On Friday, Volunteer State and Mississippi Delta traveled to Millington, Tennessee to play a doubleheader at the USA Stadium complex.  This was a warm but windy day for February, with game 2 being called due to darkness.  Below are notes on select players (check out the Twitter feed for some video highlights!): 

Mississippi Delta Sophomore Pitchers

RHP Trey Jones: FB (82-85, T86), SL (70-73), CH (70-73)

-       3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Jones showed some projection in his frame while generating swings and misses on his stuff.  6’2, 205-pounder w/ some present strength, some physical projection.  Pitches from a full wind-up w/ L ¾ to sidearm release.  FB showed occasional arm side run, occasional straight while mixing in short ¾ tilt SL and CH w/ fade and sink.  Around the zone w/ developing command, feel for throwing off-speed stuff for strikes.  Generated swing and misses on his stuff at 25 % (7 of 28), evenly dispersed amongst his 3 pitches.

RHP Brendan Painter: FB (81-84, T85), SL (70-73)

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

Painter recorded the save in the 2^nd game, touching 85 from a low arm slot after recording 5 saves last year.  6’4, 215-pounder has a projectable pitchers frame w/ present lower half strength.  Pitches from the stretch only w/ side-arm release.  Attacks w/ FB flashing above average run and sink while mixing in a slurvy SL that comes up out of the hand.  Strike thrower with feel to locating to both sides of the plate (10 of 14 for strikes).  Generated 1 swing and miss on 7 swings (14 %).

Volunteer State Sophomore Pitchers

RHP Jacob Cole: FB (85-88), CB (70-74), CH (81-83)

-       3 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 6 K

Cole showed a solid 3 pitch mix w/ feel for the strike zone and featured his CB.  6’2, 210-pounder has a medium, athletic frame w/ projection.  Pitches from the full wind-up w/ up-tempo, repeatable delivery and H ¾ release.  Attacked hitters w/ FB w/ occasional arm side run, medium downer CB w/ proper shape/rotation and CH w/ arm-speed, occasional sink/fade.  Pitched off of the CB while mixing in the FB as the game got deeper.  Strike-thrower shows feel for pitching w/ intent (58 of 89 for strikes) w/ above average command of his CB.  Generated 11 swings and misses on 41 swings (27 %) on his stuff, evenly dispersed w/ his 3 pitches. 

RHP Antonio Costas: FB (82-86, T87), CB (73-76), SL (78-80), CH (77)

Costas shows athletic, projectable frame w/ ability to pound the zone.  6’3, 176-pounder is high-waisted w/ lean frame, some present lower half strength.  Pitches from the full wind-up w/ ¾ release.  Attacked hitters w/ straight FB, short ¾ SL, spinner CB and CH w/ fade.  Controls the zone (10 of 14 for strikes), was elevated a bit in this outing.  Generated 1 swing and miss on 7 swings.

RHP Dalton Heath: FB (80-87, T88/89), CB (65-69)

-       3.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 7 BB, 2 K

Heath flashed premium stuff at times to open his season.  6’0, 190-pounder has an athletic frame w/ some lower half strength.  Pitches from the full wind-up w/ compact delivery and H ¾ release.  Lot of moving parts on throw, learning to repeat.  Straight FB showed occasional arm side run while mixing in a medium downer CB w/ average depth, showed ability to manipulate spin between a get-me over pitch and a tighter out pitch.  Thrower developing feel for the strike zone.  Backed off on his FB to locate it in the zone, which is the reason for the very wide velocity disparity.  Would pitch at 86-88, but would back down to 80-82 to throw strikes.  Generated 6 swing and misses on 27 swings (22 %).

Mississippi Delta Sophomore Position Players

3B Dawson Ivey: 4-7, 2B, 3B

Ivey showed a well-rounded game, showcasing power w/ athletic defensive tools.  5’11, 188-pounder has close to mature frame w/ physical lower half.  Toe tap w/ proper load in quiet stance w/ some bat rhythm. Bat stays on plane w/ line drive oriented, up the middle approach.  Generates bat speed through the zone w/ some natural loft.  Defensively, moves athletically at 3B w/ above average arm strength, reliable glove w/ feel for reading hops.  3 swing and misses on 14 swings.

2B/OF Tyler Jones: 4-6, 2B

Jones is the top returning hitter for Mississippi Delta, coming off of a .360-.419-.447 slash line as a freshman.  6’1, 185-pounder has medium, athletic frame w/ present lower half strength.  Hits from a slightly open stance w/ some bat rhythm into proper stride and load.  Up the middle approach w/ barrel feel, knack for contact.  Gap to gap hitter w/ some pull power.  Plus runner ran a 4.22 on a fielder’s choice from the right side.  Glider gets to top speed quickly.  Defensively, made all the plays at 2B w/ reliable glove.  1 swing and miss on 12 swings.

SS Dalton Lambre: 3-5, 2B

Lambre showed intriguing set of tools, including a 4.16 run time to first base from the left side.  5’11, 198-pounder has medium, athletic frame w/ physical lower half.  Hits w a crouched, open stance w/ controlled bat waggle into proper stride and load.  Some length in up the middle approach.  Lower half can get out of control at times.  Singles type hitter w/ ability to leg out double w/ plus running speed.  Defensively, was not tested.  5 swing and misses on 16 swings. 

Volunteer State Sophomore Position Players

IF Jake Lyle: 2-7, 2B

An ETSU commit, Lyle drove in 3 runs to open up his sophomore campaign after a freshman campaign where he hit 11 home runs.  5’10, 185-pounder has an athletic frame w/ some lower half strength w/ a high waist.  Hits from an upright stance w/ controlled bat waggle into short stride w/ proper load.  Short to the ball, stays on plane.  Feel for contact w/ extension through the zone.  Ball jumps off the bat.  Pure hitter.  0 swing and miss on 12 swings.

OF Baylor Steelman: 4-7, 2B

Steelman provided a spark at the top of the Vol State lineup, combining above average speed w/ feel for contact.  5’8, 140-pounder has an athletic, lean frame w/ little present strength.  Hits from an upright stance w/ controlled bat waggle into short leg kick and proper load.  Pull oriented approach w/ proper bat path.  Wants to hit gaps and use his legs to get extra bases w/ above average speed.  Ran a 4.31 down the line from the right side, gets to top speed quickly.  Showed average arm strength from CF, not tested defensively.  1 swing and miss on 14 swings.

Mississippi Delta Freshman Pitchers

RHP Korey Bell: FB (88-92, T93 twice), CB (72-75)

-       3.1 IP, 0 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 6 BB, 5 K

The redshirt freshman Bell showed premium stuff while firing 3+ hitless innings.  Bulldog build, the 6’6, 250-pounder carries the weight well w/ close to mature frame.  Pitches from a H ¾ release in controlled delivery w/ quick arm.  Struggles w/ timing out of the stretch, which resulted in arm lagging behind and missing up in the zone.  Premium stuff, low 90’s FB flashed occasional late arm side run while mixing in tight, medium downer CB w/ late bite.  Buckled knees, flashes ability to throw it for a strike.  Thrower right now, projects to command w/ clean delivery as gets more reps, understands timing.  Generated 36 % swing and miss on his FB (5 of 14) while CB fooled hitters to not have any swings on it in 9 pitches.  Exciting arm to follow w/ high upside.

Mississippi Delta Freshman Position Players

UT Parker Lane: 3-6, 2 2B

Lane showed a power bat in a physical frame.  6’1, 195-pounder looks bigger than listed weight, physical w/ lower half strength.  Open w/ leg kick and proper load.  Generates bat speed through the zone w/ natural loft, back-spin.  Pull oriented approach w/ pull power.  Can drive the baseball.  Intriguing freshman to follow as he gets collegiate reps.  4 swing and misses on 11 swings.

OF Markarius Lee: 3-6, 2 2B, 3B

Lee showed an exciting offensive skill-set w/ above average run speed.  5’6, 155-pounder w/ some lower half strength, close to mature frame.  Quiet stance w/ short stride and proper load.  To the ball w/ more power than size suggests.  Gap to gap approach.  Above average runner takes some time to accelerate, moves well in the OF.  2 swing and misses on 8 swings.

1B Matt McCurley: 5-7, HR

McCurley was a one man wrecking crew on this day, delivering 4 RBI’s.  5’10, 232-pounder w/ physical lower half, close to mature frame.  Slightly open stance w/ some bat rhythm into mini leg kick and proper load.  Shortens up w/ 2 strikes, showing bat control w/ pitch recognition.  All fields approach w/ pull power.  Bat first player w/ some offensive upside.  2 swing and misses on 12 swings.

OF Devontae Rhodes: 2-7, 3B

Rhodes had a solid collegiate debut, showing above average run speed w/ knack for contact.  5’10, 192-pounder w/ some projection, some lower half strength.  Hits w/ a open, crouched stance w/ stride and no load.  Quick to the ball w/ all fields approach.  Gap to gap approach w/ ability to back-spin the occasional baseball.  Wants to hit gaps and use his above average underway run speed to leg out extra bases (4.31 home to first time).  Covers ground in CF.  1 swing and miss on 11 swings.

Volunteer State Freshman Position Players

OF Lofton Cotton: 4-6, 2B

Cotton had a very strong collegiate debut, driving in 5 runs in the doubleheader.  5’8, 170-pounder has a lean frame w/ some physical projection remaining.  Hits from an upright, slightly open stance w/ bat waggle into leg kick and proper load.  Stayed balanced w/ ability to hit what the pitcher gave him.  All fields approach w/ short to the ball swing.  Wants to hit gaps and use his above average speed to leg out extra base hits.  Ran a 4.28 down the line w/ 4.37 turn on a double.  Defensively, showed average arm strength in RF w/ ability to cover ground.  2 swing and misses on 11 swings.

1B Bill Hamilton: 2-5, 2B, HR

Hamilton presented a physical frame w/ above average pull power.  6’4, 265-pounder w/ physical, close to mature frame, big, strong kid.  Upright, slightly open stance w/ bat waggle.  Leg kick and proper load.  Generates above average bat speed through the zone w/ extension.  Power first bat w/ plus raw power, learning to get to it consistently in game.  Has a presence in the box.  One to watch as he gets more reps at the collegiate level.  7 swing and misses on 11 swings.