HENDERSON, NV - On Sunday, August 18th at the Upperclass All State event, catching continued to be a point of strength among the participants.  A number of rising seniors and juniors showed well during the skill evaluation as well as game play. The invitation only event revealed both physical prowess and the standout intangibles that next level programs look for to lead their programs.

2020, Carson Isip, C (Reno) 5-foot-9 160. Carson showed a nice fundamental base with flexibility and movement. He has a good motor with good energy. Receiving skills were solid as he had a good loose and balanced base giving the pitcher a good low target. He has good loose hands and handled velocity and breaking pitches well with good framing technique. He showed agility in his blocking being able to surround ball and keep in front. Throwing was adequate with 2.08-2.09 pop times and will need to develop more arm strength as he develops as he possesses arm and foot quickness. Offensively, Carson has a good set up with a rhythmical load into a slight stride. Launch is with a flat/wrapped barrel and swings with a slight uphill approach. 

2021, Aric Anderson C, (Palo Verde) 5-foot-11 175. Aric is a physical and durable looking catcher with thick lower half. Aric has a plus arm for age with good acceleration out of squat to second base as his pop times recorded at 1.84-1.98. He receives with a higher set up slightly to toes. Hands are strong and at times had trouble with low pitches but overall gave good presentation of pitches. At the Plate, Aric showed a balanced set up into a simple toe tap creating a classic left handed swing. Showing bat speed and alley/alley approach. Aric also showed some raw pull power in BP.

2020, Lane Oliphant , C, (Reno) 5-foot-10 175, Lane looks is a capable receiver with good energy and bounce behind the plate. He showed a good athletic set that showcased good mobility in his block and recovery. Hands were soft letting the ball come to him and framing the ball with ease. Handled velocity and breaking pitches down with little movement in his presentation. Lane has good quick arm and feet as well as ability to improvise on bad pitches making accurate throws to second.Offensively, Lane showed one of the top exit velocities at 93mph. Upright stance with a vertical barrel, he showcased good raw power to pull side. 

2021, Dylan Dirig, C (Desert Oasis) 5-foot-11 155 Dylan has a lean, slender frame that looks to have room to grow into as becomes more physical with age. Dylan possesses good receiving ability showing easy hand and framing skills. Set up is good presenting a good low target for the pitcher. Arm strength was adequate as he showed a short arm action with quick feet and a 1.94-2.07 pop time. Dylan moved well in blocking with mobility to move side to side. At the plate, Dylan has a good set up and showed raw power during BP.   

2020, Donovan Ratfield, C (Wooster), 6-foot 170. Donovan has a strong, athletic build to him, 6’0 170, and looks have a well-rounded skill set defensively as well as offensively. Donovan exhibited above average pop times, 1.85-1.89, with good arm action and technique. He presents a good target and receives pitches with easy effort. Donovan showed good blocking aptitude with loose hips and mobility. Offensively, Donovan looks to have an advanced approach with plus bat speed. Good rhythm during load and stride and hands in a cocked launch position, Donovan peppered balls in both alleys showing his strength at the plate.

2020, Matthew Galdi C (Green Valley) 6-foot 190. Matthew has a solid physical frame being listed at 6’0 190 and a L/R catcher.  Matthew was a vocal leader behind the plate. He showed adequate receiving skills with good a good set up handling both velocity and breaking pitches. Matthew moved well and was agile for size during blocking showing that he can stay behind plate for his size. In between innings, he showed good arm action, accuracy, and arm strength throwing down to second base.At the plate, Matthew does not get cheated. Matthew had a good aggressive approach and puts an A swing every time he pulls the trigger displaying some good pull side power from the left side. 

2020, Ethan Stephens, C (Coronado) 6-foot-4 175.Ethan has a very projectable body, 6’4 175lb, that will fill out becoming more physical with maturity. Ethan looks the part both defensively and at the plate and goes about his business with a good motor. He displayed solid throwing mechanics with accuracy consistently turning in pop times from 2.01-2.08. Receiving skills were also solid with quite hands while showing nice framing technique. Ethan looked very good for his taller body displaying good lateral side to side mobility with good block and recovery. Offensively, Ethan has a nice fundamental lefthand swing. He exhibited good bat speed as well as leverage in his swing. Tall upright hitter with a low hand launch, Ethan worked alley to alley with a line drive approach also showing pull side pop. 

2020, Erik Dramm, C (Coronado) 5-foot-9 160. Erik showed he is a grinder behind the plate displaying good energy and vocal leadership. Erik’s arm strength, 2.0-2.31, was slightly lacking but did show accuracy with throw downs to second base. He possesses good toughness in his blocking, working exceptionally hard keeping balls in front of him. Erik has a good set up, presents good target, and did nice job of framing all pitches. Offensively, Erik looks to have a solid line drive approach at the plate using the whole field with simple hitting mechanics.