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Scouting Notes: La Salle @ Haverford School

March 24, 2013

By Jacob Gill
Philadelphia Region Director of Scouting

la salle  @ haverford school (march 23)

For six and a third innings, Haverford 2013 RHP Pat Valentine (8 K, 7 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP) held the bats of the defending PIAA class AAAA champs in check. With a fastball clocking in at 82-84, he effectively mixed in two distinct breaking balls: a slider with late break at 74-75 and a bigger, slower curveball at 66-67. Valentine throws from a high-3/4 slot and exhibits a loose arm. He also successfully gave his catcher a chance to control the running game, with delivery times of 1.22-1.27.

MelilloValentine did a nice job moving his fastball around the zone, which is imperative for him, as it lacks significant movement. When he did miss middle with it, the Explorers made their hacks count, as all of their runs in the 7-4 victory scored via the long ball. 2015 IF A.J. Greszeszak lofted two big flys to left field, while Notre Dame-bound 2013 1B/C Chris Melillo (left) blasted two of his own over the center field fence (the second of which came off Haverford 2013 RHP Steve Fitzgerald, whose fastball touched 84). Melillo has a strong, developed frame and his first bomb registered a 93 mph exit velocity.

DomLa Salle 2014 IF Dominic Cuoci (right) showed his stand-out tools, exhibiting plus bat speed, even though he casts his hands a bit, which caused him to hook the balls he put in play. At 6-foot-3, 195-pounds, Cuoci has power potential and even got down the line well (4.47 home-to-1B). He has an effortless, above average arm from the left side of the diamond and a soft glove hand. He showed decent range to both sides at SS, although his size may force a move to 3B eventually.

ScornajenghiOffensively for Haverford, they can flat out scoot at the top of the line-up. The 1-2-3 combo of 2014 IF Chris Sukonik, 2014 OF Steve Schornajenghi (left), and Lehigh commit Fitzgerald (home-to-1B times of 4.11, 4.28 and 4.35, respectively) can all create run-scoring opportunities with their legs. Planted in the clean-up spot is 2015 IF Kevin McGowan, who hits from a square, even stance and incorporates a toe-tap. While the left-handed hitter struggled a bit against La Salle's southpaw arms, he laced a solid single to left in his third at-bat, staying on and through a slider on the outer part of the plate.

The Explorers have their own speedy leadoff man in 2015 OF Jimmy Herron, who ran 4.22 and 4.25 home-to-1B times, and who has a solid approach and a short path to the ball. A low slot caused his throws to tail a bit, but he tracked the baseball well in center.

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