No 11 Bolles Defeats IMG 4-3 Behind Hunter Barco
March 29, 2018
In a match up that featured the No 1 overall player in the 2019 class, Hunter Barco and the No 9 overall player in the 2019 class in the state of Florida Kendall Williams, the match up was surely a must see. Bolles High School came in ranked No 11 in the Power25 while IMG is loaded from top to bottom and if they competed in an FHSAA district would be near the top of the Power25.
Bolles would jump out to an early lead, as Max Ferguson would lead off the game by drawing a walk and stealing second and third on consecutive pitches. Ferguson would then score on a sacrifice fly to left from Hunter Barco to give Bolles the early 1-0 lead.
Barco would come out in the bottom of the first, striking out two of the first three hitters. The command wasn't there early, but he was working his up tempo style, slightly crossfire, attacking hitters with a fastball ranging from 90-93 mph with late action.
Although, with Bryce Reagan on first, he would hang an 85 mph slider to Andrew Stanley, who would drive the pitch deep over the left field wall giving IMG a 2-1 lead. The offense wasn't done in the first though. Ray Torres would single following the home run, then a walk, stolen base and wild pitch, and IMG would take a 3-1 lead.
Both pitchers would settle down after allowing runs in in first. Kendall Williams would cruise through second and third, working off of a fastball that ranged mostly 90-92 touching 94 mph. Although, after a leadoff flyout, Paul Keuhn would homer to left-center. Then a base hit from Mac Forrester, a walk and a first and third play where the throw ended up in the outfield and Bolles would be tied 3-3. With two outs, Williams would induce a ground ball to short and Alexander, with seemingly to much time, came up short on the throw and Bolles would take a 4-3 lead.
This is all Barco would need, as he settled down following the first inning found his command and dominated a very talented lineup. Barco would not allow a hit after the first, going six innings while striking out eight. He would maintain 90-93 mph for the outing and shows ability to adjust and mix all of his pitches well. After the first, the slider became nearly untouchable. Working down in the zone at 82-84 mph, the pitch had hard, late 2/8 action with tilt. He also threw a change up at 85-86 and has large, down action, similar to that of a splitter.
Connor Boyer would relieve Barco in the seventh. Boyer would set the 9-1-2 hitters of IMG down in order, striking out two, and improving No 11 Bolles to 13- 12.
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Kendall Williams, RHP, IMG Academy (2019)
Andrew Stanley, C, IMG Academy (2018)
Ray Torres, C, IMG Academy (2019)
Bryce Reagan, INF, IMG Academy (2018)
Blaze Alexander, INF, IMG Academy (2019)
Hunter Barco, LHP, Bolles (2019)
Max Ferguson, UTL, Bolles (2018)
Austin Knight, SS, Bolles (2018)