Throughout the spring season, PBR Utah will announce a player and pitcher of the week, every Tuesday, from the previous week. Coaches are sent emails to recommend players for the awards weekly. The awards are based on what kind of statistical week the player had, and it will be subjective, based on my evaluation of the player. Also you do not have to have attended a PBR event to earn the award, but I will lean towards the player I know more thoroughly and also what kind of collegiate prospect that player is. So it isn't only stats, but that is where it starts, with the other criteria as separators in case of a close call. In the event of two performance's in the each category, that could go either way, as to which gets the nod, two awards for that category may be given.. 

Player of the Week

Wyatt Payton C / OF / Juab, UT / 2023 Rankings  State Rank: 56 / POS: 6   Uncommitted Final 3 games of the 3A State Tournament to help Juab to the 3A State Title G 3 AB 10 R 3 H 8 HR 3 RBI 12 2B 3 Final Overall 2023 Stats: G 28 AB 78 H 41 AVG .526 HR 5 RBI 39 2B 14 BB 20 SO 7 5/16/23 Many and all players contribute to a state title type team, but also teams of this caliber do need that one player at times, that gets hot at the right time, and that player for the Wasps, was senior catcher Wyatt Payton, who I expect to be making a college commitment announcement any day now. All Payton did in the final three days of the run to the title was put up some memorable performances for the ages. As Coach Park told me by text message, “Wyatt Payton has been off the charts, he’s seeing beach balls right now!” Payton’s performance over the last three games were as impressive as one could only dream of. In the quarterfinal shootout vs Manti, in a 22-15 game that saw more twists and turns, than a buckled road, Payton would go 4-5 with 2 runs scored, one 2B, a 3-run HR and a game changing grand slam HR! With Manti up 16-14 in the bottom of the 6th inning, Payton hit a ball well over 400’ into a still wind, to dead center field with the bases loaded and once the ball left the park, the roof blew off Gates Field, giving the Wasps an 18-14 lead and Payton a 9 RBI dominating performance! The Wasps would go on to score four more runs to put the game out of reach and shut the door in the top of the 7th inning. In the semifinal win over Carbon 6-5, Payton was 3-4 with an RBI and 2 2B’s. As for the state title game, Payton didn’t get much to hit, as he was 1-1 with 2 walks, but that one hit was a towering 2-run HR to left field. In the final 3 games of the tournament, Payton went 8-10 with 3 runs scored, 3 HR’s and drove in 12 runs!  Championship game, last High School plate appearance. Sent it out of the park. 390 FT Bomb, dead center.@Juabbaseball @PBR_Uncommitted @BUncommitted @UVUBSBRecruits @USUEbaseball @UtahTech_BASE@LassenBaseball pic.twitter.com/XlWILxH8hY — Wyatt Payton (@WyattPayton9) May 14, 2023

Pitcher of the Week

Wyatt Falk RHP / OF / Carbon , UT / 2023 Rankings  State Rank: 47 / POS: 11   Committed: Salt Lake CC Final pitching performance of the 3A State Tournament IP 5 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 1 SO 8 NO-HITTER vs Power 25 ranked Canyon View It also goes without saying, that the #2 seeded Carbon Dinos, featured likely Region 12 MVP and potential 3A MVP, along with Park, in 2023 RHP-Wyatt Falk, who led the state in wins with an unblemished 9-0 record, along with his top 3 leaderboard state total of 90 strikeouts, which are the result of a FB clocked at 88-91 mph in the quarterfinal win vs Power 25 ranked Canyon View, where Falk threw a 5 inning mercy rule NO-HITTER. Falk is set to embark on a two year church mission this summer and upon his return, he will be taking his talents to NJCAA Region 18 champion Salt Lake CC. So as one can see, the talent is plentiful around the state and those that only see their own region schedule and rest on the fact that they are a bigger school, thus have more talent, one would think that, but the college commitments on paper around the state say otherwise.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE	STATE	DATE	LOCATION
2023 PBR CA-NV-AZ-UT ProCase (Invite Only)	UT	06/04	University of Southern California - Dedeaux Field
Utah Rising Stars ID	UT	06/07	The Hive - Juab High School Fieldhouse
2023 PBR Scout Day: NorCal Valley Utah	UT	06/12	Snow Canyon HS
2023 PBR Scout Day: CBA Summit	UT	06/17	Snow Canyon HS
2023 PBR Scout Day: Rawlings Tigers	UT	06/29	Skyline High School
Top Prospect Games (Invite-Only)	UT	07/11	Salt Lake Community College
PBR Junior Future Games	NATIONAL	07/25	LakePoint
2023 PBR Future Games (Utah Invite)	UT	07/26	LakePoint Sports - Cartersville, GA

RELATED NEWS

 

JEFF SCHOLZEN (BIO)

Scholzen was brought on as the Utah Scouting Director for Prep Baseball Report after serving 9 years as the Four Corners Scouting Supervisor with the Milwaukee Brewers (2011-2020). Prior to his run with the Brewers, Scholzen worked for the Los Angeles Angels for 11 years (1999-2010), serving in a similar capacity as the Four Corners Scouting Supervisor. In all, Scholzen served as a full-time scout for 20 years. Scholzen also received a 2002 World Series ring for his contributions as a scout. 

With the Angels, Scholzen created an Angels Scout Team, in which he coached the likes of current and former major league players: Kris Bryant, Kevin Gausman, Greg Bird, Tyler Wagner, Aaron Blair, Joey Rickard, Donn Roach, Johnny Field, Taylor Cole and Paul Sewald to name a few. During his run with the the Angels, Scholzen served as the hitting coach for the Angels rookie ball affiliate with the Pioneer League Orem Owlz, helping guide the Owlz to the 2005 and 2007 Pioneer League titles.

Prior to becoming a professional scout, Scholzen served as the head coach at Southern Utah University between 1993-1997. At the time, Scholzen was the youngest Division I head coach when he was first hired at 24 years old. The Southern Utah baseball program was dropped after the 2012 season. While coaching at Southern Utah, Scholzen served as the hitting coach for the Alaska Goldpanners in 1995, as they won the Alaska League Championship. 

A native of Utah, Scholzen played at Hurricane HS and was twice named 1st team All-State and an AAU HM All-American, before moving on to Utah Valley CC and Eastern Oregon University, earning All-Conference honors on three separate occasions. Scholzen played in the Angels’ organization from 1991-1992.