Area Code Underclass Games: Thursday Notebook

By Nathan Rode
National Supervisor

LONG BEACH, CA—While the regular Area Code Games wrapped up at Blair Field on Wednesday, the Area Code Underclass Games started at Cerritos College, just down the road. Things shifted to Blair Field on Thursday with all five teams taking batting practice, followed by four games. Four more games will take place on Friday, concluding the entire event.

The star of the day was 2019 SS Bobby Witt Jr. (Heritage HS, TX). The Oklahoma recruit had four hits on Wednesday and added four more across two games on Thursday. After starting 0-for-2, he went hard to the opposite field for a single and eventually scored before pulling a double off the top of the wall down the left field line in his fourth at-bat of the day. He came back later and went 2-for-4, beating out two infield singles and got down the line in less than 4.2 seconds. He also forced an error with his hustle. In the second game, Witt scored three runs. He’s an above-average runner and showed good defense too, ranging up the middle on one play and showing off a strong arm overall. He also stole two bases.

Another standout was C Noah Naylor (St. Joan of Arc SS, ON), who was 4-for-6 across two games and feel a triple shy of the cycle in the second one. After quietly going 1-for-3 in the first game with a loud single over the shortstop, Naylor went off in the second. In his first at-bat, he squared up a double off a 90 mph fastball to left-center field. He followed that by pulling a home run to right center and finished with a hard single in his last trip to the plate. The home run was the first to right field at Blair Field in the event this year. The wind has been blowing across right field and knocking balls down all week, but Naylor’s shot cut through it.

Here are a few more highlights from Thursday…