Alabama Scout Blog: Week 8 Games

7A No. 9 Oak Mountain (6) vs. 7A Thompson (3)

Thursday, April 8th @ Thompson High School

+ LHP Matthew Heiberger (2023) stood out once again in his start against 7A Thompson in a crucial area game with his team trailing in the series. Started off with a bit of a rocky 1st inning where he surrendered two runs on a double, soon settled in after with four straight scoreless innings of work. Started off working 85-87, 89 mph with the fastball, but pitched comfortably at more 84-85 mph in the later innings. Really found his breaking ball with typical ⅕ break at 71-73 (2100 rpm) after the 1st inning which contributed to his success. Also a 76-78 mph changeup a few times in the outing for strikes. Both secondary offerings complimented the fastball well. At 6-3, 175 pounds, the talented lefty uses a low-effort delivery with a high ¾ arm slot. Also an exceptional athlete who helped the Eagles basketball team win a 7A title as a sophomore. 

LHP Matthew Heiberger (4/8/21)

+ 1B Ben Pearman (2023) was a bright spot offensively for the Warriors, driving in two or the three runs of the contest. Against Heiberger and trailing 4-0 early on in the 1st, Pearman worked into a plus count with two runners on and drove a fastball to one of the deepest parts of the field for a two RBI double. At 6-2, 200 pounds, Pearman is definitely a physical presence hitting from the from the right side of the plate. Quickly has become a major power source for the Warriors, as he’s already belted a few home runs in his sophomore season. Strong, sturdy frame with present strength throughout. Also a mid 80’s arm on the mound.

1B Ben Pearman (4/8/21)

+ C Carter Kimbrell (2023) has worked his way into the Eagle’s lineup over the past few weeks thanks to steady production offensively. Standing a sturdy 6-0, 190 pounds, Kimbrell fits the bill for what you want as a backstop. A left-handed hitter, the sophomore catcher had one of the biggest swings of the day for either team when he belted a RBI double over the center fielder’s head in the 1st. Stance is square and has solid separation with the hands and front foot. Creates significant torque in the hips thanks to a powerful lower-half. Excellent job facing a L/L situation and going the other way.

C Carter Kimbrell (4/8/21)

+ 1B Maddox Macrory (2022) had a stellar day offensively in two crucial area games for the Eagles on Thursday. The junior first baseman led the way and started the scoring in Game 1, as he roped a RBI double down the left field line (clip below) to give his team a 1-0 lead. He also came up again in the middle innings and singled into the back side gap to drive home another run. Added another hit to finish 3-4, 2B and 2 RBI’s, but he wasn’t done yet. Macrory also went 3-4, 2 2B’s and a RBI in Game 2 to  get another big win. May not have the flashiest tools like some other players in his class, but Macrory is composed & mature and always gets it done in big situations at the plate. 

1B Maddox Macrory (4/8/21)

6A Chelsea (6) vs. 6A No. 10 Homewood (1)

Thursday, April 8th @ Chelsea High School

+ RHP Brock Hill (2021, South Alabama) looked like a completely different pitcher on Thursday night in his start in an area game. Hill has gotten off to an excellent start to his senior season and continued to put up impressive numbers last night. Opened up pounding the zone at 86-88 mph (2100 rpm) and even reached 89 mph once in the 3rd before settling in and pitching at 85-87 mph. Showed three different off speed offerings, but the breaking ball was the equalizer at 71-72 mph (2400 rpm) with hard, late action & 11/5 break. Showed confidence in it and the ability to throw for strikes in early counts and bury it in the dirt for swing and miss with two strikes. Also featured a 76-77 (2300 rpm) slider that was firmer with tight spin a few times, and flashed an occasional changeup, mostly to left-handed hitters, at 79-80 mph. Finished earning the win while tossing 6 IP, H, R (0 ER), BB & 12K’s on the night. 

RHP Brock Hill (4/8/21)

+ C/DH Kaleb Hester (2024) is a promising bat that has come on as of late and currently is slotted in the middle of the Chelsea lineup. The freshman designated hitter was a part of the big 1st inning offensively that plated five runs to start the game. Hester had a two RBI double into the pull side gap with two runners on and two outs to extend the lead to 5-0. Medium, athletic 6-0 180 pound frame with more size and strength coming. Didn’t look fazed against varsity competition with maturity beyond his years. Did show a bit of swing and miss occasionally, but hunts the fastball with an upward bat plane to hit for extra bases. Recorded a home run last week, and will be one to follow over the next 3 ½ years.

C Kaleb Hester (4/8/21)

+ OF/SS Taylor Patterson (2022) was the only bright spot offensively for the Patriots facing a Division 1 signee on Thursday night. Facing an upper 80’s fastball, Patterson recorded the only hit of the game for Homewood when he blistered a fastball over the plate and drove it into the pull side gap for a double in the 4th. Slim 5-10, 160 pound player with solid athleticism and versatility. Seen him play multiple positions so far this year, but played outfield after seeing time on the infield this year. He’s got efficient bat speed with good barrel control and accuracy. Ran a 7.2 laser-timed 60 YD this past summer, but looked quick rounding the bases in this look. An uncommitted junior to keep close tabs on.

OF Taylor Patterson (4/8/21)

+ RHP Will Cannon (2021, Georgia State) has stepped up this year on the mound for the Red Devils and has cemented himself as the ace of the staff with a key arm down in 2021. Being their first area game against Smiths Station on Wednesday night, Cannon showed he was up for the task facing a veteran lineup in arguably their biggest game yet. Cannon started off sitting 89-91 mph (2150-2300 rpm) with the heater in the 1st & 2nd frames before settling into an 86-89 mph range, but showed he could reach back for more if he needed it as he reached 92 mph in the 6th inning. Looked comfortable pitching backwards early on with a SL/CH combo. Slider had late, typical break at 76-78 mph (up to 2200 rpm) early on with the ability to manipulate shape and spin throughout the outing. Changeup flashed potential and was a solid third offering at 80-81 mph. Lost the zone a few times, but showed elite competitiveness by working his way out of a few jams. He finished tossing 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 5 BB & 5 K’s and earned the win in a crucial matchup.

RHP Will Cannon (4/7/21)

+ 1B Brody Capps (2022) was a bright spot offensively in a low-scoring affair that featured two Division 1 arms going at it on Wednesday night. Standing a medium 6-2, 190 pounds stature, Capps is slotted in the cleanup spot for a talented Red Devil lineup and came through in a scoring opportunity with the game tied in the 3rd. With two outs and two strikes on him, Capps adjusted and recognized a breaking ball that had generated numerous swings and misses up to the point and lined it back up the middle for a RBI single. From the right side, the uncommitted junior starts out slightly open before using a quick leg kick getting back to square. From there, he creates efficient separation with his hands and front foot and drives a strong lower-half and hands through the zone to contact. Recently named a PBR Alabama Player of the Week last week and continues to be one of the leaders offensively for Central Phenix City.

1B Brody Capps (4/7/21)

+ SS Logan Collins (2022, Wofford) has gotten off to a torrid start offensively for the Panthers and keeps on showing that he’s one of the hottest hitters in the state. Recently named a Structure Brand Athlete of the Month for March, where he hit .488 (21-43), 12 doubles and three home runs. In a crucial 7A Area 4 matchup, Collins was one of the bright spots offensively at the leadoff spot for the Panthers. Before being retired twice and walking in his first three plate appearances, Collins got an elevated fastball over the plate and drove it into the pull side gap for a one out double in the 7th to bring the tying run to the plate. Although they couldn’t cash in, Collins continues to come up big in clutch situations with sneaky power that he’s shown all year long. Starts in a crouched, open stance before getting back to square before the pitch has been released, and does a good job of keeping his weight back and staying balanced to hit to all fields. Steady defender up the middle with reliable hands.

+ SS Brody Moss (2021, Auburn) was who made the Helena offense operate in a crucial area game on Tuesday night. Hitting out the leadoff spot, Moss and the Husky offense were faced with a huge task going up against an SEC signee, but Moss showed no trouble handling a tough matchup. Moss jumped on a 2-0 fastball in the 1st and roped it deep into the back side gap for a double. He later came around to score to give Helena an early 1-0 lead. The left-handed hitting shortstop came back up again in a big spot in the 4th and continued delivered once again, driving a fastball deep in the count to left field for a RBI single. Moss, who also walked in the contest, showed no trouble handling a tough matchup L/L. Didn’t chase at off speed offerings with two strikes and hammered the fastballs when he got them. He showed excellent bat speed with quick hands and the ability to always perform in-game. 

SS Brody Moss (4/6/21)

+ LHP Pico Kohn (2021, Mississippi State) went up against one of the better lineups in the state on Tuesday night in a huge area contest, and did all he could to keep his team in the game. Primarily used a fastball/slider combo against both-sided hitters in this look, as his fastball ranged 87-90 mph (2200 rpm) and touched 91 mph a handful of times. Using a deceptive ¾ arm slot, the southpaw’s fastball seems to play up a bit due to high spin and a quick arm action. Wasn’t afraid to run his fastball into right-handed hitters, as he pounded it inside with authority. Slider has wipeout potential at 80-82 mph (2700 rpm) and was extremely difficult against left-handed hitters. Flashed an above average changeup at 78-79 mph, which plays off the fastball well in the few times he showed it. Continues to show swing and miss ability with all pitches, as he punched out 10 hitters through six innings while allowing five hits, three earned runs and three walks in the outing. 

LHP Pico Kohn (4/6/21)

+ RHP Jacob Peters (2021, Southern Union CC) took the ball in his start on Tuesday night in a championship-deciding contest and was brilliant in the six innings he tossed. A natural competitor, Peters opened up working 83-85 mph (2200 rpm) with arm side action did a good job of throwing that pitch on the outer-half of the plate and letting it work back to the zone to right-handed hitters. Settled into more 82-83 mph in the later innings, but his secondary offerings were what made him so successful. Excellent feel for spin on a deceptive, 10/4 slider at 77-79 mph (2400 rpm), and manipulated the speed/shape on it in the later innings at 75-77 mph. Changeup showed the same action as the fastball at 79-80 mph with fade that generated a lot of swings out in front and rollover groundouts versus left-handed hitters. Earned in the win while going 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB & 7 K’s.

RHP Jacob Peters (4/6/21)

+ SS Sam Silas (2023) is a prospect that we’ve grown very familiar with over the past couple years as he’s attended numerous PBR events, with the most previous one being the Preseason All-State event this January. Listed at an athletic 6-0, 165 pounds, Silas handled the bat well and played a clean shortstop for the Bulldogs on Monday. At the dish, the sophomore shortstop is a hitter that is being relied on in a large capacity in 2021. Hitting in the leadoff spot, Silas recorded a single, drove home three runs, walked and was hit-by-pitch in this contest. Keeps his weight back and uses a small, quick leg kick and gradually shifts his weight forward with a level bat plane to hit for line drives consistently. Showed no issue going the other way when he handled an elevated fastball over the plate and drove it right field to drive in two of his three runs on the day. Keeps the hands close and stays short throughout contact. Quick hands and efficient footwork up the middle, and should stick at shortstop in the future.

SS Sam Silas (4/5/21)

+ SS Zac Russell (2021) was a pleasant surprise playing for Saint James on Monday, as he led the way offensively in the win. With a slim 5-10, 160 pound frame, Russell was constantly on base and created havoc with his athletic skill set from the 2-hole. Got the offense jump started in the 1st when he lined a single to left field for his first hit of the day. Drove another single to the pull side gap in the 3rd, and had the biggest swing of the 7th on a two RBI double that drove home the eventual go-ahead run in the contest. Short, quick stroke with a level bat plane to hit for singles and line drives, allowing him to utilize his speed and excellent instincts. Could easily move to 2nd base with no trouble defensively, but played a decent shortstop in this look.

SS Zac Russell (4/5/21)

+ 1B KJ Jackson (2024) is a young prospect who has already made a name for himself on the gridiron as QB1 for Saint James in the fall, but the athleticism that he possesses at 6-3, 210 pounds translates well to the baseball field. Hitting from more of a crouched stance from the left side of the box, Jackson was a consistent performer at the plate with four hits to his name on Monday. A physically-gifted athlete, Jackson has a quick leg kick on pre-pitch and really stays grounded on the swing to use his fairly strong lower-half. Gets out of the box well with long legs and strides. A freshman to keep an eye on both on the diamond and on the gridiron, as he’s already collected Division 1 offers at QB.

1B KJ Jackson (4/5/21)

+ 3B Tanner Potts (2023) is a strong, sturdy 5-9, 190 pound corner infielder that hammered balls all over the field in Monday’s contest against Saint James. Slotted in the 3-hole for the Bulldogs, Potts is a steady performer and confident presence in the middle of the order. The right-handed hitter smoked two doubles on the day and hit one on the screws in his other at-bat, finished 2-4 w/ two doubles, A RBI, and a walk to his name. Balanced approach that looks to drive on each swing with intent. Stays in his legs well and gets the hands through with ease. Another sophomore for the Bulldogs that is playing a big role.

3B Tanner Potts (4/5/21)

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