Wed March 11, 2020
It was a hectic week across the Empire State back in mid February with nearly 800 players in front of our eyes. Let's take a look at the top catching arms across New York this preseason.
TOP C VELOCITIES / OVERALL
1. 2021 Luis Escotto (All Hallows); 82 MPH
2. 2021 Roberto Pennella (Mahopac); 79 MPH
3. 2021 Alfred Hoti (Monsignor McClancy); 79 MPH
4. 2021 Jason Sparkes (Holmdel HS, NJ); 79 MPH
5. 2023 Luke Szepek (CBA - Albany); 78 MPH
6. 2022 Christopher Downes (Bethpage); 78 MPH
7. 2021 Tyler O'Neill (WC Mepham); 78 MPH
8. 2021 Patrick Purcell (Cornwall); 78 MPH
9. 6 players at 77 MPH
SOUTHERN TIER / FEB. 14
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | C Velo |
| 1 | Owen Stewart | NY | Elmira Notre Dame | 2022 | RHP | 74 |
| 2 | Brody Bartenstein | NY | Corning | 2021 | C | 73 |
| 3 | Jacob Soricone | NY | Hilton | 2021 | C | 71 |
| 4 | Michael Benjamin Jr | NY | Addison | 2021 | C | 70 |
| ^ | Michael Brown | NY | Thomas Edison | 2022 | C | 70 |
| 5 | Caleb Taylor | NY | Johnson City | 2021 | C | 69 |
HUDSON VALLEY / FEB. 15
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | C Velo |
| 1 | Jason Sparkes | NJ | Holmdel | 2022 | C | 79 |
| 2 | Jack Clifford | NY | Newburgh Free Academy | 2021 | C | 77 |
| 3 | Nick Lugo | NY | Arlington | 2022 | C | 75 |
| 4 | Edward Lippert | NY | St. Anthonys | 2021 | C | 73 |
| 5 | Diego Jimenez | NY | Monroe-Woodbury | 2021 | C | 72 |
WESTERN NY / FEB. 17
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | C Velo |
| 1 | Wyatt Patchett | NY | Geneva | 2021 | C | 77 |
| 2 | Evan Yandricha | NY | Iroquois | 2021 | C | 76 |
| 3 | Mason Cisco | NY | Lancaster | 2022 | C | 73 |
| ^ | Matthew Rodriguez | NY | Lackawanna | 2022 | OF | 73 |
| ^ | Cooper Romich | NY | Churchville Chili | 2023 | C | 73 |
| 4 | Zach Prior | NY | Victor | 2022 | C | 72 |
| ^ | Paul Schwandt | NY | North Tonawanda | 2021 | C | 72 |
| ^ | Drew Chiarmonte | NY | Lancaster | 2021 | C | 72 |
| ^ | Dalton Harper | NY | Maryvale | 2023 | C | 72 |
| 5 | Aidan Albano | NY | St.Francis | 2021 | 1B | 71 |
| ^ | Austin Mosher Jr | NY | Medina | 2021 | C | 71 |
CENTRAL NY / FEB. 18
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | C Velo |
| 1 | Luis Suarez | NY | West Genesee | 2022 | C | 77 |
| 2 | Derek Schumaker | NY | Paul V. Moore | 2021 | C | 73 |
| ^ | Derek Hotzler | NY | Cobleskill-Richmondville | 2021 | RHP | 73 |
| 3 | Nicholas Stevens | NY | Liverpool | 2021 | C | 72 |
| 4 | Braden Seeber | NY | Baldwinsville | 2023 | C | 70 |
| ^ | Steven Merkel | NY | NorthStar Christian | 2022 | 1B | 70 |
| 5 | Carter King | NY | Jamesville-DeWitt | 2022 | RHP | 69 |
CAPITOL REGION / FEB 19
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | C Velo |
| 1 | Luke Szepek | NY | CBA - Albany | 2023 | C | 78 |
| 2 | Ben Paquin | NY | CBA-Albany | 2021 | C | 77 |
| 3 | Edward Yamin IV | NY | LaSalle Institute | 2022 | C | 76 |
| 4 | Nicholas Plue | NY | Guilderland | 2022 | 3B | 75 |
| 5 | Christian Tortorici | NY | Schalmont | 2022 | C | 74 |
| ^ | Troy Hunt | NY | Shaker | 2021 | C | 74 |
LONG ISLAND / FEB. 20
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | C Velo |
| 1 | Alfred Hoti | NY | Monsignor McClancy | 2021 | C | 79 |
| 2 | Christopher Downes | NY | Bethpage | 2022 | C | 78 |
| ^ | Tyler O'Neill | NY | WC Mepham | 2021 | C | 78 |
| 3 | Alvin Paulino | NY | St. Raymond HS for Boys | 2021 | C | 75 |
| 4 | Billy Steele | NY | Shoreham Wading River | 2022 | C | 73 |
| 5 | Andrew Park | NY | Chaminade | 2022 | C | 71 |
| ^ | Hunter Goldstein | NY | Jericho | 2021 | C | 71 |
DOWNSTATE I / FEB. 21
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | C Velo |
| 1 | Jaime C. Padilla | NY | Archbishop Stepinac | 2022 | C | 77 |
| ^ | Zachary Kringdon | NY | Mamaroneck | 2021 | C | 77 |
| 2 | Marc Milano | NY | Briarcliff | 2021 | C | 76 |
| 3 | Alejandro Samayoa | NY | John Jay-Cross River | 2021 | C | 75 |
| 4 | Luke Nascimento | NY | Iona Prep | 2023 | C | 74 |
| 5 | Joey Mancuso | NY | Eastchester | 2021 | C | 73 |
DOWNSTATE II / FEB. 21
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | C Velo |
| 1 | Luis Escotto | NY | All Hallows | 2021 | C | 82 |
| 2 | Roberto Pennella | NY | Mahopac | 2021 | C | 79 |
| 3 | Patrick Purcell | NY | Cornwall | 2021 | C | 78 |
| 4 | Danny Witters | NY | Walter Panas | 2023 | C | 74 |
| 5 | Gabriel Tirado | CT | The Loomis Chaffee | 2024 | C | 70 |
TRI- STATE OPEN / FEB. 22
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | C Velo |
| 1 | James Bolton | NY | Webster Thomas | 2022 | C | 75 |
| ^ | Jacob Horton | PA | Souderton Area | 2021 | C | 75 |
| 2 | Michael Manganiello | NY | Archbishop Stepinac | 2021 | C | 71 |
| 3 | Kevin Martino | NY | Poughkeepsie | 2021 | OF | 66 |
| 4 | Glen Pysher | PA | Pottsgrove | 2023 | C | 63 |
RECENT TOP STAT RELEASES