TNJ UNSIGNED PLAYERS  COMBINE

Forty-seven unsigned, hand-picked players, classes 2010 to 2013, and more than three dozen college coaches enjoyed a vigorous, four-hour talent display Sunday, hosted by Team New Jersey at an athletic center outside Concordville, PA. (In the interests of space, SPY attaches a list of players and coaches.)

A combine, as opposed to a clinic wherein an attempt is made to impart skills, puts players through their paces, performing identical tasks which facilitates comparison. In games, and even in some clinics, a given player, eg, a shortstop, might have one or two chances to make plays; a combine features several repetitions.

TNJ’s Jim Barsalona invited players who were deemed to be ready for review by college coaches.  About double the number picked were turned away.

Although many college coaches travelled long distances – and spent more time on travel than in watching players – several told SPY that this combine’s format assured quality players – a second and third look at players seen before, and first looks at some players whom they will now put on their charts to observe at later exposure tournaments.   However, even in a large facility with viewing areas on the second floor (but only on two sides), and given multiple activity areas, a coach could not see every player in depth (nor could SPY) but enough to form an impression for future consideration.  SPY knew virtually every coach there, and, conversations with them noted affirmative responses.

There were players whom SPY particularly wanted to see again, like lefty pitcher Rachel Gillen (who with Rachele Fico and others gives the Gold Coast Hurricanes an excellent chance to repeat as Gold national champions).  Gillen was hitting 61mph during pitching demonstrations and notched some Ks during the live hitting activity.  We got another look at Lauren Walker, who impressed at the TNJ fall tournament where several coaches said they would like to see her work against more top teams; Lauren will have that opportunity; she will pitch for NJ Inferno at Boulder.   SPY got a first look at Jordan Wheatley, from Michigan, who will pitch this summer for NJ Intensity Gold; she hit 60 on the gun;  Jordan also looked good at 1^st and in the outfield.  Another benefit of combines: we saw players in multiple positions; Walker also had a good turn at 1^st.  We had not seen Isabella Corrao, who will pitch this summer for NJ Inferno also; she cranked 63mph, the top speed we noted.

The player list doesn’t show it, but Emily Ostrom, who performed well middle infield, also pitched during the live batting, as did Meghan Mutchler (excellent drop and she can hit), and Kristen Travers (another pitcher who can hit), Bailey Liddle whom we saw more of at 1^st than in the circle; and Valerie Cassell, who rounded out the pitchers we saw against live batting – and who looked very good at 3^rd.

Some new “arms” attracted the coaches’ attention.  Jordan Stoval, a very athletic, tall catcher, excelled at the throwdown to 2^nd, and also showed range at 1^st.  Stoval came all the way from South Carolina.  Another Carolinian was equally impressive; Jordan Scarboro from North Carolina has great foot speed and range, with hard, flat throws to 1^st and demonstrated an ability to scoop grounders and throw on the fly.  Also new to us was catcher Lynnae Ceplelik, sharp throw to the bags, and 3^rd Andrea Huelsenbeck, who made some good plays; she also catches.

We saw her in game action this summer and continue to applaud Michelle Prong; excellent defense at 3^rd, strong arm and is a hitter.

We also got a second look at Alana DiMaso at short; several coaches agreed she performed much better than when a few saw her at Rising Stars; tracks infield flys over her shoulder as good as anyone we saw, and also showed hustle to both sides.  Corrin Genovese showed real fielding talent at SS and 3^rd – as good as anyone at the combine.  We got a better look at Kaitlyn O’Donnell; previously we had seen her pitch but today she showed real talent at 1^st, digging low throws, leaping for high throws and moving on ground balls to the right side; 1^st would seem to be her natural position.

Four 3^rd base players not only demonstrated agility and strong arms at the keystone, they pounded the ball during the live batting: Jackle Kelly, Taylor Kuzma, Kayla Soles and especially Julie Kuhn, who drove balls to the wall.  All four play multiple positions. 

Virtually every player took a turn in the outfield; we were looking for those arms who could make the throw from the building’s corner (deep center) to the opposite corner (home plate).  Lefty Macy Jones nailed it every time.

We got just brief glimpses of the four 2013 players, not enough to report; besides these are 8^th graders and should not be recruited this early.

SPY apologizes to the players we missed.  With sometimes three activities ongoing, and very small numbers on their combine placards, we were not always sure of their identity.

ATTENDING COLLEGES (LIST AS OF JANUARY 14; 48 WERE REPORTED)

1. Northwestern Univ
2. Auburn Univ
3. Florida State Univ
4. Penn State Univ
5. Univ Of Notre Dame
6. Virginia Tech Univ
7. Univ Of Louisville
8. Indiana Univ
9. Univ Of Massachusetts
10. Univ Of Maryland
11. Boston College
12. Univ Of Virginia
13. Hofstra Univ
14. Syracuse Univ
15. Villanova Univ
16. St. John's Univ
17. Fordham Univ
18. Lehigh Univ
19. Univ Of Delaware
20. Providence College
21. Ohio Univ
22. James Madison Univ
23. Elon Univ
24. Univ Of Pennsylvania
25. St. Francis Univ (PA)
26. Drexell Univ
27. St. Joseph's Univ (PA)
28. Temple Univ
29. LaSalle Univ
30. Wagner College
31. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ
32. Univ at Albany
33. Marist College
34. Siena College
35. Iona College
36. Univ at Buffalo
37. George Washington Univ
38. Caldwell Univ

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