VA/DC Scout Blog: Heritage (Leesburg) at Tuscarora
April 18, 2023
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We take a look at eight players from the Friday night showdown in Leesburg.
Heritage (Leesburg)
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Owen Brundage SS / OF / Heritage (Leesburg), VA / 2025Solid 5-foot-11 frame with proportional strength. Solid defender at short. Takes good angles of approach, works through the catch, and average arm strength across with accuracy. At the plate it is a balanced setup, hands are quiet, and have a short level path to the ball. Only had two at bats on the night, striking out in the first and flying out in his second. Consistent defender, contact bat, and doubles power. Has a quiet confidence to his game.
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Alec Jones SS / 3B / Heritage (Leesburg), VA / 2024We got a chance to see Jones last summer at State Games and again this winter at Preseason All-State. Really like the tools for the junior third baseman. Above average runner, above average arm strength at third, hands work, and left handed bat with feel for the barrel. Had the only two hits on the night for Heritage. His first was a fisted, infield single that got by the pitcher and then it was followed by a line drive single up the middle on a two strike breaking ball. Adjustability in the swing, barrel has some length in the zone, and the ability to use the whole field. More third base/second base defensive profile and a doubles bat with above average run tool.
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Aaron Van Tuyle SS / RHP / Heritage (Leesburg), VA / 2025There has been a lot of buzz around Van Tuyle and how he has been impacting the baseball. It was evident in BP and had a few barrels in game, although nothing to show for it in the box score. Lean 5-foot-11 frame with room to add good weight/strength. Right handed bat and right handed arm that got the start on the mound. Was 82-84 on the mound, but want to stick with the bat because I think it is offense first for now. Square and simple in setup and stride. Hands are pretty quiet on load and are short to contact. It is a simple, level path swing and that allows for some consistency and repeatability in the swing. Had a flyout in his first at bat and then a squared one up to right center in his second at bat. Think this '25 will have a chance to hit long term.
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Mark Van Tuyle OF / RHP / Heritage (Leesburg), VA / 2026The younger Van Tuyle is listed at 5-foot-11, 175-pounds. It is an athletic frame and projection left for the freshman. Mark Van Tuyle was the DH and would later enter on the mound. Right/right, average runner (4.43 Home-1st) that should get better as he matures, and solid bat to ball for a freshman. Was facing one of the better arms he will see this year and did not appear overmatched at any point. Had a flyout to right in his first at bat and a groundout to short in his second at bat. On the mound he was used in short relief, where the fastball sat 78-79, and he showed a slurvy 63-65 breaking ball with 2400+ RPM spin. A bat to watch going forward.
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Tuscarora
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Bauer Burkart SS / RHP / Tuscarora , VA / 2023This is my first time seeing Burkart and really liked what I saw. Personally, I enjoy watching an infielder that takes his craft serious and if you watch this Marshall commit, you can tell that the defensive side is very important to him. Active feet, sets throws up pre catch, accurate arm, and enough arm strength to stay. Had a couple of hits on the night, including this double that would end up being the game ending run a few pitches later.
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Brendan Cowen LHP / LHP / Tuscarora, VA / 2024The Virginia tech commit works with pace and intent. Emotion on his sleeve type of pitcher that lives on the confidence he brings to the mound. Cowen was very good on Friday, working five shutout innings and striking out nine while only giving up two scattered single. Through the first three innings, he was really tough on hitters, punching out five straight between the second and third innings. The fastball velo sat 84-87 through first two innings and was able to get some angle in on right handers, as well as run it away from them to the arm side. Seemed like he could throw the slider for strikes whenever he wanted. It is a 74-76 mph pitch with 2/8 sweeping action.
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Ashton Peshke LHP / OF / Tuscarora, VA / 2025Listed at 6-foot-1 and 160-pounds, I would even venture to say he is a bit taller. Higher waist, long legs, and plenty of projection left and room to fill for this one. Fairly upright at the plate, simple toe tap/heel lift to stride, and hands are quiet on load. The barrel has slight uphill plane and length in the zone. Natural loft and the swing plane plays for pullside power. Bat speed is average, but that should continue to progress as he adds strength to the long lanky frame.
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Connor Quilll SS / 3B / Tuscarora , VA / 2026This was my first time getting to see Quill in game and the swing was as advertised. Lanky and thin 6-foot-1 frame with room to add strength. Level path with loft built in, adjustability to the swing, and has a chance for some juice in the future. Showed some flashes of a little pull side power in BP and had carry in the gap as well. Turned on a 0-1 pitch in his first at bat and hugged the first base line for a triple. His second at bat he seemed to be guessing and expanded the zone a little before striking out. In his third and final at bat he worked a two strike count for a walk. The defensive profile is still a work in progress. Solid defender at third for his class and still to be determined where he fits long term, but regardless the bat is the recruitable tool right now and it has a chance to be a good one.
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