The “playoff push” is in full effect as the calendar turns to May, and combined with the sunshine that has become a mainstay in the Pacific Northwest, we are in the midst of peak baseball-watching season. With the sun brightly shining and the field in pristine shape, the PBR Oregon staff made its way over to Valley Catholic High School for a Cowapa League matchup between the hosting school and Astoria. Each hoping to takeover second place behind league-leading Banks High School, the two squared off in a pitcher’s battle with plenty of excitement. The visiting Fighting Fishermen would ultimately walk away with a 2-0 victory.

SCOUT NOTES:

+ Taking a tough loss was talented, uncommitted 2021 RHP George Eisenhardt (Valley Catholic HS, OR). Physically-gifted at 6-foot-2, 180-pounds with lean strength throughout a wide-shouldered frame, Eisenhardt still shows plenty signs of filling out in the future. His fastball was up to 87 mph on multiple occasions, settling in at mostly 83-86 throughout the performance. He features a shorter arm stroke that makes it appear as if the ball is jumping from his ear, and the fastball exhibits some riding life on a downhill plane. Releasing out of a high ¾ slot with a more controlled delivery, Eisenhardt was able to find his release point consistently with the fastball, and garnered multiple swings and misses to the tune of 14 strikeouts and just one walk. His breaking ball is still developing, showcasing gradual break in the mid 60s, but given his overall athleticism, he will have a strong chance of finding a firmer slider in the future. Eisenhardt has a strong chance of seeing a significant velocity jump in the future given the projectability of the frame and the quickness of the arm, so expect college coaches to track his progress moving forward.

+ Uncommitted 2020 C Daniel Pruitt (Valley Catholic HS, OR) was impressive all game behind the dish for the Valiants showcasing soft hands and strong blocking skills. Between innings he was consistently between 2.0-2.05 with his pop times with accurate throws that featured some carry. Standing 6-foot-2, 190-pounds, Pruitt possesses some natural strength throughout an athletic frame, and still has some room to add even more strength in the future. At the plate, he sets up slightly crouched and square with the bat rested on his back shoulder. His hands work down and back, slightly segmented, with a leg kick before setting up early and quickly working the barrel through the zone on a slightly uphill path, getting some more aggressive use of the hips. He went 1-for-3 in the game with a single, and looks like he may develop a bit more power down the road.

+ Standing just 5-foot-7, 150-pounds, uncommitted 2020 INF Diego Robison (Valley Catholic HS, OR) might have been the smallest player on the field, but he certainly made his presence felt and stood out for his all-around play. His smooth actions and confident hands at second base stood out all game, including between innings where he noticeably honed his craft and showcased his skills. The right-handed hitter went 2-for-3 on the day with a couple singles, and demonstrated the ability to utilize the entire field to spray line drives. His quick hands and short path allow for coverage of the plate, and as he continues to get stronger, he could potentially pick up some gap power in the future.

+ 2019 RHP Dylan Rush (Astoria HS, OR) mixed and matched pitches that kept Valley Catholic off balance throughout a complete game performance. Wiry-athletic with whippy arm action, Rush pounded the strike zone with multiple pitches to the tune of 74-percent strikes. He struck out six while surrendering seven hits in the shutout. Utilizing the strong defense behind him, Rush forced contact.

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