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By Jacob Gill
Pennsylvania Assistant Director of Scouting

The inaugural Pennsylvania Travel Baseball State Championships are scheduled for August 19-21 at the Iron Horse Sports Complex in Windber. 10 teams from Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland, along with two teams organized by PBR, will participate. Two games will be played concurrently on neighboring fields in six time slots on the first two days of the event, with an abbreviated schedule on the final day. In advance of the onset of the 27-game soiree, we are running previews on each of the teams in attendance (with tidbits on a select group of players), continuing today with...

Team All*American

One of the more intriguing players for our evaluators will be Hempfield Area 2017 outfielder Jordan Fiedor. Prior to undergoing Tommy John surgery in July 2015, Fiedor demonstrated one of the top tool sets in his graduating class. From our last viewing at the 2015 Preseason All-State Showcase, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound right-handed hitter ran a 6.84 60-yard dash, while also posting 94-mph exit velocity and 90-mph arm strength from the outfield.

It's not so much a question of if, but when, the velocity spike is coming for Hempfield Area 2017 RHP Jacob Rife. At this summer's Western PA Top Prospect Games, he commanded a low-80s fastball, a mid-70s slider, and a low-70s change-up. Arm action is long and loose, he repeats his delivery, and there is plenty of room to add strength to his 6-foot-7, 205-pound frame.

Belle Vernon Area 2017 catcher Jordan Zilka is a physical 6-foot, 205-pound right-handed hitter with a repeatable swing, along with some bat speed and power potential. Defensively, he has quick feet and has posted pop times in the 2.07-2.13 range.

Yet another Hempfield Area product, 2017 3B/OF Charlie Varriano, has his own quality set of tools. The right-handed hitter has a simple swing with short path and has posted a 94 mph exit velocity. Also has a solid defensive skill set and enough arm for the hot corner. Logged a 6.84 60-yard dash earlier in his high school career, although has run in the 7.04-7.19 range over the past year as he has added physicality to his frame.

Other Team All*American Notes
6-foot-2, 190-pound Greensburg Central Catholic 2017 RHP/OF Neal McDermott showed a mid-80s fastball at the 2016 Western PA Top Prospect Games. ... Pine-Richland 2017 RHP/OF Hunter Treece showed good arm speed, a low-80s fastball, and a tight slider at the 2016 Preseason All-State Showcase. ... Fox Chapel Area 2017 C/OF Josh Kieffer has some feel for the barrel, gap power, and is a solid runner for the position; also a quality receiver with quick throwing transfer. ...Pine-Richland 2017 outfielder Maxx Harpalani's improving tool set includes a solid arm, gap power, and a 60-yard dash in the 7.2-range. ...Punxsutawney Area RHP/IF John Matthews is ranked among the top 20 players in the 2016 class in the state and signed an NLI with Kent State.

PA Travel Baseball State Championships News