VA/DC Scout Blog: #23 Douglas Freeman at #7 Mills Godwin
March 28, 2023
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We take a look at some video and notes on nine players from the Douglas Freeman and Mills Godwin rivalry game.
Douglas Freeman
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Ryan Bland RHP / SS / Douglas Freeman, VA / 2024Bland got the start for the defending state champs. The junior right-hander may be the most reliable consistent arm on the Mavericks staff. Strike thrower, three pitch arsenal, and works to contact. Has the ability to mix all three to hitters from both sides and keep them off balance. Is not going to overpower an opposing offense, but is going to keep his defense involved and his team in the game. The fastball was low 80's and used his breaking ball and changeup effectively.
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Cayman Goode SS / RHP / Douglas Freeman, VA / 2024Goode has some of the best stuff of any remaining uncommitted arm in the state. Fastball has life through the zone and is pretty easy out of the hand. He sat 87-89 mph on Friday night. The breaking ball was 74-76 mph with hard downer action and elite spin. Showed what appeared to be a slider once or twice, but did not go to that as often as the breaking ball. The stuff is electric and there is ceiling left to this arm. He is still raw and had some issue missing bats on Friday, but this is an arm that could be a big projection add to a staff.
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Lee Sowers SS / RHP / Douglas Freeman, VA / 2024Compact 5-foot-10 frame. Had some solid BP on the day. Short level path through the zone and swing cuts off a bit, but he produces carry to middle and pullside. First round of BP he put three balls out (out of like three or four swings). Has some carry to middle and backside gap when he stays on the pitch. Did not produce any barrels or hits in game and had some tough at bats early versus a low slot lefty that is a tough look for left handed hitters. Defensively the feet are very active on approach, clean exchange, and accurate arm. Long term, more second base defensive profile.
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Ryder Warren OF / 2B / Douglas Freeman , VA / 20245-foot-8 athletic frame. Showed some sneaky pop in BP, mostly to middle and oppo gap. Lower half tends to slide into the swing creating a heavy middle and backside field usage. Has some feel for the barrel and never seems to be overmatched or look out of place in at bats. His first two at bats were tough looks versus Smyers, but he stayed on it and was willing to go with the pitch. Have liked this uncommitted left handed bat since I first saw him last year and nothing has changed. Should be one to get out and see this spring.
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Finn Whipple OF / SS / Douglas S. Freeman, VA / 2025The UVA commit has a long, lanky 6-foot-1 frame. Frame will hold good weight and strength as he continues to fill out. Above average run tool and above average arm strength from the outfield. Did not have any quality at bats on the night, but did get to see the swing on display during BP. Athletic and balanced setup, slightly open, and hands set high. Medium length on the level bat path and has some loft built in with a higher finish. The base narrows up just a tough and he gets a little taller in his finish. Could stand to engage the lower half and backside more in the swing.
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Mills Godwin
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Caelan Funk 3B / OF / Godwin, VA / 2023Funk was one for four on the night with a single, but it wasn't just the results that stood out, it was the at bats that he put together. Barrel to center in his first at bat for a flyout, single up the middle in his second at bat, multiple hard hit foul balls, and just put together some quality at bats. Although he is not going to college for baseball, he deserves some recognition for the strides he has made at the plate and what he brings to the Eagles lineup.
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Garrett Mason RHP / OF / Mills Godwin , VA / 2023Mason came on in relief of Smyers on Friday night. The fastball was 88-90 in the first and faded more in the 87-88 with a few 89's mixed in during the next two innings. Did not have his best stuff on the night and was a bit scattered at times, but battled his way through some at bats and made some big pitches to get out of jams. Landed the breaking ball fairly consistently early on and sparingly used a 75-77 mph changeup.
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Luke Smyers LHP / OF / Mills Godwin, VA / 2025The Alabama commit and Future Games alum was outstanding on Friday night. Cannot say it enough. That was probably the most emotion I have seen out of Smyers in two-plus years of watching him pitch and it was fun to watch. The velo was down just a touch from where I have seen him, but it did not matter because the slider was lights out. Smyers was throwing the slider whenever he wanted and wherever he wanted. Ten punchouts in four innings is nothing to sneeze at, especially versus some of the bats that he was facing. For a high school arm/pitch, the aptitude for spin is elite. I don't see the pitchability going anywhere and if he can continue to make gains in the velo department this could be a major helium arm in the future.
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Justin Tobin SS / 2B / Mills E. Godwin, VA / 2023It was a big environment for the senior infielder Friday night and he came up clutch. Made some nice defensive plays and delivered at the plate. Had one hit on the night, but his sac fly in the third opened the scoring and his single in the fifth kickstarted the big inning for the Eagles. Plays with high motor and seems to show up when it matters most.
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