Crack of the Bat
by Blaine Clemmens
Game #3 - Royal 5 vs Black 2 - Royal Score 3 Late to Beat Black to Win 3 Game Series
The rubber game of the 2006 Perfect Game California Games was won by the Royal team by a score of 5-2. On a day that started off calm and quite comfortable but eventually turned windy and cool, Royal jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first and behind the efforts of three pitchers navigated their way to the win.
Sophomore starting pitcher Jesse Moore went four innings to earn the win, allowing two unearned runs on four hits, a walk, and one strikeout. He was followed by senior Brandon Hines (Esperanza HS) who allowed only one hit in two nearly flawless innings. Hines is not normally a pitcher, but that was not apparent as he mowed down the Black hitters with a fastball down in the zone and a very good curveball. He allowed a hit to the first batter he faced (promptly erased in a 1-6-3 double play) then did not allow a ball out of the infield as he set the Black down in order from there.
Senior right-hander Tom Filip (OF/P, Granite Hills HS) came on in the top of the seventh to earn the save, though not without a few tense moments. The first two hitters reached via a walk and an error before he recorded the first out via a punchout. Another error followed and the bases were loaded with only one out.
No worries though. Filip bowed his neck and punched out the next two Black hitters, the last one called on a wicked breaking ball that locked up the hitter. Filip is not committed to a four year school yet and with his down angle fastball and well above average curveball, he can pitch at the D1 level.
Royal scored two unearned runs off Black starter Robert Fish ('06 LHP, 6'2" 205, AB Miller HS) in the bottom of the 1st. Leadoff hitter Nick Noonan struck out but reached base when the ball got away from the catcher. He stole second and eventually scored on an RBI ground out by Chris Parmelee. Two-hole hitter Crispin Tarango ('06 SS/P, Diamond Bar HS) also reached on an error and he too eventually scored, on a wild pitch.
Tarango would finish the day 1 for 2 with two stolen bases and three runs scored. He is also a talented shortstop and for interested college programs, he remains unsigned at this point. With a quick bat, a strong arm and good athleticism, he will be a good spring signee.
Fish would allow only one more run in his five inning outing (5 IP, 2 H, 8 K, 2 BB), but the Black offense never got going. Fish was one of the players the pro scouts came to see. He is a big and talented lefty with a fastball that reached up to 90 mph and a big sweeping breaking ball that he went to often. His body is strong and durable and his arm is strong. Expect Fish to get serious draft interest this spring.
Chris Parmelee had a decent day at the plate, going 1 for 2 with two RBI, a walk, and two stolen bases. For all of his ability with the bat, he is also one of the best base runners I have seen at the high school level, which just adds to his overall ability.
Parmelee exclusively played the outfield in this tournament and showed off his above average arm on numerous occasions. He made few plays on the bases closer than they should have been with strong throws, but at other times he gave up extra bases by making some ill-advised throws, likely in an effort to show the scouts his arm strength.
In addition to getting the save, Filip was also 1-1 at the plate with a single and a run scored. That single started the two-run rally with one out in the 6th inning and the run came when he eventually scored on a wild pitch. Tarango singled two batters after Filip, moved up to second on that wild pitch, and scored when Parmelee singled.
As for Freddie Freeman, he had a double in his third straight game, a hustle double on a liner into shallow left field.
The Royal pitchers basically held the Black hitters in check. Only T.J. Warren had more than one hit (2-3, SB), while Stonecipher, Eric Hillenbrand ('07 P/OF, Torrey Pines HS), and Alek Diachenko each had one single. The lone offensive rally for Black came in the 2nd inning after Hillenbrand singled with one out. Diachenko followed with a bloop single into shallow centerfield, sending Hillenbrand to third base. Jared Jordan drove home Hillenbrand with a sacrifice fly to centerfield for his fifth RBI in two games. Diachenko came around to score when the throw into the infield got away.
That was it for the Black team. Though he did not have a hit, Black shortstop Courtney Morgan played very well at shortstop all game long, making a number of plays, both on the move and balls hit right at him.
That wraps up the coverage of the 2006 California Games. We will follow this report up in the next day or so with a top tools type breakdown, culminating with a top prospects list for the seniors and juniors.