Karl
Harding

5/18/15 - Harding is a right-hand hitting catcher and third baseman for Shawnee Mission East. 5-foot-10, 160-pound frame. Compact, line-drive approach at the plate with surprising strength. Hitting .380 with a .436 on-base percentage and .563 slugging percentage for East’s 18-4 team that has faced some of the top arms in the Sunflower League and Eastern Kansas League. Leads the team in runs scored (17) and second in RBI (11) and stolen bases (7). Solid defender at both spots, currently fielding 1.000 in 141 total chances with nine assists. As starting catcher, Harding has caught 10 shutouts and the SME pitching staff has posted a 1.22 ERA to date.

8/6/14 - Harding is an athletic 5-foot-10, 160-pound right-hand hitting catcher.  Starts with slight crouch at plate, inline stance, reverse toe-tap followed by inline stride, minimal hand load.  Short, compact, line drive approach, explosive backside, worked middle of the field in batting practice.  81 exit velocity and 4.41 home to first base.  Throwing to second base showed quick, simple footwork, clean exchanges, short over-the-top throwing motion.  Top throw clocked at 75 mph, pop times 2.08-2.15, most throws around the bag.

7/9/14 - Harding is a 5-foot-11, 165-pound right-hand hitting class of 2015 catcher/third baseman and a candidate to replace Troutwine as East’s catcher next season.  At the plate he has a short swing and some bat speed.  In a game earlier this summer in Manhattan he drove a triple into right-center field and followed up with a double to left.  He has quick actions behind the plate and his throws to second base have carry to them – he showed sub-2.10 pop times in between innings.  We timed him 4.45 running home-to-1B from the right side.  Harding has some toughness to him and competes well.  He has some present strength but still has room to get stronger and fill out.