CLEVELAND—The Prospect Development Pipeline League concluded last week with USA Baseball selecting 40 players to continue on to the 18U National Team Trials. Those players immediately flew from Tampa, FL, to Cleveland to participate in Saturday’s High School All-Star Game at Progressive Field.

American beat National 4-2 in the inaugural event. American got on the board in the second inning with 3B Yohandy Morales (Braddock HS, FL) and 2B Hunter Haas (Corona Del Sol HS, AZ) reaching on errors. DH Tanner Witt (Episcopal HS, TX) squared up a changeup away from LHP Nate Savino (Potomac Falls HS, VA) to drive Morales in and make it 1-0. An error lead to another run for American in the third inning. C Drew Romo (The Woodlands HS, TX) walked and advanced to third on a single by 1B Jordan Walker (Decatur HS, GA). As the throw went to third, Walker made an attempt for second base and a throw there sailed into right field, allowing Romo to score with ease. American pushed two more across to make it 4-0 in the fifth on RBI singles from C Kevin Parada (Loyola HS, CA) and Walker. National rallied for two runs in the seventh before American closed it out. C Tyler Soderstrom (Turlock HS, CA) drove in OF Austin Hendrick (West Allegheny HS, PA) with a single to right and then scored himself when 2B Robert Moore (Shawnee Mission East HS, KS) singled back up the middle.

That’s how things unfolded. Here is who stood out on the field…

+ SS Milan Tolentino (Santa Margarita HS, CA) was 3-for-4 with three singles. In his first at-bat, he reached out and poked a changeup away for a soft single to left field. He had an infield single in his third at-bat and then squared a ball up for a single through the right side in his final trip. He also stood out defensively, making two plays on the move with strong throws in the first inning.

+ RHP Max Rajcic (Orange Lutheran HS, CA) benefited from those plays by Tolentino and worked a quick first inning, striking out one. His fastball was 91-93 mph and he got the strikeout on a slider, which sat 79-80.

+ RHP Mick Abel (Jesuit HS, OR) started for National and allowed back-to-back singles to start the game, but he struck out the next three, all on sliders, to escape. His fastball was 90-94 with arm-side life and his slider sat 78-81. He also threw one changeup at 85, which Tolentino hit for a single.

+ RHP Jared Jones (La Mirada HS, CA) struck out two in his inning, sitting 94-97. He was wrapping his slider, causing it to flatten out, but his changeup was on point again. It was 88-91 with fading action.

+ Savino should have had a 1-2-3 inning, but the errors extended it. He was 90-94 with tailing life to his fastball while mixing in a 74-75 slider and 83 changeup.

+ RHP Carson Montgomery (Windermere HS, FL) had a very brief inning and struck out one. He sat 92-93 and struck out one with his slider, which was 81-83 with tight, late break.

+ Parada entered the game late and made the most of his two at-bats, squaring up singles in each, one for an RBI.

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