By Rob Allison
Iowa- Minnesota State Director
Prep Baseball Report

Des Moines, IA – The Wood Bat Exposure Series tournament; hosted by the Des Moines based Iowa Sticks program; featured a field of 20 18U, 16U and 15U teams from Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota. In conjunction with the tournament; a showcase was held on Friday evening to showcase various players participating in the event.  Over 3 days PBR Iowa caught several games focusing on teams in our coverage area. Here are our snapshots, thoughts, and observations from the event.

• Iowa Sticks Cal Stalzer pitched his Red team to a 2-0 victory to open the tournament. Stalzer consistently was down in zone and worked both sides of the plate. Fastball was 77-80 mph and threw his curveball, 65-67 mph with gradual 11/5 break, for strikes.
• LHP Derek Dreller, who participated in PBR Iowa's Underclass Prospect Games in August, was the hard luck loser. Ultimately only surrendering a 2 RBI double in the defeat. Dreller sat 76-78 mph with a low 60's breaking ball and mid 60's change-up.
• The big blow of the game came off the bat of 2016 grad Arthur Sells. Sells, who participated this weekend, in the Western Iowa ID Prospect Showcase, delivered a 2 RBI double to the right center gap in the 5th.
• LHP Ben Olson, a 2015 grad from Dowling Catholic, thoroughly dominated the MN Millers 17U team on Saturday. The 6-4 pitcher threw 4 innings with 12 strikeouts. Olson fastball sat 84-85 in his outing; throwing mostly fastball away to right handed hitters with late sinking action and plus command to that side of the plate. Olson punctuated his week with a commitment to Bradley University in Illinois.
• Jacob Rojohn, a 2015 grad from WDM Valley, had a huge game at the plate, while also playing first base. Rojohn had 3 doubles and 6+ RBI's in the contest.
• Nick McMurray had 2 singles and 3 RBI's in the win. McMurray simply continues to hit everytime we see him in action. McMurray participated in the Class of 2015 Prospect Games at the University of Iowa in August.
• Connor Enochs, currently uncommitted, played well defensively for the Iowa Sticks Scout team. An above average hitter with sure hands; who also runs well. PBR Iowa had him consistently 4.2-4.3 down the line.
• In our first look, Brenden Schnell pitched well for Iowa Sticks Scout. Schnell is an loose, athletic right handed pitcher. His fastball shows life with late arm side movement at 83-87 mph. Showed 2 breaking balls; 1st being a hard breaking ball at 70-74 mph with tight spin; 2nd being a slower true curveball he threw early in the count for strikes with loose gradual break.
• Chino Alcala delivered a booming home run on a high 70's fastball middle - in. Alcala, a 2015 grad from Des Moines East HS, is a big bodied left handed hitter with projectable power and is surprisingly athletic for his size running 4.35 home to first.
• 2016 C, Carter Eldridge, from Waukee HS showed above average footwork/exchange/actions behind the plate. A definite follow for college programs based on his ability to catch and throw.
• Jake Lemar, a 2016 catcher from Waukee HS, also showed above average ability behind the plate. Hindered by back soreness, Lemar still showed good all around ability throughout the weekend and took good B.P. in the showcase on Friday.
• 2017 Waukee HS infielder Fischer Henderson showed good actions in the infield. Moved well laterally and is projectable.
• 2018 Drew Beazley from Johnston HS showed plus actions in the infield and also threw 2.1 from behind the dish in the showcase format on Friday.
• An opposing figure and 2017 grad on the mound, Waukee's Michael Henter threw well on Sunday. Henter, a 6'6 - 215 pound right handed pitcher/ first baseman, was low 80's with downhill plane. He also threw a 69-71 mph curveball with 11/5 break and a change-up with fade at 69-71. Most impressive is his ability to throw 3 pitches for strikes. Young pitchers with his size typically struggle to repeat mechanics and command multiple pitches; so Henter is definitely one to follow.
• Nate Stolze, a 2017 grad, from Urbandale HS is a catcher to follow in the Des Moines area. Quick twitch athlete with impressive throws to second base. Very polished behind the plate for his age; bat will and needs to continue to develop; but not many players his age in Iowa with advanced catch and throw skills and above average carry and velocity.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SCORES 18U     16U      15U

• Tournament Completed Winners/Runner Up: 
  • 18U Iowa Sticks Red - 1st
  • 18U Sioux Falls Legion - 2nd
  • 16U East Metro -1st
  • 16U Iowa Sticks - 2nd
  • 15U Iowa Sticks Black -1st
  • 15U Minnesota Millers Blue -2nd