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On Monday, March 5, Highland School played Patriot in both program's first scrimmages of the 2018 season. It was a very cold day, so velocities were likely down relative to what they will be in May. Also, due to weather, neither team had practiced in four days. Here are some quick notes and highlights from the action.

Highland
-2019 outfielder Dylan Fisher showed a good, short swing. Singled up the middle in his third at bat staying quick to the ball and getting barrel to contact. Hits from the left side.

-2019 pitcher Matthew Michel looks to have gotten a bit taller and added to his frame during the offseason. Fastball was consistent 83-85, touched 86, higher armslot created steep downward plane on his pitches, late armside life to his fastball as well. Curveball was 69-72 with some sharpness. Looked good for first live outing of the spring. Was consistently around the zone.

-2020 infielder Blake Fisher looked good at short, clean actions above average hands and some arm strength. Came in to pitch late in the game, was 79-80. 

-2019 infielder Joe DeBardi showed a quick bat good approach at the plate and made a good mid-at-bat adjustment during his second at-bat. He came around a few outside fastballs early in the count to fall behind and get to two strikes, did a good job of leveling the count and staying inside an outside fastball to line it sharply to the right side.

-2021 catcher Garrett Pancione looked good behind the plate blocking and receiving Michel. Throws to second had arm strength and were consistently right around 2.10. Has a chance to develop into good hitter as well.

 

Patriot
-2018 outfielder Will Balkin looked very good in centerfield. Showed a good break on balls, playing shallow and moving back comfortably on two well-hit balls. At the plate, showed a quick bat with extension through the ball, drove a ball to deep left-center in first at-bat, easily has doubles power. Also very quick, could have gotten a triple out of a ball rolled into the leftfield corner, but pulled up at second because it was with two outs.

-2018 pitcher Garrett Thomas was 77-79, touching 80. Kept all of his velocity when he was in the stretch.

-2018 outfielder Michael Fyvie showed speed in the outfield and an accurate arm with some strength and a quick release, throwing a runner out at the plate early in the game with a perfect one-hop throw.

-2020 lefthanded pitcher Luke Basler was 75-77 from a higher arm slot with a lot of late life and depth on his fastball. Showed good armspeed on his change-up that was 70, also with heavy two-plane life to it.

-2020 infielder/pitcher Riley Eikhoff (Virginia) saw his first game action since August's PBR Future Games. A little rust to shake off at the plate, but the swing looked good with his normal batspeed. As smooth and as athletic as ever in the infield. On the mound, threw almost exclusively his fastball, sitting 84-86 and touching 87. Kept the ball down, created some downward plane and late life. Threw one curveball at 72. Arm action looked good, looks ready for a big 2018.

-2018 catcher Brian Rall (High Point) had a good day at the plate and showed that he took some steps forward there. Showed a good aggressive approach. In his fist at-bat with a runner in scoring position and ahead in the count, ripped the first hittable fastball he saw the other way for an RBI single. In his next at-bat, again got ahead in the count and turned on a fastball, driving it for a home run to left center. Behind the plate, looked fine receiving as pitchers cycled through. best throw down between innings was 2.07, put a 2.10 in game right on the corner of the bag. Arm was 78 on throw downs, accuracy has improved since last year.