OK Limited Series Day 1
July 26, 2019
2022 RHP Owen Murphy (Riverside-Brookfield HS, IL) had trouble finding his ¾ arm slot in the first inning, but settled down nicely in his second inning of work. His fastball worked 82-85 with some late life to the bottom of the zone, and his whippy-quick arm promises even more velocity in the future. The athletic right-hander also showed some feel for a low 70s slider, which he threw for strikes including some swings and misses. Also a talented hitter, he batted out of the 3-hole, banging a loud double off the left field wall in a 1-for-3 day that including firm contact. The head bounces some in the load, but his bat-to-ball skills stood out, and he is an intriguing follow, especially given his potential as a two-way player.
2021 SS Brody Munch had a strong day at the plate that ended in a 2-for-3 day that included a double. Aggressive early in counts, he starts crouched before showing some quickness to the ball with some lag in the zone.
2022 C Jackson Bessette showed some intent to do damage at the plate as he angled his shoulders slightly trying to get the ball in the air. He was 1-for-2 on the day with 2RBI and a walk, and his present strong frame will likely hold even more in the future. The right-handed hitter tracked well throughout the day, and is another solid follow from Rake City.
Uncommitted 2021 C/INF Jeremiah Mares (New Mexico) stood out at the top of the order, even without having anything to show for it. He was 0-for-2 on the day with a walk, but showcased quick hands, and an aggressive, yet balanced approach from the right side.
Uncommitted 2021 CF Christian Hoffman (New Mexico) is listed at 6-foot-3, 200-pounds with some lean strength throughout a proportional frame. The left-handed hitter was 2-for-2 with a hit by pitch, and showcased some bat speed through the zone. His fast hands provided for some strength at contact, and he tracked well in each at-bat. His long, athletic strides give him a chance to stick in centerfield moving forward. Hitting in the 3-hole, Hoffman is definitely a player that college coaches will want to check out in the future.
Uncommitted 2021 OF/RHP Ethan Collins (New Mexico) got the start on the mound, and worked 78-80 while mixing in multiple secondary pitches including a 68-70 breaking ball and mid 70s changeup. He worked to both sides with the fastball, and while the stuff is not premium, he demonstrated some feel to pitch. However, at the plate, the right-handed hitter stood out even more, as his athleticism at the plate was noticeable throughout a 1-for-2 day that included a firm double. High-waisted, Collins still looks like he will add considerable strength in the future, and should develop even more gap-to-gap power as he fills out.
Sandlot Tulsa (4) vs. GRB Rays (1)
Uncommitted 2021 RHP Chance Condit (Salina HS, OK) is listed as a primary catcher, but showed some impressive polish and pitchability on the mound for Sandlot. Proportionally strong at 6-foot-3, 220-pounds, Condit appears leaner than his listed weight, though still sturdily-built in both the upper and lower-half. He pounded the bottom of the strike zone to both halves with a fastball that sat mostly 82-85, and produced nine ground ball outs in his five innings of work. He repeats a simple delivery, finding a high ¾ slot after limp-wristed take away with some quickness out front. His changeup was used in any count at 71-75, and had fade with the ability to slow it down even more when needed. He toyed with hitter’s timing, getting weak contact early in counts, and worked quickly. The breaking ball was thrown for strikes, and appeared to be more of an early-count pitch. Overall, Condit showed plenty of upside, and given the fact that he likely splits time on the mound and in the field, he will likely make another jump in the future.
Uncommitted 2021 C Hayden Barnes (Collinsville HS, OK) is listed at 5-foot-5, 140-pounds, but looks a bit bigger than that, and swings it much bigger. The left-handed hitter confidently stood in and hammered a couple balls en route to a 2-for-4 day. Utilizing a “launch angle” approach and working slightly uphill through the zone, Byrnes has the ability to hit the ball to all fields, and is not scared at the dish.
Uncommitted OF Cameron Talburt (Bishop Kelley HS, OK) finished the day 1-for-2 with two walks and an RBI out of the leadoff spot for Sandlot. The 5-foot-8, 165-pound outfielder possesses quick hands at the plate, and gives the feel of a “gamer” who plays hard all the time.
RHP Vince Trapani (Eau Claire HS, WI), an Arkansas recruit, struggled with command of his fastball in the first couple of innings, but settled down nicely in his final two innings of work. He was up as high as 91 mph with the fastball, and worked mostly 87-89 throughout, varying his delivery at times, though the command trouble seemed to come from a more segmented delivery and hook in the back of the arm stroke. His curveball worked at 73-75 with smaller break, and he found more success with the pitch later in the outing including four of the last eight batters via strikeout. His strong, 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame will likely produce even more velocity in the future.
Uncommitted 2021 SS Carson Sheppard (Sun Prairie HS, WI) finished the day 2-for-2 with a walk, showcasing a direct path to the ball from the right side with quick hands. He sets up balanced from the right side with minimal movement before using his quick hands to drive the barrel to the ball and spray line drives all over the field. He performed well at shortstop throughout the game, though a shift to second base seems likely moving forward.
SWAT (3) vs. Royals Scout 15U (2)
Uncommitted 2021 OF Jack Pina (El Dorado Hills HS, CA) finished the day 1-for-2 with a walk, and took quality at-bats in each of his three plate appearances. The smaller-framed right-handed hitter possesses some quickness to the hands, and utilizes a flat path through the zone to spray line drives.
Uncommitted 2021 C Jared Sleeper (Jones HS, OK) features some natural strength throughout a 6-foot 175-pound frame, and does not get cheated from the left side. He stayed back on a left-on-left breaking ball, and drove it for a single to the opposite field in his first at-bat, and though he did not find results in his next two plate appearances, his balanced approach stood out, as did his impressive bat speed and strength.
Uncommitted 2021 RHP/SS Eric Vasser (South Tahoe HS, CA) played shortstop for the majority of the game, but it was his two inning save on the mound that really opened eyes. Wiry-athletic and lean at 6-foot-1, 170-pounds, the quick-armed right hander was up to 85 mph multiple times, working 82-85 with the fastball on a downhill plane. The ball jumps out of the hand, and he looks like a “shortstop on the mound”, though he showed some polish with a developing slider at 68-71 that he spun aggressively for strikes. As his frame continues to fill out, there is likely a velocity jump on the way for him.
Though his stuff did not blow hitters away, 2022 LHP Alex Kowalski (Staley HS, MO) used deception to his advantage. Still very much growing into his 6-foot-5, 150-pound, long-limbed frame, the big southpaw delivered fastballs that came out of his ear at 76-79 along with a mid 60s breaking ball. Working quickly, he threw plenty of strikes with some arm side life, and stymied a more mature lineup before tiring a bit late.
2022 C Luke Moore (Park Hill HS, MO) took aggressive hacks all game, and showed off the ability to change the path of his swing in going down to get a couple of balls. The 5-foot-8, 170-pound catcher was 1-for-3 on the day with a firm single, and did a nice job of receiving behind the dish where he showcases solid hands and loose hips.
Iowa Sticks (7) vs. Perfect Timing (2)
Uncommitted 2021 RHP Blake Gaskey (Davenport North HS, IA) was masterful in a quick, four inning stint for the Sticks. The 6-foot-3, 170-pound right-hander worked primarily 80-82 with a clean, continuous arm stroke creating some downward plane on the fastball, but getting plenty of swings and misses up in the zone. He struck out 10 and allowed just two hits and two walks while surrendering only one run. His lean, athletic frame will likely carry much more strength in the future, and while his breaking ball is still a developing pitch (64-66), the fastball will likely continue to see velocity jumps. A left-handed hitter, Gaskey collected multiple hits in game two for the Iowa Sticks when he moved into the lineup for the first time. His barrel works flat through the zone after a smoother load, and he exhibited the ability to use the entire field.
Uncommitted 2021 SS/CF Sam Petersen (Ballard HS, IA) first emerged on the scene at last year’s Limited Series in Oklahoma, and continued to love playing in Tulsa as he collected multiple hits on the day. The athletic right-handed hitter works slightly uphill through the zone, and his quick hands allow him to track the ball deep before attack pitches. The 5-foot-11, 165-pounder played shortstop in the first game, and while he is an adequate defender on the dirt, his 6.6-speed allows him to glide even better in centerfield.
2022 SS Kael Kolarik (Indianola HS, IA) sports a naturally-strong, 6-foot-1, 183-pound frame, and utilized that strength well at the plate. He has a rawer approach that includes a leg hang, but his bat-to-ball abilities stood out all day. He went 2-for-3 with a loud double in the Iowa Sticks’ first game of the day, and collected another hit in game two. The 6.9-runner showcased a quick first step on the infield, and will be an intriguing follow for college coaches as a left side of the diamond player.
2022 C/RHP Justin Hackett (Winterset HS, IA) went 2-for-3 in game one for the Iowa Sticks including a firm double before collecting three hits in game two. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound right-handed hitter has a flatter path through the zone with line drive power, and found the barrel in seemingly every at-bat.
Though listed at only 5-foot-7, 130-pounds, 2022 CF Kade Seldomridge’s (Rogers HS, AR) impact on the game was much bigger than that for Perfect Timing. The left-handed hitting leadoff hitter finished the day 1-for-3, but showcased a patient approach and flat path through the zone, and will likely get a big boost in the future as his frame matures and adds strength. Perhaps more intriguingly was his prowess in centerfield where he roamed side to side getting excellent jumps on balls, and even making a fantastic diving play early on in the game.
Iowa Sticks (10) vs. St. Louis Prospects (7)
Uncommitted 2021 OF Jack Matousek (Kirkwood HS, MO) finished the day 3-for-3 for the St. Louis Prospects with three loud singles. The left-handed hitter is quieter pre-pitch before letting his quick hands rip the barrel through the zone on a slightly uphill plane with more aggressive hips. The ball jumped off his bat with higher exit velocity, and he features a more mature frame with proportional strength throughout his 6-foot, 180-pound frame.
2021 SS/CF Sam Petersen (Ballard HS, IA), 2022 C/RHP Justin Hackett (Winterset HS, IA), and 2022 SS Kael Kolarik (Indianola HS, IA) paced the Iowa Sticks offense with seven hits combined. The three right-handed hitter are patient at the plate with some quick twitch through the zone. Their hard-nosed, blue-collar play was highlighted by a steal of third base by Kolarik in which the ball hit him square in the stomach, bounced away, and he never broke stride before scoring...and it took until well after he had placed his helmet down to confirm that he had actually been hit because he showed no emotion until a teammate asked him about it.
Uncommitted 2021 C Luc Fuller (Westminster HS, MO) had a strong showing for the St. Louis Prospects as he worked hard behind the plate blocking pitches, and also went 2-for-3 with a double. The right-handed hitter has a simple approach with some strength in the wrists.