CCS Focus (CA): 5/2/19

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Central Coast, CA - Back-to-back days of the #CCSFocus as I got out to two league games that will have tournament playoff implications changing the seeding of teams. Both the West Catholic League and Santa Clara Valley Athletic League have their end of season tournaments next week with the CCS Playoffs starting the following week and teams are fighting for their chances to continue playing. Let’s take a look at the games and the players who stood out.

GAME NOTES:

Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory vs Bellarmine (4/30/19) - The West Catholic League is a weekly battle and this game was no different as both teams pitching and defense stood out. Both teams had only 5 hits each in this one with Bellarmine getting the 1-0 victory when 19 OF Joey Pinelli doubled down the LF line before being knocked in by 19 SS Rory Bradford. Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep had a chance with the bases loaded in the 2nd and 1 out but a ground ball to 3B prevented a run at home before a strikeout ended their chances. That was all the offense for both teams as the pitchers executed and got some fine defensive plays behind them.

Los Altos vs Palo Alto (5/1/19) - Los Altos jumped out to an early lead getting 2 in the 1st with hits by 19 OF Ryan Baum and Ben Parker then added a 3rd run in the 2nd inning. Palo Alto responded with 1 in the second before chasing the Los Altos starter in the 3rd with 3 more runs to take a 4-3 lead. That lead would be short lived as Los Altos scored 2 in the 4th to make it 5-4. Palo Alto collected 4 hits in the 5th to tack on 3 runs and take a 7-5 lead and victory as their pitchers cooled the red-hot Los Altos offense.

PLAYERS OF NOTE:

2019 SS Rory Bradford (Bellarmine) - Uncommitted. Long and very lean build showing some athleticism at the 6-spot; lots of space for added strength. Fair arm with enough strength to stick in the middle of the diamond with good footwork and defensive actions to make plays in his range. Compact swing able to stay locked on both FB and off speed pitches. On-base three times with game winning RBI single to LCF. Good footspeed with strong read on LHP for stolen base in 1st inning.

2020 3B Aidan Kelly (Bellarmine) - Uncommitted. Large, wide and physical frame with rolled shoulders, long legs and tight waist. Had three good AB’s squaring up the ball right at the CF before picking up a hit staying on a pitch to the outer half and hitting the ball over the 1st baseman’s head. Showed good glove hand working through the ball on top ball with baseball knowledge understanding what was needed and making a clean throw home to prevent a run from scoring. Arm is fair able to make throws from mid-lower slot while on the move; times where he has to wind it up to get the ball across the diamond.

2019 1B Gio Saso (Bellarmine) - Uncommitted. Large frame showing length in lower half; projectable build and squared shoulders. Big 2B in 2nd AB showing a quick turn with hands tight driving the ball off the top of the LF wall. Good footwork around the bag with rhythm and low hips. Made a nice play when ball was hit at him with guy on first where he touched 1st before putting a strike to 2nd for SS to put the tag down.

2020 RHP Owen Stevenson (Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) - Uncommitted. Came on in relief showing a clean and compact arm with 3/4 release point and very projectable body. Frame is very lean with length in the lower half having a high waist and length in his arms. Delivery was smooth and repeatable. FB 80-83 MPH with late life and the ability to make hitters swing at pitches up through the zone. CB 68-71 MPH showing short tumble with overhand spin and 12/6 shape. Used the pitch to both sides of the plate and flashed feel being able to go back-to-back with it. Some strength jumps could see him being an important piece for SHCP next season.

2021 RHP Jamie Gomez (Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) - Uncommitted. Finished the game on the hill for SHCP showing a projectable frame. Elbow pulls the hand from the glove showing arm strength with compact arm to H3/4 release. Showed three pitches with FB (79-82 MPH) being straight and used to top part of the zone, CHG (71-72 MPH) pulling through the pitch and having it dive out of the hands, and CB (68-69 MPH) that was loose with depth and slurvy actions through the zone. Lots of space in frame to project more velocity in the near future.

2019 OF Dan Hinderliter (Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) - Uncommitted. Strong, full medium frame with tight waist and wide shoulders. Two hard contacts with 1st one being a 2B off LCF wall and 2nd was a hard hit liner at 2B. Bat has a quick trigger with some bat speed. Moves well in CF closing quickly on a ball in the RCF gap and showing aggressive angle.

2021 RHP/SS Brock Susko (Los Altos) - Uncommitted. Long and lanky body with high waist that is adding strength; projectable build. Started on the hill for Los Altos with limited control during outing from compact 3/4 release. FB 77-79 T80 bits of small run, CHG 67-69 with arm-side tumble, CB 63-65 flashed 12/6 with depth. Flashes potential on the mound with large frame, but ability to control body is still a work in process. Looked to be measuring pitches in the outing instead of letting arm loose. Showed his growing strength in the bat driving a long 2B over the LF head, before hitting another long flyout later in the game. Seems to still be learning how his body works with chance for big physical jumps leading to improvements in overall tools.

2019 OF Ben Parker (Los Altos) - Uncommitted. Medium frame with tight waist, strong upper half and athletic ability. Shows good range in CF with ability to track ball down and enough arm to stick in position. Athleticism really stands out on base paths where he bounces out of leads showing great 1st step quickness stealing 3rd. Bat is compact and quick working on level path with the ball; pull side focus as he laced two balls that way with one for a hit and the other right at the SS.

2019 1B/RHP Kyle Mostofizadeh (Palo Alto) - Elon Commit. Medium frame, strong with upper half strength showing currently. On base three times and pitched 2.2 innings. Swang the bat well from the left side flashing some bat speed and loose wrists when he laced a 2B over the RF head that carried deep off the bat. Two other hard hit balls one for a hit and the last one right at the RF. On defense showed good range around the bag at 1st with some coverage in foul territory as well. On the mound mainly FB/SLV from a H-3/4 release with long depth out of the glove. FB 78-80 MPH straight with usage on both sides of the plate. SLV 63-66 MPH having some sweep off 11/4 shape.

IN-DEPTH COVERAGE:

2022 1B Lucas Kelly (Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) - Uncommitted. Large frame that is very long and lean with a high waist and wide chest; extremely projectable frame that can take on more weight without diminishing profile...

UPCOMING EVENTS: