Nathan Rode
National Supervisor

LONG BEACH, CA—Walks have been a theme at the 2017 Area Code Games as pitchers have routinely struggled to throw strikes and Wednesday was no exception. The first game, between the Brewers (Southern California) and Yankees (Northeast), had 14 combined walks and immediately set the schedule back almost an hour. The rest of the day was cleaner, but things were two hours behind when it was all said and done.

Thursday is the final day of the upperclassmen portion and will have five games. The underclassmen will begin their games at the Urban Youth Academy in Compton. Shooter Hunt is now in town and will be in Compton on Thursday while I finish up in Long Beach. We’ll both be on the underclassmen for Friday and Saturday before going home and catching up on sleep.

Here are some highlights from Wednesday’s action…

+ RHP Kolby Kubichek (Bryan HS, TX) started for the Rangers (Texas/Louisiana) and had just one batter reach on an error in three innings while striking out five. He has an undersized but athletic frame and pitches with a very simple, compact delivery. His fastball was 88-91, touching 92, an he flashed a sharp curveball with depth and 11/5 shape at 75-76. At times, it was slurvy and slower, in the low 70s. He also showed above-average feel for a changeup with sink and fade in the low 80s.

+ LHP Jonathan Childress (Magnolia HS, TX) came in for his second appearance and allowed two runs on four hits while striking out four in two innings. His fastball was in the high 80s and he was spinning his breaking ball well. It was a swing-and-miss pitch, sitting 77-78 with tight spin and 1/7 shape. VIDEO: Childress strikes out OF Tanner O’Tremba (Cherry Creek HS, CO).