On Saturday, Cleveland State traveled to Motlow State for the rubber match of their 3-game series.  This game featured an offensive explosion, with Motlow winning 13-10.  This was a nice day, as the rain held off and settled into temperatures in the 50’s.  Cleveland State was previously seen in their season opener and that report can be found here.  Below are notes on select players (check out the Twitter feed for some video highlights tomorrow!): 

Cleveland State Sophomore Position Players

2B Noah Hill: 1-6

An ETSU commit, Hill found a couple of barrels, but just had 1 hit to show for it.  6’2, 165-pounder w/ lean, athletic build, projectable.  Offensively, hits w/ a slightly open, slightly crouched stance w/ short hand rhythm into stride to square and proper load.  Pull oriented approach w/ barrel feel.  Lower half and upper half work in sync.  Projectable pull power.  Was not tested defensively.

3B Trey Martin: 0-5

Martin showed a feel for contact, recording 0 swing and misses on 7 swings.  6’1, 180-pounder w/ medium, athletic frame, some physical projection.  Offensively, hits w/ a very slightly open, very slightly crouched stance w/ hand rhythm into stride to closed and proper load.  Will mix in an occasional toe tap.  Up the middle approach w/ projectable pull power.  Generates bat speed through the zone w/ natural loft.  Defensively, showed arm strength to stay at third base w/ good hands. 

OF Brandon Mason: 0-2, 3 BB

Mason showed a patient approach w/ an idea of his strike zone.  5’9, 170-pounder w/ short, athletic frame w/ some present strength, some physical projection.  Offensively, hits in a very slightly open, slightly crouched stance w/ quiet hands into leg kick and load.  Generates bat speed through the zone.  Pull oriented approach w/ gap power.  Above average runner.  Defensively, profiles as a center fielder w/ above average arm strength.  Gunned a runner at the plate.

C Hunter Oliver: 1-4, BB

A Georgia Gwinnett commit, Oliver showed a presence in the box w/ pull power. 6’1, 230-pounder w/ physical lower half, very strong, mature frame.  Offensively, hits w/ a slightly open, slightly crouched stance w/ quiet hands into proper stride and load.  Slight bat wrap.  Simple, repeatable swing.  Rare attributes of power hitter w/ knack for contact (zero swing and miss on 8 swings) and spin recognition.  Balanced.  Generates bat speed through the zone w/ loft.  Power to all fields.  Defensively, presents a decent target for his pitchers w/ soft hands, idea of pitch framing.  Shows average arm strength w/ pop times between 2.07 and 2.13 between innings.

OF Cameron Payne: 1-2, 3 BB

Physical outfielder found a barrel on this day, projectable offensive player.  6’3, 215-pounder w/ tall, athletic, projectable frame w/ some present strength.  Offensively, hits from a slightly open, crouched stance w/ hand rhythm into mini leg kick and proper load.  Generates above average bat speed through the zone w/ loft.  Strong hitter w/ power to all fields.  Up the middle approach.  Occasionally gets out of control w/ the lower half and will leak.  Projects to hit for above average power.  Was not tested defensively.

DH Logan Peterson: 3-5

Peterson has had a huge start to the year, slashing .478-.544-.687 thus far.  6’1, 202-pounder has a medium, sturdy frame w/ some present strength in the lower half, close to mature.  Offensively, hits w/ a straight on, slightly crouched stance w/ short bat rhythm into leg kick w/ proper load.  Generates bat speed through the zone.  Quiet, repeatable swing.  Barrel feel w/ knack for contact, balanced.  All fields approach w/ projectable pull power.  Spin recognition, able to hit everything.  Saw him catch earlier this year, presents solid target w/ ability to make himself a big target to throw to.  Some stiffness as a receiver.

1B Joey Roberson: 2-3, HR, BB

Roberson delivered one of the big knocks for Cleveland State on this day, a 3-run home run to right field.  6’0, 212 pounder w/ physical, bulldog frame, present lower half strength, mature build.  Offensively, hits w/ a slightly open, slightly crouched stance w/ bat waggle into mini leg kick to slightly open and proper load.  Pull heavy approach w/ pull power.  Generates bat speed through the zone w/ natural loft.  Knack for hard contact.  Was not tested defensively at 1B.

Motlow State Sophomore Position Players

SS Jake Chaney: 2-5, HR

Chaney showed a knack for contact while delivering a home run to right center field.  5’9, 175-pounder w/ thick lower half, close to mature frame.  Offensively, hits w/ a slightly open, slightly crouched stance w/ short hand rhythm into stride to square and short hand load.  Occasionally leaks w/ hips.  Generates bat speed through the zone w/ natural loft.  His home run gave Motlow the lead in the 7^th and they would not look back.  1 swing and miss on 10 swings on this day.  Defensively, shows okay lateral movement w/ arm strength w/ carry to target. 

3B De’Andre Pitts: 1-4, 2B

Pitts showed athleticism and collected the game breaking hit in the 7^th, delivering a 2 RBI double.  6’1, 195-pounder w/ medium, athletic frame, some present strength, some projection.  Offensively, hits w/ a slightly open, slightly crouched stance w/ body and hand rhythm into shift of weight, leg kick and load.  Generates bat speed through the zone.  Line drive, pull oriented approach.  Uses some legs in swing, occasionally gets too far out on his front leg.  Defensively, shows 3B arm strength w/ reliable hands.

OF Paul Rahman: 2-5, 2B, HR

Rahman found a couple barrels on this day, including a home run to left field.  5’9, 170-pounder w/ short, athletic frame, some present strength, some physical projection.  Offensively, hits in a straight on, crouched stance w/ short hand rhythm into knee to knee leg kick and short hand load.  Tends to do damage when connects.  Power over average.  Defensively, made all the plays in RF.

OF Colin Smith: 0-2, 3 BB

Smith had a quiet day, drawing 3 walks and exhibiting a patient approach.  5’11, 220-pounder w/ physical, bulldog frame, thick lower half, close to mature frame.  Offensively, hits w/ a straight on, upright stance w/ hand rhythm into leg kick and short hand load.  Generates bat speed through the zone w/ natural loft.  Pull oriented approach w/ present pull power.  Understands his zone and what pitches he can do damage with.  Was not tested in the OF.

DH Troy Weatherly: 3-3, 2 HR, 2 BB

Weatherly had a huge day, picking up 2 no doubt home runs.  6’1, 235-pounder w/ present strength, thick lower half.  Offensively, hits w/ a slightly open, upright stance w/ hand rhythm into toe tap and power load.  Lot of pre-pitch movement, but was on time every swing today.  Big power to all fields.  Showed spin recognition w/ enough balance to fight off good breaking balls.  Intimidating presence in the box w/ barrel feel.  Zero swing and miss on 6 swings on this day.  Impact uncommitted sophomore.

Cleveland State Freshman Pitchers

RHP Noah Peterson: FB (89-91), CH (83)

-       0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Peterson showed exciting arm speed w/ FB life.  5’11, 180-pounder w/ medium, athletic frame w/ present lower half strength, some physical projection.  Only pitched w/ runners on base from H ¾ release.  Super quick arm, easy velocity.  FB shows arm-side run, occasional sink.  Mixed in a straight CH that was elevated.  Thrower right now shows feel for control, developing command.  Occasional non-competitive pitch.  Projects to command w/ reps on the mound. 

Motlow State Freshman Pitchers

RHP Tyler Harmon: FB (84-88), CB (70-74), CH (78-80)

-       1.2 IP, 4 H, 7 R, 3 ER, 3 BB,0 K

Harmon showed intriguing stuff despite the results.  5’11, 160-pounder w/ medium, athletic frame w/ some present strength, some physical projection.  Pitched from a full wind-up w/ over the top release.  Arm lags behind at times.  Straight FB shows occasional cut.  Medium downer CB w/ proper shape, comes up out of hand at times.  CH w/ arm-speed and fade.  Thrower was spraying the zone on this day.  Projects to control w/ more reps on the mound. 

RHP Logan Walters: FB (85-90), CB (74-78), CH (83)

-       6.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 7 BB, 3 K

A redshirt freshman, Walters showed big stuff and held his velocity late into the outing, throwing all 3 FB’s at 87 to the last hitter he faced, pitches number 100,101 and 102.  6’3, 190-pounder features medium, athletic frame w/ some lower half strength, some projection.  Pitches w/ a full-windup from over the top release.  Some downhill plane.  Repeats w/ quick arm.  Straight FB shows occasional cut.  CB flashed plus, featuring tight rotation, late bite w/ above average depth.  Showed some feel for spin manipulation, getting a little loopier as a get ahead pitch.  Mixed in one firm CH, which showed some sink.  Sprayed the zone on this day, effectively wild.  Flashed times he would pound the zone and do whatever he would want, would also get into times of throwing non-competitive pitches.  Should develop command w/ time w/ repeatable delivery.  Generated 5 swing and misses on 34 swings, including 3 of 6 on the CB.

Motlow State Freshman Position Players

C Paul McIntosh: 3-5, 2B, HR

McIntosh showed off his high-level bat speed, delivering a double and home run while also recording exit velocities of 101 and 106.  6’1, 220-pounder w/ close to mature frame, featuring physicality in the upper and lower half.  Strong kid.  Offensively, hits w/ a very slightly open, very slightly crouched stance w/ short hand rhythm into short leg kick and proper load.  Generates premium bat speed through the zone w/ natural loft.  Pull heavy approach.  Special power, strength to hit the ball out to right field.  Solid spin recognition, had some struggles w/ lefty change-ups on this day.  Defensively, shows tools to catch w/ soft hands.  Brings a lot of pitches up in the zone, will quiet that down at the next level as he learns to stick pitches.  Moves well behind the plate, shows ability to box.  As a thrower, shows solid release w/ arm strength w/ carry to target.  Popped 2.00-2.07 between innings w/ developing accuracy.