Jaysox wrapup

[Jtwnbaseballguy]

The Johnstown Jaysox wrapped up their showcase season last weekend. Even though they don’t keep score in most showcase games, everyone, of course, keeps score in their heads and the team’s approximate record was 15-8-1. They finished second in the one competitive tournament they participated in, the 20-team White Star Classic in Reading. I saw all of the games except two and here’s one man’s sneak peek at some of the 2009 seniors (except where noted):

Ryan Blaschak, P, State College
Good stuff, sharp breaking ball, very effective in short outings, worries way too much about mechanics and tends to lose focus on the strike zone.

Tom Bush, P/IF, Punxsy
Good all-around player. Effective as a pitcher, gets into the mid-80s with a nice-sharp curve, good contact hitter.

Bob Carbaugh, P/1B, Richland
Struggled with the bat but was the team’s most effective pitcher. Nice change in speeds between his fastball and breaking stuff and he throws both with same motion. Went most of the season without giving up an earned run.

Kasey Clinton, 1B/3B, DuBois
Prototypical cleanup hitter/corner infielder, hits for power to all fields, doesn’t run great but solid defensively at first or third.

Aaron Dreikorn, P, Central Cambria
Solid pitcher with somewhat of a funky motion. When he can throw his breaking pitch for strikes, he’s very effective.

John Fees, P/OF, Cambria Heights
Hardest thrower on the team, he hit 87-88 on occasion. Good hard slider but he tends to hang it. He needs a nice, slow curve. He was dominant in the wooden-bat games, struck out 10 in five innings in White Star championship game.

Scott Glass, SS/2B, State College
Best defensive player on the team. Unbelievable range, sweet feet and a good arm. Also, a solid contact hitter. His size is probably a minus with scouts and coaches, but if you watch him long enough, you forget all about it.

Matthew Godwin, P, State College
State High looks to be loaded next year and Godwin is a tough lefty. Pitched very effectively throughout the schedule.

Danny Gray, C, Richland
Junior. Solid catcher, runs well for the position, good arm, hits the ball well to the opposite field.

Adam Lechak, 2B/SS, Johnstown
Solid infielder and line-drive hitter. The Trojans have the sticks for 2009.

Matt McMillen, P, Johnstown
Only a sophomore, he pitched fairly well early against some imposing bats and had really only one bad outing.

Mike Moyer, P, Clearfield
Good stuff, good control, another of the many solid righties the Jaysox featured.

Ben Pearce, OF, Johnstown
Solid outfielder, good arm and good contact hitter (did I mention the Trojans have some sticks), runs well.

AJ Rievel, P/OF, Westmont
Junior. Joined the team for the last few weeks so it’s hard to get a read on him. Had a rough first inning in the White Star championship but pitched well in two other outings.

George Roberts, IF/P, Forest Hills
Did not have a great season pitching but was his usual self in all other facets of the game. Had a ton of extra base hits and is so tough hitting the ball the other way. Solid defensively at all three infield positions. When he played middle infield with Glass, it was a thing of beauty to watch.

Neil Schroth, IF/OF, Hollidaysburg
Another good middle infielder and versatile as an outfielder. Good contact hitter, excellent speed.

Andy Smithmyer, P/IF, Altoona
Tremendous stuff, fastball is maybe just a tick below Fees, very polished delivery. He got rapped around pretty good in a lot of the metal bat games because he was up in the zone, but it was nice to see him pitch his best baseball of the season in the final wood bat showcase.

Jose Texidor, 1B/OF, State College
Smooth, athletic 1B-OF, hits the ball well to the power alleys.

Luke Trotz, 1B/C, Central Cambria
Junior. Smooth at first base and hit the ball well after a slow start. Good speed and good baseball head, he can also catch.

Zack Vignero, C/P/UT, Bishop McCort
Solid little catcher, runs well, but also pitched very well in just a couple appearances. Solid hitter.

Mike Vizzini, P, Gateway
Junior. Imposing-looking tall kid who throws nearly all breaking stuff, including a knuckleball. He kept batters off-balance throughout the season.

Keith Walters, C, Altoona
Junior. Good defensive catcher, excellent arm and good speed.

Spencer White, OF, Latrobe
After a torrid start with the bat, he cooled off somewhat for the second half of the season, but was still right there with Roberts as the top stick on the team. Athletic, smooth centerfielder, throws well.

This was a solid group that was much better-suited to the “pitching and defense” wood bat style of baseball. Throw in Bronson Bowser and Colin Harrington, who were on the roster but didn’t play, and they could have been scary good.

[sydfinch]

Wow, you're thorough and I can't even tell which kid is yours. Nice job.

[baseball555]

well you can narrow it down to the johnstown people at least then you can have a clue who this is or whose dad it is.

[southpaw2000wr]

Did AJ Rievel just pitch or did he get to bat too?

[trojan54]

aj rievel started left or right field in the last 2 weekends and pitched

[blaz41]

Truth is stranger than fiction, as I saw Carbaugh give up 6 runs at Mt. St. Mary's. Don't remember if all were earned, but there were not 6 errors,I do know that, in fact I know a double one hopped to the fence scoring two. Stealing on him is easy as he never looks to first after a walk or base hit, and has no move. There were other appearances when his was not as effective, so cut the crap. Fees and Vizzini showed good stuff and are more complete pitchers by far as is Smithmyer. Possibilites yes, most effective on the team, not a chance. Lets be clear a [/b]SEASON[/b] here might be 18 -20 innings. A pitcher only throws 2 maybe 3 innings every third or fourth game everybody is seen in short appearances and there is NO practice. Fees and Vizzini showed good stuff and are more complete pitchers by far as is Smithmyer.

PS Mechanics are essential that is why kids can throw 120+ pitches and have NO elbow or shoulder pain and can pitch on two days rest and still be effective for a couple more innings. When tired mechanics get you through, ask Jamie Moyer!! Pitchers should be concerned with mechanics especially when they don't practice every day. :shock:

[baseball555]

well thanks for the obvious fact there baseballguy555(braxton fairy) since his username is Jtwnbaseballguy im pretty sure we all could see that you dumba$$

u spelled my name wrong^^^^ haha like that offends me, and ur cool ur my idol

[FiftyCent]

Stop it Ziance Sucks (Curtis George). Stop making fun of Braxton Fairy.

[Al Gore]

Fiftycent what are you his mother wow why dont you go cry some more or something

yes, his mom's name is fiftycent
Genius!