GFS's Biddle bolsters pro chances

For most of yesterday afternoon, Jesse Biddle, a flame-throwing southpaw for Germantown Friends School, had two radar guns pointed in his direction. Next year, that number will be significantly higher.

The ever-improving Biddle, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound junior, showed why he could be selected in the 2010 amateur draft. One major-league regional scout on hand said his fastball was clocked at 91 m.p.h. in the seventh inning. Yes, the seventh inning.

"Yeah, by the time I hit the 100-pitch mark, I usually throw even harder," the 17-year-old said.

Mixing mostly a fastball (88 to 89 m.p.h. in the early going) and a curveball (in the upper-60-m.p.h. range), Biddle tossed a two-hitter and struck out 13 as the host Tigers blanked Friends' Central, 3-0, in a Friends Schools League game on their well-manicured diamond on School House Lane near Wissahickon Avenue.

Biddle, who recently committed to play at Oregon, threw 132 pitches, 78 for strikes. Slowed by early wildness, he gave up six walks.

It was during a two-month period last summer, while pitching for the Nor Cal Travel Ball organization, based in the San Francisco Bay area, that Biddle seriously began attracting the interest of major-league scouts and college coaches.

"The Nor Cal coaches really taught me how to be a pitcher," he said. "I've always been able to throw pretty hard. They taught me things like how to think like a pitcher - staying focused and having a plan on the mound."

Nor Cal counts among its alums such pros as Jimmy Rollins, Dontrelle Willis and Pat Burrell.

"Jesse came back a much better player," David Biddle, his father, said. "They used him only as a pitcher, as their lefthanded ace, which helped with his development."

Jesse Biddle, whose fastball has peaked at 92 m.p.h., also throws the occasional slider and change-up. He chose Oregon, which brought back baseball this year after a 28-year absence, over two other members of the Pacific Ten - Oregon State and Arizona State.

"The facilities are the best in the country, by far," Jesse Biddle said. "But what got me was the coaching. I know their coaches will make me a better pitcher."

Of David and Marion Biddle's three boys, Jesse is the middle son. Sam, 20, an outfielder and relief pitcher while at Germantown Friends, attends Reed College, a liberal arts school in Portland, Ore. Conor, 13, hopes to follow in his brothers' footsteps.

When it comes to Jesse Biddle's playing style, his father said: "He has kind of an old-school approach to the game. He's not playing for the glory or the accolades. He's playing because he truly loves the sport."

Yesterday, in a two-run third, Biddle, who doubles as a first baseman, helped his cause with a leadoff triple to right-center field.

David Biddle, whose family lives in Mount Airy, said his son was keeping an open mind about possibly turning pro in 14 months or so.

"If it's the right offer and he feels as if he's mature enough, it could happen," he said. "We'll throw our two cents in, but it'll be his choice."

Friends' Central 000 000 0 - 0 2 3

G'town Friends 002 001 x - 3 3 2

WP: Jesse Biddle. LP: Daniel Rosner.

3B: GFS-Biddle.