Boras Classic Northern California - Day 2
March 27, 2018
The Boras Classic Northern California resumed on Tuesday in Sacramento and featured the other half of the 16 team field, with teams from the NCS, CCS, SJS, and Northern section all competing. In action today were Carlmont, Petaluma, Woodcreek, Franklin, Palo Alto, Davis, Bellarmine, and Pleasant Valley. The winner of the Northern California part of the Boras Classic will take on the winner of the Southern part on May 5th at Santa Clara University.
Once again there were a total of eight games today, with two games in four different time blocks, 10:00, 1:00. 4:00, and 7:00. For those of you with Game Changer memberships, here is a link to the leader board kept for the event. https://gc.com/g/BCNorth/leaders
Let's take a closer look....
10:00
Franklin 2 Carlmont 0
The story of this game, as it has been for most of the season with Franklin, was outstanding pitching. Junior left-hander Grant Stevens carved his way through Carlmont for a shutout, mixing in four outstanding pitches and showing feel and craft for every part of the zone. His moxie and savvy is WAY beyond a junior in high school. The fastball was up to 83, the change-up was diving at 70-71, the cutter was in the 77 mph range, the curveball in the 67-70 mph range. He went in with all pitches, out with all, up when he wanted to and showed ability to change hitters’ eye levels and exploit that. Fielded position expertly and has a good pick-off move. He looked like he was playing sandlot whiffle ball and enjoying every second of it. Sophomore corner infielder Jake Pina had a big double late in the game that eventually led to a run and he looks the part of a future slugger, with strong hands and ability to drive the baseball to the deepest parts of the yard. Young talent is all over the field with Franklin, but we will give these two kids their due for today. For Carlmont, senior right-hander Mitchell Plane did his best to keep Franklin within striking distance, mixing his 78-80 mph sinker and 68 mph slurveball all game. Their junior shortstop Sean Vanderaa is a slick fielder and looks like he can handle the defensive part of the game beyond the high school level.
Woodcreek 2 Petaluma 1
As in the other game, an outstanding effort by a junior pitcher was the story here. Right-hander Ryan Harvey went the distance for Woodcreek and looked like a future fireballer. He was 87-89 mph early and still 84-85 in the 7th inning. He can improve his breaking ball but the makings of an outstanding prospect are there. His body type is as projectable as the word gets, with wide shoulders and long levers. He’s a good one. Petaluma senior right-hander Blake Buhrer did a good job in keeping Petaluma close. He’s a big bodied kid with 78-82 mph stuff and a competitive attitude. Offensively senior 2nd baseman Porter Slate showed off a good stroke, good speed down the line and solid defensive tools. Slate is a left-handed hitter with a college type game.
1:00
Franklin 12 Woodcreek 2, 5 innings
In one of the more anticipated games, Franklin wore down Woodcreek and in the middle innings really started to put together great at-bats up and down the line-up. Woodcreek started 2018 RHP Dennis Boatman on the hill and a gaggle of scouts were on hand to see the UCLA-bound prospect. He struggled a bit with his delivery which affected the command of his fastball and the feel of his breaking ball. Boatman was up to 89 mph early and was in the 86-87 range most of the day, which was 3+ innings. His slider was inconsistent in the 77-79 mph range. He will have better days. A player who might NOT have a better day was Franklin junior catcher Carson Stevens, the twin brother of Grant Stevens. He had a MONSTER day at the plate, including a triple, a double and a single, a run scored and 4 RBI. One of the triples ended the game in the bottom of the 5th. He put the barrel to the ball all day and showed the ability to put together the type of at-bat that the situation called for. He’s an athletic catcher with receiving/blocking/throwing skills and showed good hitting and baserunning talent. Sophomore outfielder Chase Davis (L/L) also showed up well. He had been close in a few at-bats in the first game but broke out with a booming triple up against the right field fence which contributed to a 7-run 4th ining for Franklin. He dug out a Boatman down and in fastball and dropped his fast hands to it, with the ball jumping off his bat with little effort. He’s a 4.45 runner down the line and seemed a bit better than that underway to 3rd base. Davis was 1-for-3 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBI. Junior SS/P Zach Meddings was on the hill for Franklin and calmly navigated 4 innings with his 82-84 mph fastball and 68 mph curveball. He is a skilled defender and on the mound just smoothly works to execute his pitches. He’s headed to Nevada in the fall of 2019. He was 2-for-4 at the plate with 2 runs and 2 RBI.
Petaluma 5 Carlmont 4
The Trojans won a tight game against Carlmont. An early lead held up for Petaluma as senior left-handed pitcher Danny Marzo had the biggest impact for his team. He went 3 innings on the mound, giving up 2 hits, striking out 3, walking 2, while going 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored and 2 RBI. He’s a touch and feel left-hander with good baseball aptitude and competes quite well. Good contact oriented approach and can hit to all fields. For Carlmont, senior outfielder Jordan Brandenburg went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI. After a rough start on the mound, senior right-hander Will Klieves came on to settle things down, with 4 scoreless innings that gave his team a chance to come back. He gave up a solo hit and struck out 2 while walking no one.
4:00
Davis 3 Palo Alto 1
There wasn’t much offense to speak of in this game, though 2018 prospect, outfielder Ryan Holgate of Davis HS was 2-for-3 with a run scored. He also started and went 3 innings, gave up one unearned run, 2 strikeouts and walked 5. He is committed to Arizona though the scouts have been swirling around him all winter and spring. He’s a physical left handed hitter who has had success vs quality pitching though in this game he didn’t see more than 84 mph. He did make some good barrel contact to the pullside in this game and was up to 87 mph on the mound. In the nightcap he will face Cal-bound 2018 right-hander Joe Ammirato of Bellarmine, who I’ve seen up to 92. Should be fun. His teammate, 3rd baseman Jonah Henrickson (UC Davis) was 1-for-3 with an RBI. He’s a thicker bodied player with a knack for finding the barrel. As for Palo Alto, their senior catcher Nathan Willis did a great job behind the plate and was close on a couple of swings that might have changed the outcome. He’s a leader type with good talents behind the plate. Senior right-hander/shortstop Niko Lilios went 4 innings, gave up 0 earned runs, 3 hits, 3 BB and struck out 5. He was 0-for-2 at the plate but did draw two walks and score the only run. Lilios was up to 83-84 and spun a nice slider at the Davis crew.
Bellarmine 6 Pleasant Valley 0
The pitching of Bellarmine overwhelmed PV. Senior right-hander Michael Mitchell (UC San Diego) was masterful over 6 innings, with 6 strikeouts, 5 hits allowed and 3 walks. The long and lanky pitcher was 85-88 mph with occasional plus tilt and showed feel for the curveball. He’s got a really projectable body type, long hands and loose wrists. He could/should throw VERY hard someday. Senior 2018 right-hander Josh Mollerus pitched the 7th and was crisp 86-90 mph with tight and quick 75-78 slider that had good bite and tilt. He’s uncommitted, and also swung the bat well. Offensively the Bells were led by senior shortstop Connor Henriques (Brown University) who was 3-for-3 with a run scored. I’ve seen him play a couple of times and all he does is positively impact games both with quality at-bats and quality defensive play. Senior catcher Mason Eng is uncommitted and he can really receive and block and do all the good things behind the plate. As for PV, really only a couple hitters had any sort of quality at-bats, junior right-fielder Colin Barber (Oregon commit) and senior 1st baseman Tyler Coleman. Barber is a left-handed hitter (L/L) with a legit hit tool. He drives baseball in the middle of the field, staying inside the ball well. His arm is strong and his outfield play is clean. He’s a good one. As for Coleman, the big fella (6-foot-2 210, R/R) showed some pop (oppo) in the bat, a plus arm and soft hands at 1st base. If someone told me he was a mid-upper 80s kid on the mound (he does pitch), I’d buy that. He was 2-for-3 in this game, while Barber was 1-for-3 with a loud out to centerfield.
7:00
Bellarmine 2 Davis 1