Hoover Met Fall Championships: Day 2 Scout Blog
September 21, 2019
8:30 Games
TPL 18U vs. Viper Baseball Academy 17U Black
-On the mound for TPL 18U was South Alabama commit RHP Jeremy Lee (Morgan Academy), who displayed electric stuff in his few innings of work. The ‘20 arm showed his FB that sat 87-90 and touched 91 a couple times in the first inning before settling down to 87-88 in the latter innings. He showed advanced feel for his breaking ball, which was an out pitch for him in the outing. Also added a 2 run HR in the 7th to tie the game at 5 apiece.
Pretty electric stuff from ‘20 RHP Jeremy Lee (@Lee_Jeremy2; Morgan Academy) this morning for @TheProspectLab 18U. FB sat 87-90 and bumped 91 mph a couple times. Flashed a tight SL and shows feel for the pitch. @WeAreSouth_BSB commit. #FallChampHM @PBRTournaments pic.twitter.com/RdrTvRBF5D
— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) September 21, 2019
-RHP Thomas Ballard (Bob Jones HS) got the start for Viper Baseball Academy 17U Black and did not disappoint. He showed very quick arm action and the FB was 84-85 and touched 86 mph early. Settled into a nice rhythm and attacked hitters with the FB that settled in at 82-83 mph later in his outing.
‘21 RHP Thomas Ballard (@thomasb_4; @BJHSBaseball) comes out 84-85 T86 in the 1st. Pounded the zone and went after hitters. #FallChampHM @PBRTournaments pic.twitter.com/31Wy0ivGJN
— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) September 21, 2019
-RHP/C AJ Causey (Sparkman HS) came out of the pen for the Vipers and showed an intriguing delivery as most pitches came from underneath. On occasion, he changed arm slots and attacked hitters from over the top. He threw nothing that stayed straight and the FB was up to 86 mph with serious ASR. The breaking ball is a slider and showed very late movement and fooled hitters.
‘21 C/RHP AJ Causey (@Sparkman_RBI; @VBA16u_Black) hopped on the mound and was very deceptive. Pitches from a sidearm slot and ran his fastball up to 86 mph. SL kept hitters off balanced and was a quality secondary pitch. #FallChampHM @PBRTournaments pic.twitter.com/pZiQkDBuRb
— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) September 21, 2019
-Our first look at ‘20 C Garrett Mangione (Bessemer Academy) was intriguing. The uncommitted backstop for TPL 18U was solid both defensively and at the dish. In his 3rd AB of the game, Mangione worked back from a 2 strike count and singled on a slider to LF. Shelton State CC commit.
‘20 C Garrett Mangione (Bessemer Academy; @TheProspectLab 18U) shows a nice 2 strike approach in his 3rd AB of the #FallChampHM. Worked the count and singled on this SL. Physical kid that’s been solid defensively behind the plate so far. @StateShelton commit. @PBRTournaments pic.twitter.com/gzPkmCaOc5
— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) September 21, 2019
-Big time prospect Colten Keith (Biloxi HS, MS) showed why he is the #32 ranked player in the country. The Arizona State commit (SS) had two base hits and two RBI’s and took the mound in the 7th to preserve the 5-5 tie for TPL 18U. The senior RHP sat 91-93 mph with nice downhill plane. The breaking ball is also a plus pitch with tight spin at 79 mph.
Quick look at ‘20 SS/RHP Colten Keith (@coltkeith3; Biloxi HS) in his lone inning of work for @TheProspectLab 18U. Comes out throwing ?, sitting 91-93 mph w/ downhill plane. CB showed tight spin at 79 mph. @ASU_Baseball recruit. #32 Overall in ‘20 Player Rankings. #FallChampHM pic.twitter.com/sI9jnSd7sk
— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) September 21, 2019
-Hitting in the 2-hole for TPL 18U was ‘20 OF DeeJay Booth (Oak Grove HS; MS) who singled to RF in one of his AB’s. The uncommitted senior showed quick, twitchy actions with premium bat speed. Plus runner.
‘20 OF DeeJay Booth (@DeeJayFromOG; Oak Grove HS) with a sharp single to RF. Quick, active hands with some bat speed. #FallChampHM @PBRTournaments pic.twitter.com/pg165cNouT
— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) September 21, 2019
10:45 Games
Viper Baseball Academy 17U Black vs. CBA Southeast 18U
-RHP Blake Medley (Hazel Green HS) started on the mound for Viper Baseball Academy 17U Black in their 2nd game of the day and was very efficient. Medley pounded the zone with his fastball, which sat primarily 80-82 but touched 83 a few times. His calling card was his big breaking ball that showed swing and miss potential and 11/5 break.
‘22 RHP Blake Medley (@blakemedley3; @HGHS_Baseball) looks in control thru 2 innings on the mound for @VBA16u_Black. Spotting the FB (80-82; T83) for strikes and flashed a swing and miss CB w/ depth. #19 in our ‘22 Player Rankings. @PBRTournaments #FallChampHM pic.twitter.com/8Fc6KeNmaH
— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) September 21, 2019
-SS Presley Walker (Gardendale HS) is a solidly built SS/2B that can also play OF. HItting out of the leadoff spot for the Vipers, Walker collected 2 hits, including a triple down the RF line and also worked 2 walks. He did all of this after homering in the Vipers 8:30 game.
After going deep in Game 1 for @VBA16u_Black, ‘21 SS Presley Walker (@pretlo11; @GdaleHSBaseball) fights off some tough 2 strike pitches and pokes a triple down the RF line. Solid actions defensively. #FallChampHM @PBRTournaments pic.twitter.com/JNBddNahRz
— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) September 21, 2019
-1B/RHP Jacob Garner (Lawrence County HS; TN) showed an advanced 2 strike approach in his AB in the 6th as he stuck a fastball over the 2nd baseman’s reach for an RBI single to tie the game at 5. The 6’5 185 pounder shows room for growth and also doubles as a RHP. Like the upside.
‘20 1B/RHP Jacob Garner (Lawrence County HS; @615Cba 18U) laces a 2 out, 2 strike single up the middle to tie the game 5-5 in the 7th. @PBRTennessee #FallChampHM @PBRTournaments pic.twitter.com/wSoMkXH6PU
— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) September 21, 2019
Central Alabama Brewers vs. CBA Southeast 17U
-With CBA leading 2-1 with 2 outs and a runner on 3rd, 2B Austin Johnson made a big time play up the middle where he dove and threw out the runner at 1st for the 3rd out to keep the lead. He showed solid range defensively.
What a play by ‘21 2B Austin Johnson! This web gem by the junior keeps CBA Southeast 17U in front 2-1 in the 6th inning. #FallChampHM @PBRTournaments pic.twitter.com/VclWxh5jOp
— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) September 21, 2019
-With CBA down to their last out, 1B/RHP Ben Brown (Centennial HS; TN) drove a fastball into the LCF gap to score the game winning run from 2nd base and give his team the walk off win.
With the score tied 2-2 with 2 outs in the bottom of the 7th, ‘21 1B Ben Brown (Centennial HS; @615Cba 17U) hits a missile to LCF for a walk off double! #FallChampHM @PBRTournaments pic.twitter.com/ZRxC8dt7HO
— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) September 21, 2019
TPL 17U vs. Rome Elite
-Khalin Drake (Hewitt Trussville HS) is an athletic SS that has some quick twitch actions in his game and also showed some juice off off the bat as he scorched an RBI 3B to the LCF gap and showed off his speed.
-Hunter Lopacki (Bessemer Academy) is a player than can play all over the diamond and brings a ton of versatility to his team. Lopacki sat back on a breaking ball and hammered it over the CF’s head for an inside the park HR.
‘21 Hunter Lopacki (@HunterLopacki; @BessemerAcademy) with an inside the park HR scoring 3 runs for @TheProspectLab #FallChampHM pic.twitter.com/nDtuR29tuU
— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) September 21, 2019
5:30 Games
Goats vs. D-Bat Elite Middle Tennessee
-After missing Day 1 due to football, ‘23 C Stone Lawless (Huntsville HS) splashed on the scene at Hoover with a triple down the LF line in one of his AB’s. Lawless is regarded as one of the top ‘23s in the state of Alabama, as he is ranked #3 in our recently updated “23 Player Rankings. The freshman swings with violence and shows physicality with the bat. Solid defensively as well. High follow for the ‘23 class.
‘23 C Stone Lawless (@LawlessStone; @BASEBALLHHS) continues to impress with this 3B down the LF line for the Goats. The 6’3 195 pounder is physical with the bat and looks to drive every pitch. High follow for the ‘23 class. #3 player in AL. #FallChampHM @PBRTournaments pic.twitter.com/7pexkV6SnO
— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) September 21, 2019
7:45 Games
TPL 18U vs. CBA Southeast 18U
-Hitting in the 3-hole for CBA Southeast 18U, ’20 OF Yosuany Herrera (John Overton HS; TN) is a solid bat that shows an advanced approach to his game. In his 1st AB of the night, he wasted no time as he hopped on a 1st pitch fastball and stuck it to RF for a single. Covers ground well in the OF as well. Cleveland State CC commit.
‘20 OF Yosuany Herrera (@ewwcubano; John Overton HS) jumps on a 1st pitch fastball and shoots it to RF for a 1B. Love his approach at the plate. @CSCC_BSB commit. #FallChampHM @PBRTournaments @PBRTennessee pic.twitter.com/9MzLEjYkky
— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) September 22, 2019
CBA Southeast 17U vs. Rome Elite
-After delivering a walkoff 2B earlier in the day for CBA Southeast 17U, Ben Brown (Centennial HS) was on the bump and made an impression early by striking out the side in his first inning of work. Once again, he delivered with the bat as well as he had a 3B to straight away CF.
‘21 1B Ben Brown (Centennial HS; @615Cba 17U) follows up his walkoff 2B from earlier today by striking out the side in T1 of the 1st game of bracket play in the Upperclass Division. FB was 80-82 mph. Attacked the zone. #FallChampHM @PBRTournaments @PBRTennessee pic.twitter.com/2ZYu1tKt5m
— PBR Alabama (@PBR_Alabama) September 22, 2019
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