The PG Super25 16u Florida Super Qualifier started Tuesday with dynamite pitching coming from X Team’s Anthony Tomczak (2019, Boca Raton, Fla.). He sat comfortably throwing 86-89 mph. Even though his fastball tended to fly straight, Tomczak’s hard changeup and good curve kept hitters off balance. He did an excellent job keeping his body in line with home throughout his delivery, and his long arm action is smooth. This hard throwing righty will be interesting to watch.
Griffin Lampton (2020, Willington, Fla.) also showed good skills. He’s already tall for his age sitting at a pretty 6-foot-2. Despite the big strike zone he provides hitters, Lampton managed to earn two walks. He is an aggressive hitter, though. His wide open, lefthanded stance leads to a healthy uppercut that will help his power as he matures. His hands are also very quiet throughout his load, which will help him hit for average as well.
Dean Mercer (2019, Dunedin, Fla.) came in clutch for Top Tier Roos 16U Nationals. In the bottom of the fourth, Mercer scorched an inside fastball over the left fielders’ head for a double. His two RBI were the reason for the game ending in a tie. Mercer generates natural lift in his swing, and his power will play. However, his swing can get long at times. His team will hope his clutch hitting continues.
Dillon White (2020, LaBelle, Fla.) impressed behind the dish. After blocking a tough pitch in the dirt, White threw down to second to nab the would-be base stealer. He showed a strong arm and good footwork to get the ball to second in time. White also demonstrated a feel for hitting as well. His small toe tap and level swing aren’t the recipe to hit a lot of home runs, but he’ll hit plenty of doubles. Combine that and his defensive abilities and White looks like an impressive ballplayer.
The Super25 15u Florida Super Qualifier continued Wednesday when Bryce Hayes (2020, Punta Gorda, Fla.) got the start for the PC Lions. Over a full six frames Hayes allowed no runs and only three hits while striking out three. His low-70s fastball generated seemingly limitless sink. It isn’t a true swing-and-miss pitch but mixing in his curve kept hitters off balance and generated many groundballs. Hayes throws with a short arm action, which help him repeat his mechanics and pound the zone with strikes. Behind Hayes’ strong performance, the PC Lions secured an easy 9-0 victory.
One of the best all-around players on the day was Alex Freeland (2020, Cape Coral, Fla.). His natural ability shows in his defensive work at shortstop. His quick feet and small steps allowed Freeland to frequently round out ground balls that otherwise could have been difficult backhand plays. Once he fields the ball his release to first is exceptionally quick often beating runners by several feet. His approach with the bat is worth noting as well. Freeland is an aggressive hitter with a level swing plane. His bat speed is also better than most for his age. Freeland’s defense and offense will surely allow him to continue to succeed at future levels.
Another good shortstop was SF Tabu’s Tyler Richman (2020, Sunrise, Fla.). Despite standing at only 5-foot-5 and weighing 130-pounds, Richman showed promise. His actions in the field are quick and fluid, and his arm strength will allow him to remain on the left side of the infield. His bat should keep him playing as well. Richman’s up-the-middle approach allows him to spray the ball depending on the pitch location. His quick, line drive oriented swing will also help him against more advanced pitching. Once Richman starts to mature physically, he’ll be an interesting follow.
If those two shortstops weren’t enough Michael Scott (2020, Cutlerbay, Fla.) played exceptionally well. He’s an obvious shortstop with a lean body and plenty of raw athleticism. He collected a couple hits on the day as well. His slight uppercut swing and good bat speed will allow Scott to continue his multi-hit efforts in the future. And, as he ages, he should add more power to his profile.
Scott’s teammate, Roger Cainzos (2020, Miami, Fla.), also had a good day at the dish. He featured some of the best bat speed on display Wednesday. And even though his swing can get loopy at times, his bat speed allows him a greater margin of error. His speed on the bases will also play. He scorched a fly ball over the left fielder’s head and managed to burn his way around the bases for a triple. His power is already present, but should continue to become more of a threat as he grows.
The tall and lanky Keegan Houser (2019, Auburndale, Fla.) pitched well for SWFL Nation 2020. His fastball ranged from 78-80 mph and generated plenty of swing-and-misses. His long, deliberate delivery is deceptive to hitters as he steps off line to home. It results in him slinging his arm across his body. The arm slot often froze righthanded hitters when presented with a curve. Houser finished the day with six strikeouts in four solid innings.
– Kyle Zweng
SKLZ Gold scored eight runs in the top of the seventh to break open a tightly contested game with FADC 16U to capture a 12-3 victory in day one pool play of the 16u Super25 Florida Super Qualifier played on the main diamond at venerable Terry Park.
Yazael Nunez (2019, Ruskin, Fla.), a rising junior at Lennard High School, was impressive for 2 2/3 innings. An 86-88 mph fastball helped Nunez strike out six in his short outing, which was interrupted three times by weather. His fastball showed great arm-side run and sink. His four-pitch mix was helped by an advanced curveball (69-70) that had an impressive 2450 spin rate. His curve was crisp and showed solid depth. He also mixed in a slider (71-72) that he threw from a couple of different arm slots and a mature changeup (74-75) that was thrown from the same release point as his seemingly unhittable fastball.
Pacing the SKLZ Gold offensive attack were corner infielders, Gunner Wilson (2019, Clearwater, Fla.) and Devin Henwood (2019, Port Richey, Fla.). The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Wilson was on base three times, driving in two runs. He has an impressive presence at the plate. A powerfully built lower body, helps this rising junior (Palm Harbor University HS) take impressive swings that have a solid base and slight lift.
Wilson’s corner infield mate, Henwood, is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound rising junior at River Ridge HS. He was also on base three times going 2-for-3, driving in three runs. Henwood also drew a walk, stole a bag, and scored two runs. The long-limbed Henwood swings from a slightly open stance and leaves nothing in the dugout. In addition to swinging powerful bats, both players bring athleticism and above average ability to the defensive side. Wilson has a very good arm that showed both carry and accuracy. He also has a very solid fielding approach at third base. Henwood is a slick-fielding first baseman who has soft hands and excellent footwork around the bag.
Another player worthy of note for the SKLZ Gold squad is their starting catcher, Dylan Wood (2019, Dade City, Fla.). Wood, who also plays quarterback for the Pasco High School football squad, showed advanced skills behind the plate, both receiving and throwing. He is very smooth in and with his set-up and shows receiving abilities that certainly project to the next level. His quarterback’s arm was evident as he threw out a would-be basestealer with an impressive 1.98 pop time early in the game. That caught stealing shut down the FADC running game.
Over on George Brett Field at Terry Park, FTB Powerhouse used an aggressive offensive game plan and sound fundamental defense to get by the Miami Jays Prospect club, 9-3. Leading the way for FTB was their shortstop, Josiah Rivera (2019, St. Cloud, Fla.). The junior-to-be at St. Cloud HS collected two hits and drove in four runs. One of those knocks came with the bases loaded, as Rivera doubled to left-center field clearing the bases and breaking a close game open. Rivera, FTB’s three-hole hitter, bats from a slightly open stance and generates tremendous bat speed through the zone. His line drive swing path allows him to get to barrel consistently to and through each pitch. Additionally, Rivera brings a veteran’s presence to the shortstop position. His game awareness, coupled with his quick feet and steady, smooth hands and strong accurate arm, make this young player one to watch.
In the late contest on George Brett Field, South Florida TABU (15U) bolted to a 10-1 lead only to see Elite Squad rally late, making the final score of 10-7 much closer than South Florida wanted or expected.
Pacing TABU early in the ball game was their starting pitcher, Nick Vieira (2020, Margate Fla.). The lanky, righthanded sophomore-to-be at Taravella HS went a solid three innings and was in complete control. Although his fastball never registered more than 78 on the radar gun, his complete command of the strike zone, coupled with a solid three-pitch mix, kept the Elite Squad at bay. Vieira exited after three innings, allowing no hits and walking only one hitter on a borderline 3-2 pitch. His curveball (66 mph) was a tight 11-to-5 spinner that showed a sharp break and consistent depth. His change (72 mph) was also a very effective pitch that he threw in every count. Most impressive for Vieira was his poise and mound presence. His advanced mechanics and repeatable high three-quarters arm slot enabled him to get ahead, stay ahead, and put hitters away.
The Kissimmee/St. Cloud based FTB Powerhouse club was back at it on day two of pool play at the 16u Super25 Florida Super Qualifier, as play shifted to JetBlue Park. Paced by Frankie Santaniello and Josiah Rivera, FTB raced to an early lead and held off FADC 16U for a hard fought, 7-5 victory on Field 4 at JetBlue. Santaniello, the Powerhouse’s solidly built first baseman, smashed a hard-hit double down the left field line to plate the game’s first runner in the first inning. Santaniello hits from an open righthanded batting stance and gets his muscularly developed lower half into every swing. He has some power in reserve and his athletic build says he is just scratching the surface of his ability. Rivera brought the same mature baseball approach to the JetBlue diamond that he used at Terry Park in his team’s previous game. On base three times, (a single and two walks), scoring a couple of runs, Rivera was a main piece in the FTB offensive attack. His steady defense, however, was his calling card for this game. Instinctive and smooth, Rivera projects a confidence that his team feeds from. He can make all the routine plays and most of the difficult ones. A bright future lays ahead for this 2019 graduate.
Over on Field 5 at JetBlue, X Team outlasted a very good Top Tier Roos nine in a hard-fought and well played 6-4 ballgame. Liam Cogswell (2019, Boca Raton, Fla.) was impressive on the hill for X Team. Cogswell, a junior-to-be at North Broward Prep, was the second pitcher that took the bump for X Team and overcame a couple of defensive miscues to keep Top Tier at arm’s length. His 83-84 mph fastball showed some late life, especially up in the zone. His riding four seamer was his go-to, swing-and-miss pitch, that Top Tier couldn’t get on top of, couldn’t lay off of and couldn’t hit. He paired his well-commanded fastball with a sharp 11-to-5 slider. His breaking ball showed outstanding spin and depth.
Pacing the X Team offense were two solid righthanded sticks. Kevin Ferrer (2018, Stonington, Conn.), is a solidly built outfielder who bats from a slightly open righthanded stance. The rising junior at Stonington HS holds his hands lower than most and leans on his back side, creating a launch angle than promotes long, and well-struck fly balls. His fence-rattling triple to left-center field broke a scoreless tie early and enabled X Team to get ahead and eventually stay ahead of a very game Top Tier Roos squad.
Robert Curbelo (2019, Miami, Fla.), a junior-to-be at Belen Jesuit, matched Ferrer’s triple with one of his own. Curbelo is also a solidly built athlete who doesn’t get cheated at the plate. He uses an exaggerated open stance, with hands held high, to generate advanced level bat speed. He rarely missed his barrel all day.
On Field 4, the day’s second ballgame saw a powerful Colts Travel Baseball Team whitewash the Southwest Florida Canes by a score of 8-0. Two Palm Beach Central HS players paced the Colts offensive attack during this convincing victory. Right Fielder, Tyler Kramer (2019, Wellington, Fla.) went 3-for-3 and drove in three runs on the day. No hit was bigger than his double to deep left-center field in the fifth inning that plated the game’s deciding run in the run-rule Colts victory. Catcher Joshua Hernandez (2020, Wellington, FL), Kramer’s high school teammate, collected two hits and scored two runs as the Colts squad remained undefeated in pool play.
Back on Field 5, X Team, behind an impressive outing by lefthander Parker Foss (2019, Weston, Fla.), took down 305 Recruiting by a score of 10-1 in a game shortened by the run-rule. Foss, a rising junior at Archbishop McCarthy HS, showed a very polished three-pitch mix to completely keep the 305 Recruiting squad off balance and seemingly frustrate the entire game. Foss mixed a well-commanded fastball (81-83 mph) with a tight, sharp breaking curveball (67-68) and an above average changeup (69-71 mph) to get his team off the field in rather short order each inning. His pitching pace and his ability to pitch to contact with sound and repeatable mechanics made his workload rather easy. His poise, confidence, and mound presence point toward a promising future for this young lefthanded pitcher.
– Jerry Miller