Austin Area Tournament

2.28.19
Lake Travis 9 - Round Rock 8

AUSTIN -  A few dozen scouts were on-hand to the see the prospect-heavy matchup between Austin-area foes. The contest was slowed by the dismal weather conditions and both sides each issuing nine walks throughout the game, but that didn’t stop players from making some great displays of physical and intangible abilities necessary for the next levels of the game.

Lake Travis’ lineup collected twelve hits on the day, led by 2019 catcher Aidan Babinsky (SFA) and 2019 RHP/B Jimmy Lewis (LSU), who both had three on the day. Babinsky moves extremely well for a catcher with his 6-0 160-pound frame. He swings from the right side, has compact movements and his barrel shows very good speed through the zone. Lewis, who is more known as a power pitcher who is garnering a lot of heat this spring by professional scouts as he is ranked No. 7 by PBR Texas and is the No. 28 RHP on the PBR Draft board, translates his power from the mound into his swing and he puts a charge into each ball he connects with. His three hits contributed to three RBI. 2019 OF Austin Plante (TCU) and 2020 OF Jack Jalufka (uncommitted) collected two hits apiece in the contest. Plante, who checks in at No. 49 on the PBR Texas rankings, has a mature phsycial stature in the left-handed batters box at 6-4 225-pounds, he shows patience in his approach, commands his barrel well in the zone, and the intent to do damage with every swing as he has a steep uphill swing and a tendancy to go to his pull side. Jalufka fought off some difficult pitches to get his two hits and turn the lineup over. He showed speed out of the box and a good inside-out approach that shot balls middle away.

The big name in the Lake Travis lineup, 2019 3B/RHP Brett Baty (Texas), was largely avoided by pitchers, who understood the necessary caution of pitching to the No. 1 ranked 3B in both the state and the 2019 class. Baty has a calm presence in the left-handed batter’s box, and he shows considerable restraint on borderline pitches, but when he does choose to unleash, he displays elite bat speed, ability to direct the barrel, and power on pitches to both sides of the plate. Although he went 1-3 on the day with 2 walks, Baty never got cheated in his at-bats as he expanded the zone and put sharp swings on balls to send missiles into far-foul territories. His one hit of the day on a tailing fastball to the outer half of the plate that he stayed through and sent a hard line drive up the middle, and legged out a 4.5 time to first base. In the field, Baty showed off his plus arm across the diamond as well as his athletic footwork between innings. Baty also closed out the game on the mound for his team, securing the final three outs, two of which came by strikeout. He flashed an 88-91 mph fastball and a 80 mph curveball.