Perfect Games Observation

HOLY COW.......!!!!!!

It was unbelievable. At one point it looked as if all three teams from NC and the lone representative from SC, The Diamondbacks, had advanced to the playoffs. If not for the heartbreaking loss by Impact Baseball to the Diamond One team from Ohio, all the teams would have advanced...and that game was a nail biter...one out, runners on first and third and they ended the game grounding into a double play.

Since the scores and finals have been posted, I would like to share my observations from Jupiter.

- The Perfect Games’ Teams-- blue, purple, black, etc....do not have a chance to succeed. They are a mix of kids that don’t know each other and the coaches refer to them by their numbers.
- To see the number of scouts lined up 12 deep in their golf carts behind home plate and to see the carts lined up down each foul line was incredible...all sporting their names on each cart, Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, FSU, Arizona State.......
- As each playoff game the On Deck O’s advanced, the number of so called “ Prestigious” teams were going home. To think that a team of players made up of Charlotte and surrounding areas could continue to advance and the Dulin Dodgers, Baseball America, Team Florida USA, Midlands Redskins and many other quality teams that recruit nationally were packing up is an achievement that can’t be effectively described in words.
- That all of the teams from NC made such an impact in Jupiter...they could have all been named “ Impact Baseball NC ” .......the feedback I received from the many scouts I spoke with were unbelievably kind in their comments of the players participating from our state...including the players for the Diamond Devils.

Although I watched many different games and witnessed Ryan Basham’s masterpiece for Impact Baseball and SC Diamond Devils’s great win against the mighty Miami Thunderstorm, I followed the On Deck O’s through out the tournament and here our my comments of the players:

Catchers- Chris Taylor and Tim Kramer...what a duo. They each took turns catching the pitchers who in a 25 inning streak gave up 0 runs. They had timely hits, but more importantly they called great games. Tim Kramer made one play by throwing out a runner at second that turned a possible loss into a win.
3rd base—Primarily played by a junior, Drew Martin. Drew made countless great plays in the field and when you needed a key hit...there it was....he’s a gamer!!!
SS—Kyle Shelton---“ He is the slickest fielding shortstop in Jupiter “. That was a direct quote from a LA Dodger scout. There was not a game that Kyle didn’t make a play where you said ‘ Wow!!”...he would do it time and time again under enormous pressure situations.. He is the best SS I have ever seen in HS ball..period!!
2nd base—Jason Haines--- another gamer that would get dirty battling you in the field or at the plate. Jason had the key hit the won the game in the first round playoff game.
1st base—Elliott Arrington—the old timer on the team. 2nd season with On Deck. Elliott was the leader on the team contributing key hits and making some awesome plays defensively.
Left field—Tommy Baldridge—the lead off man that started many rallies, many times in the first inning. Caught everything that came out to left field
Centerfield—Kevin Dietrich—What a tournament he had. He shocked the scouts with his speed and on base percentage. It appeared Kevin was the one always scoring the big run. He plays outfield so effortlessly that he seems to glide out there on skates. As smooth as they come.
Centerfield/left field—Mike Cavasinni...what a joy to watch. Not only would he catch any ball hit in his direction, but his speed on the base paths had the scouts busy with their notepads. The best moment to describe Mike’s determination was in the East Cobb Braves game. He battled back from an 0-2 count to a 3-2 count, then slapped a single to left field in the last inning to score the only run.
Rightfield--- AJ Mason--- I witnessed AJ throw a ball from the far corner of the fence in right field in a straight shot to 3rd base...no bounce..right on the money. The 3rd base coach was shocked and equally embarrased when his runner was almost tagged out standing up at the bag. The greatest thing I want to say about AJ, I’ll save for the pitchers comments.
Pitchers:
TJ Worrell---what a magnificent performance. The first game..playing a top 5 team that already defeated the O’s during the summer...and some of the players were a little in awe of the Jupiter tournament. He showed no fear in shutting down the big bats of the Dulin Dodgers and served notice that the On Deck O’s would not be intimidated.
Alex Martin—looking at the score does not due justice what Alex actually did. First, you must realize the intense pressure at the game. Over 150 scouts came out to watch this one as the O’s were playing the #1 seeded Baseball America. After Alex appeared to strikeout the 3rd out, the player ripped the next pitch for a granny..instead of a 1-1 game in turned into a 5-1 game in one pitch....it seemed as if all the air was let out of the balloon. One pitch....game over.
Ben Buchanan--- 2 hit shutout of the SW Marlins club that beat Baseball America in their first game. I’d like to mention something that Ben did that was unique. He scouted that team the day before. He knew exactly what pitch and where he was going to place each one before the game started. Ben told me he actually visualized the game before he went to sleep and after the game was over, he did exactly what he visualized...and he dominated them.
Morgan Tyson--- Morgan continued the shutout streak by dominating the Perfect Game’s Orange team from Texas 14-0. It was amazing what he can do with the ball. I bet if you could balance a dime on top of your head he could knock it off with out touching a strand of hair..the kid has pinpoint control.
Tom Porter--- What a gamer. Tom has not really pitched since HS due to back injuries. He got the game to pitch against our first playoff team..the N. Pinellas Scout team. Fundamentally, they may have been the strongest team On Deck faced. There was some questions by people who had never seen Tom pitch if he was up for the challenge. Well, suffice to say he tossed a 1-0 shutout that was nerve racking after the first pitch. The kid is a stud with ice water in his veins.
AJ Mason--- it’s hard to explain in words the gutty performance by this kid. He faced the mighty and arrogant East Cobb Braves. They appeared to be snickering at the O’s team and gave little respect to the fact that the O’s were in the semifinals. AJ shut them down...winning 1-0. Pressure on AJ ?....what pressure. He just kept challenging them and he came out the winner.

There were many, many great moments..from the excellent relief pitching by Josh Mangum to the fastest tandem on the bases with Greg Miclat and Mike Cavasinni. The memories that I will have for the rest of my life, sharing it with some of the best people that I know, will be something that I will never forget. I wish the O’s were still playing because it was the best “TEAM” my son has ever played on...and maybe the best he ever will.

Good luck to all the great kids that played on this team and can hardly wait to watch them come spring!!!!

ON DECK O”S--- 3RD RANKED IN THE PERFECT GAME WORLD TOURNAMENT

 

wow..................you had someone TBRers worried!

Patti, he has been to FL scouting again

Great report and sounds like you had a wonderful time as well!

 

For those of you who missed it ... here are a couple of agressive plays that will demonstrate the quality of the play down at Jupiter.

Situation #1: Runner at 2nd, 2 outs. Ground ball hit into the hole between 2nd/3rd. The runner breaks for third on contact. Kyle Shelton (SS, South Meck) goes deep into the hole and snags the ball. It's a high risk throw to first since it's a fast runner at bat and the runner from 2nd is agressively rounding the bag at 3rd. Kyle throws home and hangs the guy out to dry by 20 feet. It's a gutsy play. With his hose, he might have gotten the guy at first, but he took his 2nd option which ended up being a safer play. Out #3, inning over.

Situation #2: Runner at 2nd, 1 out. Dropped third strike in the dirt, the batter takes off for 1st, Tim Kramer (C, Myers Park) is catching, on snaring the ball, he sees the runner at 2nd too far off the bag with the intention of going to 3rd on the throw. He guns the ball to 2nd and they tag out the lead runner. It's now 2 outs with a runner at 1st. Another scoring threat ended.

Situation #3: Runner at 1st, 1 out. Offense puts on a hit/run play. Baserunner at first breaks for 2nd on the pitch, getting a good jump, ball hit back to the mound. Tom Porter (P, North Meck) fields the ball and in one motion fires a strike to Jason Haines (2B, Fort Mill) at 2nd who completes the relay to first for the double play.

In all of these cases, the players had made up their mind WHAT they were going to do with the ball if the situation presented itself BEFORE the play ever happened.

That's winning baseball.

 

The son again. The people that are in those plays know almost everything about the person they are playing next too. The play that Shelton made wouldn't have happened if Drew Martin(3B) wouldn't have gottin back to the bag for Shelton to throw to him. Shelton knew exactly what Kramer was doing on the strike out because Kramer had gottin Shelton with the same exact play in school ball last year. Porter didn't care if the guy had already gottin to second he was going to throw it anyways because he knew they could still get the out at first if not at second. Its amazing how well we know each other and I don't know how this came about. Its just one of those things that happens and the fact that most of these players have played with each other in the years past on other On Deck teams. You just have to know what the guy next to you is thinking to be successful as a team in the field. Another thing is that play with Shelton and Martin happened the weekend before at East Cobb were they did the same thing for the 3rd out and got out of a jam.

 

Since we are getting ready for the PG/WWBA at Jupiter tournament, I thought this was cool reading this one again. So many of those players went on to having a great college career.