Stout Classic Notebook

CORONA, CALIF. - The annual Stout Classic hosted by Yucaipa High School was held this past weekend throughout the Inland Empire with games at multiple sites over three days. The event brings together many of the top teams from the area where each team plays three games over the weekend. 

The weekend took me to Santiago High School in Corona on Friday and Saturday giving me a chance to see several teams in action. As is usually the case, there were plenty of guys that stood out as we head towards the 2023 high school baseball season. As teams put the finishing touches on their fall season in preparation for the spring season, these games give onlookers an opportunity to see many of the players coaches are high on heading into the spring along with the players we are all familiar with. 

So, without further ado, let’s dive into what transpired this weekend. 

PLAYERS TO KNOW

TESORO

The 2022 season was a magical one ending with a CIF-SS and a state Regional Championship. In 2023 the Titans will have all the makings of a team that will contend once again. Senior first baseman Jackson Peper has a chance to provide big power numbers in the spring with a patient and selective approach at the plate that he pairs with very good barrel control through the zone. He belted a hard hit line drive to right center field for a single with a 4.35 run time on the turn. Senior catcher Carter Jorissen shows some tools that will make an attractive recruit for a college coach. He has a thicker/sturdy build that is ideal for the position. The arm really works from behind the plate with between inning pop times of 2.01-2.13 with most throws on the bag and the occasional miss high. The bat seems to be an effective tool as he made contact in three at-bats with a hard hit line drive to left field to show for it. Also had a hard hit line drive out to the center fielder who tracked it well for the catch on what would’ve otherwise been an extra base hit...Fully healthy after a back injury sidelined him most of the summer season, Nevada signee Jackson Kemmerer is shaking off the rust at the plate but continues to show above average bat-to-ball skills that will be highlighted this season as he takes on a bigger role within the offense. He seemingly can do it all from bang one out of the park to executing the inside game. Speed kills and he has that in abundance as he demonstrated on a groundout where he was 4.28 down the line on a throw that beat him by two steps. He looks like he's floating when running. Big time arm in the outfield - played left field in this one - that when paired with his speed makes him a weapon on the grass. 

GREAT OAK

The Fien brothers will be a handful for opposing pitchers to deal with. Junior Dylan Fien, playing first base in this one, is an elite level switch hitter with real power from the left side. While he didn’t have anything to show for his at-bats in this game he did drive two ball - one from each side - with the type of power that will continue to develop into over-the-fence power. Sophomore Gavin Fien impressed with his ability to slow the game down during his at-bats drawing a walk and hitting a hard hit line drive that resulted in an out showing his ability to get the barrel on the ball that was on the outer half. He also showed off defensively at third base making play-after-play with enough arm strength to stay at third with shortstop tools. Speaking of shortstops, senior Brenden Shanahan has to be the most underrated shortstop in his class. He made some plays that he had no business making all while showing the footwork, poise, and fundamentals of an elite shortstop at this level and one who will make plenty of noise when he arrives at Fresno State next fall. He also drove balls showing gap-to-gap ability with developing power which has improved since my last viewing...Senior outfield Robert Farrell plays much bigger than his listed 5’10” frame would indicate. Tracks balls well in the outfield and has plenty of arm strength to make all throws with accuracy. Smoked a ball in one at-bat and showed the type of discipline in another that you’d expect from a top of the order bat.

SANTIAGO

Junior Shortstop Chris Ramirez has really established himself as one of the premier shortstops in the area with his defensive abilities that proved to be off the charts good in the three games I saw. Made one play where he was playing deep in the hole, charged a high chopper before playing the short hop perfectly and getting rid of the ball from a low 3/4 slot with quickness and ease to get a speedy runner by a step. He followed that up by making a play behind the bag at second only to take it himself and finish the double play to end an inning. On another play he made a backhand deep in the 5.5 hole and showed enough arm strength to get another speedy runner. The CBU commit is trending up in a big way…SeniorCameron Tepper, a Cal Baptist signee, got the start for Santiago in the first game and while his command was spotty in the first inning, he settled down and was efficient the rest of the way. Working mainly 85-86, Tepper touched 87 twice from the left side. After settling down, the breaking ball was 68-71 with sharp, tilting action that induced whiffs in addition to consistently landing it for strikes. Works quick with very good tempo; more a gradual mover down the mound…Junior infielder Barrett Ronson is a guy who will undoubtedly help Santiago win a lot of games come springtime. At 6’1” 200 pounds, Ronson has a physical frame that has room to continue to add strength which is a scary proposition considering his present ability with the bat. Down in the count and with a runner on first base, Santiago went with a hit-and-run which Ronson handled beautifully. He got a fastball out and he waited until the last possible second to take a pass at it, getting the barrel on it and hitting through the vacated hole left by the second baseman. Great piece of hitting. In a later at-bat he took a 3-1 fastball to deep center field beating the outfield for a standup 3 RBI double. For good measure he hopped on the mound and was an efficient 82-83 FB with a sharp, downer shaped breaking ball at 68-69 mph…Behind the plate Santiago has a nice catcher that shows the ability to hit at a very productive level in junior Tyler Blade. In the first game he had a RBI single to right center field and a two RBI single to left field showing his all fields approach. Showed the ability to manipulate the barrel through the zone on the second single when he adjusted to a breaking ball when sitting fastball for the base knock. Both hits were hard hit balls off the barrel. Behind the plate he sets up low and is able to get under the ball with ease showing soft hands with quick exchanges. With a breaking ball pitcher on the mound he showed the ability to block and recover with relative ease. Stole a few strikes for his pitchers too. Between inning pops were in the 2.05-2.214 range with most throws on the bag.

FOOTHILL

Foothill will once again be a handful for opposing teams to contend with in 2023 despite graduating several impact seniors. With a left handed heavy lineup, the Knights are certain to score runs in bunches. Junior outfielder Garrett Davidson continues to show why he’s one of the top uncommitted players in the class in California. Has a very patient approach at the plate with above average feel for the barrel that he’s able to manipulate through the zone. He has easy juice in the bat that translates very well against velocity. Smoked a hard hit line drive to left field that scored a run before taking second base on the throw. He was down in the count and went with a fastball on the outer half for the knock. Quicker than fast, his ability to change speeds when on the move both when running the bases and in the outfield is impressive…Sophomore Lukus Alvarado has the look of the next name to know for the Knights. Shows a very patient and selective approach at the plate where he seems to slow things down to a level that allows him to spoil pitches and work counts that is not common for a player his age. t was a glimpse of his defensive abilities that has Foothill coaches excited about his future…We’ve known about Andrew Parker the pitcher for a couple of years now, we are now getting to see Andrew Parker the shortstop. The first thing you notice about Parker is his physical condition - he looks like he’s added 10 pounds of mass to his frame filling out a uniform like a much bigger player than last season. On the dirt he shows plenty of athleticism and the ability to get to balls deep in the hole like the one he got to behind the second base bag before setting his feet to fire a strike to get a runner. Not bad for a pitcher! Parker will play a huge role for the Knights in 2023 both on the mound and at shortstop…The book on first baseman Ty Cowley is that the bat plays, and he showed that this weekend. The question will be his ability to be a consistent defender at a very important position for the Knights whose pitching staff generally induces a lot of ground balls. He handled himself well at first base in this viewing but it was the bat that stood out. Aggressive swings from his large frame resulted in a loud double to left field in which he was 9.06 home-to-second.