Baseball season is here, and that means the Five Tool staff is out there working, evaluating and filming. If you know anything about Five Tool, you know we capture a lot of baseball video. A LOT. And that means we see a lot of amazing plays and excellent performances. 

Each week, we’re going to share with readers, fans and baseball junkies 10 of the best plays and performances we recorded and covered from across the nation during the previous week. This week, you’ll notice a powerful theme throughout our highlight video because there were some bombs hit despite chilly conditions. 

10. Grayson sophomore right-hander Josh Bostick proved the chilly conditions wouldn’t stop him from bringing the heat. He opened his outing by punching out the side with overpowering stuff and a fastball up to 94 MPH, an especially impressive number to open the season when a lot of pitcher velocity is typically down a couple ticks. Bostick, currently uncommitted, threw 6.0 innings and gave up just one earned run with nine strikeouts.

9. We recently discussed Prestonwood Christian Academy senior and UTA signee Will Johnson in an installment of the Five Tool Five. The right-handed hitting infielder, who played shortstop to open the season, proved he’s poised for a huge season with a loud homer. 

8. Sometimes, hitters need a couple games to find their timing at the beginning of the season. Bosco left-handed hitter and San Diego signee Hunter Friedberg is not one of those hitters. He smacked three hits and showed his hit tool is ready to terrorize pitchers. 

7. Getting warmed up and built up for a big senior season, Concordia Lutheran right-hander Alex Petrovic came out of the bullpen and tossed 2.0 scoreless frames to wrap up an impressive victory over Second Baptist. The Auburn signee touched 93 MPH, struck out the side in the seventh inning, and flashed a plus changeup that baffled left-handed hitters.

6. Blinn freshman outfielder Marshall Lipsey jumped all over a mistake and pulled a loud three-run homer during weekend action. Unfortunately for opposing pitchers, it wasn’t the last time Lipsey hammered the baseball. He finished the weekend with 14 total bases and six RBI. An uncommitted freshman, Lipsey should have the attention of every division-one program in the region. 

5. Army signee Andy Neal was one of the stars of one of the best summer games we’ve ever seen - a back-and-forth slugfest in the AABC Don Mattingly World Series between Texas Twelve Maroon and Dulins Dodgers. Neal, unsurprisingly, immediately showed his power during the high school season with this impressive blast way over the left-center fence. That’s a dangerous barrel. 

4. Walk-off! Curtis Wolfe came through in the clutch with a line drive single to right field and was then mobbed by his John Paul II teammates. The left-handed hitting junior had two hits and one unforgettable moment.

3. Oh my. Absolutely crushed. Tyler Junior College’s Will Bush got all of one and he let everyone know about it. The next day, Bush remained on fire. The physical left-handed hitter smashed a no-doubt, three-run bomb. These won’t be the last two homers the uncommitted freshman hits this season. 

2. Drilled! The Brook Hill School right-handed hitter Lex Rich showed his impressive power by blasting a homer over the 390-foot sign in left-center field. Rich had three hits during the game but none louder than this blast. He also toed the rubber the next day and fired 5.0 shutout innings. 

1. Dondreone “Dee” Kennedy entered a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning with two outs and the score tied. He got the strikeout and was understandably fired up about it. Prestonwood Christian Academy and Kennedy carried that energy to the batter’s box next inning. Kennedy smacked a double off the wall to break a tie and his team then built a five-run cushion for him in the seventh inning. The future Texas Longhorn promptly struck out the side. Dude. 

Five Tool Staff