Prep Baseball Report

Week 8 (April 26-May 1) Player and Pitcher of the Week


Jeff Scholzen
Utah Scouting Director

Player of the Week

Billy Bird 1B / LHP / Timpanogos, UT / 2023

Bird has been heating up with back to back weeks of individual games of multiple HR's. LHP that touches 87 with the FB, has been wielding a potent bat, much like his youth days, when I first spotted him as a dominating 12 year old.

Stats for the Week:

G 3 AB 9 R 3 H 6 HR 2 RBI 4 2B 1 BB 4 (On Base 10 times in 3 games)

Stats for the Year:

G 19 AB 57 R 15 H 22 AVG .386 HR 4 RBI 21 2B 5 3B 0 BB 8 SO 6

 

 

Mic Paul OF / Olympus , UT / 2022

U Arizona commit

Paul is a burner that runs a 6.5-6.6/60 yard dash and puts it to use in games with a prototype leadoff mentality. 

Stats for the Week:

G 3 AB 5 R 6 H 3 RBI 2 2B 1 3B 1 BB 6 SB 6 

Stats for the Year:

G 20 AB 54 R 36 H 21 AVG .389 HR 2 RBI 18 2B 5 3B 6 BB 28 SB 24/24

 

 

 

Other Notable Performances

Luke Anderson OF / 3B / Snow Canyon, UT / 2022

BYU commit

The leadoff hitter for the states best offensive team, provides leadoff type abilities with 27 BB, but drives home runs, with his 28 RBI and looks to steal when not producing Xtra base hits. Not having to be used on the mound much, due to a deep pitching staff, Anderson came on in needed relief with a 4-1 deficit looming, and hit the back breaking grand slam that put the Warriors up for good at 5-4, then pitched 3 innings of 1 hit SHO baseball, while punching out the side in all 3 frames with an 87-91 mph FB and hammer CB at 76-78. 

Stats for the Week:

G 2 AB 7 R 4 H 4 HR 2 RBI 6 3B 1 BB 2 

IP 3 H 1 R 0 ER 0 BB 0 SO 9

Stats for the Year:

G 24 AB 69 R 40 H 27 AVG .391 HR 4 RBI 28 2B 9 3B 2 BB 27 SO 14 SB 13


Ryker Schow SS / 2B / Pleasant Grove, UT / 2023

The vastly improved sophomore has been a pleasant surprise with consistent run production while hitting all throughout the lineup, while playing on the dirt and grass. He's found a home in RF, and projects at the next level as a corner OF'er with versatility and a bat that produces extra bases. 

Stats for the Week:

G 3 AB 9 R 6 H 6 HR 1 RBI 4 3B 1 BB 2

Stats for the Year:

G 20 AB 60 R 26 H 26 AVG .433 HR 2 RBI 21 2B 6 3B 1 BB 9 SO 11 SB 4


Taylor Ayala SS / 2B / Woods Cross, UT / 2022

The scrappy 2B, has been the Wildcats leadoff hitter and is setting the table for the 15-3 surprise tea, that has played consistent baseball all spring. Ayala produced his first HR's of the year, and has been on base and playing consistently himself.

Stats for the Week:

G 3 AB 11 R 5 H 6 HR 2 RBI 5 SB 4

Stats for the Year:

G 18 AB 57 R 24 H 20 AVG .351 HR 2 RBI 13 2B 3 3B 2 BB 13 SO 6 SB 13/14


Cole Kershaw 1B / 3B / Jordan, UT / 2023

"The Baby Bull" that reminds of the old red head and former successful big league hitter of the 70's, ole Rusty Staub. Kershaw has had a dominating season with the bat and crunched a 450 foot HR a week ago, and today, while I was in attendance, hit another moon scraper! The Future Games invite, will turn heads with his EV's and high and deep raw pull power come the end of July.

Stats for the Week: 

G 3 AB 9 R 5 H 5 HR 1 RBI 3 2B 1 BB 4

Stats for the Year:

G 18 AB 52 R 23 H 30 AVG .577 HR 5 RBI 26 2B 8 3B 0 BB 15 SO 6


Berk Barnes 3B / RHP / Lone Peak, UT / 2021

Colorado Northwestern commit

Stats for the Week:

G 3 AB 8 R 3 H 5 RBI 6 2B 3 

Stats not Updated for the Year


Trey Evans OF / Crimson Cliffs , UT / 2024

The 15 year old freshman and Future Games invite, has had a spectacular freshman season, and has been on the notable performance list a few time this spring. Another 2 multiple hit games with a double mixed in, will get the job done.

Stats for the Week:

G 2 AB 6 R 1 H 4 RBI 2 2B 1 BB 1

Stats for the Year: (Missing 4 Games)

G 19 AB 57 R 25 H 24 AVG .421 HR 4 RBI 18 2B 8 3B 2 BB 12 SO 12


Logan West OF / Crimson Cliffs, UT / 2022

Stats for the Week:

West who started slow, and since league play started, has heated up and has done it vs. high velocity HS pitchers, in Region 9 play, where there are 5 pitches on the opponent side, that touch 88 or higher, with 4 above the 90 mph mark. 

G 2 AB 8 R 1 H 4 RBI 2 2B 2

Stats for the Year: (Missing 4 Games)

G 19 AB 68 R 13 H 21 AVG .309 HR 0 RBI 9 2B 3 3B 4 BB 5 SO 16


Kaden Carpenter OF / LHP / American Fork, UT / 2022

The big bat and physical presence of Carpenter in a deep American Fork lineup, has the Caveman thinking with state title aspirations. Carpenter has done nothing but perform and blast extra base hits in my 4 games I've seen him play this spring!

Stats for the Week:

G 3 AB 8 R 5 H 5 HR 1 RBI 3 HBP 3

Stats for the Year:

G 19 AB 53 R 23 H 26 AVG .491 HR 4 RBI 27 2B 9 3B 4 BB 7 SO 4 SB 4


Easton Jones 3B / American Fork, UT / 2022

A newcomer to the list, but one that's had a big year, and it's being noticed by myself and recommended by a trusted source of parent who was an All-American himself at the JC level, before a brief pro career. Easton is the son of longtime minor league HR champ at various levels, in former Yankees and Dodgers MLB 3B'man, Mitch Jones, who holds the single season and career HR marks at Utah Valley and the single season HR record at Arizona State, has passed his hitting bloodlines along to his son, and Easton will be on the radar very soon this summer. 

Stats for the Week:

G 3 AB 11 R 5 H 5 HR 1 RBI 6 2B 1

Stats for the Year:

G 19 AB 61 R 22 H 23 AVG .361 HR 2 RBI 28 2B 8 3B 3 BB 5 SO 5


Ryder Robinson SS / 2B / American Fork, UT / 2023

Week in and week out, the high contact bat and leadoff hitter for the #2 ranked Caveman, has been a steady presence on the bases and crossing home plate, with a WCC and Big XII offer in hand, the Future Games invite has been the catalyst for a deep middle of the order and has only committed 2 errors in 19 games at 2B.

Stat for the Week:

G 3 AB 11 R 6 H 5 2B 1

Stats for the Year:

G 19 AB 58 R 36 H 28 AVG .483 HR 0 2B 4 3B 1 BB 7 SO 2 SB 4


Parker Reese 2B / Lone Peak, UT / 2021

Stats for the Week:

G 3 AB 12 R 6 H 6 HR 3 RBI 5

Stats for the Year (Not Updated)


Blake Stanger LHP / 1B / Woods Cross, UT / 2022

The physically imposing presence and middle of the order bat of Stanger, has had a steady year with the bat, and has been driving in runs and has produced 14 extra base hits in 18 games for the Wildcats. 

Stats for the Week:

G 3 AB 9 R 2 H 5 RBI 4 2B 3

IP 5.2 H 4 R 2 ER 2 BB 3 SO 8

Stats for the Year:

G 18 AB 60 R 13 H 24 AVG .400 HR 2 RBI 25 2B 11 3B 1 BB 6 SO 7

APP 9 GS 8 W 4 L 1 ERA 3.38 IP 37.1 H 30 R 23 ER 18 BB 38 SO 54 


Pitcher of the Week

Cameron Day RHP / 1B / Layton, UT / 2021

PBR Super 60 Participant

U Utah commit

Now we get to one of the best K throwers in the four corners in Cam Day. The senior RH'er armed with a 90-93 mph FB, that reached 95 at the "Super 60" in February, has been missing bats at an alarming rate, while issuing only 8 free passes, while leading in classes with 96 K outs, and with his next start, he should produce a rare 100 K out season. Day also has a chance to hear his name called in the July MLB 1st Year Player Draft. 

Stats for the Week:

IP 7 H 6 R 1 ER 1 BB 0 SO 10

Stats for the Year:

APP 15 GS 9 W 9 L 0 ERA 0.25 IP 56.1 H 33 R 9 ER 2 BB 8 SO 96


Ashton Johnson LHP / OF / Olympus , UT / 2022

The surging junior LHP, has has a amazing season, and is second only to Cam Day in K outs in the state by one and 10 ahead of Janzen Keisel. With his 2nd No-Hitter of the year, the outing earned him his 4th Pitcher of the Week nod, and may well get next weeks as well, as earlier this week, he punched out a single season tying 17 K outs with Snow Canyon's Carsten Herman. It's been all in a weeks work for Johnson each time he steps on the mound! 

Stats for the Week:

NO-HITTER (Missed the Perfect Game by an Error)

IP 5 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 0 SO 9

Stats for the Year:

GS 9 W 8 L 1 ERA 0.57 IP 49 H 20 R 7 ER 4 BB 5 SO 95


Other Notable Performances

Janzen Keisel RHP / SS / Gunnison Valley, UT / 2021

PBR Super 60 Participant

BYU commit

"The One Man Band" from Gunnison, has put up big offensive numbers at the plate, while missing bats at a high rate with his 90-95 mph FB, that for 2A hitters, or any hitters at any level of play in the state, he's been tough to barrel up. With only 10 hits allowed in 42 innings of work, he only gets hit if he hits the bat by mistake! 

Stats for the Week:

G 2 AB 4 R 6 H 4 HR 2 RBI 4 2B 2 BB 2 

IP 7 H 3 R 4 ER 1 BB 2 SO 12

Stats for the Year:

G 19 AB 49 R 39 H 32 AVG .653 HR 9 RBI 38 2B 6 3B 2 BB 14 SO 6

APP 10 GS 6 W 6 L 0 ERA 0.83 IP 42 H 10 R 8 ER 5 BB 17 SO 85


Payton Gubler SS / RHP / Desert Hills, UT / 2022

BYU commit

A SS by trade, Gubler has made his mark this year on the pitching mound, and is among the state leaders in K outs with his 86-92 mph FB, that has the D-Hills boys in St. George at 20-3 and primed for a deep 4A state playoff run. 

Stats for the Week:

IP 6.2 H 3 R 2 ER 2 BB 3 SO 12

Stats for the Year:

APP 10 GS 7 W 5 L 2 ERA 0.37 IP 41.2 H 25 R 10 ER 2 BB 12 SO 68


Jordan Pace RHP / 3B / Pleasant Grove, UT / 2021

Starting off with pitch counts and limited innings to begin the season, as league play has come and the weather up north has subsided and warmed up, Pace has been pacing the Vikings on the mound and has been counted on to provide one steady outing after another.

Stats for the Year:

IP 7 H 5 R 2 ER 0 BB 1 SO 10

Stats for the Year:

APP 8 GS 6 W 3 L 0 ERA 1.40 IP 40 H 34 R 11 ER 8 BB 9 SO 45


Justis Reiser LHP / Bingham, UT / 2021

BYU commit

With his best outing of the year, the BYU commit has started to put it together at the right time for the Miners, as playoff time is approaching next week. 

Stats for the Week:

IP 5 H 4 R 2 ER 0 BB 0 11

Stats for the Year:

APP 6 W 2 L 1 ERA 1.93 IP 29 H 25 R 11 ER 8 BB 9 SO 37