The 19th annual Bob Raymond Splinterfest Wood Bat Tournament is being held this week at multiple different sites around the Valley. This tournament gives us a great early look into some of the best high school ball clubs in Arizona as we wrap up the fall. On November 8th, PBR Arizona staff was in attendance at Tolleson Union High School for the matchup between Willow Canyon and Tolleson. 

Tolleson was able to take game one as they handled Willow Canyon in well played baseball game that gave a look into how they may look in the spring season. Coach Richardson has a group of guys that seem to be bought in to playing team baseball. They have a lineup from top to bottom that has a plan. The infield defense was a standout all around the diamond. And they were given a great starting performance on the mound from an arm that projects to get much work for them in the spring. 

Today, we highlight some of the standouts from Tolleson's win over Willow Canyon. 

Tolleson Standouts

SS Isaac Lizarraga (Tolleson, 2022)

5-foot-8 150 pounds, Isaac Lizarraga seems to be one of the leaders on this team, and table setters for this offense. At the leadoff spot, Lizarraga put together multiple quality at bats last night, with great plate discipline and a presence that you like to see in a leadoff hitter. He was able to work some counts while still being aggressive to his pitch. He's got a very flat swing, the bat stays through the zone very well and he attacks the top half of the baseball, which plays well to his skill set. We won't see much high air at the plate from Lizarraga, he allows the ball to get deep and the approach is evidently to the middle/off-side. He's a high energy player with smooth and athletic actions at shortstop and the glove works well. Expect Lizarraga to play steady defense on the left side, and be a catalyst at the top of the order for Tolleson throughout the season. 

 

2B Alex Pina (Tolleson, 2023)

Alex Pina was in the 2-hole in last nights matchup vs Willow Canyon, and he stood out to be their biggest offensive threat. Pina has a compact build with some athleticism, and twitchy actions. He along with a majority of the Tolleson lineup, were very aggressive to the fastball. In any count, Pina was looking to drive a fastball to the gaps. The swing mechanics are tight to the body and simple with some bat speed. Pina does not have the strength or size that will produce much power numbers, but has the ability to run into one on occasion. In last nights game, Pina got on a fastball early in his first at bat for a triple driven to deep right center. Defensively, he's an athlete on the corners that's going to be able to make the tough plays due to his athleticism and range. He's able to come in on balls and throw on the run, and can make the play down the line that requires some arm strength. Pina will be a fun player to follow through the spring season. 

 

3B Tito Castillo (Tolleson, 2023)

Tito Castillo was in the 3-hole and playing 2nd base in last nights competition. He rounds out what seems to be Tolleson's top 3 threats in the order. I his first at bat, Pina was on third base with one out, Castillo wasted no time as he got a FB he could handle up in the zone and he drove it to deep center for a sacrifice fly. Expect a lot of that from this offense this year, Lizarraga/Pina getting on base, and Castillo driving them in. All hitters in the lineup, 1-9, understood team offense and moving/scoring runners. Castillo also had a plate appearance late in the game with runners on first and second with nobody out and laid down a well executed sac bunt to the 3rd base side. Castillo is just a solid veteran plugged into the 3-hole that will get on base, move runners over, drive runners in, run the bases, and play defense. Every lineup benefits from a guy like Castillo and we look forward to continue following his development. 

 

RHP Julian Garcia (Tolleson, 2022)

6-foot-2 175 pounds, Julian Garcia is kind of the wild card for Tolleson's pitching staff this year. He started on the mound last night vs Willow Canyon, and if he has outings like that regularly, it will go a long way for this team. He's got an above average build, and seems he's got more in the tank. In previous years, he's had some command issues, that was not the case last night. He was attacking Willow Canyon's hitters with a cutter/slider mix. Nothing he throws is straight and that gives him the chance to be effective. The cutter was only being thrown mid 70's, but there were very few misses over the plate, and he mixed in the slider at times. For the majority of his 5 innings of work it was cutters and weak contact, trusting his solid infield defense behind him. Garcia turned in 5 innings of 1 run baseball, work like that could give Tolleson a few extra wins over the course of the year. 

 

 

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UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE	STATE	DATE	LOCATION
Tucson Preseason ID	AZ	01/08	TBD
Phoenix Preseason ID	AZ	01/23	TBD
Super 60 Pro Showcase	NATIONAL	02/06	The MAX - McCook, Ill.