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Game Recap: Germantown Academy at Neumann-Goretti

March 22, 2014

By Jacob Gill
Philadelphia Region Director of Scouting

N-G saints 4, GA patriots 0

So you want to be a scout?  Get ready for more than the occasional frustrating evaluation day such as this: the game's featured position players, Saints 1B Josh Ockimey (#7 in the PA class of 2014) and Patriots SS John Aiello (#1 in the PA class of 2015), combined for seven plate appearances and ZERO balls put in play (four BB, one HBP, two K).  The fact that both took some quality swings and were just a shade off can probably be chalked up to the first time seeing live pitching outdoors this spring.

As one often observes at the beginning of any season, the pitching was ahead of the hitting in Friday's Opening Day tilt, during which the two offenses combined for six hits and twenty strikeouts.  However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for the six hurlers, who issued twelve walks and two HBP.  To add some excitement, there were also two player ejections (one for not sliding on a collision at home plate and one for a rather loud utterance of an expletive).  There is certainly room for growth, and reason for optimism about the future, in both dugouts, as their combined starting line-ups (including pitchers and DH) featured only five total seniors.

Neumann-Goretti Player Notes

  • LHP Pat Doudican (#27 in the PA class of 2015) went 2.2 IP, allowing one hit and two walks, while recording three strikeouts and two pickoffs.  The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder featured a FB at 83-86 and SL at 72-75.  Doudican works from a deliberate wind-up with a hip turn and slight back shoulder tilt.  He leads to the plate with his front hip and, at times, works around his front side.  He is an intense competitor who appears to have a bit of a nasty streak in him.
  • Doudican was relieved by RHP Ethan Pritchett (#23 in the PA class of 2016), who went 4.1 hitless innings with three walks and four strikeouts.  The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder showed a FB at 81-83, while touching 85, and a solid CB at 67-68 that he commanded well.  Some quirks in his delivery (separating his hands around neck height and a front arm swim) didn't always allow him to get downhill the way he wanted.  With his size and strong lower half, Pritchett will no doubt see velocity gains as career progresses.
  • VerrattiOF Brian Verratti (#31 in the PA class of 2016) did his job out of the leadoff spot by reaching base all four plates appearances and stealing a bag.
  • 2015 2B Vinny Vaccone showed plus defensive skills, including range to his right and supreme trust in his glove hand on a potentially choppy field, that could translate to the other side of the bag as well.
  • 2015 SS Justin Curtin moved well on defense and tallied three quality at-bats, a Nardiniline-drive opposite-field single, a sac fly, and a walk.
  • 2015 C Tommy Nardini (#210 in the PA class of 2015) recorded the game's only extra-base hit, a double to left-center, while also taking a number of other quality swings throughout the game.

 

Germantown Academy Player Notes

  • HarkinsRHP Emmett Harkins (#19 in PA class of 2016) started and recorded five of his six outs by strikeout in 2.0 IP.  Four of those five strikeouts came on his breaking ball that registered at 72-73 and for which he showed a good feel.  The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder accompanied also showed a FB at 80-82, after flashing a tick more velo at the Preseason All-State Showcase in February.  Harkins (right) also showed some toughness, striking out the side after allowing a leadoff double in the second inning.
  • Zamarin2016 OF Daniel Zamarin (right) led off the game with a long at-bat that resulted in a line-drive single to LF off Doudican, the Patriots only hit of the day.
  • C Ryan Calhoun (#47 in the PA class of 2015) received well and showed solid catch-and-throw skills (2.12 in-game pop time).
  • The first of three relievers to follow Harkins was 2016 LHP Z.J. Zabinski, a sidearmer who featured a 76-78 FB and sweeping 68-70 SL.                              

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