By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

The Plum Mustangs broke open a 1-1 game with six runs in the 4th inning by reverting to the basics; they bunted, and bunted and bunted. SS Nick Stotler led off the inning with a line drive single to center field. Following a sacrifice bunt that moved Stotler to second base the Mustangs had a man in scoring position with one out. What happened next was unconventional, Plum 7, 8 and 9 hitters all bunted for base hits. Tyler Podvasnik pushed what was intended to be a sac bunt past the pitcher and reached safely.  Brandon Hoener followed with a safety squeeze that resulted in a hit when Franklin Regional botched their bunt coverage and left first base unattended. With the bases loaded Andrew Dawson then laid down a perfect suicide squeeze bunt that he beat out for a hit to score the go-ahead run. Leadoff hitter Austin O'Block got hit by a pitch to force home the second run of the inning and with one out, freshman 1B Alex Kirilloff then put the finishing touches on the inning with a double to left-center to clear the bases.

The 6-1 lead was more than enough for unsigned senior RHP Zac Manuppelli who faced just three batters over the minimum from the 4th inning on to complete his complete game one hitter.

+ Manuppelli is a 6-foot-3, 240-pound unsigned senior who sat 85-87 all afternoon from a high 3/4 arm slot. He used the fastball early in the count and a hard-biting slider that sat 75-77 as his favored out pitch. Manuppelli pitched to contact for most of the afternoon finishing with four strikeouts and five walks.

+ RHP Brett Myers was effective for Franklin Regional until the ill-fated 4th inning. The junior sat 80-83 with significant arm side run to his fastball. Myers effectively ran the fastball in on the hands of right handed hitters and away from lefties. He allowed an unearned run in the 1st inning on a walk and two errors but then settled down to retire six of the next eight hitters. With projectable size Myers has the potential to develop if he can find a second pitch. His slider lacked shape and sat 68-69. Myers did not show a changeup in his six innings of work.

+ Shortstop Nick Stotler showed why is one of the most highly ranked middle infielders in the Class of 2014. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound prospect showed an above average arm and a compact swing. Stotler was 2-for-3 and squaring the baseball all three at bats including a hard ground out in his first plate appearance.

+ 1B/LHP Alex Kirilloff showed why he currently ranked No. 5 in the Class of 2016. The 6-foot, 170-pound left-handed hitter went 1-for-3 with a bases clearing double, a sacrifice fly and four RBI while hitting 3rd for the Mustangs. Kirilloff also showcased some fancy glovework when he snared a hard line drive in the 3rd inning and led the shortstop to the second base bag to nearly double off a runner. He also dug a throw out of the dirt later in the game.

+ 2B Mike Maleski (2014) flashed the leather all afternoon taking as many as three potential hits away from Franklin Regional hitters. While his arm is average at best, his range and quick release more than made up for it. Maleski showed the ability to make plays to both sides of the infield and hits 4th in the Mustangs lineup.

• PA - Apr 18, 2013
  Scouting Notes: Upper Moreland at Springfield Township
• PA - Apr 18, 2013
  Scouting Notes: Berks League Action
• PA - Apr 18, 2013
  Daily Roundup: April 17 Games