VA/DC Scout Blog: Amherst & Jefferson Forest
April 5, 2022
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Amherst jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on Friday night, but Jefferson Forest would come storming back with two runs in the second and third innings to give them a 4-1 lead. Amherst would score three of their own in the fourth inning to tie it up. In the bottom of the sixth, JF would take the lead once and for all courtesy of a few walks and singles by Evan Mace (Lynchburg) and Sam Bell (UMBC). Bell tallied three hits on the night and paced the Cavalier offense.
See video and notes on three arms from Friday night's game.
Jefferson Forest:
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Connor Lane RHP / Jefferson Forest, VA / 2024Long proportional frame with projection left and room to fill. Lane works with a short arm action from a low three-quarter arm slot. Low effort delivery and works quick. The fastball sat 80-83 mph, touching 84 and 85 mph a few times. The fastball showed some nice late arm side run. The slider was the only secondary pitch that he showed, sitting at 69-71 mph with gradual break. Lane was able to get ahead in some counts, but struggled finishing them. Interesting 2024 arm that has some projection left and will benefit from added strength and adding to the secondary stuff.
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Peyton Smith LHP / OF / Jefferson Forest, VA / 2022Athletic 5-foot-10 frame. Normal effort, repeatable delivery, Lands slightly closed at stride, full arm circle, and throws from three-quarter arm slot. The fastball sat 80-83 mph and showed occasional arm side run. The go to pitch, early and late in counts, was the curveball. The 70-72 mph offering had gradual break and the shape varied at times with some 12/6 and 1/7 break. He was able to get the breaking ball over more consistently than the fastball and it allowed Smith to keep hitters off of the fastball early in counts. Battled out of some tough situations and worked around a couple walks keeping JF in the game early on.
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Amherst:
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Dalton Wentz SS / RHP / Amherst County, VA / 2024Listed at 6-foot-1, 200-pounds Wentz has shot up a little bit since the summer and the frame is beginning to fill out nicely. The 2021 Future Games alum commit was 88-92 early on with the fastball. In the first he struck out two and was pitching with energy while pounding the zone. After the first Wentz lost a feel for the zone, but the energy, pace, and stuff never wavered. The fastball velocity remained into the third and the slider flashed plus potential. Early on he showed feel for a 74-76 mph power curveball, but did not go to that as often deeper into his pitch count and outing. The slider sat 79-81 and had sweeping shape with the makeup to be a legitimate out pitch. He did not show great feel for the zone with the pitch and tended to have to dial back the intent just a bit to get it over, but the arm speed is there to go along with the pitch makeup. While the feel for the zone was a bit inconsistent on the day, Wentz continues to show why he is one of the best players in the state regardless of class.
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