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VA/DC Scout Blog: Colonial Forge at Colgan

April 20, 2023
John Nolan
NOVA Scouting Director

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Monday night saw an interesting cross-District showdown between Region 6B powers Colonial Forge and Colgan. Both teams started committed seniors, with Forge going with lefty Zyhir Hope (North Carolina) and Colgan going with righty Matthew Westley (Virginia Tech). Colgan scored a few runs early, taking advantage of walks and a couple of hits to open up a 2-0 lead. 

Forge would get on the board in the fourth after singles from Zach Colangelo (Longwood) and Hope put runners on the corners with no outs. A double steal allowed Colangelo to score and Hope took third on the throw home. Forge was unable to tie the game when Hope was gunned out at the plate by rightfielder Ian McMillan trying to score on a fly out. 

Colgan extended the lead in the bottom of the fifth when senior centerfielder Brett Renfrow (Virginia Tech) demolished a home run to left field. Forge cut the deficit again to 3-2 in the sixth, but was again unable to tie the game as Westley got a couple of key outs. Colgan put the game away with three in the sixth, keyed by a 2-RBI double from senior catcher Jae'dan Carter (Dayton). Westley finished off the complete game and Colgan won by a score of 6-2.


Colonial Forge 

 

 

 

 

Zyhir Hope OF / LHP / Colonial Forge, VA / 2023

Hope is a North Carolina commit and is one of the most intriguing talents in the Commonwealth. A two-way player now who probably looks more like an outfielder at the next level, but he very much could remain a two-way guy. He has a strong athletic frame, he is a physical kid who still has a ton of twitchiness and can fly in the outfield or on the bases. Will be a very strong-armed centerfielder at the next level, plays right for Forge because believe it or not they have someone faster than him in center. On the mound, Hope has a crossfire, drop and drive delivery. Its a short very quick arm action from a three-quarters arm slot, he hides the ball well. Fastball was 88-92, he touched 93 once. He gets some tilt on the ball and a bit of late run. He gets swing and misses up in the zone where the ball rides a bit. Curveball was 76-77 with late sharp hard 1/7 break. Also showed a straight change that was 82-85. Was erratic in and around the zone and ran a lot of deep counts, but also a factor is the fact that most high school hitters can't put him in play early in the count for quick soft outs.

At the plate, he hits from the left side from an open balanced athletic stance. He has an absurdly quick bat and super fast hands. Short to contact with a plenty of raw power, slightly uphill swing path, has the ability to drive the ball to all fields. The base hit in the video is an elevated fastball off the plate from Westley, who was 88-90 at this point, he still gets his hands on top and gets the barrel around to catch it in front and drive it rightfield for a hit. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colgan 

 

 

 

 

 

Jae'dan Carter C / Colgan, VA / 2023

 

 

Brett Renfrow OF / RHP / Colgan, VA / 2023

Renfrow is a Virginia Tech commit and has a tall physical frame. Great strength in the lower half. One of the best pure hitters in the Commonwealth, he has a short swing and is very strong at contact with extension through the ball and some whip in his barrel. He is violent at the point of contact with a slightly uphill path. Shows power to all fields and its very real power to his pull side. Still moves well for his frame and has a very strong arm, probably profiles as more of a rightfielder in the future with his power and arm strength. 

 

 

 

Matthew Westley 3B / RHP / Charles Colgan , VA / 2023

Westley is a Virginia Tech commit. He is tall with a stronger athletic frame. Simple delivery, has some drop and drive in it, shoulders are closed and uphill as he strides out, hides the ball some. Throws from a low three-quarters arm slot with a short quick arm action that is loose, throws with a bit of intent. Fastball was 88-90, touching 92 once in the first. He held that velocity deep into the game. The pitch has a ton of late armside run, he showed feel for starting it off the plate to his gloveside and running it back over the corner for strikes, also the ability to run it in under the hands of right handers. Was very fastball heavy with his mix, but did flash a true slider that was 75 with late 10/4 break, pitch drew swings and misses when buried and played as a good out pitch for him.