Area Code Games: Day 3 Notebook
August 7, 2014
By Nathan Rode
National Supervisor
Another day, another member added to the Blair Field Home Run Club. It seems no one told the 2015 draft class that Long Beach State’s home park is spacious and routinely swallows foul balls. In the first game of the day, the White Sox (Midwest) took on the Nationals (Southeast) and 3B Ryan Mountcastle (Hagerty HS, FL) got an 87 mph fastball up in the zone from LHP Jacob Schlesener (Logan Roseville HS, MO) and launched it over the left field fence.
Despite the home run, Schlesener had a solid outing and showcased an intriguing arsenal. In three innings of work, the Arkansas recruit walked two and allowed the solo home run Mountcastle while striking out two. He sat 87-88 mph with medium effort and some violence in his head. He tends to open up as he falls to the third base side, but he showed good feel for his secondary stuff. His curveball was 72-74 with good shape and bite. His changeup was 79-80 and both pitches were thrown with fastball arm speed.
Here are a few more notes to chew on from Wednesday’s action…