Sure wish Larnach would start hitting....

Nice to be doing so well where all the scouts are. Go mr. Larnach go beavers

Dang, someone got him out?

Some SURPRISE'ng news from Arizona.



1. The Beavs unpacked the bat bag today and went on a tear in front of 2,800 (mostly Orange) fans in Surprise Stadium. A mild 65 degree day with sunshine as OSU pasted Cal Poly-SLO, 16-7. How productive was the Beaver offense? 20-43 at the plate, with 5 walks and reaching base on 2 errors! Larnach continued his rampage with a 4-4 day including another off-field HR, a line drive double hit in the ally, and a fence rattling double in left-center at 400'. Trevor's BA is at .889 after 3 games (insane). He has been selective and has crushed anything he can extend on. Opposing pitchers are being very careful with him - today he saw nothing but pitches on the knees with the exception of the waist high fastball off the outside corner he turned on and drove out of the yard.


Kwan continues to hit the ball hard, today he went 3-4 with a walk, stolen base, a double and scored twice.


Exciting for me to see Adley hit the ball hard on every at bat in the past 3 days and go 2-3 with a BB, 2 runs, a stolen base and 2 RBI. He's been more aggressive at bat and is taking fewer pitches. He's up there to swing the bat. Everybody in the lineup today was productive. Jones had a pair of hits and a BB and 2 RBI and I think we will see a lot of him this season.
Solid defensively, a plus base runner and looks strong at the plate.

2. PC played some of his freshman position players today. Zach Clayton, and Ryan Ober made their maiden appearances.

3.  Our pitching was somewhat "spotty" today. Fehmel had a decent outing holding the Mustangs to 4 runs on 7 hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out 3 with no walks but gave up 2 home runs.  Bryce threw a mix of curve balls, sliders and change-ups with a fastball that camped on 85-86 with a few at 87 and a couple that touched 88. Cal Poly did their damage with his fastball. Very little movement and very "hittable" if the location isn't perfect. I see that as Yeskie's best opportunity with Bryce. If that #1 doesn't tail, or sink, Bryce will get touched up in the PAC. Maybe replace it with a cutter, or splitter? 100 mph velo is worthless unless that ball has movement.

Kevin Abel. Polished, confident with 3 outstanding pitches. Sat on 91-92 mph with a tailing fastball, tight, late breaking curve ball and what some MLB scouts called last year, "the best change-up in high school baseball".  Kevin allowed no earned runs and K'd one hitter. The hits came on pitches that were up slightly in the happy zone. Future Friday starter for the Beavs and might possibly work his way into the rotation this year.  A great recruit!

Nathan Burns pitched 2/3 of an inning and flashed some talent while struggling with his command. Nice, easy motion but I thought was too careful trying to paint the corners and keep every pitch on the knees. Of the 29  pitches he threw, only 13 were for strikes. Good fastball that sat on 91-92 and a breaking pitch he had trouble locating. He allowed 3 runs on 2 hits and 3 walks and a WP.  Yeskie made one trip to the mound to settle him but had to go get him shortly after. He's a good pitcher. He's also 18 and may have been nervous in his first college appearance. We'll see improvement next time out.

Dylan Pierce? A smaller version of Christian Chamberlain. Dynamic, animated, feisty, competitive and he can pitch.  Love him! 

Tomorrow:  The Lobos again and I think. we'll see Gambrell.  
NOTE:  Verburg isn't here but will be next week. 

Yes.  He’s dialed in.  No.  The pitching he’s facing is not Pac 12 caliber.  And I’m sure he’s seeing beach balls coming over the plate.  But the impressive thing to me about his performance in the first three games is the exit velocity off the bat.  I haven’t seen balls hit this hard since Conforto was here.  And he’s not trying to pull the ball, which in my opinion is a big plus for him and makes him a far better hitter.  He will eventually learn to turn on a pitch and lift the ball to right, but hopefully he won’t get pull happy.  That always got Conforto into trouble and it will lead to a slump for Larnach, too.  

Bryce was definitely a little spotty as Chinmusic said. At the same time, he was light years better than last year in Surprise. Different opposing team, but last year every swing resulted in a scorching line drive or a deep blast to the wall. HE may have had better stat lines last year after his 2 outings down here, but I was very encouraged after this first outing versus last season when I left the park saying how ugly the game had been.

Poly has 2 guys projected to go in the top ten rounds, and nearly all their good bats back from a so-so team that played a very decent schedule. Bryce did leave his fastball in perfect spots for a couple of guys. Ouch.