Over the past five years the day before game day the players participate in a scrimmage. Once in awhile something out of the ordinary happens during these scrimmages. Last year, Aflac East 3B Ethan Martin was sent to the mound. We had seen Ethan pitch before and knew that he had some serious arm strength. Well, he pitched in that scrimmage, but he was extremely wild. He did throw up to 84, but really looked much more like the position prospect/hitter that he was at that time. What was most interesting was when we later found out that Ethan was pitching with a broken thumb on his throwing hand. When we asked Ethan why he agreed to pitch, he simply said, “you asked me to pitch so I did”. Those few words spoke volumes about Ethan Martin and this June he became the Dodgers first round pick… as a pitcher!

This year’s scrimmage was dominated early on by the pitching. Here are some of the highlights from that game.

West Team

Scott Griggs (CA) threw in the low 90s and breazed through his inning, showing a good 3 pitch mix.

Brooks Pounders (CA) gave up a leadoff walk and then retired the next three hitters, throwing 91 mph.

Matt Davidson 3B prospect (CA), pitched 1.2 innings in the upper 80s.

Jiovanni Mier SS prospect (CA) threw two effective innings mixing an 89 mph fastball and excellent changeup.

The West hitters were either hitless or got one infield hit, by Max Stassi (CA) depending on whose score sheet you went by.

Several of the top pitching prospects in the country are on the west roster, but most did not throw in the scrimmage. That includes, Matt Purke (TX), Jacob Turner (MO) and Tyler Matzek (CA). All had thrown recently and were rested for Saturdays game.

East Team

We mentioned it might have been a no hitter by the seven East Pitchers.

Michael Heller (FL) retired the West in order with a low 90s fastball and a good breaking ball.

Chris Jenkins (NJ) walked the leadoff hitter and then retired the next three. He was up to 93 and consistently threw in the 90s.

Ethan Carter (VA) didn’t show his best velocity, but struckout one while retiring the East in order.

Daniel Tuttle (NC) walked one and struckout two in his inning. He was up to 91 and showed a very sharp breaking ball.

Keyvius Sampson (FL) didn’t reach his best velocity but still threw 90-91 with an outstanding changeup and good breaking ball, striking out two in a perfect inning.

Michael Givens (FL) showed a 92-94 fastball with life in his inning of work.

Austin Maddox (FL) threw 90 in the last inning.

All these guys figure to throw harder on Saturday’s nationally televised game.

The East won the scrimmage 7-1 by scoring all seven runs in the third inning.

Jason Thompson (TN), Givens, Brian Goodwin (NC), Richie Shaffer (NC), Maddox and Donavan Tate (GA) all had one hit each for the East team.

Note: Hometown Aflac All American Beau Wright a very talented LHP was hit in the head with a line drive the day before Aflac players reported. He spent a day in the hospital and was told not to play for a couple weeks. After being released from the hospital, Beau headed right to Aflac practice and then went with the teams to visit the Children’s Hospital in LA. One day a patient, the next day spending time to visit some very ill kids and trying to brighten their day.

Beau can’t play in the game, but he is a true Aflac All American in every way!

The Aflac players went to visit Universal Studios after practice today, while we watched some of the countries best underclassmen perform at the PG Aflac Showcase in the afternoon. More on that group later on.

Tomorrow includes working out and the first round of the Home Run Derby. Then tomorrow evening the Aflac Awards banquet takes place. The banquet only falls behind the game in interest and in some cases it is even more important than the game itself. The Jackie Robinson Award representing the top high school baseball player in America is presented at the banquet.

After tomorrow’s HR Derby there will be a scouts and college coaches reception and lunch at USC. Wonder what is in the gift bags this year? We usually get our hands on one, some how.

Then the PG Aflac group of top underclassmen will play their game in the afternoon.