Elliott: Abram, Bass, Cerantola, Rhodes rank among Perfect Game's top freshmen
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
RHP Ben Abram, OF Brett Bass, RHP Eric Cerantola and RHP David Rhodes are ranked among the top incoming freshmen in their respective conference by the Perfect Game Scouting Showcase.
Former Ontario Terrier Abram (Georgetown Ont.) of the Oklahoma Sooners, is listed 24th in the Big 12.
Former Langley Blaze Rhodes (White Rock BC) is with the Washington Huskies and ranked the 42nd best in the Pac-12
Great Lake Canadians grad Cerantola (Oakville Ont.) who is with the Mississippi State Rebels is ranked No. 71 in the SEC.
A former Abbotsford Cardinal and now a Purdue Boilermaker, Bass (Abbotsford BC) is ranked 104th in the Big Ten,
Big Ten
Rk. Player Pos. Hometown ST/Prov Commitment
1. Spencer Schwellenbach SS Saginaw MI Nebraska
104. Brett Bass OF Abbotsford BC Purdue
Bass played for the Dbacks Scout Team and Abbotsford Cardinals. With the Cardinals in 2016 he hit .228 with four doubles, three triples and 10 RBIs in 2016.
With one out in the fifth inning, freshman Bass got the bunt down on the first pitch of his at-bat. Justin Fugitt and Blake Schmitt were both aboard after consecutive four-pitch walks to open the frame. Pitcher Tylon Ross retired Bass at first but Schmitt never stopped running, scoring from second base on the play.
It was the first run of the game in the Old Gold & Black Series, won by the Gold Team 2-0.
He also earned Perfect Game 2018 Preseason All American Canada/Puerto Rico All Region First Team honours.
Bass earned All Tournament Team honours with the Dbacks Scout Team at the PG West Martin Luther King championship (Upperclass).
Big 12
Rk. Player Pos. Hometown ST/Prov Commitment
1. Ty Madden RHP Cypress TX Texas
24. Ben Abram RHP Georgetown ON Oklahoma
Abram pitched for the Ontario Terriers and Canadian Junior National Team.
The 6-foot-8, 240 pounder was selected in the 37th round by the San Diego Padres and scout Murray Zuk (Souris, Man.) in June. He pitched for coaches Dean Dicenzo (East Hamilton, Ont.), Scott Vandevalk (Georgetown, Ont.) and Greg Hamilton (Ottawa, Ont.).
Before that he pitched for the DBacks Langley Blaze and Georgetown Eagles for coaches Doug Mathieson, Jamie Bodaly and Ian McLaughlin.
He pitched 5 1/3 innings allowing four runs -- two earned -- on seven hits and a walk, while striking out eight facing DSL Pirates and he had three scoreless facing first and second year Blue Jays allowing three hits, striking out six in St. Pete’s.
Pac-12
Rk. Player Pos. Hometown ST/Prov Commitment
1. Matt McLain SS Tustin CA UCLA
42. David Rhodes RHP White Rock BC Washington
Rhodes pitched for the Langley Blaze and the Seattle Select.
He was drafted in the 40th round by the Seattle Mariners in 2018 in a pick scouting director Tom McNamara dedicated to late Mariner’s scout Wayne Norton.
He earned 2017 Perfect Game Under Class Third Team and Underclass Honorable Mention in 2016. Rhodes pitched at the in 2017 Area Code Games for Kansas City Royals Scout Team in Long Beach, Calif.
SEC
Rk. Player Pos. Hometown ST/Prov Commitment
1. Kumar Rocker RHP Watkinsville GA Vanderbilt
71. Eric Cerantola RHP Oakville ON Mississippi State
Cerantola pitched for the Great Lake Canadians, Canadian Junior National Team.
Cerantola was a 30th round pick of the Tampa Bay Rays in June. The 6-foot-3, 180 pounder born in Montreal, Que. was drafted by OHL’s Owen Sound Attack in the eighth round in 2016.
He earned Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All American Honorable Mention honours. He also pitched for the Ontario DiamondBacks, Oakville A’s and coaches Tom Arnold, Shane Davis, DJ Bernard, Tyler Moe and Richard Gamble.
Last fall, Cerantola allowed one run in each of his two innings of work, but held the lead for Team White, allowing two hits and two walks with one strikeout. Team White evened the best-of-three Fall World Series with Team Maroon with a 9-4 win.