Week 8: Arizona Scout Blog
April 13, 2023
PBR Arizona scouting staff brings you unparalleled coverage of high school baseball across the State while taking in several games each week. Each week the Arizona Scout Blog provides video and scouting reports on the standout performers from each of these games. The article will continue to be updated throughout the week as our staff attends more games.
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WEEK 8: ARIZONA SCOUT BLOG
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Cohen Baack OF / RHP / Centennial, AZ / 2025Rankings StateRank: 39 / POS: 11
The uncommitted 2025 grad came out of the pen on Tuesday afternoon in their matchup against Desert Edge. Baack cruised through 4 innings of no hit baseball with 0 walks. Baack has a clean mid 3/4 slot with a fastball sitting 84-86 T.87 with good ASR. The best pitch for Baack is his slider sitting 73-74 with late and tight spin. While Baack had 0 strikeouts in his 4 inn he produced nothing but weak contact with quality control for the zone.
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Aaron Luna RHP / SS / Desert Edge, AZ / 2023The winning pitcher of the day going CG on 6 hits and 1 earned run, was uncommitted senior Aaron Luna. While Luna didn't have the most over powering fastball, he showed the ability to work a 3-pitch mix for strikes, keeping a tough Centennial offense off balanced. At the plate Luna started the day off with a single to right field going 1-3 with 1 run.
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Kaleb Ronquillo SS / Desert Edge, AZ / 2023The standout at the plate for Desert Edge on Tuesday afternoon was uncommitted senior middle infielder Kaleb Ronquillo. Ronquillo was 2-3 at the plate with 2 shots to the left side of the field. Ronquillo has a lengthy build with a short compact swing.
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Jose Sarmiento OF / RHP / Independence, AZ / 2023The uncommitted senior was hard to miss on Wednesday afternoon in Independence matchup with Copper Canyon. Sarmiento has a strong physical build at 6-foot-2. On the day Sarmiento went 4-4 with a 3 doubles and a triple. In the Box Sarmiento has a simple toe tap load with a strong flat path showing the ability to work the ball to both sides of the field.
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Colten Bott RHP / 2B / Notre Dame Preparatory, AZ / 2024
Rankings State Rank: 42 / POS: 4
The uncommitted 2024 right handed pitcher was turning heads in Thursday nights matchup against Williams Field with a fastball sitting 89-91 touching 92. With a fastball sitting in the mid to upper 80s this past summer, Bott has made tremendous strides off the field to get him where he is this spring. Along with a heavy FB at 2400+ spin Bott showed the ability to locate a true swing and miss slider sitting 78-80 with 2200+ spin. On the night Bott went 5IP with 6 strikeouts and 1 earned run.
24’ RHP CJ Bott
(Notre Dame Prep)@PBR_Uncommitted prospect has made big time jumps in velo since the summer. Impressive 3-pitch mix with the ability to work inside with the FB ⬅️.
5IP/1ER/2BB/6Ks
FB 89-91 T.92 (2400+)
SL 78-80
CH 83-84#BESEEN ll @NDP_Athletics pic.twitter.com/WqPaQI3MjC
— Shea Sbranti (@SheaSbranti) April 14, 2023
Erick Dessens 3B / RHP / Notre Dame Prep, AZ / 2023
With a 4-4 day at the plate for Notre Dame Prep was designated hitter and uncommitted senior Erick Dessens. The left handed hitter has been the hot stick for the Saints this season leading the team with a .429 avg, 20 RBI's and 8 doubles. Dessens has a wide stance in the box with a light lift load and a flat quick bat path that works long through the zone.
23’ OF/RHP Erick Dessens
(Notre Dame Prep)@PBR_Uncommitted DHing on the day has had a hot start going 3-3 including this double down the right field line. #BESEEN ll @DessensErick pic.twitter.com/ELuDCcQgCH
— PBR Arizona (@PBRArizona) April 14, 2023
Jace Terry SS / RHP / Notre Dame Prep, AZ / 2025
One of the bigger at bats of the day came from uncommitted sophomore Jace Terry, Terry came up in a big spot in the middle of the game driving one into the right center field gap for a 2 RBI double. Terry has a long lengthy build with tons of room for added strength and size, he is a high follow for the Arizona staff.
25’ OF Jace Terry
(Notre Dame Prep)@PBR_Uncommitted gets into one driving it to the right center field gap for a 2 RBI double. Notre Dame leads 8-1 in the bottom of the 4th. #BESEEN ll @Jace_Terry7 pic.twitter.com/cDHvHdRzQW
— PBR Arizona (@PBRArizona) April 13, 2023
Matthew Gahan 3B / C / Notre Dame Prep, AZ / 2024
With a standout day on both sides of the ball was junior uncommitted catcher Matthew Gahan. Gahan finished the day going 3-4 with 3 RBI's including this no doubter over the left field wall for a walk off run rule in an 11-1 victory over Williams Field. Behind the plate Gahan showed his arm strength early on, making a throw from his knees with a sub 2 pop time.
?PBR NUKE CAM?
24’ 3B Matt Gahan
(Notre Dame Prep)@PBR_Uncommitted Closes the door with this majestic bomb over the left field wall to defeat Williams Field 11-1 in 6inn. #BESEEN ll @NDP_Athletics pic.twitter.com/bk8lQhXSOL
— PBR Arizona (@PBRArizona) April 14, 2023
Derek Schaefer RHP / 2B / Cactus Shadows, AZ / 2023
The player of the game in Friday nights matchup against the #4 ranked Chaparral Firebirds, was right handed pitcher and Tennessee commit Derek Schaefer. Schaefer threw a complete game allowing 2 earned runs with 11 strikeouts in a 3-2 victory. The Tennessee commit had everything working with solid command of 4-pitches. Schaefer's fastball sat 89-91 on the night touching 93 with 2350+ spin, with a heavy mix of off speed including a firm slider at 79-80 2450+ and a sharp curve ball at 72-74 2500+ spin.
23’ RHP Derek Schaefer
(Cactus Shadows)@Vol_Baseball commit showed his dominance on the mound Friday night.
A true 4-pitch mix and high spin FB that sat in the low 90’s
FB 89-91 T93 2350+
SL 79-80 2450+
CV 72-74 2500+
CH 82-83 2100 ↙️#MLBDraft ll @derekschaefer9 pic.twitter.com/8A5GhS8iCg
— PBR Arizona (@PBRArizona) April 15, 2023
Chris Newstrom SS / C / Chaparral, AZ / 2024
Fellow Tennessee commit Chris Newstrom put together some quality at bats on the night including a hard shot down the third base line for a double, where he showed off high level speed for the #4 prospect in the state and #1 defender up the middle. Newstrom is a high level prospect in the 2024 class and a high follow for the Arizona Staff.
24’ SS Chris Newstrom
(Chaparral)@Vol_Baseball commit laces one down the left field line and turns it in to second gear for a double. #Hitthesprinkler #BESEEN ll @chrisnewstrom26 pic.twitter.com/FjR3qi86RM
— PBR Arizona (@PBRArizona) April 15, 2023
Antonio Gianni OF / SS / Cactus Shadows, AZ / 2023
Rankings StateRank: 32 / POS: 3
The Central Arizona Commit Antonio Gianni had one of the 2 knocks on the night for the Falcons with an infield single to the left side where we got to see a good 90 down the baseline. While Gianni is likely to move to the outfield at the next level he showed solid actions at shortstop with a strong arm and great athleticism.
23’ MIF Antonio Gianni
(Cactus Shadows)@CAC_BaseballDB9 commit showing off the ??? with this infield single. #BESEEN ll @AntonioGianni9 pic.twitter.com/cTC8OvtHoF
— PBR Arizona (@PBRArizona) April 15, 2023
Raul Escobar C / Chaparral, AZ / 2026
One to keep an eye on in the years to come is Freshman Arizona State commit catcher Raul Escobar. While Escobar has room to grow defensively behind the plate he has been a staple to the Chaparral offense this season, as he is leading the Firebird offense with a .429 avg in 10 games played. In Friday nights matchup Escobar showed off some strength as he put on into the left center field gap for a double in the early goings.
26’ C Raul Escobar
(Chaparral)@ASU_Baseball commit puts one deep into the left center field gap for a stand up double and gets Chap on the board early. #BESEEN ll @ChapBaseball_ pic.twitter.com/tI9riHgDVO
— PBR Arizona (@PBRArizona) April 15, 2023
Social Links
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Colten Bott RHP / 2B / Notre Dame Preparatory, AZ / 2024Rankings State Rank: 42 / POS: 4
The uncommitted 2024 right handed pitcher was turning heads in Thursday nights matchup against Williams Field with a fastball sitting 89-91 touching 92. With a fastball sitting in the mid to upper 80s this past summer, Bott has made tremendous strides off the field to get him where he is this spring. Along with a heavy FB at 2400+ spin Bott showed the ability to locate a true swing and miss slider sitting 78-80 with 2200+ spin. On the night Bott went 5IP with 6 strikeouts and 1 earned run.
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Erick Dessens 3B / RHP / Notre Dame Prep, AZ / 2023With a 4-4 day at the plate for Notre Dame Prep was designated hitter and uncommitted senior Erick Dessens. The left handed hitter has been the hot stick for the Saints this season leading the team with a .429 avg, 20 RBI's and 8 doubles. Dessens has a wide stance in the box with a light lift load and a flat quick bat path that works long through the zone.
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Jace Terry SS / RHP / Notre Dame Prep, AZ / 2025One of the bigger at bats of the day came from uncommitted sophomore Jace Terry, Terry came up in a big spot in the middle of the game driving one into the right center field gap for a 2 RBI double. Terry has a long lengthy build with tons of room for added strength and size, he is a high follow for the Arizona staff.
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Matthew Gahan 3B / C / Notre Dame Prep, AZ / 2024With a standout day on both sides of the ball was junior uncommitted catcher Matthew Gahan. Gahan finished the day going 3-4 with 3 RBI's including this no doubter over the left field wall for a walk off run rule in an 11-1 victory over Williams Field. Behind the plate Gahan showed his arm strength early on, making a throw from his knees with a sub 2 pop time.
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Derek Schaefer RHP / 2B / Cactus Shadows, AZ / 2023The player of the game in Friday nights matchup against the #4 ranked Chaparral Firebirds, was right handed pitcher and Tennessee commit Derek Schaefer. Schaefer threw a complete game allowing 2 earned runs with 11 strikeouts in a 3-2 victory. The Tennessee commit had everything working with solid command of 4-pitches. Schaefer's fastball sat 89-91 on the night touching 93 with 2350+ spin, with a heavy mix of off speed including a firm slider at 79-80 2450+ and a sharp curve ball at 72-74 2500+ spin.
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Chris Newstrom SS / C / Chaparral, AZ / 2024Fellow Tennessee commit Chris Newstrom put together some quality at bats on the night including a hard shot down the third base line for a double, where he showed off high level speed for the #4 prospect in the state and #1 defender up the middle. Newstrom is a high level prospect in the 2024 class and a high follow for the Arizona Staff.
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Antonio Gianni OF / SS / Cactus Shadows, AZ / 2023Rankings StateRank: 32 / POS: 3
The Central Arizona Commit Antonio Gianni had one of the 2 knocks on the night for the Falcons with an infield single to the left side where we got to see a good 90 down the baseline. While Gianni is likely to move to the outfield at the next level he showed solid actions at shortstop with a strong arm and great athleticism.
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Raul Escobar C / Chaparral, AZ / 2026One to keep an eye on in the years to come is Freshman Arizona State commit catcher Raul Escobar. While Escobar has room to grow defensively behind the plate he has been a staple to the Chaparral offense this season, as he is leading the Firebird offense with a .429 avg in 10 games played. In Friday nights matchup Escobar showed off some strength as he put on into the left center field gap for a double in the early goings.
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Social Links
+ Twitter: @PBRArizona
+ Scouting Director: @SheaSbranti
+ Instagram: @PBRArizona
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