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Week 8: Arizona Scout Blog

April 13, 2023
Shea Sbranti
Arizona Scouting Director

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

Cohen Baack OF / RHP / Centennial, AZ / 2025

Rankings  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. 

 

Aaron Luna RHP / SS / Desert Edge, AZ / 2023

The 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. 

 

Kaleb Ronquillo SS / Desert Edge, AZ / 2023

The 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.

 

Jose Sarmiento OF / RHP / Independence, AZ / 2023

The 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. 

 


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. 

 

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. 

 

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. 

 

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. 

 

Derek Schaefer RHP / 2B / Cactus Shadows, AZ / 2023

Rankings  StateRank: 7 / POS: 3 OverallRank: 173 / POS: 59

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. 

 

Chris Newstrom SS / C / Chaparral, AZ / 2024

Rankings  StateRank: 4 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 72 / POS: 20

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. 

 


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. 

 

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. 

 

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