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Scout Blog - Sumner vs Puyallup (4/5/21)

April 7, 2021
Dan Jurik
Scouting Director - Pacific Northwest

Monday night we started off at a showdown between Emerald Ridge and Curtis before making our way over to see Sumner take on Puyallup. 

The night cap was loaded with talent and a lot of uncommitted prospects to keep an eye on. 

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Here's a recap of the action...

Sumner

Although the score got very one-sided in this contest, better days are ahead for Sumner this season and in the next few years. There’s a senior heavy presence in the middle of their line-up but outside of that they have youth at some key positions. 

‘23 OF Brayden Adcox got Sumner on the board for the first time in the top of the 3rd inning with a RBI double to CF. Adcox has flashed some tools recently at events this off-season. Notably impressive arm strength from the OF and emerging pop in his left-handed bat. He showed maturity and discipline in the box on this look and should be a consistent performer in a strong 2023 class for the state of Washington. 

‘22 INF Aden Dance passes the eye test right away with his frame and build. Powerfully built at 5-foot-10 and about 185 pounds. Handled duties at the hot corner but looks to have the speed and actions to easily transition to an OF spot if needed. Swing has some rawness to it but with his athleticism he’s very likely to add some polish as he continues to see more pitches and get consistent ABs. 

‘21 INF/RHP Justin Haines and ‘21 C Kai Jones both played a mature brand of ball that you would expect to see from upperclassmen. Haines was especially dialed in at the plate, going 2-2 with a run scored. Hits with a low maintenance approach at the plate and gets his barrel out front to the ball. 

Jones stood out right away behind the dish with his impressive arm strength and gunned down a runner in-game to end a scoring threat. At 5-9, 160 pounds, his size and actions fit well behind the dish and he looks to have the defensive carrying tools to stay there at the next level.

‘21 1B Alec Highland (Skagit Valley commit) quietly had a dominant showing at the plate. Went 1-3 with a single but that doesn’t reflect the quality of his ABs and how dialed in he was with his approach. Standing at about 6’1, 210 pounds, he has a strong, mature frame that fits well at 1B. The set-up in the box is quiet with tall, upright posture. Uses a short forward move into landing and lets his hands work freely to the ball. Mature approach working mostly gap-to-gap in game. 

 

It was a tough night for everyone who toe’d the rubber against a stacked Puyallup lineup but ‘22 3B/RHP Mason Kelley found some rhythm and had success in the middle innings. He was up to 83 mph with his FB, pitching mostly 80-81 while also working in his CB at 65-69 and CH at 71-72. Also contributed 2 RBI and drew a BB offensively.

‘23 OF/LHP Jacob Bresnahan and ‘23 OF Jay Mentink didn’t have a huge impact statistically in this game but they’ll be permanent fixtures in the line-up and add even more depth to the sophomore class. 


puyallup

From top to bottom, you’d be hard pressed to find a more balanced or dangerous line-up in the state of Washington. The Vikings have a strong combination of speed and power throughout while also showcasing discipline and contact ability. 

Starting at the top with one of the most talented uncommitted prospects in the sophomore class, ‘23 OF Donte Grant. Grant was on-base in all 4 plate appearances: 2 BB, 1 HBP, 1 2B and came around to score 4 runs. His speed and instincts on the bases put constant pressure on the defense. While he didn’t get a ton of pitches to swing at offensively, he scorched a back-side double in his last AB, showing off the bat speed and run tool. Defensively the tools are there to stick in CF long-term. 

 

 On any given night, there’s a lot of players in the line-up who can burn you, but on this look ‘21 SS Drake Anderson (Washington State commit) was the standout performer. Anderson went 3-4 with 3 runs scored and 5 RBI while starting at SS. His Grand Slam in the 4th inning broke the game open after Sumner cut the lead to 1 run after being down 6-0 early. Anderson first jumped onto the scene for us back in 2019 where his contact ability and defensive actions stood out for a rising sophomore. Fast forward 2 years later and all of the skills remain and now there is more strength and physicality to do damage at the plate. We expect a big offensive season for our 10th ranked player in the 2021 class.

Another Washington State commit who has evolved his game to be more offensive is ‘21 C Willis Creswell. A standout receiver whose arm strength and feel for the position can shut down an opposing team’s run game. Cresswell is a mature presence in the clean-up spot and drove balls deep to CF and RCF gap on this look. 

 

‘22 OF/C Noah Fields and ‘22 OF Garrett Ringer are a terrific tandem of juniors who are both in the Top 100 for our latest 2022 state rankings. Each knocked a hit, RBI and run scored in the contest. They’ll contribute significant depth to the line-up this season and then could easily ascend to be the driving forces behind the offense next year as seniors.

The youth movement takes over for Puyallup at 7-8-9 with ‘23 OF Brett Ellingson, ‘23 3B Jevin Patterson and ‘24 INF Tristan Ringrose. Each player has a unique skill-set that they bring to the table. Ellingson is a long and wiry OF with a fluid left-handed swing and the ability to pitch. Patterson can play any INF position, has shown aptitude on the bump and is a gritty, tough AB each time he steps into the box. Ringrose is advanced in all facets of the game for his age and he looks destined to follow in the footsteps of the INF prospects who have come through Puyallup before him.

On the mound, Puyallup handed the ball to ‘22 LHP Adam Brooks (Northwest Nazarene commit) to start. A classic pitchability lefty who will attack with his secondary offerings and pitch backwards as needed. Brooks has a true 3 pitch mix and shows the quiet confidence that defenses love to play behind. ‘21 RHP Caden Poor (Olympic commit) relieved Brooks and surrendered only 1 H in 1.1 innings of work. The big righty has a lively FB and a big CB that he commanded well on a chilly April evening.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
Underclass Summer Showcase (2024 - 2026) WA 06/12 Bellevue College
Upperclass Summer Showcase (2022-2023) WA 06/12 Bellevue College
2021 PNW ProCase WA 06/13 Bellevue College - Courter Field