The Garden State Underclass Games began strong in 2013 and has somehow picked up pace and numbers and viability each and every one of its 13 years at Diamond Nation.
The event brings together the top 100 underclassmen in New Jersey to the top travel ball facility in the northeast and to an audience of a stunning 122 college and pro scouts who crowded around Fields 1 and 4 and, of course, manning the scout tower, which provides excellent views of all fields.
While the two nine-inning games pitting mostly high school sophomores and juniors are entertaining and provide valuable information on the state’s top players, many who are still uncommitted, the event opens with batting practice and infield/outfield drills that have perhaps equal impact on scouting decisions.
The event also provides a helpful recruiting jumping off point for many of the same college scouts who will be in attendance at Diamond Nation this weekend at the Super 16 Invitational and the Super 17 Invitational on Monday-to-Thursday.
The Garden State Underclass Games also coincides with Futures Game, which pits two teams of the top eighth graders showing off their young but burgeoning skills on Field 3.
Bouncing from field-to-field on Thursday it wasn’t difficult to find impressive performances by the young talent on hand. Here are some of those fine performances we were able to enjoy.
Tyler Castillo, a catcher from Mount Olive, takes a big cut during Garden State Underclass Games.
The South’s Daniel Keenan, a shortstop from Haddonfield, ripped a long home run to left-center field to cut the Northeast’s lead to 2-1 in the top of the second inning.
“I got two straight fastballs,” said the Penn commit. “The first one was away and the second was low and in.” Keenan clearly preferred the low and in offering and yanked it over the fence.
The abundance of scouts can create a nervous environment but the players who can overcome those feelings tend to shine on the field.
“I was here last year and being committed you don’t feel nervous,” said Keenan. “I just felt like I was playing baseball with my friends.”
Uncommitted sophomore James Fenton of Metuchen may or may not have had the incursion of nerves, but the 6-4, 175-pounder did battle some command issues in his one-inning stint. Fenton did hit 90 on radar guns, which will keep in front and center on the scouts’ “radar” all summer. His outstanding season at Metuchen — 7-2, 1.10 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 51 innings — has many expecting a big summer from the long righthander.
Sophomore Austin Wright, a catcher/third baseman from Nottingham in Hamilton, launched a two-run grounds rule double to right-center field to draw the Central team to within 5-4 of the Northeast squad in the bottom of the third.
Austin Wright of Nottingham launched a two-run grounds rule double on this pitch
“His off-speed stuff was missing so I held off of it,” said Wright of his bases-loaded at bat. “When he got to 3-1, I was expecting a fastball and got one on the outer half.” Wright drove that pitch deep into the gap and it bounced over the fence for a grounds rule double that robbed him of an RBI. The Garden State Games appearance capped a long day for Wright that began playing in Philadelphia in the Carpenter Cup.
High School and Diamond Jack teammates Owen Ehrenkranz and Gavin Ross were on the field at the same time in the top of the fourth for the Central team. Ehrenkranz pitched that inning and Ross was at second base and in his Princeton Day teammate’s ear with encouraging words.
Junior shortstop Brent Walulak of Northern Burlington had two quality at bats in his Garden State Games experience. He drew a walk in his first at bat and singled through the right side in his second at bat in the eighth inning for the South team. The Marist commit was a bit charmed with his second bat completing moments before the lightning alarm sounded from the scout tower right behind him. The alarm chased everyone from the complex.
Brent Walulak of Northern Burlington drew a walk here and singled later in the Underclass Games.
Central catcher Brody Garguilo of Ranney Prep gunned down a Northeast runner trying to steal third base to end the first inning.
“There was a lefty in the box, so that gave me a clear lane to throw,” said Garguilo, a Hazlet resident. “I didn’t expect him to steal there so it was a 100 percent reaction.”
It was a steamy night in Flemington as temperatures were in the 90s most of the afternoon and didn’t recede much until later in the evening, which is never a good thing for a catcher.
“I’ve been catching since I was six years-old,” said the 6-0, 185-pound Garguilo. “You get used to it. I’m just having a great time playing ball.”
Junior Jackson Staples of the Hun School had two very good days in a row at Diamond Nation, a familiar and comfortable place for the Diamond Jack already committed to Pittsburgh.
Nik Holot of Hunt. Central leads off first after reaching on an error. Ron Gavazzi of Montclair coaches.
Staples hit a two-run home run on Wednesday during a showcase at Diamond Nation and didn’t waste much time “getting comfortable” during the Garden State Games. Staples unloaded a solo home run in the early going on Thursday night. The two homers in two days matched Staples’ total for his entire season at Hun.
“I think I’ve gotten used to the pressure of the showcases,” said Staple, a 6-4, 195-pound specimen from New Hope, Pa. “I played some showcases last summer, including the Futures Game in Lake Point (Georgia). I think you have to just focus on what you can do in the game.”
Gavin Bucceri, a junior at Gill St. Bernards pitching for the Northwest squad, had one of those innings that turned heads for more than one reason. The leadoff batter hit a towering, long fly ball to deep center field that was lost in the darkness above the lights. Instead of a routine out, the hit went for a double.
The men in blue had a hot but very effective evening at the Garden State Underclass Games.
Bucceri, unaffected, struck out the next three batters in order to strand the runner at second base and end the top of the sixth. He got the first batter on a 3-2 curveball and the next two batters on 1-2 fastballs.
“It was good to come back from that tough beginning to the inning for sure,” Bucceri said. “I was a little nervous after sitting around until the sixth inning waiting to get in there.” He clearly channeled those nerves because there was no evidence of them to be found.
Bucceri played with the Diamond Jacks at the 10U to 14U level, left for the Locked In Expos for a couple seasons and has returned and will play this summer for the Diamond Jacks Super 17U club and coach Kevin Cust.