By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

Sunday, September 15 saw the PBR Kentucky Fall Prospect Program make a stop at Morehead State University.  The day kicked off at 9:30 AM with on-the-field batting practice for both teams, infield/outfield, and ended with a double-header providing some impressive game action.

The following is an in depth look at all the action, including game summaries, top performers, and pitcher velocities.

Game 1 Summary

Game 1 saw the Black Team score three runs in the second inning to take an early lead.  Daulton Mason lined a one-out single up the middle, and Graham Smith quickly followed with a single of his own.  With two outs, Hayden Ford stepped to the plate for the first time in what would end up being a very impressive day for the senior from Saint Xavier High School.  Ford launched a no-doubt bomb to left-field, driving in Mason and Smith to stake Team Black to the early lead.

Team Black added a run in the fourth when Sammy Holder led off the inning with a single and two outs later scored on a double by Smith, his second hit of the game.

Team White came storming back in the fifth, scoring four times on five hits in the inning.  Jesse James got things rolling with a lead-off double and scored on a single by Alex Jones.  Matthew Lee followed with a double to right-center to plate Jones, and Andrew Kirkland singled home Lee to make the score 4-3.  Dale Gumm followed with an RBI single to knot the game at 4.

The game-winner came for Team Black in the sixth.  With one out, Heath Hensley beat out an infield single, and Mason Forbes delivered in the clutch with a two-out RBI triple to deep left-center for a 5-4 lead.

Kipp Moore came on to strike out two of the three hitters he faced in the seventh to preserve the win.

Game 2 Summary

Game 2 saw the Black Team score early and often as they plated six runs in the first to take a commanding lead.  Hayden Ford drove an RBI triple to the wall in left-center, Nick Nonos added a run-scoring single, and Colin Suttles stroked a two-run single to left in the inning.

That would be the theme for the game as Team Black continued to add runs while Team White could get nothing going.

Mason Forbes stroked an RBI single, and Daulton Mason added a 2-run single of his own in the fourth.

Kipp Moore drove in Colin Suttles, who had singled, in the sixth, and then scored on a SAC fly by Heath Hensley.

Team White finally plated a run in the sixth as Matthew Lee hit his second double of the day to drive in Jesse James who reached on a base hit.

Team Black swept the DH with a 13-1 victory.

Top Performers Team Black

Hayden Ford (2014 1B, St. Xavier HS) stole the show.  The 6-foot-3, 200-pound, athletic first-baseman went 5-for-5 on the day with 2 doubles, a triple, a home run, and 4 RBI.  Ford squared up everything in sight, showing big power.

Graham Smith (2014 C/1B, Lexington Christian) went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI.  At 6-foot-4, 215-pounds, Smith generates good bat speed and shows some pop in his bat.

Daulton Mason (2014 3B/RHP, Lewis County HS) went 3-for-5 with 3 RBI.  At 6-foot, 190-pounds, Mason has a strong frame with some pop.

Colin Suttles (2015 C, Dixie Heights HS) went 3-for-6 with 2 RBI and showed solid receiving and blocking skills behind the plate.

Kipp Moore (2014 SS, Shelby County HS) went 2-for-6 with a triple and RBI.  Moore shows good speed down the line at 4.35 and displays advanced defensive actions in the infield with a very quick exchange and good arm strength.

Mason Forbes (2014 OF, Ryle HS) went 2-for-6 with a triple and 2 RBI.  Forbes continues to impress with his bat speed and pop each time we see him.  Forbes also pitched 3 innings, allowing one run while striking out three with a fastball that sat 82-83 mph, touching 84 with good arm-side run, and a 73-75 mph slider with late action.

Heath Hensley (2015 1B/OF, Russell HS) collected 2 hits including a double and also drove in a run.

Sammy Holder (2014 RHP/MIF, Lewis County HS) threw 3 scoreless innings, allowing 3 hits while striking out 3.

Kyle Fisher (2014 Western Hills HS) worked 3 shutout innings allowing 2 hits while striking out 2.

Team Black Pitcher Velos

Sammy Holder (2014 RHP Lewis County) FB 82-84, CB 67-69, CH 75-76

Kyle Fisher (2014 RHP Western Hills HS) FB 81-82, CB 71-72, SPLT 72-73

Kipp Moore (2014 Shelby County) FB 81-83, CB 68-69

Mason Forbes (2014 OF/RHP Ryle HS) FB 82-84, SL 73-75

Daulton Mason (2014 3B/RHP Lewis County HS) FB 78-81, CB 68-72

Top Performers Team White

Dale Gumm (2014 C/3B, John Hardin HS) went 3-for-5 with a double and RBI.  Gumm, who squared the ball up consistently last week at St. Catharine, continues to swing an impressive bat from the left side.

Reed Spata (2014 SS, Scott HS) who showed good power at the Unsigned Senior Games last month continues to show the ability to drive the baseball.  Spata went 2-for-5 with 2 doubles and lined out hard in another at bat.  He played solidly at shortstop throughout the day and also got down the first base line with a time of 4.44.

Jesse James (2014 OF, East Carter HS) went 2-for-5 with a double.  James also showed solid arm strength from the outfield.

Matthew Lee (2014 3B/OF, Franklin County HS) went 2-for-5 with 2 opposite field doubles and an RBI.

Andrew Kirkland (2014 3B, Ballard HS) took an impressive round of batting practice and went 2-for-5 in game play with an RBI.

Billy McCoy (2014 RHP, Boyd County) allowed 3 runs over 3 innings of work, but what was impressive was the 5 strikeouts he racked up.  His fastball topped at 83 mph, and he showed good command of his secondary pitches.

Cameron Planck (2016 RHP/1B, Rowan County HS) continues to impress on the mound.  The 6-foot-3, 190 pound right-hander allowed 2 runs in 3 innings while racking up 5 K’s.  His fastball sat 83-84 mph and touched 85 with good command of a sharp 71-75 mph breaking ball.

Team White Pitcher Velos

Billy McCoy (2014 RHP, Boyd County HS) FB 79-83, CB 65-67, CH 69-70

Ryan Tressler (2014 RHP, Switzerland County HS) FB 80-81, CB 63-67, CH 73-74

Slone Alley (2014 RHP, Boyd County HS) FB 70-72, CB 59-61

Cameron Planck (2016 RHP/1B, Rowan County HS) FB 83-85, SL 72-75 CH 70

Matthew Lee (2014 3B/RHP, Franklin County HS) FB 70-72, CB 54-55