DON'T THINK. IT CAN ONLY HURT THE BALLCLUB

Kyle Skipworth, catcher for the Riverside Patriot team who was eliminated from the CIF-SS Division IV playoffs by Diamond Ranch on Tuesday, was named the 2007-08 Gatorade California Baseball Player of the Year on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-4, 200 pound senior, regarded by many as a first-round draft pick in the Major League Baseball first-year player draft on June 5, went 2-for-3 against Diamond Ranch but second-seeded Patriot (27-3) lost 5-3 with a trip to Friday's final at Dodger Stadium on the line.

Skipworth was just one of several imposing players for Patriot (6-foot-8, 255-pound first baseman Matt Lollis looked like a fifth-year senior, in college). A MLB mock draft by BaseballAmerica.com's Jim Callis projects Skipworth as the sixth overall pick by the Florida Marlins organization.

After all I heard about Skipworth, I was surprised to see Diamond Ranch's leadoff batter, who drew a walk, break for second the very first pitch to the next hitter. A startled Skipworth bounced a day-late throw into second. But really, his pitcher's slow delivery didn't give him a chance. Skipworth quickly erased any doubts about his arm strength later that inning, gunning down a would-be base stealer at third by such a margin the guy didn't bother to slide.

Batting from the left side, Skipworth unfurled the fluid swing that produced these stats his senior season: a .540 batting average, 47 RBI and 13 home runs in just 94 at-bats (That's an RBI every second at-bat and a HR every 7.2 at-bats). Once he fills out that lanky frame, he is going to be an absolute man child.

Although, Skipworth struck out in the first inning along with his two teammates, something that seemed to complete a first-inning role reversal of the No. 2 seed and the team that finished third in their own league. After Patriot starting pitcher Mitch Patito hummed a 90-mph fast ball in for a first-pitch strike, an unflappable Diamond Ranch team had him in left field and a 2-0 lead before the inning was over. The Patriot reliever went the remaining 6 1/3 innings.

Skipworth carried his weight in the loss, reaching base his next three at-bats by sandwiching an error with two singles. He scored the go-ahead run in the fifth but could only watch as Diamond Ranch plated three runs in the final two innings to end his magnificent high school career.

Skipworth is now a finalist for the Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year award to be announced in June.

Posted by Clay Fowler at 10:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Upland High School junior quarterback Josh Nunes narrowed his list of potential colleges to eight on Tuesday.

Of the 20 scholarship offers the 6-foot-4, 211-pound Nunes received these are still under consideration: Florida, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Tennessee, Arizona State, BYU, Stanford and Harvard.

Nunes original plan was to cut the list to five on May 27 and make a final decision shortly thereafter. He altered his plan to include eight schools and allowed that the time frame may be on a sliding scale too.

"If I am unable to make my final decision soon, I plan on taking my five official visits to assist me in making my decision," Nunes said in a statement. "I look forward to doing more research on the schools I've narrowed it down to and continuing the process."

Nunes' most recent offers came from Florida and Duke on Thursday. Gators offensive coordinator and QB coach Dan Mullen watched him throw at Upland on May 19 before extending the offer.

Nunes was among a select group of quarterbacks invited to the Steve Clarkson Super Seven camp last weekend. According to Los Osos High School quarterback Richard Brehaut, one of Nunes' close friends who was also invited to the camp, the two were competing for an offer from UCLA in front of Bruins head coach Rick Neuheisel and offensive coordinator Norm Chow, who were both in attendance. On Saturday night, Brehaut was offered a scholarship to UCLA, the only offer the school will make to a quarterback from the class of 2009, according to Brehaut. He verbally committed to the Bruins on the spot.

Nunes, however, is left with a plethora of other options.

"I wanted to reduce the number to five schools but, after long consideration, at this time the best I could do is eight," Nunes said. "It somehow feels uncomfortable because I would be blessed and fortunate to play for all the schools that have offered me a scholarship. However, I feel I owe the schools that are not in my top eight the respect to continue their QB recruiting with the same respect they have given me."

Posted by Clay Fowler at 1:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Los Osos High School quarterback Richard Brehaut verbally committed to UCLA Saturday night, minutes after receiving a scholarship offer from the Bruins.

The 6-foot-3 205-pound junior held a private workout for UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow on Thursday at Los Osos and secured the offer Saturday with a strong showing in front of Chow and UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel at the Steve Clarkson Super Seven quarterback camp in Santa Barbara.

"UCLA has been my dream school since I was a kid," Brehaut said. "This is unbelievable. It's a dream come true. Everything about UCLA is perfect for me."

The UCLA coaching staff assured Brehaut he'll be the only quarterback from the class of 2009 offered a scholarship by the school, a distinction he was competing for with Upland High School junior quarterback Josh Nunes.

Nunes, who has expressed high interest in UCLA since receiving the first few of his 20 scholarship offers, was also at the Steve Clarkson camp where the two had an apparent showdown for the only UCLA quarterback scholarship offer available to their class. Given the fact these two have been linked since assuming the starting quarterback role for their respective high schools as sophomores, I guess its only fitting that they duke it out for the only spot at the school likely No. 1 on each of their long lists.

"I knew it was between me and Josh for that offer," Brehaut said. "We've always had a friendly rivalry and this was just one more thing we were competing for. Whatever he decides, he's going to end up at a great school. We've been friends since little league and we'll continue to be friends."

Brehaut has 15 other scholarship offers from schools including Colorado, Arizona State, Arizona and Oregon State. The 6-4, 211-pound Nunes will pare the list to five on Tuesday.

"They're both great quarterbacks," Los Osos coach Tom Martinez said of Brehaut and Nunes. "I think Richard has a few little intangibles on (Nunes) leadership-wise. Athletically he moves a little better but Josh has a strong arm and that height to see over the line."

Brehaut, who has been in contact with UCLA since attending its junior day in the spring of 2007, completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 2,348 yards, 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions as a junior, helping Los Osos to an 8-3 record.

A lifelong baseball player, Brehaut hadn't played organized football before arriving at Los Osos in 2005. His first inclination was to play linebacker, but the freshman coaching staff steered him under center.

He became Los Osos starting quarterback midway through his sophomore season.

Last season, according to Martinez, was when he demonstrated ability worthy of a program the caliber of UCLA.

"It's what he was hoping for but I don't think he knew if he would have a chance to go to a school like UCLA," Martinez said. "I don't think he knew where he would fit in."

He is the first quarterback deemed a fit by Neuheisel since his arrival to UCLA in December. Brehaut's non-binding verbal commitment makes him the seventh member of the UCLA 2009 recruiting class and the first offensive player.

"They took their time with this decision and wanted to make the best choice they could," Brehaut said. "And to know they picked me out of all these quarterbacks is an honor."

Posted by Clay Fowler at 8:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Isaac Galloway might be a mere signature away from becoming an 18-year-old millionaire in two weeks.

Or the Los Osos High School senior may decide to live in a San Diego State dorm room on a stipend for the next three years.

It depends on where the centerfielder is selected in the Major League Baseball first-year player draft on June 5.

"My first choice is to go pro," Galloway said Wednesday. "But if I'm not treated fairly in the draft then I'm prepared to go to school."

Galloway said he won't pass judgement on what he considers fair until he is selected. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder has heard rumors "from people around" that he'll be a top-five overall pick, not a small feat considering the draft consists of 50 rounds with 30 picks each.

Those rumors Galloway heard may not be unsubstantiated; A mock draft on MLBDraftSite.com has Galloway going fourth to the Baltimore Orioles organization. It has been brought to my attention that BaseballAmerica.com is likely a more reliable resource. It has Galloway rated its 36th best draft prospect.

Galloway's advisor, Rich Aude of Wasserman Media Group, has gathered information from MLB scouts regarding Galloway's draft status but declined to make any estimates on account of his job security. Galloway hooked up with Aude, who made it clear he is not Galloway's agent (yet), in 2006.

Galloway signed a letter of intent in February to attend San Diego State. If he enrolls in a university, MLB requires a three-year wait until he is eligible for the draft again. If he attends junior college, an option still on the table, he'll be eligible for the draft in a year.

The decision may be an easy one if Galloway is selected in the first round, where the average signing bonus was $2.2 million in 2007.

"It's a money thing and it's about opportunity," Aude said. "If he doesn't think where he is picked is fair, he'll go to San Diego State for three years and get better."

Galloway batted .359 in 78 at-bats this season with five home runs, 16 RBI and 10 stolen bases.

There are certainly not any numbers that could describe how the fleet-footed Galloway patrols center field. There may not be words either.

Posted by Clay Fowler at 5:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)