Prep Baseball Report

Schwertfeger Shines on Day One of Fall College Prospect Program



By Greg Williams
WV Director of Scouting

David LemastersThe Fall College Prospect Program kicked off with a date at La Roche College today with pitching and defense taking center stage. Nine pitchers took to the mound, all touching the 80's, highlighted by the performance of RHP Davey Lemasters (Lakeview HS, OH). The 6-foot, 170-pound righty sat 85-87 with considerable arm side run to his fastball. Lemasters also commanded a 79 mph cutter, 76 mph changeup thrown at fastball arm speed and a 70 mph 11/5 breaking curveball. He retired all six batters he faced, five by strikeout, and one on a bunt attempt back to the mound. Lemasters retired batters with four different pitches during his two inning stint. The uncommitted senior is ranked No. 32 in Ohio's Class of 2014.

LHP Zach Guth (Franklin HS, Class of 2015) was nearly as impressive. The 6-foot-3, 165-pound lefty utilized a fastball that he cuts and runs along with a 73 mph curveball and a 71 mph changeup. Guth sat 83-85 out of a high 3/4 arm slot his first two innings of work and was consistently 86 in his final inning on the hill.

Defensive gems were the order of the day. OF Jay Cortese (Vincentian Academy, Class of 2015) got things started when he made a throw from the right-center field gap in the 3rd inning to cut down a would be double. In the 5th inning, 1B Stuart Schley (Orville HS, OH, Class of 2014) combined with C Robby Korff (Woodland Hills HS, Class of 2017) on a nifty 3-2-3 double play to end the inning. In the 7th inning IF Adam Serpa (North Hills HS, Class of 2014), playing left field for one inning, made a circus catch in foul territory on a full gallop as he went sprawling into the batting cage net for the out. The final two innings of play were highlighted by 6-4-3, 5-4-3 and 4-6-3 double plays.

C/1B Jake Kleindl (Shady Side Academy, Class of 2014) was the hitting star on the day, going 1-for-2 with a double to the wall in left center field and a deep fly ball caught at the wall in left field. Kleindl also turned in the top bat exit velocity during the showcase portion of the event at 92 mph. 2B/SS Ted Williams (Meadville HS, Class of 2014) was 3-for-4 on the day.

Russell SchwertfegerOF Russell Schwertfeger (Brooke HS, WV) showcased his foot speed legging out an opposite field triple in his first at bat and getting down the line at 4.16 on a ground out to 2B in his final at bat. The 6-foot-1, 185-poound prospect also showcase an 87 mph arm from the outfield in the defensive workout.

The Fall College Prospect Program continues tomorrow at Seton Hill University. We will continue to break down the talent at both locations in articles that will appear over the next several dates. Live updates from Seton Hill will be available on Twitter @prepbaseball.

Results from La Roche College

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