NHSI: Day 1 Notebook
March 27, 2014
By Nathan Rode
National Supervisor
Even 40-degree temperatures and a biting wind couldn’t prevent good baseball from happening on the first day of USA Baseball National High School Invitational in Cary, NC. Dozens of scouts packed the National Training Complex to see some of the nation’s best draft prospects face premium competition.
As we’ve seen the past two years, the level of talent can bring about plenty of good performances as well as surprising results. Below are the results of each game and notes from that game. Obviously, I didn’t get to every game, but I pulled stats from box scores at the very least. Where applicable, commitments (signed or verbal) are in parenthesis. With impending weather approaching the region, Thursday’s schedule has been adjusted so 15 games will be played.
Huntsville HS (AL) 5, Roberson HS (NC) 0
I caught the first inning of this game before heading over to see Coral Springs Christian HS, FL, play Orange Lutheran HS, CA. RHP Whitt Davis, a junior, started for Huntsville and sat 86-87 mph in that first inning while showing good feel for his curveball, which sat 71-74 and had 11-to-5 shape. It flashed sharpness and is a swing-and-miss pitch. Davis struggled with his command, which clearly continued for the rest of the game as he walked eight. He did pitch a complete game though and allowed just one hit, which came from IF Garrett Blaylock when he led off the seventh inning. Davis struck out seven. IF Cameron Aaron provided most of the offense for Huntsville, going 1-for-2 with three RBIs. Scouts’ eyes are fixed on Roberson 1B/OF Braxton Davidson (North Carolina) this week as he faces premium pitching. He walked twice and flew out once in this game. He also played center field. There certainly is a chance for Davidson to play the outfield, but it would be a corner spot at the next level. He showed solid arm strength in pregame warm-ups, though there was a stiff wind blowing out.