Wright generates good leverage and shows off his aforementioned strength throughout his swing with the ability to drive the ball. His swing plane and bat speed allow him to hit the ball to all parts of the field with power. Wright collected four hits in his two games, including both home runs and had 5 RBI.

Fr. SS Reid Leonard, Morehead State University

Sunday was the talented freshman's first game action of the weekend as he had been battling an injury he sustained earlier in the week. He showed no ill-effects as he collected a pair of hits in three at-bats utilizing a short, compact swing. Leonard made his biggest impression in the infield with soft, sure hands and quick actions as well as a strong arm across the infield. He showed good footwork around the bag as well on a double play ball with good instincts. 

Sr. OF Michael Bozarth, St. Louis University

It had been a rough go of it for the senior and pre-season conference POY candidate, but he rallied on Sunday.  At the plate, Bozarth starts with a wide base and very high hand set. He showed good bat speed with a line drive plane and ripped a double down the left-field line that left the bat at 103 mph per TrackMan. He has a strong ability to recognize and lay off bad spin with the barrel timing skills to drive the ball very well. Bozarth moves well on the bases clocked with a home-to-first time of 4.14 which is above average for a right-handed hitter. In the field he showed good instincts in center getting strong reads off the bat and showing an average arm. 

Sr. RHP Tyler Keele, Morehead State University

The strongly built, 6-foot-3, 210 pound senior came in to secure the 4-1 win for the Eagles and did just that. Keele worked sharply downhill from a three-quarter arm slot with good lower half incorporation. He landed slightly open on an athletic front leg in a good position to field. His fastball showed good, heavy action and worked between 92-94 mph and touched 95 mph. Keele did well to hit his spots for the most part, occasionally struggling to work glove-side and leaving the ball up. The heavy action on his fastball works better when low in the zone and helped generate a pair of ground balls. He flashed a curveball offering at 81 mph, but should continue to develop the pitch to increase his effectiveness from the bullpen. With the type of arm speed and strength Keele possesses he should be a name to watch in June's MLB Draft.

For video of Keele, please follow this link. 

Sr. 3B Clayton Taylor, University of Nebraska Omaha

Taylor has become a mainstay feature of this blog when UNO is in town. He's seeing the ball exceptionally well at the plate right now and on Sunday clobbered his third homer in as many days. This one was on an inside changeup that Taylor was able to get his hands around on and pull over the right-field fence to tie the game in the sixth inning. Taylor has every makings of a high quality senior sign for a team in June with his raw power and barrel feel.