Scrimmage Observations (10/12): Cleaver makes his first fall appearance

The Kentucky baseball team wrapped up the weekend with another intrasquad at Kentucky Proud Park. There was a small gathering of fans gathered for the scrimmage, and those who stuck around until the end saw the Blue team score four runs over the final two innings, including two in the bottom of the ninth to rally for a 7-6 win.

As a reminder, there will be an intrasquad on Friday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m. It's a free event where no ticket is necessary.

Here are the stats and observations from today's scrimmage.

Blue team:

1. 2B Luke Lawrence – 1-5; RBI, BB, run
2. 3B Ethan Hindle – 0-6
3. 1B Ryan Schwartz – 1-4; BB, HBP
4. CF Scott Campbell – 1-4; 3 runs, HBP
5. C Owen Jenkins – 2-6; 2 RBI
6. SS Caeden Cloud – 0-4; RBI, BB
7. RF Braxton Van Cleave – 1-3; double, run

Pitchers:

• LHP Ben Cleaver: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER
• RHP Nile Adcock: 3 IP, 4 H, 4 runs, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 Ks
• LHP Leighton Harris: 3 IP, 1 H, run, ER, BB, 3 Ks
• LHP Jackson Souice: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 Ks
• RHP Ira Austin: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER

Black Team: 

1. SS Tyler Bell – 0-6
2. C Tagger Tyson – 1-6; RBI
3. 1B Hudson Brown – 1-5; double, BB
4. CF Jayce Tharnish – 2-5; BB
5. 3B Tyler Cerny – 1-3; RBI
6. C Alex Duffey – 0-3; SAC bunt, BB  
7. RF Ryan Foscolo – 0-4; RBI, BB, run
8. 2B Michael Gardner – 1-3; 2 runs, RBI

Pitchers:

• RHP Jaxon Jelkin: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 Ks, HBP
• RHP Tristan Hunter: 2.1 IP, 2 runs, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 Ks
• RHP Tommy Skelding: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 Ks
• RHP Cameron Owens: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 4 runs, 3 ER

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Observations

• Today featured the most scouts I’d seen yet this fall, though it wasn't surprising since Jaxon Jelkin and Ben Cleaver pitched. Jelkin’s performance at Prasco Park last weekend likely brought more scouts out to get a look in person. Cleaver was efficient with his lone inning of the day, retiring all three batters on just 12 pitches. He induced weak contact on each out as all batted balls were hit under 70 miles per hour. He was sitting in the upper 80s with a fastball-heavy approach in his short stint. It was a good first day back against hitters for the junior lefthander.
• Jelkin touched 96 mph a couple of times with the fastball and was mostly around 94 and 95 mph. He also has a cutter, changeup, slider and curveball. It's an impressive arsenal, and he was pretty sharp again on Sunday. Jelkin struck out three batters over 2.2 innings and gave up an earned run. After striking out three times on Friday, freshman outfielder Braxton Van Cleave roped a 102 mph two-out double into right-center field on a changeup from Jelkin during his first plate appearance. He came around to score following a single back up the middle from senior second baseman Luke Lawrence.