Blue Wave showcase teams performed well and impressed scouts at the Perfect Game/EvoShield Wood Bat National Championship for Underclassmen and Upperclassmen (SEPT 23-26) in Arizona._
UNDERCLASS TEAM WINS POOL
Blue Wave 2013 was one of the top seeds in the Underclass championships at the end of the first day of competition in Peoria, where they went 2-0 out of the gate and outscored their opponents 16-1.
The onslaught began with an 8-0 mercy-rule win over a local team, ASBA.
“The Blue Wave pulled off a rare achievement, scoring in every inning in a 6 inning 8-0 run rule victory over ASBA 17U,” Perfect Game scouts reported in their scouting blog. “Clean-up hitter OF Joe Van Marter (2013, Canyon HS, CA) personified the consistency of the Blue Wave offense, going 3-3 with a walk, scoring a run and driving in another.
“Three pitchers combined for the 3-hit shutout,” Perfect Game added. “RHP Stephen Villines (2013, El Toro HS, CA) went the first 3 innings, topping out at 81 mph. He was followed by LHP Michael Simonis (2013, Mater Dei HS, CA) for 1 inning and OF/RHP Daulton Nelson (2013, Yorba Linda HS, CA) for 2 innings.”
Blue Wave 2013 then defeated Mountain West (Utah) 8-1 to in the second game to be one of the first teams in the tournament to clinch a playoff spot at 2-0 with a 16:1 run differential.
“Catcher Joe Van Marter (2013, Canyon HS, CA) had his second straight standout game for Blue Wave hitting out of the leadoff spot,” Perfect Game scouts noted. “The 6-1/175 Van Marter went 3-4 at the plate with a double and 2 Rbi’s and is now 6-7 in the two Blue Wave victories. Van Marter also impressed the PG scouts with his agility and athleticism behind the plate and aggressive and accurate throws to the bases.
“LHP Dash Johnson (2013, Mater Dei HS, CA) also had an impressive game on both sides of the ball,” Perfect Game added. “The 5-9 southpaw threw 5 2/3 innings of 1 hit baseball on the mound and also went 2-2 with 2 walks at the plate.”
With a playoff spot secured, coach Aron Garcia emptied his bench to give players needed innings and at-bats before heading into their Sunday playoff game.
In a single game Saturday, Blue Wave 2013 was defeated by the SoCal Elite 8-0 in a game played in the Seattle Mariners spring training complex.
Blue Wave 2013 finished Pool Play in first placed and advanced to the first round of the playoffs, along with Mt. West in a wild card spot.
Though Blue Wave 2013 lost their first playoff game on Sunday 3-0 to the SoCal Bombers, Mt. West then proceeded to run the table to win the Perfect Game/Evo Shield National title in a championship game against the Bombers.
“We came out hot, but our bats went cold in the last two games,” Coach Garcia noted.
UPPERCLASSMEN POST WINNING RECORD
Coach Tom NicK’s Blue Wave 2012 also played well in the Upperclassmen division of the Perfect Game/Evo Shield championships with games played at the White Sox training facility at Camelback Ranch and the Arizona Diamondbacks plush new spring training facility at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick (Scottsdale, AZ).
In the first game of the tournament, Blue Wave 2012 fought to a 3-3 time with the St Louis Sting, then dropped a 6-3 game to 520 Elite to knock them out of contention to win their pool.
The Sting scored their runs on one swing of the bat, as 6-3/210 3B Braxton Martinez (2013, Francis Howell North HS, MO) hit a 2 out, 3-run home run in the bottom of the 5th inning to bring the Sting back from a 3-0 deficit,” Perfect Game scouts reported.
“Blue Wave #3 hitter SS Kevin Clausen (2013, West Torrance HS, CA) went 2-3 with 2 Rbi’s,” they added.
Though out of the running to win their pool, coach Nick’s team proved to be the spoiler by defeating the Trombly Braves 6-5 to knock the highly touted team out of the competition and into the consolation round as well.
“Michael Otair (2012, 3B, Villa Park HS, Orange, CA) was 1-2 in the game with a game-winning 2RBI double for the Blue Wave this afternoon,” Perfect Game scouts noted. “Otair has a large frame with a solid build and he makes good contact at the plate.”
With a 1-1-1 record in Pool play, Blue Wave 2012 played a final consolation game on Sunday, defeating the Arizona Pro Fall Scout Team 8-5.
“The Blue Wave 2012 lineup pounded out 10 hits and took advantage of 8 walks in an 8-5 win over AZ Pro,” Perfect Game reported. “Infielder Michael Fuchs (2014, Irvine, Calif.) and Billy Jackson (2012, Huntington Beach, Calif.) each had a pair of hits, and Wyatt Haccou (2013, Long Beach, Calif.) had a sac fly, a bases-loaded walk and a RBI double giving him 3 RBI in the contest.
“Blue Wave right-handed pitcher Robert Riach (2012, La Palma, Calif.) threw strikes with his 76-81 fastball, striking out 4 in 6 innings,” They added.
