By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

 

Sunday, October 13 saw the PBR Kentucky Fall Prospect Program make a stop at Western Kentucky University in what was the make-up date for the rainout that occurred on September 22.

This time the weather cooperated with sunny skies and temperatures in the 70’s.

The following is an in depth look at all the action including game summaries, top performers, and pitcher velocities.

Game 1 Summary

A pitcher’s duel ensued from the get go as 2015 RHP Caleb Bruner (Logan County HS) and 2014 RHP Aaron Ochsenbein (Paul Laurence Dunbar HS) took the ball for Team Black and Team White, respectively. 

Bruner struck out the side in the first with a fastball that sat 82-84 mph (topping out at 85), and good command of his sharp 70-73 mph breaking ball.  What is interesting about Bruner is his ability to throw both his fastball and breaking ball from several different arm slots without losing command, which clearly bothers hitters.  He finished allowing no runs with six strikeouts in his three innings of work.

Not to be outdone, the 6-foot-4 Ochsenbein struck out the side in his half of the first as well.  His fastball sat 83-85 mph and touched 86-87 on a few occasions, and once again, as is the case each time we see him, showed very good command of his sharp 71-75 mph breaking ball.  Ochsenbein also finished with no runs allowed and six strikeouts in his three inning stint.

The pitcher’s duel didn’t stop there.

Joshua Scheer (2015 RHP, McCracken County HS) fired two scoreless innings with a fastball that sat 82-85 mph, touching 86.  The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder used a late-breaking 74-75 mph breaking ball and very good 76-77 mph changeup to keep hitters off-balance.  He allowed no runs and finished with four strikeouts in his two innings of work, including striking out the side in the 5^th. 

Kyle Fisher (2014 RHP, Western Hills HS) threw two scoreless innings of his own with an 82-84 mph fastball and solid curveball at 69-71 mph.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the 7^th when Team Black used a couple of walks to their advantage to push across the winning run for the 1-0 victory.

Game 2 Summary

Team White got on the board early in game 2 off of Herbert Dennis (2014 LHP, Northwest TN HS).  Andrew Kirkland (‘14 Ballard HS) led off the game with a double down the left field line, and Dale Gumm (’14 John Hardin HS) singled him home.  Zach Burton (’15 Daviess Co) drove home Gumm with a sacrifice fly to give Team White the early 2-0 lead.

Dennis settled down to retire the side in order in the 2^nd and 3^rd, and Team Black took advantage of a few walks, wild pitches, and a costly error to score four times in the 3^rd off of LHP Lou Bunning (’15 Highlands).  Bunning had retired the side in order in the first two innings with three strikeouts.

Team Black struck again in the 4^th when Graham Smith (’14 Lexington Christian) smoked a RBI triple to left-center for a 5-2 lead. 

Team White tied it up with 3 runs in their half of the 4^th as Christian Wichman (’14 Columbus East IN) singled sharply and Jed Arend (’16 Daviess Co) ripped a RBI single as well.

Team Black went ahead for good in the top of the 6^th.  Jackson Gooding (’16 Bowling Green) led off the inning with a sharp single and scored on a single by Jacob Smiley (’14 South Warren).  Graham Smith followed with his second hit and RBI of the game when he singled home Smiley for a 7-5 lead.

Smiley didn’t allow a run in pitching the final 3 innings for Team Black.  He recorded 3 strikeouts as Team Black swept the DH with a 7-5 win in game 2.

Top Performers Team Black

Caleb Bruner (’15 Logan Co) threw 3 scoreless innings, allowing 1 hit and striking out 6. 

Graham Smith (’14 Lexington Christian) went 3-for-5 on the day with a triple and 2 RBI. 

Kyle Fisher (’14 Western Hills) threw 2 scoreless innings with 2 strikeouts.

Tanner Walker (’16 Franklin Co) pitched 2 scoreless innings allowing 1 hit with 2 strikeouts.  At 6-foot-5, 170-pounds, Walker has a great pitcher’s frame.

Jacob Smiley (’14 LHP/OF South Warren) pitched 3 scoreless innings while recording 3 strikeouts.

Jackson Gooding (’16 Bowling Green) showed good actions in the infield and though he collected only 1 hit, he hit the ball hard in a few other AB’s.

Team Black Pitcher Velos

Caleb Bruner (’15 RHP, Logan County) FB 82-85, CB 70-73, CH 75

Kyle Fisher (’14 RHP, Western Hills) FB 82-84, CB 69-71 SPLT 71-72

Tanner Walker (’16 RHP, Franklin Co) FB 72-76, CB 65-67

Herbert Dennis (’14 LHP Northwest TN) FB 68-73, CB 57-62

Jacob Smiley (’14 LHP South Warren) FB 78-80, CB 64-67, CH 69-70

Top Performers Team White

Aaron Ochsenbein (’14 Paul Laurence Dunbar) threw 3 scoreless innings while allowing 2 hits and racking up 6 strikeouts.

Joshua Scheer (’15 McCracken Co) threw 2 scoreless innings allowing 2 hits while striking out 4.

Dale Gumm (’14 John Hardin) went 3-for-6 and threw out a runner attempting to steal third base.

Christian Wichman (’14 Columbus East IN) went 2-for-6 with a double and showed very good athleticism and blocking skills behind the plate as well as athletic actions in the outfield.

Jed Arend ('16 Daviess Co) showed good actions at 2^nd base and went 2-for-6 with a double and RBI.

Team White Pitcher Velos

Aaron Ochsenbein (’14 RHP Paul Laurence Dunbar) FB 83-87, CB 71-75, CH 76-78

Joshua Scheer (’15 RHP, McCracken Co) FB 82-86, CB 74-75, CH 76-77

Lou Bunning (’15 LHP Highlands) FB 76-80, CB 65-68, CH 69-70

Zach Burton (’15 RHP Daviess Co) FB 82-86, CB 68-70

Cameron Planck (’16 RHP Rowan Co) FB 81-84, CB 68-73, CH 75-76

Matthew Lee (’14 RHP Franklin Co) FB 70-72, CB 55-56