CCS Focus (CA): 3/20/19

3/16/19 - Pioneer at Los Altos: The Pioneer Mustangs traveled across town to visit the Los Altos Eagles for a final tune-up before they started League as Los Altos played their 4th game of the week. Los Altos got on the board in the 2nd with two walks before an error got their first run. 2019 DH Ryan Baum then hit a missile through the middle of the field to add a 2nd run. Los Altos had two quick outs in the 3rd but after two walks and a single from 2020 OF Zach Fuchs, they added a 3rd and final run. For Pioneer, they had chances early getting runners into scoring position in each of the first 3 innings before bringing the winning run to the plate in the 7th inning without finding that big hit to get on the scoreboard and give themselves a chance to win. The game could have gone differently for Pioneer if 2020 RHP Ian Torpey hadn’t become sick early in the 2nd inning, having to pull himself from the game after only 1+ inning pitched. Both teams showed talent on their rosters, competing and battling, so another viewing later in the season will have to occur.

3/19/19 - Serra at Archbishop Mitty: The West Catholic League is always one of the most talent laden conferences in the Central Coast Section and that was present with both teams having deep rosters. Mitty got on the board first as Serra 2019 RHP Juliano Rodriguez control escaped him leaving some balls over the plate that were hit hard. Mitty scored 3 in the 2nd when 2020 C Andrew Vo doubled over the RF head and then 2021 CF Reymello Murphy stung a ball that bounced off the glove of Serra 2019 SS Dominic Meza with the infield in to make it 3-0. Serra responded in the 3rd when Meza made up for the mistake driving a ball into LCF to score 2019 OF Jeremy Villar. Mitty got that run back in their half of the 3rd when 2019 SS Jonah Advincula came around to score on another hard hit single off the bat of Vo. Serra had a chance in the 4th loading the bases with 1 out, but Mitty 2019 RHP Andrew McCann was able to get two big outs to leave it 4-1. In the bottom of the 6th Mitty added 3 runs on a mixture of bloops, walks and a clean 1B from Advicula and 2019 3B Connor Leaverton making it 7-1. Serra got one back in the 7th but that’s all there was as the Monarchs picked up the win 7-2.

As always, you can click the highlighted name for bio information, previous notes, stats, video etc.

PLAYERS OF NOTE:

2021 RHP Brock Susko (Los Altos) - Uncommitted. Started on the hill for Los Altos and flashed some upside there. 3IP, 4H, 0R, 1BB, 1K. FB was 76-79 MPH from a long arm to 3/4 release; pitch was up during outing battling through and using pitch to get some weak pop ups. CHG was best off-speed pitch at 65-66 MPH slowing the arm but getting sink through the zone with the pitch. CB 57-59 MPH with loopy and slow break. Susko wasn’t frazzled by runners on base and if he can gain some feel for the offspeed, there’s potential to make some jumps with maturity and strength.

2020 RHP Ian Torpey (Pioneer) - Montana State-Billings commit. Started for Pioneer and looked very good in warmups and for his 1+ inning pitched. During 1st inning, FB was 85-86 MPH working with decent angle to the knees on both sides of the plate. Showed strong straight CHG at 78 MPH and also a through the zone CB at 72 MPH. During the 2nd inning faced two batters and FB was down to 83 before calling for the coach. When that happened I thought the worst, but was relieved to see it was only a situation of dehydration as he came out of the game. I’d seen Torpey pitch during the summer and he’s made some jumps in overall profile. Will have to come see him again this season.

2020 INF/OF Hayden Matulich (Pioneer) - Uncommitted. Started at 2B before moving to RF and showing athleticism at both positions with the arm profiling more to OF/3B than 2B. He’s a strong build with lean strength in the legs and hit atop the order for the Mustangs getting on base twice with a BB and HBP. Bat showed the ability to lift the ball, but couldn’t find his timing popping up twice; the bat flashes speed through the zone and had seen him during the summer really drive some balls through the gaps. Type of build and bat speed that can fit in as a UTL type player with footwork to stay in the infield and athleticism to play in the corner spots in the OF. 

2019 3B/RHP Jake Rincon (Pioneer) - Hawaii-Hilo commit. Rincon started the game at 3B but came on in relief of Torpey going 4.2 innings giving up 2R. The control was shaky during the outing as he walked 6 and hit 1, but he was able to limit damage and pitch out of situations with runners on. Also had a good day at the plate hitting the ball hard all three times with 2 singles to LF and a stolen base late in the game. Really liked how he competed on mound without his best stuff and kept Pioneer in the game.

2020 C Andrew Vo (Archbishop Mitty) - Uncommitted. Vo was a name mentioned to me before the game and he came out hot ripping off quick times on throws to 2nd between innings (1.96-2.13 Pop) with a strong arm and then flashed some strength in the bat doubling over the RF head on a mid-80’s FB to drive in two. He’s a balanced hitter that showed strong mechanics and the bat speed to play at the next level. His defense was fringy having a couple balls bounce off him, but also showing some lateral quickness and a decent glove hand stealing a few pitches.

2019 SS Dominic Meza (Serra) - Cal State San Marcos commit. Meza was on base 4 times in the game picking up two hits and a walk showing a quick bat that is compact with a middle of the field focus. The defensive miscue with the infield in was an anomaly as he made some really nice plays deep in the hole later in the game. The arm is fringy showing flashes of average with the ability to stay in the middle of the diamond due to his quick feet and good angles on the baseball. He had good AB’s all day and played with a calm patience.

2019 1B/RHP Joe Yorke (Archbishop Mitty) - Boise State commit. Big bodied 1B that hit in the middle of the lineup for Mitty. Power is there, though it didn’t show much in the outing as he was very choppy on some swings grounding out twice and flaring a ball to LF. Did some nice things at first showing a good target and stretching out to make a nice pick from across the diamond early in the game. Hopped on the mound and went the last two innings giving up a run on 3 hits and flashing a decent knuckleball and short curveball pitching backwards. The bat is the carrying tool and looks like it will hit in the middle of the Boise State lineup.

2019 RHP Andrew McCann (Archbishop Mitty) - Uncommitted. McCann started for Mitty keeping the Padres off time with his three pitch mix. 5IP, 1R, 1K, 3H and 4 BBs. FB was 78-80 T82 MPH and being his main weapon with the ability to cut, sink and run the ball through the zone mixing in a loose CB (68-70 MPH) and straight CHG (72-75 MPH) keeping pitches off barrels with an even mix of ground outs and fly outs. He’s a wide and thick, full medium frame that shows he’s willing to battle and create difficult AB’s with his late arm. Had one inning where he lost the command, but with the bases loaded showed his best pitches getting his lone strikeout and a flyout to end the threat.

2019 SS Jonah Advincula (Archbishop Mitty) - Uncommitted. Advincula started at SS and showed the footspeed and quickness to stick in the middle of the field. He made a really nice play in the hole giving a clean hop to 1st and another play where he went behind 3B to make a catch on a pop up. On base twice, driving in a run late with a clean single to LCF from a relaxed stance at the plate. He’s the type of athlete who can play in the middle infield or out in the OF and has also hopped on the mound for the Monarchs showing versatility and flashes of bat speed.