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Scout Blog: Woodson at Robinson

March 17, 2023
John Nolan
Northern Virginia Scouting Director

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Wednesday night saw WT Woodson travel Robinson to open both of their 2023 seasons. Both teams tapped their top arms to start the game with senior Ben Smallwood (Marymount) going for Woodson and junior Aidan Van Baars (Coastal Carolina) going for Robinson.

Woodson jumped out early on the power of a Brandon Shelhorse (Hampden-Sydney) 3-run home run as part of a four-run top of the first. Robinson would threaten and push across single runs three times early, but Smallwood was good, pounding the zone and working efficiently, going 6 innings and allowing just 3 runs in less than 70 pitches. Shelhorse and junior centerfield Andrew Perks were the offensive story for the Cavaliers, both going 3-4 with 2 2Bs, Shelhorse with the home run and 4 RBI, and Perks 2 RBI as well. Robinson would rally in the seventh and get the tying run to the plate, but Woodson hung on for a 9-6 win.


Woodson 

 

 

 

 

Andrew Perks OF / OF / WT Woodson, VA / 2024

Perks is 6-2 with a lankier athletic frame that has strength present and projection left. Moves well in centerfield, gets a good first step and has closing speed. At the plate, its a very simple short swing, the hands stay inside and the barrel gets through the zone in the hurry. Showed feel for barrel, getting the ball on it and driving it to all fields. Four at-bats in the game, 2 mashed doubles to deep left, a single to right center, and a lineout to deep right. Someone is going to get a steal with him.

 

 

Brandon Shelhorse 1B / 3B / WT Woodson, VA / 2023

Shelhorse is a Hampden-Sydney commit and had a monster night at the plate. He has a strong frame and is very short to the ball with a strong contact point and a lot of uphill extension through the ball. His home run was to dead center and he doubled in both gaps, uses all fields and has power to them as well.

 

 

Ben Smallwood RHP / WT Woodson, VA / 2023

Smallwood is a Marymount commit and his been Woodson's top arm since his sophomore year. He was that again in this game, doing a great job of pounding the zone and attacking hitters. He was extremely efficient, throwing six innings in less than 70 pitches. Spent most of the day pitching backwards, changing the shape on his offspeed stuff and using them to make his fastball, which was in the low 80s on a very cold and windy day, more effective. Has a bit of gamer in him too, didn't cruise all game, had to battle around runners and minimize damage and was able to do so. The kid can pitch and has guts and Woodson will be tough to beat this year with him on the mound.

 

 

 

 

Robinson

 

 

 

 

Aidan van Baars RHP / OF / Robinson Secondary, VA / 2024

Van Baars is a Coastal Carolina commit who is 6-4 with an athletic frame that has some strength present and projection left to it. Has a very short quick arm action from a high 3/4 slot. Higher effort in his delivery and falls off hard. Very cold, windy night, tough conditions. Fastball was 84-86, touching 87, generates downward plane and gets a touch of late run to it. Small sample on the offspeed pitches, but the few he threw were effective. A few defensive miscues kept him in innings longer than he should have been. Would like to see him again, this was not a great outing for him, but the frame and a quick arm are there so there is a lot to like for Van Baars, he'll be much better as the season goes on.

 

 

 

Tommy Henry OF / 1B / Robinson, VA / 2024

Henry is 6-5 with an athletic frame and long levers. Played leftfield in the game and showed well at the plate. Mashed an RBI double to deep right in his first at-bat and ripped an RBI single to left in his second at-bat. He keeps his hands tight and stays short to the ball and through contact, trusts his hands and barrel to work to drive the ball, shows gap power to all fields.