CCS Focus (CA): 3/25/19

3/21/19: Santa Cruz at Harbor - Santa Cruz changed the lineup after the Leigh game and that change to the batting order sparked the offense for the Cardinals as they traveled to face a young and hot Harbor team. 2019 1B Javi Felix started the game off with a bang driving the first pitch over the CF head for a stand up double finishing the day 3-4 with an RBI. The Cardinals utilized every aspect of their offensive tool belt as they stole bases, bunted for hits and made hard contact all around the field. The Cardinal offense scored 14 runs taking advantage of 7 Harbor errors. 2020 2B Kinsal Plunkett went 2-2 with 2 BB, a 2B, 2R and 4 RBI. 2020 RHP Brady Chavez went 6IP and helped his cause driving in 2 on a 2-4 day. 2020 SS Brendan Bobo was the lone bright spot in a bad day for the Pirates making consistent hard contact and ending up with the only extra-base hit for Harbor (2B). These two teams will meet twice more with Harbor having to learn from this tough experience, putting a focus on taking care of the baseball and bringing more energy to the way they play.

3/23/19: Jesuit (Carmichael) at Valley Christian - Jesuit traveled down to face Valley Christian in a showcase of two storied programs. Jesuit got on the board early when 2019 CF Will Asby doubled and scored on a passed ball. Valley Christian responded when 2020 OF Eddie Park singled followed by a double from 2019 OF Coleman Brigman making it a 2-1 lead. 2020 3B Stevie Hom made it 4-1 when he homered over the LF wall and it looked like Valley would cruise to a victory as 2019 RHP William Kempner got comfortable cruising through the next three innings. In the 5th, Kempner lost his control walking the first two guys and being replaced. Jesuit DH 2021 Devon Walczykowski got a hanging breaking ball and placed it deep over the LF wall tying the game 4-4. It stayed that way until the 8th when 2021 SS Trevor Haskins doubled over the CF head and a sac bunt moved him into scoring position. In the unlikeliest of ways, the game was a walk off for the Warriors when Walczykowski balked home the run gifting a 5-4 victory for Valley Christian.

2020 2B Kinsal Plunkett (Santa Cruz) - Uncommitted. Medium framed second basemand went 2-2 with 1B, 2B, 4RBI. Flashed quick hands staying inside of pitch and driving it to the RCF wall for 2B. Starting to show more patience at the plate swinging at better pitches with his middle of the field approach. Clean footwork around the bag for double-play turns with flashes of range to both sides there. Arm fits well at 2B with possibility of filling in at SS when needed. Has gotten stronger from previous year and chance to keep playing well and make some more jumps with bat.

2020 C Dillon Danner (Santa Cruz) - Uncommitted. L/R catcher that is a three-sport athlete. Catching skills behind the plate have been fringy to start the season but had a better day against Harbor limiting mistakes. Arm is fringy, but consistently on the bag in between innings. Footwork and arm actions can be cleaned up but I like the overall athleticism that he has behind the plate. Bat flashes some loft and ability to drive the ball into both gaps. Was hitting atop the order first couple viewing but moved down in lineup to hit in cleanup spot. Athleticism is present, but baseball skills are a touch behind as is the case normally for a three-sport athlete. Still chance for him to make some jumps and keep improving.

2019 RHP Zack Washburn (Santa Cruz) - Uncommitted. Long, projectable righty finished the game showing a heavy FB and creating uncomfortable AB’s for hitters finishing with 2K’s. FB was 82-83 T85 MPH and it its the higher velo flashes that keep peaking my interest. I found out after the game that Washburn is a soccer goalie who hasn’t put much emphasis on pitching until this season and the build and arm actions flash some jumps in the near future with a full-time commitment to pitching.

2021 OF Jacob Pappas (Santa Cruz) - Uncommitted. Inserted into the lineup, the young player flashed some nice athleticism running a long distance by the 3B foul fence making a grab at the last second. His offensive game also showed some flash with a 2B into the oppo gap and stealing 3rd base in the 2nd inning. The medium frame is very lean but with quick actions. The arm stood out in pre-game where he had some nice carry on throws. Still a young player, if he can eliminate some youth mistakes he brings added athleticism to the lineup for the next couple of years.

2021 UTL Jackson Gifford (Harbor) - Uncommitted. Gifford is the #1 starter for Harbor and was in RF while also having shown good skills at 3B. The medium frame is starting to strengthen up and the bat shows some quickness. He stayed on a pitch on the outer half of the plate lacing the ball right at the RF in his 1st AB before popping up in foul territory in his 2nd AB. He’s moved around a lot for the Pirates, but had a rough day in RF with multiple routines grounders going under his glove and leading to easy runs for Santa Cruz. I’ve seen Gifford a few different times and he continues to show flashes of the skills, but he seems to play passively limiting the ceiling of those skills.

2021 RHP/1B Devon Walczykowski (Jesuit) - Uncommitted. Big, thick, large frame from young sophomore as he hit in 5 spot for Jesuit. Strong swing that creates loft and showed in game strength on hanging breaking ball putting it deep over LF fence. Came in for last inning showing flashes of future two-way ability with FB 82-85 MPH showing two-seam actions with ability to work that action to both sides of the plate. SLD 75-76 MPH was hard with some cross-plate actions. Name that could make some jumps in 2021 class.

2020 3B Stevie Hom (Valley Christian) - Uncommitted. Small frame that is lean and wiry jumped all over a FB driving it out of the park to LF early adding to Valley Christian lead. Moved into starting lineup as other 3B moved to SS for injury without missing a beat. Shows solid range at 3B with some lateral ability and an arm that could fit at multiple positions (3B/2B/LF). Executes little things and type of team player that schools at the next level need.

2021 1B/C Jaxon Wall (Valley Christian) - Uncommitted. Took pregame behind the plate showing a quick release and growing arm strength from large and lean frame. Came into the game late at 1st base and showed some good range and quickness over there making a diving play on the line and athleticism with a big stretch and pick to help out his infielder. Only one AB, but flashed some strength in the swing getting to a high FB for a long flyout to LF. Chance to make some strides with body and skills over summer/fall.

2020 OF Eddie Park (Valley Christian) - Stanford Commit. Got the Warriors on the board with slap hit through 5/6 hole to start game before scoring on a long double from 1st showing off his athleticism and run tool. Faced two LHP who got him swinging at breaking balls through outer half of the zone afterwards and didn’t look entirely comfortable against them. In LF, made some nice plays being able to drop to arm side and track the ball well.

2019 OF Coleman Brigman (Valley Christian) - Santa Clara Commit. Put the Warriors on the board with a long double into the LCF gap turning a low 80’s FB driving in a run and showing his athleticism around the bases. Played very well again in CF tracking down balls every way and his arm fits well in CF. When balls get hit in air out there, almost a guaranteed out.

2019 3B Connor Leaverton (Archbishop Mitty) - Uncommitted. Moved up in order and continues to show strong AB’s with a compact swing that stays to the middle of the field. Lined twice to center field and had third quality AB working count full before striking out to finish the game. Continues to show lateral range with enough arm to play at 3B from a lower slot.

2019 SS Jonah Advincula (Archbishop Mitty) - Uncommitted. On base three times with two hits and a walk. Continues to flash bat-to-ball skills singling to CF twice, once after falling behind 0-2. At SS showed range behind 3B bag tracking down pop up with foot speed and instincts to stick at position with playable arm. Athletic skills that will allow him to play at multiple spots in the field.

2020 RHP/OF Arthur Soto (Archbishop Mitty) - Uncommitted. Came in relief for final three innings showing four pitches and keeping hitters uncomfortable. FB 79-81 MPH being heavy through the zone. Mixed in SLD 70-76 MPH with short flat cut and CB 59-64 MPH that was slow with loop before big depth into and through the zone. 4K and a range of ground balls during his three innings.

2020 SS Tommy Troy (Los Gatos) - Stanford Commit. Medium, strong frame continues to show he’s an above average-to-plus runner with speed causing error at 3B (4.18 H-1st) and multiple stolen bases. Scored both runs. SS skills are fringy fitting better at 2B or CF for next level where that speed can continue to play.

2019 C Brennan King (Los Gatos) - Uncommitted. Drove in both runs for Los Gatos with a Sac Fly and a ground out before lining out at 3B in the final AB. Showed good athletic ability behind the plate with quick side-to-side skills and strong blocking technique. Showed off his strong arm in between innings (2.07-2.20 Pop) and in game catching runners at 3rd and 2nd. Frame is lean with high waist and length in the legs and chance to keep growing and strengthening.