PA Travel Baseball State Championships Team Preview: Team PBR PA White
August 10, 2016
By Jacob Gill
Pennsylvania Assistant Director of Scouting
The inaugural Pennsylvania Travel Baseball State Championships are scheduled for August 19-21 at the Iron Horse Sports Complex in Windber. 13 teams from Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland, along with two teams organized by PBR, will participate. Two games will be played concurrently on neighboring fields in six time slots each of the three days of the event. In advance of the onset of the 36-game soiree, we are running previews on each of the teams in attendance (with tidbits on a select group of players), continuing today with the...
Team PBR Pennsylvania WHITE
One of the top players in West Virginia, Bridgeport 2017 catcher Drew Hefner displayed a solid all-around skill set at June's Western PA Top Prospect Games. An advanced defender, he posted pop times of 1.97-2.03 with 76 mph arm strength from the crouch and a soft glovehand. The 5-foot-9, 170-pound left-handed hitter has a smooth, balanced stroke with gap power and good plate discipline.
Lakeview 2017 catcher Steven Kokoski consistently shows advanced catch-and-throw abilities, regularly posting sub-2.0 pop times in workouts behind upper-70s arm strength that has reached 80 mph from the crouch. He is also a physical, 6-foot-1, 205-pound right-handed hitter with good bat speed and power potential (95 mph exit velocity), and solid wheels for the position.
At last month's Eastern PA Top Prospect Games, Council Rock North RHP Joe Preciado worked with a mid-80s fastball that touched 87 out of a three-quarter slot. He has a physical 6-foot, 200-pound build and a feel for the zone with two secondary offerings. Should step into larger role as a senior following a solid junior year (16 IP, 13 H, 6 BB, 22 K) in limited innings on a deep staff that spurred a state quarterfinal run.
Vincentian Academy 2018 infielder Kyler Fedko has added significant strength to his now 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame over the past year. The right-handed hitter is an average to slightly above average runner who has posted an 87 mph exit velocity and 83 mph arm strength in the past. He was hitting .611 as a sophomore heading into this spring's state tournament and recently competed for Team PA at the 2016 PBR Future Games.
Other Team PBR PA White Notes
6-foot-4, 180-pound Crestwood 2018 RHP/1B Colin Macko impressed at the Eastern PA Top Prospect Games with a smooth left-handed swing and fastball that touched 82 mph. ... At February's Preseason All-State Showcsase, Knoch 2018 RHP/Util Jacob Herrit showed command of a three-pitch mix that included a fastball at 82-83 as well as solid defensive skills at multiple positions. ... Franklin Area 2017 outfielder Nate Emerson ran a 6.65 60-yard dash and recorded 89 mph arm strength at the Western PA Top Prospect Games. ... Fleetwood Area 2018 RHP/3B Ryan Miller stands 6-foot-1, 185-pounds and featured a low-80s fastball and solid curveball at the Preseason All-State Showcase. ... Harbor Creek 2017 RHP Tyler Passmore exhibits a loose arm action, athletic delivery, and a fastball that touched 84 mph at the Western PA Top Prospect Games.