I-10 Border Battle: Quick Hits

LAKE CHARLES, LA - The third annual I-10 Border Battle between Texas and Louisiana was a huge success, with over 75 players from both states showcasing their skills and then competing in three games. Everyone on hand battled the elements. Here is a quick look at what we saw from the Texas side of things.

Texas-Rio Grande Valley commit 2020 RHP Konnor Baird (Salado HS) was his usual self on the mound after spending the fall on the gridiron playing safety for the Eagles. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-hander pumped strikes with two solid pitches. His fastball was mostly 84-85, while the devilish slider was 73-74 mph.

College recruiters will need to make sure they see uncommitted 2020 RHP Will Clements (College Park HS) this spring, as he has plenty of upside at 6-foot-5, 220-pounds, and has really matured physically, spending the fall hitting the weight room and dialing in on nutrition. The right-hander throws a heavy fastball that got up to 86 and 87, sitting mostly 84-85.

There were a number of guys that swung the stick on Saturday, and Texas’ BP was impressive overall. Arkansas commit 2021 1B Josh Phillips (Bridgeland HS) launched several balls out of the yard to the pull side. The left-handed hitter has strength at contact with natural lift and pull side pop. 2020 3B/RHP Jack Pruitt (Reedy HS) also hammered the ball around the yard and tallied two bombs of his own. The left-handed hitter stands 6-foot-1, 190-pounds, ran a 7.15 60-yard dash, threw 84 across the infield, and posted a top exit velocity of 88 mph off the tee. 2020 IF Jacob Garcia (Ridge Point HS) is an offensive infielder with gap power and a middle of the field approach. His barrel stays in the zone a long time, allowing him to consistently barrel it up in both BP and games - He Can Hit. 2020 OF Mitchell Andrews has matured physically and is starting to fill out an already athletic frame at 6-foot, 170. The right-handed hitter pounded the ball from gap to gap during BP and ran a 7.04 60-yard dash. United States Air Force Academy commit Christopher Stallings (Kinkaid HS) is very athletic and although he did not run the 60, he did show a seasoned approach during BP as he throttled balls into the gaps with easy rhythm and loose hands.

2020 C/RHP Beckett Vine (St. John’s) is going to be a nice pickup for some lucky school as he can fill a number of rolls on the field. With a 6-foot, 190-pound strong frame, the right-handed hitter has solid bat speed and made hard, loud contact during BP with gap power. In the game, he destroyed a ball to deep centerfield into the teeth of a steady gale force wind. Vine’s arm strength allows him to play two premium positions as he threw 77 mph from the crouch and had pop times of 2.1-2.12. On the mound, the right-hander has a quality FB/SL mix with his fastball sitting 82-84, and a 74 mph slider.

Several uncommitted middle guys had solid days, including 2020 SS/RHP Clayton Miller (Stratford HS). He ran a 7.02 60-yard dash, took an outstanding round of BP with a fluid hack, threw 84 across the diamond, then absolutely mowed down hitters in one inning of work. He pumped strikes with command of three with his fastball sitting 81-83, a 67-69 mph curveball and a 75-76 mph changeup. 2019 Jack Schell (St. Thomas HS) ran a 6.98 60-yard dash, threw 87 across the diamond, and showed a balanced hack from the left side with an inside out path and quick hands. 2020 SS Thomas Schreck (Needville HS) can really handle the ball in the middle of the field, plays the game hard, and is going to be a quality sign, he improved his 60 time to 7.05. 2020 SS Micah Walker improved his 60 time to 6.93 and showed strength to the pull side gap with natural lift as he squared it up during BP. 2019 SS Dalton Davis (Montgomery HS) also improved his 60 time to 6.81 and showed a line drive approach during BP. 

Uncommitted 2019 C Mason Tomchesson (Klein Collins HS) is an offensive backstop that ran a 7.03 60-yard dash, and showed a quality feel to hit during the games, where he laced a two strike double down the right field line on a breaking ball. We have seen this guy a bunch and he plays with a blue-collar mentality.

The outfield play for all 6 teams was impressive, especially considering the conditions (windy, cold, and wet), several guys made nice plays on the day including 2020 OF Chase Richter (Cypress Woods HS) who ran down the shot from Becket Vine making an easy over the shoulder catch that looked like a wide receiver catching a fade route for a touchdown. Richter has added strength to his 6-foot, 190-pound frame this offseason and plays faster than his 7.09 60-time. The left-handed hitter also hammered a ball to centerfield during the game. 2020 OF Will Sisk (Aledo HS) moves with natural actions in the outfield and catches the ball with ease, he charged a low liner into the gap and made the play look a lot easier than it was, he also did a nice job of cutting a ball off down the right field line. 2020 OF Henry Cooper Huspen (Allen HS) posted a 6.63, and showed a simple swing from the right side with strength at contact and natural lift. 2020 OF Weston Valasek (Tompkins HS) ran a 6.76, and 2019 OF Tommy Ivey (Kingwood Park HS) ran a 6.91. 2020 OF Brady Braun isnt going to be the biggest player at Klein Cain HS, but the right-handed hitter can play the game. He ran a 7.0 60, and has quick hands at the plate, and gets solid jumps in the outfield.

2021 SS/C Sergio Guerra (San Diego HS) posted some of the best pop times of the event (1.94-2.07) and played easy catch to second base with a top velocity from the crouch of 79 mph.

2020 RHP Jaycob Qurit (Nimitz HS) recorded several punchouts with a big bender of a breaking ball at 63-68 mph. His fastball sat 80-82 mph from a high-¾ slot.

2020 RHP Jalen Davenport (Klein Collins HS) topped out at 87 once, 86 a couple of times, but the right-hander throws a fastball that cuts and sinks with good movement and shows feel for his changeup at 75-76.

Keep an eye on 2021 OF Slade Foreman, he plays on a LOADED Bridge City HS team on the southeast border of Texas. The right-handed hitter has loose hands, natural rhythm, an easy leg kick, and he plays fast for a young guy.

Look for more reports and stats throughout the next week, as well as videos on social media.

Texas News