Game Notes (CA): Aptos at Santa Cruz

2020 3B/RHP Jacob Mendoza (Aptos) - Uncommitted. Started the game at 3rd and the medium frame showed good lateral range there with enough arm strength for the position. Turned a FB into LCF scoring their 2nd run before coming in to pitch the final 4 innings. FB 78-81 MPH with the ability to use on both sides of the plate. Mixed in three off-speed pitches including a deep CB with 12/6 actions and short loop using it to the arm-side regularly (60-61 MPH), a short and flat SLD (64-67 MPH) and a running CHG (65-66 MPH) keeping hitters off balance. Control would come and go the entire game but leadoff walk after they took the lead was a tough one that eventually cost him.

2019 CF/1B Shane Modena (Aptos) - Uncommitted. Very long with a high waist and athletic build. Modena was in CF and showed good foot speed, looking like he can stick in CF at the next level with the ability to work behind the baseball using a fringy M-3/4 arm. At the plate ripped a 2B down the RF line and had a 2nd hit taking a breaking ball back through the middle. During his 2B, he showed off the athletic ability (4.35T) getting out of the left batter's box quickly and using those legs to cover a lot of distance.

2021 OF/2B Jacob Pappas (Santa Cruz) - Uncommitted. Moved from LF to 2B for this game and played well there with developing footwork and an arm that can easily fit there. Showed his athleticism on a popup that dropped on the RF line getting to 3rd with a clean turn at 2nd base. Scored the game-winning run after lacing a single over the 2nd baseman’s head in the bottom of the 9th. Some swing and miss with 2 K’s, but has a chance to keep making strides as he matures and plays the game more.

2019 LHP Clayton Ray (Santa Cruz) - Uncommitted. Battled and kept Santa Cruz in the game without his best stuff. 5IP, 5H, 3R, 2BB, 5K. Was able to pitch around trouble for the first three innings getting big strikeouts in the middle of the order but found too much plate in the 4th and 5th and was hit hard giving up his 3 runs. FB 81-83 MPH with better run and angle to the arm side mixing in his CHG and CB. CB didn’t have the same tight spin I’ve seen before and FB didn’t have same angles leading to some long XBHs including 2 3B, 2 2Bs.

2020 OF Brady Chavez (Santa Cruz) - Uncommitted. Made good adjustments at the plate after striking out in 1st AB. Finished the day 2-3 with 2 hard singles and a walk. Long and lean lefty was able to stay compact and quick with the bat, driving the ball back through the middle twice with the 2nd one tying the game in the 5th. He got the ball into 2nd base quickly after catching a sinking liner in RF to end a threat in the 7th showing baseball instincts.

2020 C/CF Jack Bollengier (Aptos) - Uncommitted. Medium, quick-footed frame swinging from the left side. Was on base 3 times with a walk, HBP, and driving a ball past a diving 2nd baseman. Compact swing stays to the middle of the field with a flat path through the zone. Defensives skills were good with aggressive streak throwing out runners at 3rd, 2nd (2.13-2.22 Pop) with a back pick at 2nd to add. His receiving skills were also good with flashes of lateral agility.

2021 RHP Nathan Brouse (Aptos) - Uncommitted. Second viewing and has made big improvements in a short amount of time...