By Phil Wade
Director of Operations, PBR Indiana 

Greenwood, IN---The Zionsville Eagles won two games on Saturday to win the Trojan Baseball Classic at Center Grove HS, outscoring their opponents 27-6. 

In game one against West Vigo, junior Ben Kocher threw four complete innings getting seven strikeouts.  Travis Tokarek, a junior catcher, had two doubles with 4 RBI.  Junior Evan Miiller was 2-3 at the plate with an RBI, 1 Run, and 2 stolen bases.  Zionsville won game one of the tournament 11-2.   

Zionsville took on No. 15 Center Grove in the championship game of the Trojan Classic.  Center Grove knocked off Connersville earlier in the day 13-0 to advance.  Getting the start for Zionsville was Wake Forest commit, Parker Dunshee.  Dunshee, who’s coming off an ankle injury, showed good command in his four innings of work.  Dunshee struck out three Trojan batters and gave up five hits and three earned runs. 

On this day Dunshee was more impressive at the plate going 3-3 with a double, two homeruns, and seven RBI. Both Kocher and Harrison Farber were 2-4 at the plate, with Kocher driving in two runs and Farber one run. Zionsville ended the game in five innings, trouncing the Trojans 16-4.

Scouting Notes:

Zionsville

Parker Dunshee, RHP, 2013: Dunshee is one of the top pitchers in the 2013 class.  He’s coming off a severe ankle injury that limited his time during the basketball season, and baseball’s preseason.  His velocity is not up to where it has been or will be.  Last year Dunshee was up to 89 mph with his fastball.  Saturday he showed good command with all of his pitches, and was 81-85 mph with his fastball.  At the plate he showed off his power, driving two balls over the fence and hitting a 2 RBI double.  As the year goes on and as his ankle continues to heal, expect his velocity to increase. 

Ben Kocher, SS/RHP, 2014: Kocher is an unsigned junior.  The 6-foot-3 shortstop possesses an athletic frame with solid defensive actions. During warm ups he showed quick, soft hands with a strong arm across the diamond.  At the plate his bat speed is quick and displayed the ability to drive the ball, making hard contact during several of his AB’s.  Still projects to be more of a 3B at the next level.  Kocher pitched the first game on Saturday.  He doesn’t project to pitch at the next level, but displayed the ability to throw strikes and was 78-83 mph with his fastball.  His off speed pitches included a 64-65 mph changeup and a 67-68 mph curve ball. 

Travis Tokarek, C, 2014: Tokarek worked well behind the plate.  Showed the ability to block pitches in the dirt and receives it well.  Was unable to get a pop time, but shows some arm strength.  At the plate he hits from the left side and starts slightly open.  His load is smooth and produces a line drive type swing with some gap to gap power potential. 

Center Grove

Jay Prior, RHP/SS, 2014: Prior pitched the first game of Saturday’s tournament and sat 84-87 with his fastball.  He creates momentum in his delivery a lot of movement and a high leg kick, but is violent.  Shows max effort.  Had good command of the strike zone with both his fastball and his 11/5, 64-69 mph breaking ball.  Threw six strikeouts in four innings pitched.  In the second game on Saturday he played SS where he picked it well and displayed good arm strength across the diamond.  His feet are heavy, projecting him to be more of a 3B in college.  At the plate shows some bat speed and some power potential. 

Will Todd, 2B, 2013: Todd, an unsigned senior, plays a solid 2B, showing the ability to field it well with above average actions and glove.  At the plate hitting in the cleanup spot he excelled on Saturday.  In the first game against Connersville he showed good power, barreling up two balls that produced a 2 RBI double and then a three run homerun.  In game 2 he added another homerun, blasting a 2 run shot off of Dunshee.  Todd uses a balanced setup and starts slightly open.  He starts his hands high and loads back.  Showed the ability to get his barrel through the zone consistently, making hard contact.

Nick Owen, LHP, 2013: Wabash Valley commit was 82-83 with his fastball Saturday.  His arm was loose and threw from a high ¾ arm slot.  When keeping the ball down in the zone he was effective.  His 2/7 breaking ball was thrown consistently for a strike at 61-62.  Owen threw a lot of strikes, but left too many pitches up. 

Nathaniel Coy, C, 2015: Coy started the second game Saturday behind the plate for Center Grove.  His release is quick and produced pop times in the 2.05-2.1 range during warm-ups.  He showed the ability to block and receive well as a sophomore with average arm strength.  At the plate he made an appearance in the first game hitting a grand slam to end the game.  During game two he was 1-2, again making hard contact.  His set up is narrow, and uses little to no stride.