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By PBR Tennessee Staff

A total of 40 teams from five states convened in Middle Tennessee over the weekend for the 22^nd Annual Riverdale Warrior Spring Classic in abnormally cold weather for this time of year. All games were rained out on Thursday, but we had our scouts out and about at different locations on Friday and Saturday. Here is a look at the scouting notes we compiled during Friday’s action. These are Friday’s games only. More information to come on scouting notes from Saturday’s games.

Collierville vs Columbia Central

Collierville

+2015 RHP Peyton Culbertson (Arkansas State signee) has a nice pitcher’s frame and his arm action is clean. With temperatures in the low 40’s at game time, Culbertson struggled with his command most of the day, walking seven batters in four innings of work. He allowed three runs on two hits with four strikeouts. Culbertson’s fastball opened the game at 86-88 mph, but by the fourth inning, his velocity sat at 82-85. He shows confidence in his 72-75 mph, sharp breaking ball, throwing it a few times on 3-2 counts.

+ 2016 RHP Matt Loeffler worked the fifth inning with a 78-81 mph fastball and a 71-74 mph breaking ball that was more of a slider. He uses short arm action with some deception and works through a ¾ to high-3/4 slot. Loetther retired the side in order with two strikeouts.

2015 OF Fulton Johnson went 3-for-3 while showing the ability to use all fields. Johnson has a solid left-handed stroke from the lead-off spot. He got down the line in 4.40-seconds on a first inning infield single. Hits from an open stance and gets to square with a short stride while using his strong lower half well. Committed to Mississippi College.

Columbia Central

+ 2016 LHP Terryn Seaton started on the mound before being removed six batters into the game after being hit by a line drive. Seaton’s fastball worked in the 76-78 mph range and is mostly straight. He also showed a 66 mph curveball and 70 mph changeup in his brief outing allowing four hits.

+ RHP Drew Williamson was the third pitcher to take the mound. He has good size with clean arm action. Williamson uses an over-the-head windup and his fastball sat 80-82 mph with some slight arm-side run. He also shows some feel for his 67-69 mph curveball with average 11/5 action. Williamson worked a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.

+ C Alex Webb showed an impressive left-handed swing in going 1-for-2 with an RBI. Culbertson struck him out in the first, but Webb lined a single to right-center off an 84 mph fastball in the third and also drew a bases loaded walk in the fourth. Webb has strong legs and gets the barrel through the zone with plus bat speed.

+ DH Hayden Dodsen showed good patience in two quality trips to the plate against Culbertson. The right-handed  hitter fouled off several pitches before drawing a walk in the second inning and lined a single to left field in his second and final at bat of the game.

Centennial vs Collierville

Centennial

+2015 SS Jake Lyle had an impressive game offensively from the lead-off spot. Lyle went 2-for-4 with two RBI and lined out hard to center field for one of his outs. The right-handed hitter had one of the best at bats of the game in the sixth inning, fouling off several pitches before lining a single up the middle to drive in the go ahead run. Lyle has a compact swing and shows the ability to use all fields well.

+2015 catcher Billy Lowe showed good lateral movement and blocking ability behind the plate. He showed average arm strength on throws to second base between innings.

+2015 2B Deon Sanders (6-foot-1, 215-pounds) generates big bat speed with quick hands and a pull approach. Sanders showed the ability to square up the fastball but tends to get out on his front foot on the curveball. Sanders got down the line in 4.41 seconds from the right side on a ground ball to third base. He finished 1-for-4 with an RBI.

+ 2015 3B Joe Miniot showed some speed from the left side, getting down the line in 4.39 seconds on an infield single.

+ 2016 CF Christian Blackwell flashed his speed on an attempt to bunt for a hit, getting down the line in 4.17-seconds from the right side. Blackwell was out in a bang-bang play.

Collierville

+2015 LHP Bo Sutton (6-foot-1, 170-pounds) has a lanky frame that projects well. He uses long arm action through a high-3/4 slot that produced a 76-77 mph fastball with good arm-side run. He knows how to pitch and has good feel for his 61-64 mph curveball that he likes to back door to right-handed hitters. Sutton works both sides of the plate well and is not afraid to come inside with the fastball.

+ 2017 RHP Brayden Green has a strong frame at 6-foot, 200-pounds and worked his fastball mostly in the 77-80 mph range, touching 82 on one occasion. His 66-68 mph curveball has sharp 11/5 action and was his best pitch of the night.

+ 2015 OF Fulton Johnson, coming off a 3-for-3 game, had another 3-for-3 effort. The left-handed hitter has a very sound approach at the plate, using all fields effectively.

+ 2015 1B Parker Phillips has a physically advanced, athletic frame, and the ball jumps off the right-handed hitter’s bat. Phillips went 1-for-3 in this game with an RBI and also smoked a ball to right field that was caught on a line for an out. He projects to hit for power at the next level. Phillips is signed with Austin Peay.

+2016 Catcher Matt Loeffler showed some pop in his right-handed bat with a double that was smoked to the left-center gap.

Riverdale vs Ballard (KY)

Ballard (KY)

+ 2017 RHP Jordon Adell’s stuff was electric. On a night where temperatures were in the upper 30’s, Adell’s fastball sat 90-93 mph in the first inning and touched 95 on one occasion. By the third inning he had settled into the 89-91 range, and was still touching 91 mph in the sixth inning before being removed from the game. Adell’s curveball is an absolute hammer at 75-79 mph. It has sharp 11/5 action with very good depth, and he locked up hitters routinely with it recording five of his nine strikeouts looking on the curveball. Adell also showed the ability to command his 81-83 mph changeup though he threw it sparingly. Adell is committed to Louisville.

+ 2015 OF Jay Poullard flashed some speed from the right side in getting down the line in 4.46-seconds. Poullard is signed with Kentucky State.

+ 2015 OF Michael Dwyer doubled twice and showed some pop the other way with a drive to the right-center gap. He has a sound approach at the plate with a square stance wit good balance and extension through contact.

+ 2015 RHP Kyle Riesenberg is an interesting prospect on the mound. The tall, sidearm right-hander topped at 76 mph with his fastball and worked his curveball in the 61-63 mph range with sweeping 10/4 action.

Riverdale

+ 2015 LHP Logan Maynard started the game and has some funk and deception in his delivery. Maynard uses shorter arm action and works mostly through a ¾ slot. His fastball topped at 80 mph with some arm-side run while also showing a mid-60’s curveball and and upper 60’s changeup.

+ 2016 RHP Jonah Flippo has a smaller build at 5-foot-7, 160-pounds. He came in the game in relief and worked through a sidearm slot with a fastball in the 73-75 mph range that showed some arm-side run. Flippo’s curveball is solid at 65-66 mph, and he does a god job staying on top of it from the sidearm slot, locating it down in the zone with 10/4 action.

+ 2016 OF/DH Noah Crego showed a good approach in taking an Adell 91 mph fastball the other way for a second inning base hit to right field.

+ 2015 C Garrett League hit what may have been the hardest ball of the night off Adell with a hard line out to CF in the fifth inning. League also showed good speed from the catcher position, getting down the line on a ground ball in 4.38 seconds.

East Hamilton vs Dobyns-Bennett
Dobyns-Bennett vs Brighton

East Hamilton

+ 2017 Nick Woods is a RHP with smooth mechanics.  Great control with both fastball and curveball but not much movement with fastball.  Curveball is sharp.  Had ACL surgery last year according to coach so still getting strength back.  Good size at 6-foot-1, 182lbs.  FB 81-83 mph CB 74-76 mph

+ 2016 RHP/OF Josh Aslinger shows choppy mechanics.  Long legs and arms with ability to throw harder with a more efficient delivery.  Currently a tall and fall pitcher.  Good two-seam movement and sharp curveball.  6-foot-3, 190lbs.  FB 79-81 mph, CB 65-68 mph.

Dobyns Bennett

+ 2015 MIF Caleb Cook has an athletic build and good height.  Has a projectable body type with a frame that can continue to add muscle.  Has a squared batting stance with short stride.  Uses hands well and displayed ability to use the whole field.  Does keep hands a little low which causes his swing to lengthen at times.  In the field Caleb displayed soft hands with great anticipation.  Has an average arm from the shortstop position.

+ 2016 SS Hunter Wolfe is a R/R junior who displayed great speed and athleticism.  Ran a 4.17 home to first and displayed great anticipation on base paths.  Explosive runner with good length in strides.  Showed ability to have power as more weight is added.  Compact swing with a slightly open stance.  Showed a plus arm from shortstop, room to improve footwork and anticipation of balls put in play. 

+ 2016 RHP Drew Pierce - Right handed pitcher with great frame.  Long arms and legs contribute to a projectable body at the next level.  Good downward motion off the mound as he uses his length well in his mechanics.  Delivery is very smooth, but does need to keep weight on backside longer which should add velocity immediately.  Fast-ball has good arm-side movement.  Does have a tendency to elevate and some issues missing inside to right-handers.  Curve ball has good depth and tight spin.  Releases from same arm slot as fastball, ¾ slot.   FB 80-83 mph, CB 65-68 mph, CH 74-76.  Went 4 innings and gave up 2 ER.  (Temperature at first pitch 38 degrees) Pierce showed better velocity at the PBR East TN Showcase at 84-86 mph.

Brighton

+ 2018 OF Eli Davis - L/L Freshman with open batting stance.  Very balanced and show great use of entire field.  Handles the bat very well in situational baseball.  Will develop power with age, but already has quick hands and pitch recognition.  Has plus speed and can change the game on base paths.  Explosive first step and glides with long strides.  Great range in CF for a Freshman with ability to get the deep ball.  Lacking on arm strength but frame is projectable at the next level.

2016 1B LaDarius Williams - L/L Junior with good power.  Slightly open batting stance with very quiet hands and no wasted movement in swing.  Short to baseball and able to drive ball opposite field.  Showed good power to pull side.  Good muscle for frame but slightly undersized for 1B.  Strong legs create a good weight transfer on swing and explosive through the baseball.  Runs well for size and is a plus defender.  Does have a tendency to sit back on balls defensively, but very quick hands and good glove.

2015 Catcher Jones Bentley - R/R senior catcher with 2.17 in-game pop time to second.  Soft hands and solid footwork.  Carries himself a little tall behind the plate, but moves very well.  Strong arm and very accurate.  Showed some power at the plate but has quick hands.  Does try and pull the outside pitch.  UT Martin signee.

2015 OF Childress Kolton - R/R senior with great size and frame.  Still slender but projectable body at the next level.  Slightly open stance with ability to drive the ball to all sides of the field.  Quick hands and drove ball deep twice to LF.  Currently committed to Freed-Hardeman