Baseball U’s Anthony Yerka finds himself in a pickle between Clutch catcher Sincere Moore and third baseman Zach Cruz.
By Rich Bevensee
Tyler Walters, who has now been called up twice to pitch for an older club team, is in the process of learning that even when performance does not meet expectation, the output may be good enough to get the job done.
Walters, a rising junior at Pocono Mountain West in Pocono Summit, Pennsylvania, is a 6-foot righty who has the attention of the higher-ups in the Baseball U PA program. For the second time this season, Walters was asked to pitch for the older 17U Prospects team in a high-profile showcase event.
Walters may not have pitched quite as well as he would have liked, but he certainly got the job done under the scrutiny of dozens of college coaches taking notes at Diamond Nation’s campus in Flemington.
Walters allowed three runs in four innings on three hits and three walks, which was enough to help Baseball U PA 17U Prospects defeat Clutch Cartel of Vineland, N.J., 8-3, in the 18U Blue Chip Prospects Powered by Victus event on Monday evening.
“I was very excited to get the opportunity, obviously,” Walters said. “I thought I pitched pretty well. I need more first pitch strikes and less free bases. But I got the job done. I was excited for the opportunity because this is the game I love.”
Baseball U has games remaining with Hudson Valley Renegades-Maus, Morris County Cubs 2027 Navy, and Complete Performance Baseball Academy. There are no playoffs for this event, but the top five teams will receive a bid to the Super Top 25 Showcase Series Aug. 11-12 at ‘The Nation.’
Walters held Clutch scoreless for two innings before allowing a run in the third when Christian McGarrity scored on a wild pitch.
Walters’ only rough spot Monday night came in the bottom of the fourth inning after Baseball U had taken an 8-1 lead. Clutch then staged one of the strangest series of events.
First, Nino Torres led off by hitting a normal-looking grounder to the right side but it took a kangaroo hop directly in front of Baseball U second baseman Dylan Hunter and knocked off his cap.
After a flyout, Jayden Goranson hit a routine grounder to the right side that instead rolled through the hole for a base hit because Hunter was headed to second with Torres stealing. Torres advanced to third on the hit-and-run.
Ernie Bernhardt then hit an infield popup on the right side which was lost in the lights. It fell for a base hit and Torres scored. Strange days, indeed.
Bernhardt soon scored on a passed ball but that was all the damage Clutch could do against Walters.
“I thought Tyler threw really well,” Baseball U coach Mike Watral said. “He’s a bulldog. He’s gonna deal with adversity when guys get on. A couple times he let them on by walking them but when push comes to shove he’s gonna battle.”
Watral said Walters first got called up to pitch for the 17U club a few weeks ago and performed well over a three-inning start. Although Walters was not promised another shot at playing up at that particular time, Watral said he knew it would happen again because of the tools Walters brings to the mound.
Ernie Bernhardt had the only RBI on a single for Clutch Cartel.
“He keeps the ball down very well,” Watral said. “He pitches to the knees, below the belt, and he usually does not come up above that spot. When you can consistently hit that spot, it makes it tough for a team, especially in a wood bat tournament, to get solid contact.
“He’ll sit 80-82 so there’s no issue with velocity. He keeps the ball down and he’s a hard worker. He’s a kid you want to bring up and show kids that if you work hard, that’s what’s gonna happen.”
Baseball U barely had to generate any offense – it recorded two base hits – because it was the beneficiary of nine walks and three hit batsmen.
Entering the top of the fourth with the score tied, 1-1, Baseball U sent 13 batters to the plate and scored seven runs on one hit, seven walks and two hit batsmen to claim an 8-1 lead.
Warlin Aguilera forced home a run with a bases-loaded walk, Garrett Yakimowicz was hit by a pitch with the bases jammed, Anthony Yerka hit a two-run double to left, and Yakimowicz scored on a wild pitch. Three batters later Davien Orozco and Emill Roman coaxed back-to-back, bases-loaded walks.
Chris Heyer pitched a 1-2-3 fifth inning for Baseball U and struck out one. The first out was a terrific running catch by center fielder Aguilera, who chased down a Patrick Tull fly ball to the deepest part of the park with his back to the plate.
Nino Torres went 2-for-2 for Clutch Cartel. Carter Marin pitched three innings, Ian Rodriguez pitched two-thirds of an inning, Mason Kurelko pitched to three batters, and Zach Cruz retired the four batters he faced over the final 1⅓ innings.
This week Clutch will face Canes Tri-State, ZT Dynasty and Locked In Baseball Expos Blue.