Best Game in Class I This Friday

nhmonty, agreed. We had Johnson and Coppinger, both from St. Thomas in the Showcase League last fall, both are outstanding ball players. They combine solid bats, solid gloves, good speed with an aggresive approach to the game, they are a lot of fun to watch. I know one of our coaches is going to the game to recruit players for the Showcase League. Any players we should keep an eye out for?

O'Leary from Portsmouth is another one of our Showcase Players who is a solid all around ball player on a very talented high school squad.

I am excited for this one... Coppinger is a beast

Granite State:

Here is my take on the players I know. Coppingier is the best pure baseball player, Ben Johnson is a streak hitter plays shortstop now but I don't think he will in college (2nd base). John Hayes could be very good baseball player but loves golf more - good athlete. I have read a ton about Joosten and MacDonald who are having monster years. Jordon Bean is doing well (Freshman but may be a sophomore age wise not sure)and loves baseball and works at it. My son tells me Ben Taylor is pitching for St. Thomas tomorrow and I think he is underrated - throws the ball well. They have a kid on their team Kenny Gray or Grade who played with my son in AAU last year. He killed the ball but he doesn't seem to play much for St. Thomas. That's all I know about St. Thomas. Even though my son is on Portsmouth, I think St. Thomas is the team to beat. Both teams could get hurt in the playoffs due to thin pitching.

Portsmouth has a 7 seniors and most will not continue on with baseball other than Fransoso. He is playing on a MA travel team this summer as are my kid and Nate Jones. O'Leary has done a good job for us. Keegan Taylor is a sophomore and has pitched well - he uses his change up in the right counts and he pitches instead of throws. Not a lot for your fall league other than Taylor and O'Leary. My kid and Nate Jones play football and rumor has it O'Leary is going to play football this year. The JV team has some young players like Phinney, McCauley and Tretheran - not sure of the spelling and which ones play football.

Union Leader said today that ST has 8 of 9 starters hitting over .400 and our team has a few. Not to take away anything from the hitters on both sides but I have yet to see a real good pitcher (Nate Jones from Portsmouth has been the best). Not like it was last year where you had a dozen kids who threw very well with stuff.

Thats good knowledge nhmonty, let the Portsmouth guys know about the Fall Baseball Showcase League www.nhbaseball.org we will be having tryouts starting in August.

See you at the game tonight!

Good game, we won 14-3(Portsmouth)
Bean is the best freshman and best pitcher we have seen all year, he is going to be a great player.

Nice meeting you NHmonty! Good game by Portsmouth.

Another Freshman who can give bean a run for his money if Josh Jaques from Somersworth. Pitched 6 inngs to beat Prospect mountain today gave up two unearned runs one hit and one walk. Hard throwing lefty, live two seamer, needs to work on his off-speed pitch, but it works to slow down the hitters to blow the fastball by them.