USSSA Baseball

**2013 MLB Mock Draft**

Today, Major League Baseball teams will gather in Secaucus, N.J. for the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Countless MLB players developed their passion for the game playing on USSSA teams, and this year’s crop of draft hopefuls is no different. Many of 2013’s MLB prospect’s came through the USSSA pipeline. Look no further then Major League Baseball’s young phenom Bryce Harper. Harper, like many young baseball players played in the USSSA Elite World Series several times. His 13u So Cal Redwings went on to win it all in 2006. That is the same year our #4 pick Kohl Stewart won the 12u division of the Elite World Series. Be sure to check out our picks for the first round of this year’s draft. The draft will last three days from June 6-8 can be seen live on MLB Network.

1. Houston Astros – Colin Moran (3B)

Third baseman Moran earns the top spot in our draft. He played for the Taconic Rangers 13 & Under Major and Rockland Ravens 14 & Under AAA teams in New York, then played for the Iona Prep Gaels, where he was a two-time team MVP. Now at the University of North Carolina, Moran’s senior season includes a 348 batting average, 88 hits, 13 homeruns and 86 RBIs.

2. Chicago Cubs – Mark Appel (RHP)

This pitcher played USSSA ball in both Texas and California, ending with the Tri Valley Babe Ruth 14 & Under Major team in Dublin, Calif. He played four years at Stanford University, recording the most career strikeouts in school history with 372. Appel finished his college career with a 2.91 ERA and allowed just 10 homeruns.

3. Colorado Rockies – Jonathan Gray (RHP)

Gray played for three USSSA teams in Oklahoma from 2002 to 2006, including the Stillwater Lynx 14 & Under AAA team. He was selected in the 2010 and 2011 drafts by the Royals and Yankees respectively, but chose to play college ball instead. Currently in his junior season with the Oklahoma Sooners, Gray ended 2013 with a 1.59 ERA over 119 innings pitched.

4. Minnesota Twins – Kohl Stewart (RHP)

This Texas star’s USSSA credentials include 2006 and 2004 USSSA Elite World Series Defensive MVP awards and a 2005 USSSA Major World Series All Tournament Team honor for the Woodlands-based Banditos Black.Stewart is the highest-rated high school player on our list. A multi-sport athlete at St. Pius X High School in Houston, he’s committed to play football at Texas A&M this fall.

5. Cleveland Indians – Kris Bryant (3B/OF)

Perhaps you may have heard of Bryant’s Southern Nevada Bulldogs 14 & Under Major teammate Bryce Harper. Yes, that Bryce Harper. The pair played together in their hometown of Las Vegas. Now a 6’5” slugger for the University of San Diego, Bryant lead the NCAA with the most home runs this season with 31 – that’s 10 more than the next-highest player.

6. Miami Marlins – Braden Shipley (RHP)

Shipley is the only player in our draft with no USSSA experience, but he did play Little League and high school baseball in Medford, Ore., where he won the high school state championship in 2007. Coming off his junior season at the University of Nevada, Shipley was named the Mountain West Co-Pitcher of the Year. His 203 career strikeouts rank him sixth in Wolf Pack history.

7. Boston Red Sox – Clint Frazier (OF)

Though they may have played together for the Georgia Storm, the former teammates played for opposing high schools. Frazier and the Loganville Red Devils beat Meadows’ team 14-4 this season, with Frazier recording two hits and five RBIs during the game. The outfielder finished the season with a .485 batting average.

8. Kansas City Royals – Austin Meadows (OF)

This outfielder played 13 & Under and 14 & Under baseball with our no. 7 pick, Clint Frazier, in Snellville, Ga. He’s known for his power at the plate for the Grayson High School Rams, who went 15-9 this 2013 season. After his junior season, 6’3” Meadows was named to the 2012 Underclass 1st Team.

9. Pittsburgh Pirates – Reese McGuire (C)

McGuire played three years of USSSA ball in the Seattle area, ending with the Puyallup Knights 14 & Under AA team. Now a graduating senior at Kentwood High School in Kent, Wash., this lefty catcher is known for his quick reflexes behind the plate.

10. Toronto Blue Jays – J.P. Crawford (SS)

John Paul “JP” Crawford of Lakewood Calif. is a shortstop now, but made a name for himself in USSSA ball as a pitcher. He pitched 6 1/3 innings at the 2006 11 & Under Elite World Series and four innings in the 2007 12 & Under Elite World Series. For his senior year of high school, he was named a 2013 Rawlings 1^st Team All-American.

11. New York Mets – DJ Peterson (1B/3B)

This infielder played for various Phoenix area USSSA teams from 2004-2010, ending with the LBE Black 18 & Under Senior Elite in 2010. Now at the University of New Mexico, he and the Lobos went 37-22 this season, with a 25-6 Mountain West Conference record. He started 60 of 61 games as a sophomore in 2012 and was the Mountain West Co-Player of the year. Last season, he was also a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy

12. Seattle Mariners – Ryne Stanek (RHP)

Playing for teams in both Kansas and Missouri, including the Mac N Seitz Red Sox 16 & Under Sophomore Elite out of Kansas City, Mo. in 2008, this 6’4” pitcher is definitely one to watch. Now coming off his junior season with the Razorbacks of the University of Arkansas, he finished the 2013 season with a 1.39 ERA over 97.1 innings (most innings pitched on the team) and 10-2 record. Last summer, he pitched for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, traveling to the Netherlands and helping the team earn a bronze medal at the Honkbal Week tournament.

13. San Diego Padres – Hunter Renfroe (OF)

Rich in USSSA history, Renfroe played eight years with the Terry, Miss.-based Mississippi Bandits from the time he was 9 until he played for the 18 & Under Senior Elite team in 2009. He was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 31^st round of the 2010 draft, but chose to play college ball instead. Now a Mississippi State University Bulldog, he’s listed not only as an outfielder, but a catcher and right-handed pitcher as well. He’s a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection.

14. Pittsburgh Pirates – Dominic Smith (1B)

Smith played USSSA ball from 2006-2011, ending with the WLABA Tarheels 15 & Under Freshman Elite. This Southern California slugger is perhaps one of the most versatile players in this year’s draft. He’s predominately a first baseman for Junípero Serra High School, but he also has a killer arm to play outfield and can throw a 92-mph fastball. Plus he can really crush the ball at the plate.

15. Arizona Diamondbacks – Alex Gonzalez (RHP)

After playing for the Wellington, Fla.-based Warriors 14 & Under AAA team in 2006, Gonzalez found success with the Boca Raton Community High School Wildcats, where he lead his team to a distract championship his junior year. Now a starter at Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma, he threw two complete games as a sophomore and was named All-Summit League Second Team last season.

16. Philadelphia Phillies – Phillip Ervin (OF)

Before playing for Leroy High School in southwest Alabama, this speedy outfielder played for the Bama Bombers Senior 18 & Under Senior Elite team in 2008. Now a Stamford University Bulldog, he started all 64 games in center field last season and returned as the starter for his junior year in 2013. Last summer, he was named MVP of the Cape Cod League.

17. Chicago White Sox – Austin Wilson (OF)

This Southern Californian outfielder played for the Coastline Colts 14 & Under AAA team, based out of Santa Monica, in 2005, before playing high school ball for the Harvard-Westlake School. Now coming off his junior season at Sanford University, Wilson finished 2013 with a .288 batting average and a .983 fielding percentage. As a sophomore, he was named Honorable Mention All-Pac-12.

18. Philadelphia Phillies – Sean Manaea (LHP)

Hailing from Indiana, Manaea’s USSSA baseball career began with the Duneland Flyers 14 & Under AAA in 2007 and ended with Hammond Chiefs 18 & Under Senior Elite team in 2009. Now at Indiana State University, he just finished his junior season with 93 strikeouts over 73.1 innings and a 1.47 ERA in 13 starts. He has the third-most career strikeouts at ISU, with 290 total.

19. St. Louis Cardinals – Devin Williams (RHP)

Williams played four consecutive seasons of USSSA baseball in the St. Louis area from 2006-2009 before playing for the Hazlewood West High School Wildcats. He’s stacked with a fastball, breaking ball and changeup. Williams is committed to Mizzou, but he already has his dream car picked out if he signs after the draft: a white Range Rover.

20. Detroit Tigers – Chris Anderson (RHP)

In 2006, Anderson played for the Minnesota-based Centennial Cougars 14 & Under AAA team. He was named Mr. Baseball and the Louisville Slugger Player of the Year for Minnesota in high school. He’s studying sports management at Jacksonville University, where he recorded 101 strikeouts over 104.2 innings this season.

21. Tampa Bay Rays – Nicholas Ciuffo (C)

Catcher Ciuffo played USSSA ball from 2006-2009 for the Mt. Pleasant-based Diamond Warriors in South Carolina. During his senior season at Lexington High school, he batted an impressive .468 average and was named the Gatorade South Carolina Baseball Player of the Year. He’s signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks.

22. Baltimore Orioles – Ian Clark (LHP)

Clark, a 6’2” pitcher from San Diego, has a fastball that reaches up to 94 mph. Last summer, he pitched for Team USA and won the 18 & Under World Championship. Finishing his senior season at James Madison High School, Clark finished 7-2 for the Warhawks, striking out 105 batters throughout the season. Sticking close to home, he is currently committed to the University of San Diego.

23. Texas Rangers – Hunter Harvey (RHP)

This hurler played 11 & Under AA ball for the Mooreseville Racers in North Carolina in 2006. For his 2013 senior season, Harvey went 8-0 for the Bandys High School Trojans, ending the season with 116 strikeouts and a .38 ERA. He is no stranger to pro baseball; his father is former MLB closer Bryan Harvey, and his brother Kris was drafted by the Florida Marlins in 2005.

24. Oakland Athletics – Josh Hart (OF)

Liburn, Ga.’s Hart played just one year of USSA baseball for the Shiloh Heat 12 & Under AAA and Mentium Athletics 12 & Under Major teams, both outside of Atlanta in 2007. He and the Parkview High School Panthers won the Georgia 5A State Championship in 2011 and 2012, and are hoping for a three-peat for Hart’s 2013 senior season.

25. San Francisco Giants – Eric Jagielo (3B)

Third baseman Jagielo played his entire USSSA baseball career with the Downers Grove Longshots, based out of Downers Grove, Ill. He currently plays for the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, where he recorded 43 RBIs, 71 hits and a .310 batting average during the 2012 season. Jagielo was recently named a semifinalist for the 2013 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award.

26. New York Yankees – Phil Bickford (RHP)

The ace from Westlake Village, Calif. played for three youth teams in Southern California, including the South Coast Sluggers 13 & Under AA team, from 2006-2009 before playing high school ball. This year, Bickford lead the Oaks Christian High School Lions to the school’s first Southern Section Division IV championship, where he recorded 18 strikeouts in the title game. He finished the season with a near-perfect 12-1 record and 146 strikeouts.

27. Cincinnati Reds – Matt Krook (LHP)

This 6’4 pitcher is definitely one to watch in this year’s draft. He’s made a name for himself in his home state of California with a fastball that reaches well over 90 mph. Krook, a graduate of St. Ignatius High School in San Francisco, ended his six-season USSSA career with the Trosky Baseball White 18 & Under Senior Elite in 2011.

28. St. Louis Cardinals – Cavan Biggio (2B)

Texas native Biggio is the son of former MLB player Craig Biggio, who played his entire 20-year professional career with the Houston Astros. Cavan played for the Houston Outlaws and Houston Wranglers before playing for the St. Thomas High School Eagles. As of now, he’s committed to the University of Notre Dame.

29. Tampa Bay Rays – Oscar Mercado (SS)

Mercado played seven years of USSSA for various Tampa-based teams as well as the FTB Pride 18 & Under Senior Elite team out of Kissimmee, Fla. He’s considered to be one of the top shortstops in this year’s draft class. If drafted by the Rays, he’s certain to become a hometown hero.

30. Texas Rangers – Travis Demeritte (IF/RHP)

This infielder and pitcher is known for his quick bat and versatility on the field. He played most of his youth baseball with the Georgia Bandits and East Cobb Astros. He was named to the 2013 Rawlings 1st Team All-American Southeast 1st Team. He’s currently committed to the University of South Carolina.

31. Atlanta Braves – Ryan Eades (RHP)

Louisiana pitcher Eades played for various USSSA teams from 2002 to 2007, including the Northshore Varsity 17 & Under Junior Elite team. He played his college eligibility at LSU, where he studied sports administration and was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team in 2012. He was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 19^th round of the 2010 MLB draft, but chose to continue his college career with the Tigers.

32. New York Yankees – Billy McKinney (OF)

This outfielder played nine years of USSSA baseball, ending with the Dallas-based D-Bat Mustangs Blue14 & Under Major team in 2009 before playing for the Plano West High School Wolves, where he hit six homeruns and led his team to the class 5A semifinals this season.

33. New York Yankees – Dustin Peterson (SS/3B)

Growing up in the Phoenix area, Peterson began his USSSA baseball career with the Arizona Blaze at age 11, and most recently played for LBE Baseball Club Black. The Gilbert High School student definitely comes from a baseball family; his older brother DJ is projected to be picked 11^th by the New York Mets. Perhaps a Subway Series is in this family’s future.

About USSSA:

The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), headquartered in Osceola County, Florida, USSSA is the World’s Largest Multi-sport Athletic Organization. Founded in 1968, USSSA has grown to over 3.7 million participants, competing in 13 nationally sanctioned sports including Baseball, Fastpitch, Slow Pitch, Karate, Basketball, Soccer and more! For more information on USSSA and to register your team visit USSSA.com. Also be sure to visit USSSAToday.com for the latest USSSA News!

Nicholas Lawrence is a senior at Wellington High School  in Wellington, FL.  At 6’2”/190lbs, the RHP is dominant from the mound with a near 90mph fastball.  Needless to say, his talents have definitely not gone unnoticed over his high school playing career.

As only a sophomore, Lawrence was named to the USSSA High School Varsity National Team by ABR.  He later traveled to Prague, Czech Republic, with the team competing in the prestigious “Prague Baseball Week.”

Most recently, Lawrence has committed to High Point University to further his baseball career.  ABR had the chance to catch up with him and ask a few questions.

Q. Tell me a little bit about how last season went and what you’ll be focusing on with your training this off-season.

Last season for me went very well. And I am focusing on my legs, shoulders, and core muscles. The three main are concerns for a pitcher to stay strong and healthy. These are my main concerns in the offseason

Q.Where did you first hear about ABR?

I first heard about ABR summer of going into sophomore year. That’s when I was chosen to be on the international team. Before I had no idea who they were

Q. Who do you play for in the summer?

In the summer I play for a team known as The Atlanta Blue Jays from Atlanta, Georgia.  

Q.   Tell me a little bit about your process of visiting colleges and the selection process.

I visited two colleges. High Point was my second visit.  I knew right then and there when entering the campus this was the school. It was a friendly atmosphere, had everything on campus, and just the whole feel of the campus was unbelievable.  

Q. What made you finally choose High Point University as your school?

The education you receive while there is astonishing and everything above your expectations for a d1 college. Also the baseball program there is taking small steps forward but well worth helping the school and myself out. Last the campus is the most beautiful campus I have ever seen. Your jaw literally will drop when you look at the structures and setting. 

Q. You are pretty versatile athlete.  What will be your primary position at High Point?

My primary position at High Point will be to only pitch for the team.

Q.  Are you interested in signing pro out of high school or going right to college?  If so why/ why not?  What circumstances will it take to sign?

I am not 100% interested in signing pro out of high school because that means I have to put my education aside. But that is always an option and right now I can keep all options open.  

Q. How did the USSSA All-American Games and the International competition you gained through Prague, help your high school baseball experience?

It helped my experience by the different cultures of the world and the different talents around the world helped me realize I was taking my talent for granted. So I started working harder and it all paid-off  

With the culmination of Lawrence’s work ethic and raw abilities, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see his name in a future MLB Draft.

ABR wishes him the best of luck as he furthers his baseball career!

Gelfand is a MIF/RHP out of Wilsonville High School in West Linn, OR.

The switch-hitting senior was named the 2012 NWOC (Northwest Oregon Conference) “Pitcher of the Year” and was selected to the All-NWOC Baseball Team after finishing the season with a .390 BA and 1.3 ERA.

Brian Wabick of the Amateur Baseball Report (ABR) and USSSA All-American Games Scout first caught a glimpse of Gelfand at the 2011 USSSA Winter Nationals Super NIT in Arizona last December.  Gelfand helped lead his team, Capital City Select, to a 2nd place finish.

“Clayton is an advanced pitcher with an advanced approach. I was really impressed with his ability to throw all of his pitches for strikes low in the zone. He had the tools I was looking for in a player to invite to the USSSA All-American Games,” explains Brian Wabick who is also a former pitcher for the Astros organization.

It was not only Gelfand’s arm that caught the attention of many.

“Clayton is a two way threat that has great instincts and good hands at short. He has a sneaky 88 – 90 mph fastball that explodes on hitters. Gelfands high leg kick makes it difficult for hitters to pick up the ball,” explains USSSA National Team Head Coach, DJ Wabick, who is also a former NCAA DI All-American and 2009 Mets AA All-Star.

“He showed that he can handle the bat against top pitchers and hit for a high average with his line to line approach. He has a bright future and we can’t wait to see more of him,” further adds Wabick.

Gelfand did nothing less than impress scouts and coaches at the USSSA All-American Games this past August.

He was named a 2012 USSSA First Team All-American and selected to the 2013 USSSA High School Varsity National Team who will travel internationally.  The 2010 team traveled to Osaka, Japan while the 2011 and 2012 teams traveled to Prague, Czech Republic.
Although it seems Gelfand is a seasoned USSSA and ABR veteran, he is actually only a rookie on the scene.

“The first time I heard of ABR was at the USSSA All-American Games, and then again in North Carolina for the NTIS.  Only being on the USSSA circuit for this past year I have already gotten so much, and couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunities I’ve been given,” explains Gelfand.

“Being able to receive the player of the year award was amazing.  I’m really looking forward to the international experience, receiving some great coaching and play along players I will make lifelong friends and hopefully getting drafted with the exposure I get playing with USSSA and through ABR. “

Gelfand has certainly received some exposure as well.  He recently committed to St. Mary’s College in California, a NCAA Division I program.

“I have chosen St. Mary’s because the coaching staff along with the education is a school that will give me the best chance to succeed after baseball is over.  I believe I will come out a better player and also a better man.  I haven’t signed yet. But next signing period I will.”

If he has another year like 2012, Gelfand is sure to be a threat on the international level and a possible name in the 2013 MLB draft.

Rocheport, MO is home to junior phenom, Colby Fitch of Hickman High School. The left-handed hitting catcher is known for his quick and explosive swing and is considered one of the best high school hitting prospects in the country.

Fitch did nothing less than impress this past season.  He was named to the Missouri All-State Team and concluded his summer season with a .408 BA, 9 HR, and raked in 48 RBI’s helping lead the 17u Mac-n-Seitz Indians to a 35-5-1 record.

A pinnacle point for Fitch this summer was being part of the USSSA 16u National Team who captured the Gold Medal amongst 8 other countries at the USSSA Gold Medal Games.  It was Fitch’s second year on the USSSA National Team roster.

Fitch was named to the 2011 USSSA National Team roster after his performance at the 2010 USSSA All-American Games, where he received an invite by an ABR Scout who watched him at a local tournament.

“I was lucky to play on both the 15U and 16U USSSA National Teams. These tournaments were my first taste of playing international competition. I really enjoyed getting to play and know the players on my team. ABR does a very good job of selecting top players from around the United States.  I have made many lasting friendships from these events.  Playing with these great players ultimately made me want to improve my skills even more, so I can continue to play at the top level of baseball,” explains Fitch.

The competition and experience from this past summer has really helped Fitch develop even more as a player.

“I feel, personally, that I gained a lot of strength physically and mentally throughout the summer.  The power in my bat got stronger as the summer went on and has continued this fall in play with the Kansas City Royals Elite team in KC.”

Fitch’s improvement and talent definitely have not gone unnoticed.  After numerous schools had been contacting Fitch in hopes of adding them to their 2015 rosters, Fitch narrowed down his visits to 6 different schools.

“When I was on the visits I was thinking about what school would best fit me academically, baseball program-wise, socially, and which school I believed would help me grow as a person,” explained Fitch.

After giving it much thought, Fitch chose the University of Louisville where he will be one of their key catchers.

“I chose Louisville because I believe they give me the best shot of playing at the next level past college. I really like the coaching staff.  I feel they hold their players to very high standards which can only make them better people. I believe that the University of Louisville gives me the best and soonest chance to play, which is big for me. I want to be able to go into a program and know that I have a shot to fight and battle it out for a starting job. Louisville has all these components.”

Fitch is wasting no time in getting ready for the 2013 season.  Since the conclusion of fall ball, he has been focusing on overall body conditioning and improving his receiving skills.

Although his name is already set to be on the 2015 spring roster for Louisville, don’t be surprised if you see it sooner on the 2014 MLB Amateur Draft.

USSSA and ABR staff traveled to Barcelona, Spain to conduct a three day player development clinic September 2^nd-4^th.  The event was held at the Barcelona Olympic Baseball Stadium and marked the 20^th anniversary of the Barcelona Olympics thus gaining tremendous international recognition.

The ABR/USSSA Player Development clinic served as a development program for Spanish baseball players from around the country and was hosted by former MLB players including:

• Jeffrey Hammonds (12 year MLB veteran, 2000 NL All-Star) 1992 Olympian – Barcelona
• Charles Johnson (11 year MLB veteran, 2× All-Star selection, World Series champion, 4× Gold Glove Award winner )
• Michael Tucker (11 year MLB veteran, 1992 Olympian-Barcelona)
• Luis Alicea (14 year MLB veteran, 3 year MLB coach, World Series  Champion)
• DJ Wabick (Mets AA All-Star, NCAA DI All-American)
• Davide Dallospedale (2 x time Olympian and 2 x World Baseball Classic for Italy)
• Andrea D’Auria (General Manager of the Italian professional      baseball league, USSSA International Director-International

Each day of the clinic was broken into two parts.  The mornings consisted of base running and defense, which was led by the MLB players at their primary positions.  The group then broke for lunch and returned in the afternoon for the offensive routine.  During the offensive portion of the clinic, each player took part in multiple hitting stations which were geared towards specific fundamental flaws that were discovered by the ABR development staff.

USSSA/ABR has made a major push to help develop baseball on an international level.  It is this push that has led to numerous baseball development opportunities around the world.  The goal of all these opportunities is the reinstatement of baseball back into the Olympics.

“Teaching baseball in Barcelona was one of the best experiences of my entire life. I was fortunate enough to go to a developing baseball country with former major league players such as Luis Alicea, Jeffrey Hammonds, Charles Johnson, and Michael Tucker. We were able to combine all of our knowledge and experiences and teach a country of players all about the different aspect of the game we love. It was an honor to be asked to go over there and an experience that I will never forget. I cannot wait to go back and continue where we left off.” – DJ Wabick (ABR Player Development Staff)

ABR and USSSA will be hosting two Japanese interns from Ritsumeikan University at the Chicago, Illinois offices.

Hiro Akagi and Kaz Hirai arrived in Chicago on September 2nd and will be staying until September 14th. Their goal during their stay is to learn more about the ABR and USSSA programs within the United States and implement the same programs in Japan, thus growing USSSA globally.

First and Second National Teams

Thank you to everybody who participated in this great event. We had a great time seeing everybody play and we walked away impressed with all the talent. Congratulations to the First and Second Team USSSA All Americans. With the amount of talent in Kissimmee, it was very hard to choose a National Team and a Second Team. We are already looking forward to the 2013 USSSA All American Games.

USSSA First Team & Second Team All-American Honors were awarded to the top individuals at each of the 14u, 15u, and 16/17u divisions for the USSSA All-American Games. The First Team All-Americans automatically earn a spot on the 2013 USSSA National Team who will compete in International competition next summer.

If a current National Team Member is unable to attend, a member of the Second Team, who matches the position, will be called to fulfill the roster spot.

 * The 2012 USSSA 1st Team All-Americans at each age are automatically named to the 2013 USSSA National Teams.

16u USSSA National Team

• Game 1 & 2 Recap
• Game 3 & 4 Recap
• Game 5 Recap
• Championship Game Recap

15u USSSA National Team

• Game 1 & 2 Recap
• Game 3 Recap
• Game 4 & 5 Recap
• Semi-Final & Championship Game Recap

Team USSSA vs. AIST

Team USSSA played the collegiate AIST team for the second year in a row in the semifinal game of Prague Baseball Week.  Joseph Camacho started on the mound for Team USSSA and looked great early on.

“Camacho did a great job the first two innings against college hitters.  He lost his feel for the strike zone in the third and AIST was able to capitalize on a few mistakes.” – USSSA HS Varsity National Team Coach DJ Wabick

The third inning was one in which USSSA wish they could have back as AIST was able to produce ten runs on six hits, four walks, and two hit batters.

“It was one of those innings where we couldn’t seem to get an out.  Every close call went their way, every ball seemed to find a hole, and we had no remedy for it until Emilio came into the game.” – DJ Wabick

Emilio Gonzales was able to come into the inning and stop the bleeding for USSSA.  Gonzales pitched 3 innings and was able to keep USSSA within striking distance by allowing one run.  Adam Bleday followed Gonzales and threw 2 1/3 innings of shutout baseball.  Combined, Gonzales and Bleday were able to hold down the potent AIST offense to one run over 5 1/3 innings of relief.

“Emilio and Adam did an outstanding job and were able to at least give our offense a chance.  You can’t ask for much more after what AIST was able to do in the third.” – DJ Wabick

The AIST pitching staff was able to hold the USSSA offense to 2 runs on four hits.

“AIST’s starter had some good stuff.  He threw three pitches for a strike and was able to keep our hitters off balance the whole game.  There is a reason he is playing Division I Baseball right now.” – DJ Wabick
Unfortunately USSSA could not mount a comeback and fell to AIST by a score of 11 – 2.  USSSA will play the Czech Republic U21 National Team in the Bronze Medal Game for Prague Baseball Week.  The first pitch is scheduled for 1 pm (6 am central time).

AIST vs. USSSA
Starting Pitcher: Joseph Camacho
Score: AIST 11 – USSSA 2

Bronze Medal Game

USSSA vs U21 Czech National Team

Team USSSA faced the U21 Czech Republic National Team in the Bronze Medal Game of the 31st Annual Prague Baseball Week.  Team USSSA brought left hander Cole Hybner to the mound who threw four innings giving up one unearned run.

“Cole was able to change speeds well and had tremendous command of his fastball.  He consistently pitched ahead in the count and shut down a very good hitting team.” – USSSA National Team Coach Jaime Bluma

USSSA got on the board in the first inning when Aaron Palmer led the bottom half off with a walk.  After a passed ball, Derek Deler executed a perfect sacrifice bunt that Palmer advanced to third on.  Andres Rizquez knocked in Palmer with an RBI single up the middle.

USSSA was ahead 1 – 0 going into the top of the 2nd when Sucha walked with one out.  After advancing to second on a ground ball and moving to third on a wild pitch, Sucha scored on an overthrow back to the pitcher to knot the game at one a piece.

In the top of the sixth with Cre Finfrock on the mound, Matt Godinsky made a diving play on a bunt attempt to keep the runners at first and second and preserve the 1 – 1 tie.

The score remained in a deadlock until the top of the eight.  With two outs and nobody on, Sykora drove a fastball the other way for a solo homerun to take a 2 – 1 lead.

The bottom of the eight brought plenty of controversy when Derek Deler led off with a single.  Andres Rizquez followed and squared around to bunt.  The ball struck Rizquez in the helmet, but the umpires gathered and declared a foul ball.  On the next play Rizquez popped the bunt up and the Czech first baseman laid out and was able to catch the ball on a fly and double off Deler a first.

The eight inning momentum swing proved to be too much as the U 21 Czech Republic National Team ended up winning the Bronze with a 2 – 1 score.

“Our guys played great and I truly feel they learned a lot.  They were by far the youngest team in the tournament and besides for one bad inning against AIST, they played fundamentally very well.  It was a pleasure meeting each and every one of them and I look forward to following all of them through their college careers.” – USSSA National Team Coach DJ Wabick 

Starting Pitcher: Cole Hybner
Score: U21 Czech Republic National Team 2; USSSA 1

USSSA vs. Belgium Senior National Team

In their final game of pool play, Team USSSA faced another experienced opponent in the Belgium Senior National Team.  With both teams being one and one in pool play, this was a must win situation.

The game started out as a pitcher’s duel with Nathan Woodruff starting for Team USSSA and a former New York Mets farmhand starting for Belgium.    With the game knotted at zero in the fourth, Andres Rizquez led off and laced a triple down the third base line.  Connor Crile displayed excellent situational hitting with a sacrifice fly to center which gave USSSA the 1 – 0 lead.

The offense continued to roll into the fifth when Aaron Palmer led off with a single to right.  After a sacrifice bunt by Derek Deler, Palmer stole third.  Belgium, playing for the out at home, drew the infield in.  This did not affect David Garza as he was able to drive the ball through the infield to make the score 2 – 0.  Donnie Dewees immediately followed Garza with an RBI triple to right and scored on a base hit to left field by Matt Godinsky.

With Team USSSA ahead of Belgium by a score of 4 – 0, the pitching staff continued to excel.  Starting pitcher, Nathan Woodruff, threw five scoreless innings.  Chris Elander followed Woodruff’s lead and continued to stifle the Belgium hitters.  Elander threw four innings of shutout baseball while striking out six.

Team USSSA, though much younger, got the much needed win by a score of 4 –0.  With the win, Team USSSA secured the two seed in their bracket and will move onto the championship round scheduled to start tomorrow.  The official game time and opponent will be announced after the completion of the pool play games today.

Starting Pitcher: Nathan Woodruff

Winning Pitcher: Nathan Woodruff

Winning Score: 4 – 0

Please check back for game times as Team USSSA tries to bring home the Gold!

Both 1-0 in the 31^st annual Prague Baseball Week, Team USSSA and the Czech Republic National Team faced off in a highly anticipated game.  Cre Finfrock, the youngest player in the tournament at the age of sixteen, started against this very experienced Czech National Team.

“Cre has an extremely live arm and was unbelievably composed on the mound.  He threw a lot of strikes and is an exceptional talent.” – USSSA National Team Coach DJ Wabick

The Czech National Team jumped out to a quick 2 – 0 lead, one of which was earned.

“You have to take your hat off to the job Cre did against that team.  They were much older and more experienced and Cre was able to keep them to two runs on a couple of hits.  Mix in a few unfortunate plays and we found ourselves down 2 – 0.” – USSSA National Team Coach Jaime Bluma

USSSA was still down 2 -1 in the top of the seventh when David Garza hit a hard line drive to the left centerfield gap.  The Czech left fielder misplayed the ball and Garza found himself on second.  Attempting to steal third, the Czech pitcher ended up balking and Garza was able to walk into third with nobody out.  After a pop out by Crile and a walk to Galik, Andres Rizquez came to the plate with one out.  Rizquez, trying to drive the ball into the outfield, popped a shallow fly ball to left.  Garza tagged from third and was dead at the plate, but somehow was able to jar the ball loose and score the game tying run.

The momentum had clearly shifted to Team USSSA when it was time for the bottom of the seventh and just when it looked like USSSA was going to go into the eighth inning in a tie game, a horrific bounce off of the shoulder of Aaron Palmer allowed two Czech runners to score.  The Czech National Team would tack on one more run that inning to make the score and eventually the game 5 – 2 Czech Republic.

“It’s a shame that such a well-played game was lost on a bad bounce, but that is unfortunately how baseball goes.  Our team played phenomenal and we are hoping to get a second chance at those guys in the next round.” – USSSA National Team Coach DJ Wabick

Team USSSA plays its next game tomorrow morning at 10 am (3 am central time) against the Belgium Senior National Team.

Starting Pitcher:  Cre Finfrock

Score: 5 -2

Winner: Czech Senior National Team

Below is the Game 1 Recap:

USSSA vs Czech Republic 18u National Team

Starting Pitcher: Joseph Camacho
Winning Pitcher: Joseph Camacho

Team USSSA got off to a good start at the 31st annual Prague Baseball Week with a 6 -2 win over the hometown 18u Czech Republic National Team. USSSA’s pitching was dominant from the start being led by El Paso Native Joseph Camacho. Camacho pitched five innings of two run baseball, one of which being earned. Camacho also tallied nine strikeouts.

“Camacho had tremendous command today and was able to fill the strike zone with three pitches. He consistently kept the Czech hitters off balanced.” – USSSA HS Varsity National Team Coach DJ Wabick

Emilio Gonzales and Alex Galik were able to continue on the pace Camacho set with a combined four innings of shutout relief. Gonzales struck out five batter in two innings while Galik struck out two.

The USSSA offense got off to a slow start, but still managed to produce six runs. Both Donnie Dewees and Brandon Cordell scored two runs apiece, while Matt Godinsky and Connor Crile both had an RBI to pace the USSSA offense.

The play of the day came in the bottom half of the ninth inning with a runner on third base. The Czech hitter popped a ball foul which brought multiple USSSA defenders to come crashing in. Catcher Jake Turley caught the ball in foul territory for the second out of the inning and quickly realized that nobody was covering home. With the runner from third racing towards the plate to score, Turley sprinted forward and dove head first to tag out the sliding runner just before reaching the plate. With the play, Turley not only got the last two outs of the inning, but secured the 6-2 win for USSSA.

USSSA’s next game will be tomorrow at 11 am central time against the Czech Republic Senior Naional Team.

The USSSA High School Varsity National Team held their last practice before their first official game for Prague Baseball Week.

USSSA began with a team batting practice which drew in many spectators. Donnie DeWees (FAU) is looking to pick up where left off last year with his shorts compact left handed swing. Connor Crile also put on a show in batting practice with an exceptionally smooth left handed stroke.

Derek Deler (FIU) has impressed with both his actions in the field and approach at the plate, while Andres Rizquez (Central Arizona) looks to be a complete player that can do everything at a competitive level on the field.

USSSA looks ready to go and is eager to take the field. They open up Wednesday at 10am against the Czech Republic 18u National Team. Joseph Camacho will be the opening game starter who looks to represent his country. Behind him the deep pitching staff will work hard to successfully close out the game.

Follow us on twitter throughout Prague Baseball Week for live updates.

The most highly talented group of underclass baseball players was handpicked at the 2011 USSSA All-American Games. Between their evident work ethic and their talent, this elite group of individuals made a lasting impression on the scouts at the event and was named to the 2012 USSSA National Team. A year later, these individuals have just completed their high school seasons and will be representing USSSA in the Gold Medal Games this July.

The USSSA Gold Medal Games is an international tournament which emulates the Olympics and the World Baseball Classic.  It includes twelve nations and the USSSA National Team, the United States representatives, which play in a round robin format.  After pool play, the countries move into the elimination round where each game could be a plane ticket home.  In previous years, the USSSA team has done well, making it to the championship game every time, and winning it on multiple occasions.

After some fine tuning and extra training the team now considers themselves ready to put on the red, white, and blue jerseys.  Each individual enjoyed great seasons for 2012 and hope to make this summer the icing on the cake.

The Amateur Baseball Report has the most updated information on each of the members of the Junior National Team in preparation for their participation in the 2012 Gold Medal Games.

Christopher Reid
Reid enjoyed his first varsity season as a freshman.  He hit a .333 clip with 17 RBI’s and had an on base percentage of .466.  Chris was the only freshman to make varsity and started every game at second base.  He also made second team all district.

Ryan Lang
Lang started on varsity as a freshman and was the team defensive player of the year.  He helped his team by going 6-1 with a respectable 2.41 era.  The young star did a tremendous job at challenging hitters where he had a 2:1 strike to ball ratio.  Things look bright for Ryan in the future.

Ruben Garcia
Garcia is a 6’3’’ 180lb sophomore.  Unfortunately he missed his spring season due to an extenuating circumstance.  Ruben has been training hard to prepare for a big summer.  Entering his junior year Ruben will not have to worry about the great college search for he has already committed to Florida International University.

Matthew Heibult
Gilbert Arizona is home for Matt Heibult of Mesquite HS (top contender in AZ HS baseball).  As a sophomore he started in the very competitive rotation.  Heibult hit a .333 clip.  He also pitched and acquired 4 wins and 1 loss with just over a 4.00 ERA.

Ethan Skender
Freshman Ethan Skender of Metamora Township High School in Metamora, IL was a frosh standout this year for his varsity team.  He put together a .323 year with 4 doubles, 2 triples, and 2 home runs.  He played a few games on sophomore at the beginning of the season.  He is now heading into regionals with a 24-10 record.

Cameron Williams
Sophomore Cameron Williams had a big season for Bastrop HS in 2012.  Cameron earned 1st team all Bastrop county, 1st team all district, and Bastrop HS male athlete of the year.  In 46 innings he amassed 67 strike outs while earning a 1.67 era.  He landed up with a 3-4 record and 1 save.

Kidd Soole
Logan ‘Kidd’ Soole stands 6’ and 175 lbs as a freshman at Monarch HS in Colorado.  Kidd was a young stand out where he hit .331 with 5 doubles, 2 triples, and 1 homerun in only 20 games.  On the mound he went 5-1 with a 1.80 ERA (5th in Colorado’s largest HS division).  Opponents batted a dismal .193 against him; Kidd was named 2nd team All Conference as both an outfielder and pitcher.

Josh Bissonette
Bissonette is a Freshman at Orange Lutheran High School in California.  The 5’7’’ 130 lb ambidextrous player had a very solid season.  He hit .327 with 4 doubles and a .400 slugging percentage.  He looks forward in representing his country this summer and is currently preparing for summer ball plans.

Ryan Fish
Oak Park River Forest is home to National Team member Ryan Fish.  The 6’ 185 pound freshman led his high school freshman team in almost every offensive category this spring season (OBP, SLG, OPS, Homeruns, triples, and walks).  He hit .377 on the year with 4 home runs while only striking out 5 times.  On the mound he went 5-1 with a 1.61 ERA.  Fish is also an excellent student in that he was on the OPRF honor roll.

Alex D’Orso
D’Orso is a left handed pitcher from Olympia High School in Windermere, Florida.  He has solid overall stuff.  D’Orso attacks hitters and gets outs.  He is also a good student.

Kyle Gibbs
Gibbs attends Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, Arizona.   He is a tremendous athlete.  Posses a very strong arm from behind the dish, also had accurate throws.  He has a big bat, especially for his size.  He is yet another high caliber catcher on national team (Wyatt Matheson, LJ Newman, Evan East, and Carter White).

Kearon Redmon
Redmon stands 5’8” 160 pounds from Van Alstyne High School.  In his freshman season he earned All- District.  Redmon was named newcomer of the year for North Texas.

Nick Blomgren
Blomgren is a utility player out of Milton, Wisconsin.  He is very versatile.  He can play multiple positions and plays each one at a high level.  Off the mound he possesses a good fastball with movement.  Better development of a secondary pitch would make him extremely tough on hitters.

Dillon Duarte
 Duarte is a stocky LHP from Calallen High School in Corpus Christi Texas.  At 6’ 185 pounds, Duarte throws multiple pitches for strikes in any count.  His fastball is not over powering, but its movement keeps hitters at bay.

Trace Brucey
Bucey is a pitcher/ utility player out of Corpus Christi Carroll HS.  On the mound he hides the ball well.  It seems to explode on the hitter.  His best asset is his control.

Cre Finfrock
Jensen Beach High School is where Cre Finfrock calls home.  Cre is currently one of the top pitching prospects in the nation.  After just finishing up his sophomore year in high school Cre is already bumping low 90’s.  His curveball is sharp and late breaking.  He is a big swing and miss pitcher between his fastball and curveball.  He also plays infield and outfield.  He is an above average runner with solid hitting tools.  They project well with more weight.  In his 2012 spring campaign Finfrock posted a 2-2 record with an ERA just above a 1.00.  Finfrock has already committed to the University of Central Florida.  He will play in Prague with the older team as well in June.

Roy Thurman
Thurman is a large framed athletic outfielder from Indiana.  Thurman moves very well for his size.  He has good power and a strong bat.  Roy manages to create a lot of backspin on the ball by driving down through it.

Matthew Muhleisen
Harvey, Louisiana native Matthew Muhleisen is a pitcher and utility player.  Muhleisen has very good speed.  He is a strong overall player and does everything right.  He also possesses an extremely high baseball IQ along with a good attitude.  Fundamentally everything is strong.

Jonathan Arrieta
First basemen Jonathan Arrieta attends Montwood High School in El Paso, Texas.  Arrieta has fast and strong hands in the box.  He is a definite power potential with plus average pop.  He is sound defensively, showed it this spring.

Traveling abroad to represent the United States and USSSA is a once in a lifetime opportunity for many.  In just a few short weeks, USSSA will be sending its High School Varsity National Team to Prague, Czech Republic, to compete in the 31st annual “Prague Baseball Week” Tournament, which is held at the Eagles Praha Stadium. All international expenses are covered for the team members by USSSA.

2012 marks the third annual Team trip over seas for the USSSA National Team and its second consecutive trip to Prague.  Last year the highly talented USSSA National Team placed third in the Prague Baseball Week tournament which included national teams from the Czech Republic, Poland, and France.  The players received the opportunity to play against the very teams which participate in the World Baseball classic

Last year’s talent consisted of players such as Wyatt Matheson (University of Texas), Bryant Hodge (University of Oklahoma), LJ Newman (South Carolina- Upstate), and Donnie DeWees (University of North Florida).  Returning to this year’s trip is Chris Elander (Florida International) and fleet footed Donnie DeWees (North Florida).  The revamped 2012 team is looking forward to a strong performance this year.  “I just want to go out there and win, to show everyone else how good the U.S. is”, explains National Team member Cre Finfrock. With the depth of talent on this year’s roster, a championship and every team member’s dream is definitely within reach.

With the team getting ready to set sail from New York on June 23rd, USSSA is making the final few preparations for the trip.  The detailed scout log to follow is to update everyone on the success of each team member’s 2012 spring season and other highlights.  Meet the 2012 USSSA High School Varsity National Team

Cole Hybner:
Hybner is a 5’10’’ 155 pound Junior at St. Paul High School in Shiner, Texas.  Cole had a tremendous year posting a .32 era in the regular season.  He started his team off right in the postseason leading the Cardinals to an 11-1 victory with 13 k’s while also going 1-3 at the plate.  Cole hit .565 on the season with a .655 OBP.  Hybner was both a TAPPS All District and All- State team member for Texas.  In the post season he was named to the Texas State All- Tournament Team where he picked up a win in the State Semi- Final game.  He relies on the devastating amount of late movement that comes with his fastball to produce swings and misses.  Cole is a very hardworking and respectful young athlete who is still searching for his perfect school.

Adam Bleday:
Bleday was undefeated through the regular season this year as well as having double digit strike outs in every start. He accumulated an astounding 101 strike outs in just under 50 innings as well as going 6-0. He had a record book game against Eisenhower HS on April 13, 2012 where he led his team to a 9 inning 2-0 masterpiece.  He scattered three hits and one walk while striking out 23.  His heroics continued into the post season when he hit an extra inning home run to keep his team’s dreams alive.

Donnie DeWees:
Donnie is a 5’11’’ 185 lb center fielder out of Crystal River High School in Florida.  2012 marks his 2nd year as a USSSA High School Varsity National Team Member. DeWees hit a .440 clip in his 2012 season with 4 homeruns and a .510 OBP.  This speedster helped lead his team to a 17-9 record.  He was a three sport superstar in baseball, football and soccer (won Citrus County soccer player of the year and was all county in all three sports).  Due to this performance he was nominated for “All County Athlete of the Year” and was the Offensive MVP for his varsity team.  Donnie excelled in the classroom where he won the award for highest GPA on the football team and graduated Suma Cum Laude.  DeWees will look to contribute as a freshman next year at the University of North Florida.
Quote: “Don’t let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game”

Derek Deler:
Deler is a Junior middle infielder out of Boone HS in Florida.  BBCOR didn’t seem to faze this 5’10’’ 165lb short stop as he went on to finish his spring hitting .366 with a team leading 2 home runs and 18 walks.  The three year varsity standout will be playing FTB in the summer and hopes to play the best talent to prepare himself for the next level.  Derek has committed to the Florida International University where he also looks to continue his academic excellence.

Jake Turley:
Turley is a 2013 graduate out of Olathe, KS.  Turley is primarily a catcher with solid defensive actions and a strong arm.  His pop time is consistent around a 1.90 with game actions being very similar.  Turley hit .352 on the year which is very respectable for such a good defensive catcher.  Turley looks forward to showing America’s game of baseball to competing countries this summer in Europe.

Joseph Camacho:
Camacho is a small framed (5’9’’ 165lbs) pitcher out of El Paso, Texas.  He has surprising arm strength: his fastball regularly sits 88-92.  He manages to mix up speeds very well.  He demonstrates five pitches for strikes.  His 2012 campaign consisted of 9 wins 1 loss and a .90 ERA.  He is currently finalizing his plans for school next year.

Brandon Cordell:
Cordell of Hagerstown, MD was named to the Area Roundup All- PVC Team in 2012.  In 53 innings this spring he posted a 2.90 ERA with 65 strike outs and a mere 17 walks.  He went 9-2 in 12 appearances.  His fastball is in the mid to upper 80’s range.  After he graduates this spring he will be attending Potomac State College out of West Virginia where he hopes to move onto a competitive NCAA program.

Matt Godinsky:
Godinsky is senior infielder from Sycamore HS in Illinois.  At 5’11” 205, Godinsky flashes a good glove from third with above average speed at the position; he played short stop in high school.  This spring Godinsky hit a .380 clip with 6 home runs and 12 doubles.  Matt was also one of Sycamores go to pitchers on the mound.  He posted a 5-3 record with a 3.50 ERA and 55 punch outs.  Matt is heading off to Grinnell in the fall.

Connor Crile:
At 6’ 175 pounds Connor Crile is an excellent defensive catcher from North Marion HS in Florida.  In his Junior campaign Connor hit .351.  Connor runs very well for his position, 7.0 60.  Connor’s accolades on the year consisted of: North Marion HS Varsity Defensive Player of the Year, All- Marion County Interscholastic Athletic Conference Selection, and All- County First Team as a catcher.

Chris Elander:
Elander is a senior at Hagerty HS in Oviedo, Florida.  This is Elander’s second year traveling with the National Team.  Last year in Prague he played a pivotal role in the pitching rotation as well as in the outfield.  On the mound his fastball ranges 87-89 with tail action.  His slider might be his best pitch with its late breaking action.  One of his biggest assets on the mound is his ability to consistently throw strikes.  Elander shows a quick bat and good actions in the outfield.  It is tough to get a fastball past him.  He will be playing baseball this fall at Florida International University.

Jacob Hornbacher:
Hornbacher is an Amateur Baseball Report frequent as he has attended numerous events and been a multi- crowned USSSA All- American.  He played in the 2010 Gold Medal Games and in Prague last year.  He is a 6’1” 210 framed first basemen.  He shows good power and ability to drive to the gaps.  His bat made huge strides at last years All- American Games.  He makes the necessary plays at first base.

Aaron Palmer:
Palmer is a middle infielder and pitcher out of Jesup, Georgia.  He is the brother of Tyler Palmer who was the Marlins 4th round draft pick in 2011.  Palmer has very smooth actions at short with even softer hands than his brother.  He shows good strength behind his throws as well as decent foot speed.  Aaron has physically matured even further since last year and his raw power is showing.  He is a definite fastball hitter like Tyler Palmer.  On the mound he pounds the strike zone with three pitches and a mid 80’s fastball.  Palmer had a big year on the mound for Wayne County HS in 2012.

Evan Kruczynski:
Kruczynski is a tall framed pitcher from Franklin, WI.  At 6’5’’ 175 Evan posses a fastball that ranges mid to upper 80’s with solid off speed pitches.  He has a lot of room to fill out and there should be a spike in his velocity in the near future.  He will play baseball at Eastern Carolina.

Emilio Gonzales:
Gonzales is a small framed pitcher from Pflugerville HS in Austin, TX.  At 5’6’’ 145 Emilio has a sneaky fastball that jumps on hitters and a deceptive motion.  The pause in his delivery tends to throw off hitters.  His slider is very sharp with a late break. Shows good command.

David Garza:
Garza is a middle infielder out of Othello, WA.  He flashes great defensive actions with plus footwork and speed.  His throws are accurate and have carry.  Sound hitter with a good idea at the plate.

Andres Rizquez:
Rizquez is a Venezuelan native, however he currently lives in Canada and attends St. Jean de Brebeuf HS.  He is an athletic 5’11” 160 pounds with more room to fill out.  His left handed stick is quick and has tremendous upside.  He keeps things simple and lets his smooth swing do the work.  Defensively he is a top notch outfielder.  Rizquez and his family are currently deciding on a few different schools to attend next year.  Seven pro teams have taken interest in him in the form of questionnaires.

Alex Galik:
Galik is a native to Downers Grove, Illinois where he attends Downers Grove South.  He is a 6’0’’ 165 pound outfield/pitcher.  At the plate he is consistent and shows the ability to produce line drives.  He gave his high school quality at bats again this spring.  Can play a little of everything; does it all well.  He also gets the job done on the mound.  Fastball has jumped in velocity over the winter.  Still shows great command of all his pitches.

Nathan Woodruff:
Woodruff is a 6’ 230 pound senior out of Houston Texas. Nate has put together a monster senior campaign with numerous complete game shut outs. Nate attacks hitters and finds frequent swings and misses. Through mid-May, Nate had .91 ERA and was 6-0 off the bump. His most notable game was a 7 inning no hitter against Stratford High School. Nate is a good student and is still in the college selection process. His current focus in training is getting faster and fit.

Have you been approached by recruiters? If so, whom, and what was the feedback?

My select coaches have been approached by McNeese, San Jac, Williams Baptist,and a few others Last year. All say I have excellent mechanics and  want to see me again. I was told that I throw a very hard ball and have good plate control by  scouts.

3. What schools are you leaning towards playing for in the future?

I am open to all opportunities.

4. What are your strengths as a player prospect? What do you have to offer teams at the next level?

I am a very good starting pitcher with sound mechanics and a strong arm.  I  have  alot of heart  and I leave it all on the field. I  am a very finished pitcher and have good leadership capabilities.

5. What are your weaknesses as a player prospect? Where do you need to get better?

My size and speed are my weaknesses. I am running 2 miles a day and will continue until I get my desired results. Goal is 220. I have already lost 37 lbs since last summer.

6. Please tell us your stats from this season (if not available, please estimate)

Last year,  I had a .91 ERA at the end of HS this year and I have  pitched three shutouts  in the last  Month and 1/2. 1 against Cookie E training 18s from Round Rock, and 1 against Walker LA 18s, Louisiana Banditos 18s.   So far, my record is 6/0 this year. and I think my ERA is better than a .9 now. I am very good at producing strikeouts.

This year, In the last 4 games both in and right before the playoffs, I have pitched  a 7 inning  no hitter shutout against Stratford H.S. , a 5 inning  shutout against Waller H.S. ,  another 7 inning shutout against Kingwood Park, and a 6 inning 1 run on an error 2-1 game against Goose Creek. I am pitching tonight 5/18 against Montgomery H.S. lookng for a win.

7. Who are the ten best players you have played against in your career? List their 2011 team, name and why you believe they are special players

I have played against a lot of good players, and alot of great teams but I really did not catch their names. They will remember me though. Some of the stronger teams,  College Park HS, Walker, La HS,  Lamar consolidated HS (early last year, Gave up 6 runs 1st inning and then gave up 1 more for the remaining 5 innings. We won the game) Shut out  (13-0 for the season) Kingwood HS with Magnolia year before last and hadnt touched a ball in 6 mos before I did it. Some of the other teams wereThe  Longhorns, Banditos Gold, St Thomas HS(1 hit)  Atascocita HS (shutout), North Shore HS,   Klein Collins, Brenham HS. Channelview HS.  Stratford HS, and Bullet baseball.

8. Who are/were the best five players on your team? List their name, birth year and why you feel they are special players.

Eric Dumbar 1994? Eric has a great attitude and very good skills toward the game and is funny in the dugout. He’s a very dependable teammate.

Dylan Menville 1994? He also has a very good attitude and can swing the bat very well.

Dylan Bass 1994?  He’s a good ball player, Loves the game and gives 100%.

Casesy  Martinez 1992?  Magnolia West HS, He is very athletic and always wants to do it right.

Matt McKowski 1993? Excellent hitter and good outfielder with a very good attitude.

Houston Chron Report

http://www.chron.com/default/article/Baseball-West-making-most-of-playoff-chance-3545596.php#photo-2915111

The “Journey to the Dream” experience begins when individuals attend their first Amatuer Baseball Report (ABR) camp, which serve a multitude of purposes from instruction to exposure. The highest level performers are invited to the USSSA All-American Games (AAG’s), which is the golden ticket in USSSA Baseball. The other route to Kissimmee is by a direct invitation from the ABR upon referral by either a professional scout, college scout, or ABR scout who has seen the player.

Although it would seem like being honored as a member of the “USSSA All-American Games” would suffice, that is not where this journey ends. The AAG’s is a 4-day event which includes a check in and practice on day one, 3 days of games, and a closing ceremony where the National Teams are announced. Throughout this weekend, the players experience an amount of diversity that is unbeatable with more than half of the 50 total states being represented. There is an aura about the field that has a subtle sense of being at ease; however, the competitive drive of the most highly talented players in USSSA still shines on.

As the games come to an end, the scouts collaborate in a scout room that is comparable to that on draft day and compare their notes on the AAG players. Boards containing various participants’ names are lined up and scouts decide which nine players will make up each respected age group’s National Team (15u, 16u, High School Varsity). The remaining players are selected the following weeks after much deliberation.

At the 15u and 16u age groups the National Team is invited back the following summer to play in the USSSA Gold Medal Games (GMG’s). The Gold Medal Games emulates the Olympics in a tournament featuring 12 countries from across the world in addition to the USSSA National Team. It gives the participants the opportunity to compete against some of the best players from around the world. Gold, Silver, and Bronze are awarded to the top 3 teams. The Bahamas, Great Brittan, France, Italy, Mexico, Canada, Venezuela, Peru, Puerto Rico, and the United States are amongst the former competing countries.

Quite possibly the ultimate goal in ones adventure through USSSA is to be a USSSA High School Varsity National Team member. This team travels abroad with all international expenses paid, to play in a tournament of choice by USSSA. In its first year the team was sent to Osaka, Japan. They toured around playing many semi- professional teams and learning about the Japanese take on baseball. They received the priceless gift of culture by complete emersion, where there were no English translations. It was a time to sit back and appreciate the smiles and laughter that proved to not be blocked by a language barrier. When the stars stepped on the field, actions took over, and words became meaningless.

In its second year (2011) USSSA entered its team into the Prague Baseball Week Tournament, which features the National Teams of countries who participate in the World Baseball classic against Major League Players. The 2012 National Team will be traveling to this same event. The talent is high and the stakes are even higher- international immortality.

Last year the young American team proved successful with a third place finish against teams with players that had over ten years experience more than the prep American squad. Leading its staff was National Team veteran Jacob Milliman who earned the win against A.I.S.T. (the eventual tournament champions) in game one. The hard hitting line-up was balanced around the prodigious power of Wyatt Matheson, a Texas signee and estimated top 5 round pick for the 2012 draft, and L.J. Newman a two way player at South Carolina- Upstate. North Florida bound Donnie Dewees was in the leadoff spot. Donnie had a monster senior year earning awards in multiple sports, and will also be competing again in Prague this June with the 2012 USSSA High School Varsity National Team. Bryant Hodge played both ways. The Oklahoma commit hit one of 8 homeruns in the 5 games. Matheson however was clearly the toughest out in the lineup. Blasting three homeruns and hitting close to .500 on the tournament, Matheson did nothing but impress. Matheson is currently ranked 47th by Baseball America, which would put him as a middle of the second round pick this summer.

In 2010 the team was led by Royals minor league pitcher and 2011 draft Jake Junis who also anchored the infield at short stop. Jake chose to forgoe the college experience and is presently playing rookie ball in Arizona. Brendon Hayden was one of the main bats in Japan and was drafted by the Phillies in the 36th round of the 2011 MLB draft. He chose to pass the draft and go to Virginia Tech where he finished the season with a .336 BA and was named to the ACC 2nd Team All-Conference. Other notable pitchers on the 2010 USSSA National team were Nathan Harsh (19th round pick by Rangers in 2011), Joe Filomeno, Sam Mahar, and Jacob Milliman. Joe Filomeno is making a splash at the University of Louisville where he has a 3.09 era posted. The lefty’s fastball has registered up to 97 mph this year. Filomeno is headed to the prestigious Cape Cod league after his season expires. Sam Mahar won SEC Freshman Player of the Week on 5/14/2012 for Kentucky and has managed to put together quality innings as a freshman for the previously top ranked school. Jacob Milliman, who chose junior college to try to increase draft stock, had a monster year for the panhandle powerhouse Pensacola State.

USSSA managed to construct another balanced team with power bats and power arms in 2011. The USSSA lineup for the “Prague Baseball Week” tournament was full of sophomores and juniors in high school who are currently committed to D1 programs. A few frontline pitchers were Thomas Olson, Bryant Hodge, and Chris Elander. Olson emerged as an ace for Dartmouth with his 1.69 era in 40 innings pitched. Bryant Hodge who still has his senior year left looks to be a possible top draft. Hodge is a crafty righty with a heavy fastball from the low to mid 90’s. If he forgoes the draft he will be off to the University of Oklahoma. Chris Elander was tough out of the pen and will look to be an impact arm off the bump for Florida International next year.

This year’s international team, who will be competing in the “Prague Baseball Week” tournament June 27th-July 1st, consists of just as many future stars. Players such as sophomore standout pitcher Cre Finfrock who is committed to Central Florida, veterans Donnie DeWees and Chris Elander, and Wisconsin’s Evan Kruczynski. Kruczynski is a power left handed pitcher who is signed with Eastern Carolina.

The truth behind this whole process is no matter where a player ends their journey; they can still leave with a truly unique experience. If they are so lucky and so talented to make it to that international opportunity, then they are merely living the dream for a few moments longer. The intangibles that players take out of the experience serve as drive for such talented participants. USSSA takes great pride in watching the players develop into stars on a national level.

Finfrock and ABR recently spoke with Cre on his college selection process and his journey with ABR, which ultimately led him to two National Teams.  He will be representing the USSSA National Team this June in Prague and in the USSSA Gold Medal Games in July.

Finfrock first heard of ABR through his summer travel coach, George Gonzales (FTB Mizuno), who urged him to accept a direct invitation by ABR into the USSSA All-American Games.

“I loved the USSSA All American Games, it was great to see all the talent and kids.  I have played at those fields before so I felt very comfortable.”

And very comfortable he was.  The 90mph RHP, did nothing less than impress at the USSSA All-American Games.  Not only was he awarded USSSA All-American Honors and named to the 2012 15u USSSA National Team, but he was also called up to fulfill a roster spot on the USSSA High School Varsity National Team who will be competing in the Prague Baseball Week in Prague, CR.  The event will feature some of the top European National Teams as well as other top competition from around the world.

Finfrock looks most forward to winning while representing USSSA in Prague next month. He wants the other countries to look back and talk about how good the young American team was.  His hopes are to go out there and throw the best he’s ever thrown before.  To prepare for his upcoming National Team competition as well as his season, Finfrock has been working with hitting coach, Kurt Abbott.  His main priority is keeping his swing in order and taking a lot of repetitions.  As for pitching, he works with coach Rusty Meachem on mechanics, who has been putting him through a long toss program.

The intricate training seems to be paying off. Although only a sophomore, Finfrock is one of the top players and most highly sought after recruits in the country.  After weighing his options, he has committed to UCF where he will be primarily a pitcher.

“It was really tough at first.  I started by narrowing it down to 10 schools …When I saw UCF, I loved it and everything seemed right.  I later met with the coaches in their office and they offered me,” explains Finfrock on his college decision.

With the talented player he is, it would not be a surprise to see Cre Frinfrock in the 2014 MLB Draft.

“Honestly, I want to get drafted out of high school.  I really like UCF so everything has to be prefect.  If it isn’t perfect then I want to go to school and try to get taken at a higher round.  Education is definitely important,” explains Finfrock.

The young player certainly has his head in the right place and the talent to carry him to the next level.  The future definitely looks bright for Cre Finfrock

* Editor’s Note: Cre wanted to thank his hitting coach Kurt Abbottt and pitching coach Rusty Meachem for their help.  They are a large factor in his success today. 

Derek Deler is a Junior middle infielder out of Boone High School in Orlando, Florida. Beginning this 2012 season, the Florida High School Athletic Association mandated that all high schools switch to BBCOR bats.  BBCOR didn’t seem to faze this 5’10’’ 165lb short stop as he went on to finish strong this spring season with a .366 batting average and a team leading 2 home runs and 18 walks.

2012 seems to be a big year for Deler as it marked his third year as a varsity starter and is also the year which he will be representing the USSSA High School Varsity National Team internationally.  Deler was named to the 2012 USSSA National Team following his standout performance at the 2011 USSSA All-American Games, which he was invited to by the Amateur Baseball Report (ABR).

“ABR was awesome, it was well organized and fun.  I enjoyed seeing my friends and other players…I loved the AAG’s (All-American Games),” describes Deler on his experience with ABR and the USSSA All-American Games.

The three year varsity standout will be traveling with the USSSA National Team to Prague, Czech Republic this June to compete in the “Prague Baseball Week,” which will feature top European National Teams and other top teams from around the world.

“I think we’ll have a lot of fun, I heard it’s an awesome time.  I’m excited to just experience another culture,” explains Deler on his thoughts about the upcoming Prague trip.

Although the competition in Prague will be older than the USSSA National Team members, Deler doesn’t see it as an issue.

“I think we’ll be fine.  We work hard in the U.S. and we are very talented.  It should be good competition but nothing to out of the ordinary for us.”

In preparation for Prague, Deler has been taking countless ground balls with his father.  He has also been focusing on his swing and getting extra cuts in the cage.

In addition to preparing for Prague, the sunshine state standout has recently committed to Florida International University.  Deler will join fellow travel ball member [FTB Mizuno] and USSSA National Teammate, Chris Elander, as an FIU signee.

FIU has always been Deler’s dream school and is also situated in his favorite city, Miami. The decision for him was easy.

“When I went on my official visit everything was beautiful, the campus was awesome.  I really love Miami and loved the coaches,” explains Deler.

With a successful junior spring season, a recent college commitment to a dream school, and an upcoming USSSA National Team trip all achieved in the same year, one can only imagine what the future holds for this talented player

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The Titusville baseball club played through windy conditions in a pitcher’s duel that went extra innings before Adam Bleday belted a 3-run homerun to beat North East, 5-2, and clinch a playoff berth.

Titusville came into Wednesday’s ballgame at North East needing a win to solidify a playoff spot and their third consecutive region title. It was Bleday starting on the hill for the Rockets, going against the off-speed Grape Pickers’ hurler Ethan Sowers.

The duel would swing back and forth as the mound opponents exchanged zeroes in the first inning. North East would scratch out an unearned run in the second inning that was quickly answered by a patient and persistent Rocket offense.

In the top of the third inning, with Tyler Ripper at second, Robby Johnson lined a single up the middle, scoring Ripper. Johnson was able to advance to second on the throw in to home from center field. The next batter, Luke Hipple, smacked a single, sending Johnson to third. With runners on first and third, Bleday launched a sac fly that scored Johnson, giving the Rockets a 2-1 third-inning lead.

On the hill, Bleday would make the lead hold until the sixth inning when North East managed to plate another unearned run.

“We had a few errors,” said Rockets head baseball coach Roy Schweitzer, “some mental errors that you don’t like to see this late in the season.”

That sixth inning would be Bleday’s final on the mound for the day. He ended the stint with a no-decision in six complete innings, allowing just three walks, four hits and no earned runs. He also racked up 13 strikeouts.

Relieving Bleday was Zack Foltz who came into the game in the seventh. Foltz shut down North East in the bottom of the seventh, sending the 2-2 game to extra frames.

It was more of that same patient and advantageous offense that would ultimately do the trick for Titusville in the top of the eighth.

And, as they had paired up for a dominant day on the mound for Rocket pitchers, Bleday and Foltz were again up to the task of providing offensive fireworks.

Reaching on an error, Foltz would later steal second. Johnson was the next batter and the never-over-preached patience at the plate garnered him a base on balls. Then, with runners on first and second and one out, Bleday drove a 3-1 pitch 360 feet away from the place it originated, easily clearing the right-center field wall for a three-run bomb, to give Titusville a 5-2 lead in the eighth frame.

Then, it was back to Zack Foltz who made short work of the Grape Pickers final effort, placing another zero on the board for Rocket pitching and defense.

After the game, Schweitzer said of the struggle to eek out runs before the eighth, “We hit the ball hard but we weren’t finding the holes in the defense. Their fielders made every play until the eighth.”

Schweitzer said that the Rockets have had trouble winning in North East in the past.

“They’re scrappy and a little young,” he said. “That might be the first time we’ve ever won up there.”

With his 13 strikeouts on the day, Bleday sent his season total to 101.

Titusville moved to 15-2 (7-1) with the win and captured a playoff spot in the effort. Titusville has now won the region the past three season.

The Rockets travel to Warren for the season finale Friday.

“Warren is a very good team,” said Schweitzer. “They pitch and hit well. We’ll have to be on our ‘A’ game to get ready for the playoffs.”

For a link to the Titsuville Herald, CLICK HERE

At 6’2” and 225lb, Moeller’s Zach Shannon is no chameleon on the field. The Ohio State University commit is dominant both offensively and on the mound.

ABR first caught a glimpse of the 2014 graduate at the 2011 ABR Michigan Top 30 Showcase last winter, where the then freshman reached 88mph on the mound.  He went on to make the USSSA All-American Games where he was awarded USSSA All-American Honors and named to the 2012 USSSA National Team.  Zach will be competing with the National Team and their quest for Gold this July in the USSSA Gold Medal Games.

We recently caught up with Zach and asked him a few questions regarding his commitment to OSU and his experience leading to the USSSA All-American Games.

Q: Where did you first hear about ABR and USSSA AAGs?

A: I first heard about the programs just a couple of weeks before the Michigan Top 30 in the invite that I received for the camp.

Q: Being the highly talented player you are, how did you enjoy the USSSA All-American Games, and how was it different than what you have been to in the past?

A: The USSSA All-American Games were a great experience. Getting to showcase in front of all the coaches and see the talent that I have to compete against really helped me see where I was in the game.

Q: You recently committed to Ohio State University, what made you pick that school so early in your college selection process?

A: OSU was great to me. I have family that graduated from there and they of course pushed me. But all of the coaches and the team really made me feel welcome…like I was already a member of the team.

Q: Zach, you join fellow class of 2014 graduate and ABR All-American Jacob Niggemeyer with your commitment to Ohio State.  How does it make you feel that you are two of the first players in your class to choose a college and you picked the same school?

A: It just really shows me that OSU is really pushing to get the big players that they need to get a great team together. I play with Niggemeyer now and knowing that he is the type of talent that they are looking for really makes me confident in the team for the future.

Q: Ohio State mentioned you were 91-93 when they saw you pitch.  What helped you get the few extra miles per hour since we last saw you in the summer (88mph)?

A: All of the off-season arm strengthening programs that Moeller has had me doing in the fall and winter really helped. Also, I have been working out more this year and that probably has also helped.

Q: What do you most look forward to about The Ohio State?  How do you like the coaching there?

A: I’m looking forward to being a part of such a great college the most. All of the tradition that comes out of there is amazing. Just being able to say that I am going to be able to attend The Ohio State is really just a humbling feeling. All of the coaches there made me feel like I was something big. They were always talking to me and making me feel at home…like I was already a part of the program. That was the best.

Q: You pitched and hit at the USSSA All-American Games last summer, what will you be doing at Ohio State?  How does it make you feel having to possibly give up one or the other?

A: I am planning on being a two way player at OSU. I plan to start in right or maybe at first base, all depending on time and how I mature. But I also feel like I have to possibility to pursue my pitching abilities there as well.

Q: What kind of off-season work outs do you do to get in shape?  (i.e. personal trainer, school program, etc.)

A: Moeller has a great off-season workout program that they put us through. We condition, throw, hit, and lift 5 days a week. I feel like that really helped me out to get in shape and get stronger.

Q: Who do you fear facing the most in Ohio and why? (pitching or hitting)

A: Bennentendi is one of the best hitters around, I watched him play all throughout the summer and really admire his ability at the plate.

It seems as though Zach Shannon will be one to fear in the USSSA Gold Medal Games this summer.  The talented sophomore certainly has a bright future again and we look forward to watching it unravel.

Bryant Hodge (SS/RHP) from Moore, OK has verbally committed to the University of Oklahoma.

The multi-tool player has an explosive fastball that reaches into the mid 90’s and has exceptional control of his slider.  He has great power from the right side of the plate and can play anywhere defensively. He was a huge asset to the 2011 USSSA High School Varsity National Team who competed in the Prague Baseball Week (Prague, CR) this past June.

National Team Coach, DJ Wabick, describes Bryant as “… an exceptional athlete and even more so a competitor.  It is rare to find somebody of Bryant’s age that can move their fastball around the strike zone and throw their off-speed pitches for a strike in any count the way that he does.”

Hodge stormed onto the national baseball scene as a freshman where he qualified through ABR and was later named to the 2008 14u USA National Team.  Over the course of his high school career, Bryant has managed to rack up almost every accolade possible.  His superb work ethic has helped advance him to the next level, while his humbleness and confidence on the field has caught the eye of many baseball professionals. “The thing that stands out most about Bryant is his make-up.  His work ethic and coachability only add to his outstanding God given talents and I have no doubt that he will be extremely successful at the next level,” explains DJ Wabick.

Over the past 3 years, Hodge has been named to 4 National Teams, received “USSSA First Team All-American Honors” (2009, 2010), and has been named ABR’s National Player of the Year award twice (2010, 2011).

Hodge will be representing USSSA this upcoming summer, once again, on its High School Varsity National Team who will be traveling internationally.

Bryant Hodge’s accolades:
Named ABR’s National Player of the Year (2010, 2011)
Named to the USSSA 1st Team All-American (2009, 2010)
Named to the USSSA National Team (2010, 2011, 2012)
Named to the 14u USA National Team (2008)

Logan Shore (RHP/3B) from Coon Rapids, MN has given a 2013 verbal commitment to the University of Florida. 

Shore has the tools necessary to exceed at the next level.  The 6’2” 194lb hard throwing right hander, who reaches the low 90’s from the mound, features a plus fastball that projects well do to his size and strength.  He also displays tremendous power at the plate with an ability to produce consistent backspin.  His strong wrists and consistent approach lead him to be a two way threat.

“Shore has the perfect baseball body that makes his plus tools that much more projectable.  With his strong frame and nose for the game, Shore is going to be a huge asset to the University of Florida,” explains USSSA National Coach, DJ Wabick.

Shore made a huge statement from the mound at the 2010 USSSA All-American Games where he was named a First Team All-American and awarded a spot on the 2011 USSSA National Team.  He continued to pave the way for himself this past summer at the USSSA Gold Medal Games where he helped lead the USSSA National Team to Gold against eight other countries and named the Tournament MVP.

“Shore is an outstanding talent and was a real pleasure to see play this summer.  With outstanding tools across the board, Shore’s projectability is even better as he has a strong, wiry frame that is perfect for baseball.” – National Team Coach, DJ Wabick

Shore will be representing USSSA this upcoming summer on its High School Varsity National Team who will be traveling internationally

Logan Shore’s accolades:
Awarded USSSA 1st Team All-American Honors (2010)
Named to the USSSA National Team (2011, 2012)
Awarded the USSSA Gold Medal Games MVP (2011)

2011 Stanhope High School graduate, Jacob Milliman, emerged onto the ABR scene in 2009 at a local ABR ID Camp, which eventually landed him an invitation into the USSSA All-American Games. Following his performance at the USSSA All-American Games, the 6’5”, 235lb RHP from Deatsville, Alabama, was awarded USSSA All-American Honors and named to the 2010 USSSA National Team.

As part of the 2010 USSSA National Team, Milliman traveled to Osaka Japan where he describes his experience as “fantastic and life changing.” Strongly living by his “I had to just rep for the US” attitude, Milliman proved he can not only compete but also succeed on the international level. He was dominant from the mound and at the plate, which eventually landed him a spot on the 2011 USSSA National Team who competed in Prague, Czech Republic in the prestigious “Prague Baseball Week.”

Milliman was the game one starter in the Prague Baseball Week Tournament where he got the win against A.I.S.T, the eventual tournament champions. Yet, possibly the highlight of his time in Prague would be when he came in with the bases load and no outs against the French National Team.

“I was thinking I got to do my job, I had to not let anyone score. I was definitely still nervous,” explains Milliman. Needless to say, whatever he did worked. He continued to strike-out the side blowing fastballs by the heart of the lineup.

This consistency is what has helped catapult Milliman to the next level since ABR first saw him perform at the local 2009 ID Camp.  He has since been named a 2009 USSSA All-American, USSSA World Championship standout (2009, 2010), and a two-time USSSA National Team Member (2010, 2011).

Due to all of his success on the USSSA National Teams and his former travel teams (Upper Deck Cougars and Bama Bombers), Milliman was no stranger to some of the top college programs. After turning down offers from some of the top programs, Milliman committed to Pensacola State Community College. Although not an easy decision, he chose this top Junior program so that he can pursue the 2012 draft and log innings that may have otherwise been lost out on at a larger program.

The exposure Milliman gained through his ABR journey really helped put him on the radar.

He urges other young prospects to follow a similar road he traveled if given the opportunity. “It was a life changing experience…. It is also a great way to get your name out there.”

Milliman currently sits 88-91 tops out at 93. With his hard work and attitude he has what it takes to continue to stride past all other athletes. In three years, Milliman hopes to play professional baseball. For someone like him, it is not such a lofty dream. Good luck to Jacob with the remainder of the season and be prepared to hear more about this spotlight player. It is apparent that the future is bright for this modest star.

Jacob Niggemeyer is only a sophomore from Powell, Ohio.  But at 6’5” and 200lbs, the RHP/1B has already made a name for himself on the national level.

“Niggemeyer can really pitch and hit.  He’s in the mid-80’s from the mound.  He has a great slider and fills the zone with strikes…he’s a really good all-around player,” explains USSSA National Team Coach, DJ Wabick.

Niggemeyer was awarded 1st Team USSSA All-American Honors and named to the 2012 USSSA Senior National Team following his performance at the 2011 USSSA All-American Games.  He has also just committed to Ohio State University (along with National Team Member Zach Shannon).  Jacob has recently took the time to answer a few questions by ABR regarding his decision on Ohio State, the USSSA Gold Medal Games, and his view on his baseball future.

ABR: You were fortunate enough to make the USSSA National Team, describe your experience at the All-American Games and your reaction when you found out you would be representing your country in international competition.

JN: I enjoyed the experience of being able to play against other top players in the United States with the same mental aspects and goals. Also being able to meet and play with players from around the U.S. and learn about their future goals. My reaction to making the USSSA National Team was shocked and very happy. I am excited that I am able to play against other countries and also being able to represent my own while playing with other talented players.

ABR: The USSSA Gold Medal Games will have countries from around the world represented, what aspect of the event are you most looking forward to (i.e. cultural, game play, representing your country)?

JN: I’m most looking forward to playing against other players from different countries. Getting to have the experience of playing against different players and learning their culture and how their view of the game is different from ours. Being able to represent my country with other top players against other top countries is something I’m looking forward to.

ABR:  Are you still friends with the players you met at the ABR events?

JN:  I still keep contact with some of the players that I met during the ABR events.

ABR: You’re obviously very advanced for your age group, when did colleges start taking an interest in you?  What was their first form of contact?  i.e. program letters, camp invites, personal letters, etc.

JN:  During my freshman year of high school. I received college questionnaires and college camp invitations.

ABR: What were some of the major schools you were looking to attend?

JN:  Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, North Carolina, and Arkansas were among the schools I was interested in.

ABR: I understand you finally landed on Ohio State, do you have a close connection to the school?

JN:  I don’t have any close connections to Ohio State prior to committing to them.

ABR: You are a pretty early commit, what led you to pick your school at this time in the process?

JN: Got a good scholarship at a good school which has both a good athletics programs and academic programs. I liked the coaches, their philosophies and energy, and how they interacted with the players. Also, it is great to stay close to home so family and friends will be close and watch me play.

ABR: Please explain your experience with the recruiting process?  What advice do you have for others that are about to embark on the same journey?

JN:  I enjoyed looking at colleges, the athletic facilities, and stadiums. My advice would be to make sure you like not only the school but also the coaches because you’ll be there for 4 years.

ABR: Which position do you prefer?

JN: Pitching is my most preferred position.

ABR: What is the next step in your career?

JN: To be the best college player I can be with the dream of hopefully being drafted one day.

ABR: Has making your college selection changed the way you train?

JN: It makes me train and work even harder because I have high expectations for the future.

ABR: What are your expectations for the next few years in your baseball career?

JN: To win a state championship in high school and continue to play high level of competition during the summer.

ABR: For the Gold Medal games you are expected to pitch and hit, what will you be doing at Ohio State?  Did it make an impact on your final college selection?

JN: At Ohio State I’ll be pitching and be given the opportunity to hit. Yeah, the coaches telling me I would be given the chance to hit as well as pitch is something I’m looking forward to.

Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this interview.  I look forward to representing the US this summer; see you all at the Gold Medal Games!

At 6’3” and 215lbs, the Rock Island native is dominant from the mound.

“Jake is one of those pitchers whose ball explodes on hitters.  He throws with ease which makes his fastball (touches 94 mph) even more effective.  What sets Jake apart at his age is his changeup.  He shows very good arm action and movement which makes his change a plus pitch.  He has a very bright future on the mound with the potential to be a front end starter,” explains USSSA High School Varsity National Team coach, DJ Wabick.

Junis gave up his scholarship at NC State in order to sign for $675,000.00 with the Kansas City Royals.  A decision, I’m sure, that many others would also make.

USSSA’s scouting partner, Amateur Baseball Report, recently had time to catch up with Jake Junis.  He did after all, make a name for himself at a few different scouted events.  Junis was named a 2009 USSSA 1st Team All-American, 2009 USSSA World Championship team member, and a member of the 2010 USSSA High School Varsity National Team (Osaka, Japan)

Q: Being part of the original All-American Games program, what kind of advice do you have for young players that are currently in the program and striving to be where you are today?

A: The events ABR and USSSA put on are for you and to get you exposed to get you on to the next level of your baseball career. So my advice would be to attend these events and go out and do your best to impress the scouts that are there to watch you. It is a great opportunity so why not take advantage of what these programs have to offer?

Q:  How did these programs help your baseball career?

A: ABR provided me with showcases and USSSA provided me tournaments to play in to further better myself as a player and a person because I met a lot of friends at the events that they put on.

Q: You traveled abroad to Japan with the very first ABR/USSSA National team, what was that experience like?

A: The trip to Japan was a great experience. We got to see what Japanese culture was like from eating their food (which wasn’t very good) and traveling to different parts of Japan playing games. They play a different style of baseball over there and it was cool to sit back and watch some of the things they did. I actually took some things I saw from them and put it towards my game trying to make myself a better player. They are very fundamental and I really liked that about the Japanese. They also respect the game to the fullest.

Q:  You were a two sport all-state selection in the state of Illinois starting your freshman year of high school, what made you choose baseball over basketball?

A:  My freshman year I tried the AAU basketball thing and it was a bad experience. I was in a bad organization that was in it for all the wrong reasons and it pushed me away from summer basketball. I had been playing summer baseball since I was ten years old and it was great. The coaches and teams I was on were top notch and overall just a lot better experience so I decided summer baseball over summer basketball and it worked out for me well. I still love basketball don’t get me wrong, but my future was baseball.

Q:  What made you choose North Carolina State?

A: North Carolina State was an easy choice for me. ACC baseball is as good as it gets and they wanted me to pitch and play the infield, whereas TCU only wanted me to pitch. I had a great visit there and really like the area of Raleigh, the campus, and the facilities they had to offer. Also the biggest factor for me was the coaches they were great and I still hold a relationship with them to this day. I’m truly proud to say that NC State is my school.

Q:  You were a draft selection by the Kansas City Royals, what was your reaction when you found out and what was the biggest factor in choosing to sign a contract with the Royals?

A: It was a great feeling getting drafted, only a group of guys have that honor and I am blessed to get the opportunity to get drafted and fulfill my dreams of playing major league baseball for a living. The biggest factor in choosing to sign was the opportunity. I was getting the chance now out of high school and you never know what could happen in 3 years at college and if you would get another shot at it. I took the opportunity and didn’t look back.

Q:  What was the process like dealing with scouts and the post-draft negotiations?

A: The whole draft process was very stressful not only on me, but on my family as well. It was such a life changing decision that was taking its toll on everybody around me, as well as me. Me and my family took our time and weighed all of our options and ultimately made the best decision for me a lot like the college decision of going to NC State.

Q:  AAC baseball is extremely competitive. How tough of a decision was it to pass up a chance to play in a conference like that and the possibility of playing in the College World Series?

A: Seeing my good friend and neighbor Seth Blair playing in the college World Series twice for Arizona State University made me dream of playing there in Omaha and truly believing it could really happen. It was really tough to turn that down and to turn down ACC baseball with all the good teams in that conference every year. The hardest part was leaving the recruiting class I was coming in with at NC State. I was part of one of the best recruiting classes in the country and to think of all we could accomplish was really tough to turn down.

Q:  How different has life been since signing your professional contract?

A: Life hasn’t been too drastically different since signing. The main difference is just being away from home and being in Arizona, but i can’t complain too much. The weather is beautiful out here to play and workout in.

Q:  Your first taste of professional baseball came this fall as you were chosen to partake in the Kansas City Royals Instructional League.  What was playing in Instructional League like?  What kind of adjustments did you have to make in order to adjust to the schedule of a professional baseball player?

A: Instructional league was great because it got me familiar with the players, coaches, and facilities of the Kansas City Royals. I learned a lot and really feel like I improved as a pitcher and it is only going to show in my first season of professional baseball. The main adjustment I had to make was throwing every single day. I wasn’t used to that, but I soon had to adjust and get used to it and in a hurry because you’re on a pretty tight schedule with your throwing and how much and preparation for every 5th day to go out pitch in a game.

Q:  What are your expectations for this upcoming season?

A: This upcoming season is exciting for me and I really don’t know what to expect in my first full season of professional baseball, but I plan to work hard and keep improving every day and giving it my all wherever I may be. My goal is to play in Kane County close to home at some point during the season so that is what I’m working towards.

Q:  What will you miss most about your amateur baseball career?

A: I’m going to miss playing with my friends the most. There is nothing like playing with your close friends and just cracking jokes and having a great time playing the game. I am really going to miss playing with those guys, but I have a lot of really good memories to look back on.

Q:  In your opinion, what prepared you the most for the opportunity to play professional baseball?

A: I think playing around the country and being away from home almost all summer long really prepared me for playing at the professional level. I’m used to leaving my family at home and going down to Florida for a couple months each summer to play baseball so I would definitely say the traveling and being away from home really prepared me. Also, I played against the best competition there was to offer.  That was a great learning experience for me as well and made me a better player.

Q:  Who has been the most influential person in your life when it comes to sports?

A: I can’t choose just one coach that has been more influential over me. I would have to say all of my coaches have made an impact on my career and I want to thank every one of them from my high school coach to summer coaches and anyone else that has helped me along the way. But there is no doubt that my Dad; Jody Junis has been the most influential person in my baseball career. He has coached me and pushed me to my limits and always been the most supportive person in my baseball career. He’s always been very involved with my development not only as a player but as a person.

Bryant Hodge and Logan Shore each make verbal commitments.

Bryant Hodge (SS/RHP) from Moore, OK has verbally committed to the University of Oklahoma.

The multi-tool player has an explosive fastball that reaches into the mid 90’s and has exceptional control of his slider.  He has great power from the right side of the plate and can play anywhere defensively. He was a huge asset to the 2011 USSSA High School Varsity National Team who competed in the Prague Baseball Week (Prague, CR) this past June.

National Team Coach, DJ Wabick, describes Bryant as “… an exceptional athlete and even more so a competitor.  It is rare to find somebody of Bryant’s age that can move their fastball around the strike zone and throw their off-speed pitches for a strike in any count the way that he does.”

Hodge stormed onto the national baseball scene as a freshman where he qualified through ABR and was later named to the 2008 14u USA National Team.  Over the course of his high school career, Bryant has managed to rack up almost every accolade possible.  His superb work ethic has helped advance him to the next level, while his humbleness and confidence on the field has caught the eye of many baseball professionals. “The thing that stands out most about Bryant is his make-up.  His work ethic and coachability only add to his outstanding God given talents and I have no doubt that he will be extremely successful at the next level,” explains DJ Wabick.

Over the past 3 years, Hodge has been named to 4 National Teams, received “USSSA First Team All-American Honors” (2009, 2010), and has been named ABR’s National Player of the Year award twice (2010, 2011).

Hodge will be representing USSSA this upcoming summer, once again, on its High School Varsity National Team who will be traveling internationally.

Bryant Hodge’s accolades:
Named ABR’s National Player of the Year (2010, 2011)
Named to the USSSA 1st Team All-American (2009, 2010)
Named to the USSSA National Team (2010, 2011, 2012)
Named to the 14u USA National Team (2008)

Logan Shore (RHP/3B) from Coon Rapids, MN has given a 2013 verbal commitment to the University of Florida. 

Shore has the tools necessary to exceed at the next level.  The 6’2” 194lb hard throwing right hander, who reaches the low 90’s from the mound, features a plus fastball that projects well do to his size and strength.  He also displays tremendous power at the plate with an ability to produce consistent backspin.  His strong wrists and consistent approach lead him to be a two way threat.

“Shore has the perfect baseball body that makes his plus tools that much more projectable.  With his strong frame and nose for the game, Shore is going to be a huge asset to the University of Florida,” explains USSSA National Coach, DJ Wabick.

Shore made a huge statement from the mound at the 2010 USSSA All-American Games where he was named a First Team All-American and awarded a spot on the 2011 USSSA National Team.  He continued to pave the way for himself this past summer at the USSSA Gold Medal Games where he helped lead the USSSA National Team to Gold against eight other countries and named the Tournament MVP.

“Shore is an outstanding talent and was a real pleasure to see play this summer.  With outstanding tools across the board, Shore’s projectability is even better as he has a strong, wiry frame that is perfect for baseball.” – National Team Coach, DJ Wabick

Shore will be representing USSSA this upcoming summer on its High School Varsity National Team who will be traveling internationally

Logan Shore’s accolades:
Awarded USSSA 1st Team All-American Honors (2010)
Named to the USSSA National Team (2011, 2012)
Awarded the USSSA Gold Medal Games MVP (2011)

If you get the chance to speak to high school baseball player Logan Shore from Coon Rapids, Minnesota he might not be different from what you would expect.

“Can I call you back in fifteen minutes?” Shore asks when answering a phone call requesting an interview about the recent verbal commitment that he’s made to attend the University of Florida in 2013.  “I’m about to pick my sister up from church.”

Right away, it’s obvious that Shore has a much more down-to-earth attitude than one may expect from someone who has just aligned himself with the NCAA runner-up Florida Gators.  Still, this probably isn’t the last time that you’ll be surprised when speaking to Logan Shore.

At six-foot-three and one-hundred-ninety-three pounds, seventeen-year-old Logan Shore’s size alone sets him apart from the other baseball players his age.  He throws from his right at speeds that reach the low nineties, and his strength and consistency at the plate make him a force to be reckoned with for any batter that he encounters.  But if you ask the Coon Rapids High School junior what he thinks his biggest strength is, he’ll give you a different, more introspective answer.

“I have mental strength, and that helps me,” says Shore.  “I never really get nervous when I play or I pitch.  When I was pitching in a game that we played against Puerto Rico, the first guy that I was pitching to walked, the next guy bunted, and then the next guy got out on an error.  I think that that kind of stuff discourages a lot of pitchers, but I don’t let it bother me.  I stayed calm, and struck out the next two guys.”

Shore began to make his mark with USSSA at the USSSA All-American Games in 2010.  There, he was named a First Team All-American, and subsequently offered a spot on the USSSA National Team in 2011.  Shore deepened his footprint with USSSA this past summer when he and the National Team, along with Nation Team head Coach DJ Wabick, won the USSSA Gold Medal Games, a tournament where Shore was awarded with the title of MVP.

“It was a really fun experience down in Kissimmee,” Shore says of the 2011 USSSA Gold Medal Games.  “I’d never played against kids who spoke different languages before, so that was a great experience.  It was cool to be around kids with so much talent.  It was cool to win the whole thing.”

Shore will play for the USSSA again in the summer of 2012, competing with the High School National Varsity Team Internationally in a tournament expected to be located in Italy, France, or the Czech Republic.

“I’m looking forward to playing against kids from other countries again,” says Shore.  “They have a different style.  They’re not as intense about everything, and obviously they communicate differently than we do.”

This summer’s national tournament will be a great chance for Shore to work on the areas that he plans to develop prior to 2013.

“By the time I get there,” Shore says of his pre-college goals, “I want to be playing two ways.  I want to improve my hitting and my in fielding, since I play third base.  I also want to work on my slider, like, improve my sharpness.  Other than that, I think I could just improve my mechanics.”

Shore, who on top of baseball likes to play hockey, ping-pong, and cook (he says that he can make a mean chocolate soufflé),  is intent on making these plans into a reality by the time he starts college in 2013, as he doesn’t plan to squander the opportunity to play at his dream school.

“Florida has always been my favorite school,” says Shore.  “I went to the College World Series with my mom in Nebraska last June, and watching the players and the coaching staff got me even more interested in the school.”

Although Shore plans to practice and improve, he also plans to squeeze in other activities to keep him busy before starting his college career.  He will continue to spearhead the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at his school (he started the club along with his father last year), focus on maintaining his excellent grades (he has a 3.9 grade point average), and spend family time with his father Lance, his mother Cindi, and his younger sister Riley.  Other than all of that, Shore has one more thing that he would like to see happen this year.

“There was no snow on Christmas this year”, says Shore.  “It was kind of disappointing, because we like to play outdoor hockey, but there was no frozen ice to play on.  I like sledding too, and we couldn’t do that over the break.  It’s been so warm here.”

Here’s hoping for gold abroad in the summer and snow in Minnesota in the winter for future Florida Gator Logan Shore in 2012.

See Logan’s Page on USSSAAllAmerican.com

See Logan’s Profile & Stats on USSSA.com

The USSSA All-American Games will begin with an evaluated workout with College Coaches, Major League Baseball scouts and former Major League Baseball Players in attendance. The All-American Games will follow. Will you be the NEXT USSSA All-American?

Stay tuned for the outcome from this years All American Games!

Dates: August 9th-12th, 2012
Ages: 14u, 15u, High School Varsity (16u & 17u) (following the April 30th age cut-off)
Location: Osceola County Stadium (Houston Astros Spring Training Complex)
631 Heritage Parkway
Kissimmee, FL 34744

How do I qualify for the USSSA All-American Games?
Amateur Baseball Report (ABR) is the scouting partner for USSSA and will be selecting the individuals to the All-American Games. Individual players can qualify through one of the following designated tryout events:

• ABR “Journey to the Dream” Showcase
• ABR College Exposure Evaluation
• ABR Scouted Tournament
• Direct invite through an approved USSSA source

Visit www.AmateurBaseballReport.com for more details on events!

Blake Wiggins Makes Junior National Team

* The 2011 USSSA National Teams were selected from the 2010 USSSA All-American Games

High School Varsity National Team: competing in the 30th anniversary of Prague Baseball League(Prague, Czech Republic)
Senior National Team: competing in the USSSA Gold Medal Games (Kissimmee, FL)
Junior National Team: competing in the USSSA Gold Medal Games (Kissimmee, FL)

Representing the United States, the 17U USSSA National Team entered Prague airport in awe. It was a whole new country, a whole new world. The beautiful weather, the amazing scenery, and the cool weather couldnt help but go unnoticed by the players. The trip was about more than playing just baseball, but an opportunity of a lifetime and something that alot of people, let alone kids get the chance to take and what better place to do it then the city of Prague, which is one of the most beautiful cities in all of Europe. After two days of touring Prague, and experiencing as much of Prague as they could, such as the Charles Bridge and the famous Prague Astronomical Clock Tower. The city is filled all around with kiosks, painters, and the immense excitement of everyday life.

Eagles Praha Stadium was the amazing location to where the games would take place. A weird and unusual sight, yet extremely beautiful, the stadium was surrounded by overgrown soccer fields, long country road, and forestry that surround the complex.The stadium featured what they called a locker room but in fact was actually a sports bar. The food that was served at the field came from an on sitge wagon that served traditional Czech sausage and chicken sandwitches.

The USSSA National Team, who was the youngest team at Prague Baseball Week, was the most talented by far. Arriving in Prague with an abundance of arms, skilled hitters, and quality defensive players made the older European National Teams uneasy at the thought of playing this younger amateur team; or so they thought. The fact that USSSA was not in the least bit intimidated made it even tougher for every one of the other teams playing. Throughout the event one thing became clear, USSSA had the most prolific offense, hardest throwers, fastest base runners, and most explosive players.

USSSA finished Prague Baseball Week with a 3-3 record. They defeated the collegiate AIST baseball team, the French National Team, and the Czech Republic 18u National Team. Their losses came by the hands of UCLA, the Czech National Team (older team that participates in the World Baseball Classic), and AIST in what would be the semi-final game. In the end, the lack of experience became too much to overcome against teams that were used to playing along side each other and who were years older.

The buzz around Eagle Praha Stadium wasn’t about the Czech National Team preparing for the World Baseball Classic, or about UCLA having eight year big leaguer Garrett Atkins playing first base, rather it was about the talented USSSA National Team. Players such as Donald DeWees, Bryant Hodge, Wyatt Mathieson, and Matt Ferreira amazed with their sset. From Donald DeWees flying around the baseball field, to Wyatt Mathieson leading the tournament in homeruns, to Hodge and Ferreira lighting up the radar gun, people took notice.

The USSSA National Team consisted of DI signees, top junior college commitments, and a few undecideds. One thing is for sure, wherever these players end up they will be having the same impact as they had at Prague Baseball Week. It was truly a very talented group, but on top of that were quality individuals.

Link to ABR Article on USSSA All-American

”          Bryce Bean, who plays summer baseball with the Hillsboro Legion Post 129 team, has recently been selected to the prestigious USSSA All-American Games, where only the top 150 prospects in his age group were invited.

Bean was nominated by his Hillsboro Legion coaches to attend the try-outs. The first tryout was at Shawnee State University and second tryout was at Marietta College. Bean will be traveling to Kissimmee, Florida in August to compete in the Houston Astros Spring Training Stadium.

This event allows Bean the opportunity to compete against the country’s elite players while being evaluated by college coaches, MLB scouts and former MLB coaches.

The USSSA All-American Games serves as the selection process for the USSSA All-Americans and the USSSA National Team who will compete internationally next summer.

Bean will be a senior at East Clinton High School and also plays on East Clinton High School baseball team. He is the son of Noel and Lori Bean, of Sabina.          ”

To read the article in full on the local newspaper website, click here.

“The entire International Program really began with Mr. DeDonatis’ vision brought to life,” said Vice President of the International Program George Gonzalez. “We watched the World Baseball Classic and took the basic structure and made it our own.”

The first event to come in the development of the program was the first annual USSSA Gold Medal Games, held July 11-17, 2010 at the Osceola County Sports Complex. Eight international teams and two USSSA All-American teams, participated in the quest for the USSSA International Championship. Eight unique countries were represented including the Bahamas, Canada, France, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, and the United States.

“The first year was incredibly successful,” said Gonzalez. “There were a few setbacks including issues with securing visas for the team from the Dominican Republic, but we put together a team here in Central Florida of kids with Hispanic heritage, calling them the Latin America team, and we solved the issue in that way.”

It was the Latin America team that eventually took the first ever USSSA International Title, coming out on top of the Puerto Rico team who went in as the heavy favorites, but were unable to hold out through the end.

Beyond the Gold Medal Games, which brought teams from across the globe to Kissimmee, the International Program has actively gone out and promoted competition in other parts of the world as well. Two All-Star teams, selected from the USSSA All-American Games, recently made their way to the other side of the world to compete in Japan against a team comprised of the best young athletes from that country.

With the inroads being made for partnerships with other countries, it can be predicted that the program will grow with each passing year to come. Already in the works are plans for the Gold Medal Games to expand for the 2011 season.

“As for next year, we are in the works to have Panama and Venezuela join the international roster,” said Gonzalez. “As for the Dominican Republic, we are sure that after last year, there won’t be any issues with the visas, so we should be at least three teams up. With the connections we’ve made over in Japan, we foresee them sending a team to participate as well, so the growth potential really is huge.”

Just how limitless the potential for the International Program is is yet to be seen, but all signs point to success.

“As we make these connections with other countries, we see repeatedly how intrigued and excited they are by the opportunity to come to the United States to play here and see what our competition and our program is all about,” said Gonzalez. “With those connections, and building upon the success of the first year, there really is no limit to where this program can go.”