Team USA avenged an earlier loss to Team Germany with an 8-1 win, capturing the World Baseball Challenge title. Drew Pomeranz (LHP, Ole Miss, 2010 Draft Class) was impressive today, dominating an over-matched Germany squad with his low- to mid-90s fastball and slurvy curve.  The big Ole Miss lefty started off a bit rocky, hitting the first batter and walking the next before settling in. Pomeranz wound up going seven strong, allowing one run on one hit while striking-out 12 (five of which came consecutively between the 1st and 3rd inning). I didn't get much of a look at the change-up, but the fastball/curve were formidable as usual, with both looking like their typical potential plus to plus-plus selves. Nick Pepitone (RHP, Tulane, 2010 Draft Class) and Chad Bettis (RHP, Texas Tech, 2010 Draft Class) were perfect in finishing-up the 8th and 9th.

As was the case when I saw them matched-up against Guatemala, the USA offense had little trouble squaring-up on the opposing pitchers. Michael Choice (OF, Texas-Arlington, 2010 Draft Class) (pictured), Bryce Brentz (OF, Mid Tenn. St., 2010 Draft Class) and Yasmani Grandal (C, Miami-FL, 2010 Draft Class) all homered, while Rick Hague (SS/3B, Rice, 2010 Draft Class), Kolton Wong (OF/2B, Hawai'i, 2011 Draft Class), Blake Forsythe (C/1B, Tennessee, 2010 Draft Class) and Tyler Holt (CF, FSU, 2010 Draft Class) all added multi-hit efforts. 

Overall, it was a convincing win and a solid effort from everyone on the US squad. I got my first glimpse of a defensive hiccup for my current top-rated OF in the 2010 class -- Bryce Brentz -- as he had a well struck ball hit off of the heal of his glove after tracking it to the wall in right.  He bounced back to make a tough catch on another well hit ball knocked over his head later that same inning. Brad Miller (INF, Clemson, 2011 Draft Class) continued to show his versatility, logging a couple of innings at shortstop and looking comfortable in the process.

I'll have my Team USA Top 15 from the Summer in the next week or so. It has been a successful summer for this construction of the National Team, highlighted by elite pitching. The championship at the World Baseball Challenge is surely bittersweet, however, as we wait for further word on team captain Christian Colon (SS, Cal St.-Fullerton, 2010 Draft Class). In case you missed it, Colon broke his tibia and fibula in a collision at second base in yesterday's semi-finals match-up against Team Canada. As an aside from last night, Gerrit Cole (RHP, UCLA, 2011 Draft Class) reportedly hit triple digits a handful of times on the gun while spinning a complete game, two hit gem.

Hi all; thanks for stopping in.

After a year of writing for CamdenDepot.com, primarily on topics related to the Baltimore Orioles, I've decided to devote more time to the world of amateur scouting. Enter, PnRScouting.com. Here, I'll focus on college and high school baseball, expressing my thoughts through three primary avenues:

1. Scouting Reports -- Player reports, video and grades, as well as a list of the games/events in which I've viewed each player
2. Articles -- covering events and games in a more traditional format
3. Blog -- providing links to news and other sources of info relating to amateur baseball, as well as quick thoughts of my own

I've also signed-on to provide scouting write-ups and further-to-be-determined content over at DraftAmerica.com -- so check out the site. I'm excited to see where this leads, and thank you for coming along for at least part of the ride.

Speak to you soon,
Nick James