NCTB Fall Classic: Day 3 Quick Hits
October 29, 2018
The tourney drew many top players from Northern California to participate on their travel teams along with two NCTB teams comprised of participating players assigned to a team. Players from all four current grad classes were present.
Below are some notes on players who caught our scouts eyes on day two. Players are listed in no particular order, teams are listed alphabetically. Starting on Tuesday we will begin rolling out more in-depth content, with stat leaders, grad class specific articles of top players and much more.
Aldrete Baseball
2020 INF Benjamin Pajas (Soledad HS) has a swing trigger and life in the bat that projects big things down the road. He gets that swing off so easily and the ball jumps off his bat. As he physically matures he has a chance to be a standout hitter in the 2020 class. He’s aggressive and was regularly in the middle of the field with extension through contact. When on the mound it was clear that he knows the game and has feel for the game, with moxie and confidence.
CBA Sacramento 2019/2020
2020 LHP Rio Britton (Capital Christian HS) had a good showing, particularly early on. He is a long and increasingly stronger left-hander with a clean easy arm strong and today the velocity was up to a steady 85-86 mph early, with a peak of 87. He used his 73-76 mph breaking ball well, especially on the arm side as hitters regularly gave up on it, allowing the catcher to frame it and steal some strikes. His velocity dropped to 81-84 in the stretch, though he did make a nice adjustment with the timing of his separation in the middle of an inning when he found a little struggle. He’s really coming on.
2020 INF/3B Vinnie Bachelier (Capital Christian HS) again, as per usual, made loud barrel contact. He has a hitterish feel in the box and with his balance and aggressive mentality, he’s a dangerous hitter. Defensively he was playing third base and moves well over there, with an arm to carry the diamond. This is a player without much flash and a whole lot of good baseball player in him.
2021 INF Elvin Delic (Cosumnes Oaks HS) is a physical young hitter with the ability to do damage with the bat. He drove the ball in the middle of the field and though wasn’t rewarded each time with knocks, he was squaring it up LOUDLY, staying inside and behind the ball, allowing him to access the middle of the field with power. Defensively he has a good arm and down the road, given his physical body type, projects at 2nd or 3rd base.
Central Valley Elite
2021 OF Aidan Carney (Mt. Whitney HS) continued to display a sound hitting approach. He really sees the ball well and it’s evident in his at-bats, in what he offers at and what he takes. His balance is good, with a short stroke (LHH) and a direct path to the ball. He has ‘swing adjustability’ which is something that seems to be something harder and harder to find… meaning, he doesn’t have a grooved swing for one speed and zone. He gathered hits to all fields this weekend.
Chico Aces Navy
2019 RHP Jackson Torsey (Foothill HS-Palo Cedro) is a thick and strong 6-foot-2 right-hander with a strong arm. He has a controlled delivery, gathers well at the top of the lift, has a long controlled stride and lands with balance and good direction. The fastball was up to 87, steady 84-85 mph, with a 75-77 mph slider he can use to both sides of the plate.
2019 OF/LHP Chase Rossman (Foothill HS) made an appearance in Quick Hits for his pitching and now for hit hitting. He’s a left-handed hitter with presence in the box and he showed an ability to spray the ball to left and to drive it deep into the gaps in right field. The swing is quick, strong and compact with power potential. His arm plays in the corner outfield spots.
Chico Aces Red
Club All Star
2020 SS Jaylen Anteneh (Bishop O’Dowd HS) emerged as one of the better players in the entire tournament. He regularly showed skills and tools to play up the middle, shortstop included, and offensively he is an impact player, as a switch-hitter with the ability to hit on both sides. He is more powerful on the right side, with the ability to turn on good fastballs and drive the ball. On the left side he is more contact/spray oriented but even that has a chance to evolve. He is an above average runner as well. And for good measure, he REALLY likes to play.
2020 1B Jonathan Sarmiento (Kimball HS) was impressive at the plate today. He is a large human at 6-foot-4 225-pounds and is a menacing figure at the plate. But he’s not just big, he’s got bat speed and today he had a sound approach, taking an 0-2 pitch through the hole and then lining a rocket into centerfield his next at-bat. There was some struggle with the curveball in previous game but if he can be locked into an approach like today, he has a chance to hit multiple pitches and do big damage. He’s a St. Mary’s College commit as a RHP/1B.
2020 C Nico Gomez (St. Mary’s HS) was a standout on defense today, picking off a runner and throwing out at least three would be base stealers, including multiple times catching one of the faster runners in the tourney. He is a relentless blocker and worker and he has a rock solid presence behind the plate. He didn’t have a great day at the plate but in lieu of that, his defense only got better as the game went along which showed an awful lot about who he is as a player.
2020 OF Ryan Lew (Tokay HS) is a player with a lot of scrappy and tenacious tendencies. He is a right-handed hitter with plus speed, regularly getting down the line in 4.15-4.22 seconds. He has good plate coverage and was able to take at-bats deep, forcing a quality pitcher to keep making good pitches. He has bat speed and the approach will work as a lead-off type of disrupter.
Dub Dynasty Black
2019 SS Brady Miguel (San Benito HS) has been seen multiple times by our staff in the summer and fall and he continuously shows up as a game performer. He continued to make good barrel contact, today in the middle of the field and was steady up the middle making the routine plays and turning two. His bat speed is good and he sees the ball well. He’s a talented left-hand hitting middle infielder who remains uncommitted.
Dub Dynasty Blue
2021 2B Josh Elam (Live Oak HS) - shows compact swing and lead off skills with 2B to start game down the LF line before a clean single through the ⅚ hole in his 2nd AB. Showed good footwork around the bag on double play turns.
EJ Sports Warriors
2019 MIF Carson Griffey (San Ramon Valley HS) made an impact with the bat today, jumping on the first pitch of the game and slamming it off the left field well. He scooted around the bases for a triple and was moving well. In a later at-bat he jumped on another fastball and ripped it into left for a loud single. His swing trigger works and his approach to the fastball is good. Defensively he profiles as a 2nd baseman, one with good offensive talents.
2020 C Nick Poss (Liberty HS) is a USF commit and has shown well this weekend with his defense and a consistently sound approach at the plate. He is a good receiver, though does tend to reach a little bit. He has a quick release and accurate arm and uses his athleticism and agility well. He breaks down to block well. The body is lean and still pretty young so he has favorable physical projection ahead. Offensively he jumped on fastballs in the zone and quietly and calmly took balls out of the zone.
NCTB Navy
2020 1B/LHP Sam Brown (Petaluma HS) - solid 3 innings with 3 pitch mix. FB 82-84 T85 with good feel for both CB and SLD. CB showed 12/6 break with 2 level depth; SLD was from drop down angle getting bite across plate and using to both sides of the plate. On base twice offensively, barreling a ball to RF and driving in a run. Uncommitted
2021 INF/C Drake Bicknell (Jesuit HS) - showed excellent barrel control going 10+ while fouling off good pitches before walking in 1st AB. Followed that with 2 clean singles into RF and CF. Very quick hands at the plate.
2021 SS Cameron Butler (Modesto Christian) - cross bag range at SS with vocal leadership calling off other players on pop ups. 3 balls hit on the nose right at people causing two errors at 3B before stealing 2nd/3rd with great jumps.
2022 3B/OF Joe Brown (Petaluma HS) - on base twice and barreled up ball twice. Showed hard baserunning with quick feet and very good actions at 3B. Moves well on run with ability to throws from angles and show internal clock to get runners.
NCTB Scarlet
2019 CF/SS Mason King (Turlock HS) - speedster showed his ability at multiple positions, at the plate and on the bases. Quick bat for hustle 2B on ball into RCF (4.25T) before barreled ball into LF for 1B. 2 SBs with no chance for Catcher to get him. Compact frame built for speed. Uncommitted.
2021 3B Jake Sapien (Buhach Colony) - Was on time banging the ball around the field with three barreled balls during game. Rocket into RCF for a single (4.6T) while driving in 2 and 2B down the 3rd base line.
2021 1B Brewster Mott (Vacaville HS) - Crushed a ball to the RCF wall for 3B showing very good bat speed. Athletic runner was also able to steal 3rd with LHH up after walking 1st AB. Unique Speed/Gap Power combo from physically built player, to go with a strong arm as well, an arm that would play in a corner outfield spot
West Coast Premier
2019 OF Ronnie Belton (Jerry Manuel Foundation School) - physical and athletic OF showed off his arm with a laser from RF for a caught stealing at 3B early in the game effectively shutting down base runners. INF single confirmed his athleticism (4.5 H-to-1st) that was on display during testing day.
2020 3B/RHP Josh Hardoman (Jerry Manuel Foundation School) - sharp reactions at 3B on display early in game. At the plate kept middle approach barreling ball back up middle before jumping on hill and working 2 quick innings. FB working low 80s from H3/4 release and showed feel for big 12/6 CB buckling hitters.
2020 SS Rudy Rodriguez (Elk Grove HS) - on base all 3 ABs. Barreled ball over SS head in 1st AB with compact bat having feel to oppo field. Defensively showed off his MIF skills making an athletic play throwing on the run during top ball.
2019 RHP Jeff Bauser (Woodcreek HS) - athletic RHP repeated his delivery well and showed off a 3 pitch mix with a loose arm and projectable frame. FB 83-84 T86 with arm side action. CB with 10/4 slurvy action showing depth and CHG that showed armside fade off the FB path.
UPCOMING EVENTS
| SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
| Senior Games (Invite Only) | CA | 11/10 | JSerra High School |
| Central Valley Preseason I.D. | CA | 01/13 | Fresno City College - John Euless Ballpark |
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