Crack of the Bat
by Blaine Clemmens
Arrowhead Credit Union Played Host to California Games
This past weekend at Arrowhead Credit Union Stadium in sunny San Bernardino, PG hosted the California Games, a two day event featuring many of the top players in California, including some of the NATION's very best '07 grads.
Due to a bit of a conflict in timing with many Northern California high schools beginning their spring practices and scrimmages, most of the players at this event were from Southern California. In the coming years we will figure out that timing part to make this event more of a true California Games, and what has the potential to be the premier pre high school season scouting opportunity for West Coast area scouts and cross-checkers.
As for a breakdown of the age of the players on these rosters, there were twenty 2006 grads, twelve 2007 grads, two 2008 grads, and one 2009 grad. There were 30 players from Southern California, two from Northern California, one from Arizona (Tovar) and one from Nevada (Pham). Both Tovar and Pham are set to attend California Universities this Fall.
The list of D1 programs that the '06 grads have committed to is very impressive:
Jarred Frierson, St. Bernard HS, UNLV
Alek Dianchenko, Cathedral Catholic HS, UC Davis
Scott Schauer, Servite HS, UC Berkeley
Tommy Pham, Durango HS, CS Fullerton
Matthew Jaimes, Chino HS, Hawaii
Kyle Hardman, Mission Viejo HS, CS Fullerton
Luis Tovar, Kofa HS, UC Irvine
Adam Melker, Claremont HS, Cal Poly
Yasser Clor, Wilcox HS, UNLV
Chris Parmalee, Chino Hills HS, CS Fullerton
Ryan Ortiz, St. Augustine HS, Oregon State
Paul Applebee, Damien HS, UC Riverside
Brandon Hines, Esperanza HS, Army
Travis Tartamella, Los Osos HS, Pepperdine
Dylan Slocum, Paloma Valley HS, Santa Clara
Even some of the '07s in this event have already given their verbal commitments:
Brett Krill, Aliso Niguel HS, UCLA
Deryk Hooker, Mira Mesa HS, Arizona State
Speaking of the '07s, the group that played in this event reads like a who's who list of the '07 class and five of them participated in the USA Youth National Team tryouts last June:
Brett Krill, Sequoyah Stonecipher (Mission Bay HS), Nick Noonan (Francis Parker HS), Freddie Freeman (El Modena HS), and Josh Vitters (Cypress HS).
Krill, Stonecipher, Freeman, and Vitters all made the team and the only reason Noonan a middle infielder did not was due to an injury. The two primary middle infielders that went on were Christian Rodriguez (UT) and Riccio Torrez (AZ). I have seen and love both Rodriguez and Torrez, and Noonan belongs in any discussion of the top middle infielders in the '07 class. Not too mention he is a 90 mph arm on the mound.
One of the 2008 grads was Ryan O'Sullivan (Valhalla HS), younger brother of 2005 3rd round pick Sean O'Sullivan. The other was Jesse Moore, who looks to be another in a long line of premium talents to come out of Mission Bay HS.
The '09 grad was Tony Calhoun (Temecula Valley HS) who has already been seen up to 93 mph by D1 coaches this past summer in a tournament in Arizona and our So Cal Underclass Top Prospect Showcase this past Fall. Calhoun did not pitch in this tournament, but will next weekend in the Perfect Game California Underclass Showcase.
So you can see from the list of names above, this event featured some premium talents and it will feature even more in the coming years. Check back soon for the game summaries from this three-game series.