Event Preview | PG HS Showdown event page
2015
PG High School Showdown team previews
Cartersville
Purple Hurricanes (Cartersville,
Ga.) - Roster/Schedule
Top
Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):
• Lane
Wilson, RHP/OF, 2015, High Follow
• Elliot
Anderson, LHP/OF, 2016, 164
• Carrington
Evans, 3B, 2016, High Follow
• Devin
Warner, SS, 2018, High Follow
Pitching:
The
Purple Hurricanes will be paced on the mound by a pair of Division I
commits in the form of senior righthander Lane Wilson (UNC-Ashville)
and junior lefthander Elliot Anderson (Mississippi State). Wilson
will show a quality four-pitch mix, and when he’s on, the ability
to throw all four pitches for strikes with effectiveness. Anderson,
who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs in at 215 pounds, can ramp his
fastball up into the low-90s from the left side with an excellent
curveball/changeup combo to round out his arsenal.
Offense:
Wilson
and Anderson will also play some outfield for head coach Stuart
Chester when they’re not on the mound. The offense is highlighted
by Wilson, Anderson, and junior Carrington Evans. Evans, who plays
third base, showed excellent athleticism and hitting tools at the
National Underclass Showcase-Main Event back in December, and will be
counted on by Cartersville to hit in the middle of the lineup and
produce runs. The coaching staff is very excited by freshman
shortstop Devin Warner, who they expect to be a household name by the
time it's all is said and done.
Synopsis:
Cartersville
comes off of an excellent 2014 season, which saw them go 25-13 in
Georgia’s AAA class; highlighted by a second-place finish in the
state tournament. They combine a high level arm in Elliot Anderson
with several quality bats to form what should be an excellent team in
2015.
Collierville
Dragons (Collierville, Tenn.) -
Roster/Schedule
Top
Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):
• Peyton
Culbertson, RHP, 2015, Top 500
• Alex
Hicks, RHP/OF, 2015, Top 1,000
• Parker
Phillips, 1B, 2015, Top 1,000
• Bo
Sutton, LHP/OF, 2015
• Hunter
Hollis, RHP, 2015
Pitching:
Collierville
may have the deepest pitching staff in this event. A high-level
rotation features Top 500 righty Peyton Culbertson, an Arkansas State
signee, and top 1,000 righty Alex Hicks, who is signed to play for
Memphis. Rounding out the rotation for Head Coach Jeff Hopkins will
be senior Bo Sutton, who will also play the outfield, and some
combination of Hunter Hollis (Purdue), Alex Johnson (North Alabama),
Ryan Tow (Arkansas-Monticello), and Justin Fowlkes.
Offense:
Leading
the Collierville offensive charge will be a host of talented
upperclassmen. Alex Hicks and Bo Sutton, both of whom project in the
top of the rotation on the mound, will make up two-thirds of the
Dragon outfield when not toeing the slab. Senior catcher Jesse Kelley
will provide excellent defense and leadership from behind the plate.
Joining first baseman Parker Phillips in the infield will be seniors
C.J. Fleming and Austin Hall, both of whom can play up the middle
with effectiveness.
Synopsis:
This
is, without a doubt, an upperclassmen-heavy team with lots of depth
across the board, especially in the pitching staff. The Dragons
posted a 29-12 record in 2014, and hopes in Collierville are high for
a return to the heights of 2013, when they won a state championship.
Columbia
Wildcats (Columbia, Miss.) -
Roster/Schedule
Top
Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):
•
Bryson Medious, OF/RHP,
2015, Top 500)
•
C.J. Newsome, OF, 2015,
Top 500)
•
Donte' Peters, 2B,
2015, Top 1,000
•
Scooter Ginn, SS, 2016
•
Parker Dungan, LHP,
2015
•
Logan McDowell, RHP,
2016
•
Ethan Seals, C, 2015
Pitching:
The
Wildcats of Columbia High School will bring an older, experienced
squad to the Perfect Game High School Showdown in 2015. The pitching
staff is made up almost entirely of upperclassmen, highlighted by a
pair of seniors in righty Bryson Medious and lefty Parker Dungan.
Medious will also play the outfield and hit in the middle of the
lineup, but provides Columbia with a solid pitching option. He’s
been clocked as high as 87 mph from the outfield and can pitch in the
low- to mid-80s on the mound. Joining those two on the pitching staff
will be junior righties Logan McDowell and Jonathan Broughton.
Offense:
As
mentioned above, Top 500 player Bryson Medious will patrol the
outfield for the Wildcats when not on the mound. He brings speed,
athleticism, an excellent arm and quality hitting tools to the middle
of the lineup. Joining him will be a pair of speed demons in the form
of seniors C.J. Newsome (outfield) and Donte’ Peters (second base),
both of whom have been clocked in the 60-yard dash at 6.8 seconds.
Senior catcher Ethan Seals is hitting .353 on the young season with a
pair of home runs already. Junior shortstop Scooter Ginn, in addition
to providing excellent defense up the middle, currently leads
Columbia with an absurd .471 batting average through six games.
Synopsis:
The
Wildcats will head to Georgia with a well-balanced, experienced team.
They are hitting .300 as a team so far in 2015, while only allowing a
paltry 2.87 runs per game. They are led by excellent athletes at all
of the key positions throughout the lineup, as well as a quality
pitching staff that limits base runners and misses bats.
Concordia
Lutheran Crusaders (Tomball,
Texas) – Roster/Schedule
Top
Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):
• Ke’Bryan
Hayes, 3B/RHP, 2015, 35
• Garrett
Wolforth, C, 2015, 56
• Trey
Jimmerson, OF, 2015, Top 1,000
• Garrett
Spencer, 1B/LHP, 2015, Top 1,000
• Luke
Watson, 2B/3B, 2015, Top 1,000
Pitching:
The
Crusaders of Concordia Lutheran will make the trip from Tomball,
Texas to play in the PG High School Showdown for the second year in a
row. They will bring with them a star-studded team, highlighted by
several high-level Division I signees amongst their senior class. The
biggest name is Ke’Bryan Hayes. Primarily a third baseman, Hayes is
certainly no slouch on the mound, where his fastball can work in the
low-90s with a power curveball. Already an impressive arm, Hayes
could be a really high-level pitching prospect if he wasn't already a
potential first round pick as a position player. Joining Hayes on the
mound will be Top 1,000 prospect Garrett Spencer, a Kansas State
commitment, who can work in the low-80s with his fastball and
complement it with a bevy of off-speed pitches, any of which can miss
bats and be thrown for a strike.
Offense:
There’s
little doubt that the Crusaders will hit the baseball and score
plenty of runs. Already discussed above, Ke’Bryan Hayes will play
third base on most days and hit in the middle of the order. With
insane bat speed and excellent power, Hayes may be the best prospect
in this entire tournament. Garrett Wolforth, a Dallas Baptist
commitment, is arguably the best defensive catching prospect in the
class of 2015. An excellent receiver with a plus-plus arm, Wolforth
has recorded pop times in the 1.7’s and has thrown 90 mph from
behind the plate. Trey Jimmerson, a senior Texas A&M commitment,
will play an outfield spot and hit everyday as well. He combines
solid athleticism with high level hitting tools. Luke Watson will be
playing the middle infield in some capacity for Concordia Lutheran,
as the Hill College signee shows an innate ability to get on base and
steals bases with ease.
Synopsis:
The
star power of having two of the top 56 players in the nation (Hayes
and Wolforth) make Concordia Lutheran an attractive choice to win the
whole tournament. However, beyond the two stars, this is a deep team
with lots of offensive firepower, quality pitching and the defense to
support both. They will be a very tough out, if they get taken out at
all.
DeSoto
Central Jaguars (Southaven,
Miss.) - Roster/Schedule
Top
Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):
• Austin
Riley, RHP/3B, 2015, 65
• Dallas
Woolfolk, RHP/IF, 2015, 151
• Brant
Blaylock, OF/RHP, 2015, 442
• Keegan
James, RHP, 2015, Top 500
• Carson
Klepzig, C/IF, 2015, Top 500
Pitching:
It’s
easy to see that the Jaguars of DeSoto Central High School do not and
will not have any problem throwing the baseball, and throwing it
hard. They feature four Top 500 prospects in their pitching staff,
highlighted by the 65th overall player in the class of 2015 in Austin
Riley. Riley, the Perfect Game All-American and Mississippi State
commit, should hear his name called early during the MLB Draft in
June. He has been up to 94 mph off the mound with excellent feel for
a curveball and changeup, as well as having outstanding potential as
a power hitting third baseman on the offensive side of the game. He’s
joined in the rotation by Dallas Woolfolk, an Ole Miss commit with a
heavy, sinking fastball in the low- to mid-90s complemented by an
excellent fading changeup. Brant Blaylock, a primary outfielder and
Mississippi State commitment, has a fastball that can touch 90 mph
out of the bullpen. Rounding out the staff is Top 500 righthander
Keegan James, yet another Mississippi State commitment who can pitch
in the low-90s from his 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame. There’s no
question here, the Jaguars can bring the heat.
Offense:
In
addition to being a potential high draft choice as a pitcher, Austin
Riley can absolutely mash at the plate. He hits the middle of the
order and does damage with regularity. Dallas Woolfolk can also hit,
and will join Riley as two-way players. Blaylock, as mentioned above,
is primarily a center fielder and perhaps offers the best pure
hitting potential on the team. Senior Carson Klepzig, committed to
Ole Miss, will start at catcher for the Jaguars and provides a
quality all-around game from behind the plate.
Synopsis:
It
would hard pressed for one to find a team at this event with as much
two-way talent as DeSoto Central has. They have three of the top 442
players in the nation, all of whom provide impact, two-way talent on
the field. They bring the firepower of several pitchers who pitch in
the 90s in addition to the firepower of a lineup stocked top to
bottom with high level, powerful bats. This will be a fun team to
watch, make no mistake.
Houston
Mustangs (Germantown, Tenn.) -
Roster/Schedule
Top
Prospects (Position, Class, PG Naional Rank):
• Jack
Rude, RHP, 2015, Top 500
• Walter
Rook, RHP, 2015, High Follow
• Alex
Sala, C/3B, 2015, High Follow
• Nikko
Warmus, RHP/OF, 2015, High Follow
• Jack
Kenley, 2B/SS, 2016, Top 500
• Conrad
Ray, RHP, 2016, Top 500
• Cullen
Ray, C/OF, 2016, Top 1,000
• Preston
Collins, LHP, 2016, High Follow
Pitching:
The
Mustangs of Houston High School head south to Georgia with a stacked
roster, especially in the pitching staff. Led by senior righthander
Jack Rude, a 6-foot-4 Samford commit, the staff is deep and talented.
Rude can run his fastball up into the low-90s when he wants to, and
complements that with a pair of quality breaking balls. Joining him
in the rotation are seniors Walter Rook and Nikko Warmus, along with
juniors Conrad Ray and Preston Collins. Rook and Warmus, a pair of
senior righthanders, can each work their fastballs in the mid-80s
with good size and athleticism on the mound. Conrad Ray, a junior
righty who stands an imposing 6-foot-5 and weighs in at 200-plus
pounds, is an Arkansas State commitment who can work his fastball
into the upper-80s with projection for more velocity. Preston
Collins, a junior, is the lone lefthander in this group. He brings
excellent size at 6-foot-3 and has a quality fastball, one that can
work in the mid- to upper-80s from the left side.
Offense:
As
mentioned above, the Mustangs are undoubtedly a pitching-heavy team,
but that doesn't mean that their offense isn’t something to be
reckoned with. Leading the charge offensively is junior Top 500
prospect Jack Kenley, a middle infielder who is committed to
Arkansas. Kenley brings excellent size, projectability and overall
athleticism to the upper third of the lineup. He has been clocked in
the 60-yard dash in less than 6.8 seconds while displaying a strong
arm and quality offensive tools. Joining him in the lineup will be
two-way player Nikko Warmus, who will patrol the outfield when not on
the mound, as well as junior Top 1,000 player Cullen Ray. Ray will
handle the bulk of the catching load for the Mustangs in addition to
hitting in the middle of the order.
Synopsis:
This
is a veteran, experienced team with lots of depth throughout the
roster, especially in the pitching staff. The Mustangs could trot out
any of six or more pitchers and stand an excellent chance to win,
which is something most teams just can’t say with confidence.
IMG
Academy Ascenders (Bradenton,
Fla.) - Roster/Schedule
Top
Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):
• Logan
Allen, LHP, 2015, 76
• L.T.
Tolbert, SS/RHP, 2015, 79
• Danny
Blair, CF, 2015, 120
• Ryan
Karstetter, 3B/SS, 2015, 144
• Jason
Groome, LHP, 2016, 4
• Anthony
Holubecki, RHP, 2016, 48
• Nick
Derr, 2B/SS, 2016, 120
• Dion
Henderson, LHP, 2016, 138
Pitching:
If
you want star power, especially on the mound, then the IMG Academy
Ascenders are the team for you. Highlighted above are eight top
prospects, all of them seniors and juniors, and all of them are
committed to high level Division I colleges. Logan Allen, a South
Carolina commit, leads the staff. The 6-foot-4 senior lefty can ramp
his fastball up to the mid-90s with a potential plus curveball. A
trio of juniors, all with very high ceilings, join Allen in the
rotation, starting with Jason Groome, the No. 4 overall player in the
class of 2016. Groome is a 6-foot-6 lefty committed to Vanderbilt who
pitches downhill in the mid-90s with tons of projection, an excellent
curveball and a rapidly improving changeup. Fellow lefty Dion
Henderson, who is committed to Kentucky, is yet another highly
projectable arm who can work in the upper-80s to low-90s with solid
off-speed stuff. Righty Anthony Holubecki, a Notre Dame commitment,
has been clocked up to 93 mph and pitches downhill with life.
Offense:
Offensively
IMG Academy is perhaps just as stout as they are on the mound. Three
seniors, shortstop L.T. Tolbert (South Carolina), center fielder
Danny Blair (South Carolina), and third baseman Ryan Karstetter
(Virginia) will pace the offense. Tolbert brings a strong arm (90 mph
across the diamond) with good defense and projectable hitting tools,
both for average and power. Blair is a 6.4 runner with plus defensive
projection in center field with top-of-the-order offensive tools.
Karstetter is just as fast as Blair, with high-level offensive
projection to go along with present power and the swing for more to
come. Junior Nick Derr, a Florida State commit, is a plus athlete who
can play nearly anywhere on the diamond with a strong arm, quick feet
and legitimate bat-to-ball skills.
Synopsis:
If
there’s a team at this event that will attract the most
professional scouts, it’s probably this ballclub. There are
stars—legitimate professional prospects—top to bottom on this
team. The pitching staff is deep and tremendously talented, the
defense is strong and the offense is loaded with firepower. Watch out
for IMG.
Kennesaw
Mountain Mustangs (Kennesaw,
Ga.) - Roster/Schedule
Top
Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):
• Reggie
Pruitt, OF, 2015, 99
• Tyler
Stephenson, C/RHP, 2015, 103
• Ryley
Gilliam, RHP/SS, 2015, 152
• Cole
Buffington, C/RHP/3B, 2015, 470
• Zach
Goodman, RHP/OF, 2015, Top 500
• Terence
Norman, OF/1B, 2016, 288
• Matthew
Cole, SS/RHP, 2016, 318
Pitching:
The
Mustangs, one of the best teams in the talent-rich state of Georgia,
feature a multitude of two-way players throughout their roster.
Two-way players or not, the pitching staff is a strong one. Seniors
Tyler Stephenson (Georgia Tech commit) and Ryley Gilliam (Clemson
commit) will lead the charge on the mound. Stephenson, a 6-foot-4
righty with excellent physicality, can pitch in the low-90s and gets
downhill in a hurry. Gilliam, with an athletic presence on the mound,
has been clocked as high as 94 mph on the mound and also features and
excellent changeup. Zach Goodman (Clemson) gets his fastball up into
the low-90s as well with quality off-speed stuff to round out his
arsenal.
Offense:
The
highest ranked player on the Kennesaw Mountain squad is senior
outfielder Reggie Pruitt, ranked in the Top 100 and committed to
Vanderbilt. A sub-6.6 runner with a plus arm from center field,
Pruitt is one of the best overall athletes in the entire event. He
projects to hit and hit for some power, and could eventually end up
as a true five-tool talent. Stephenson and Gilliam will play catcher
and shortstop, respectively, when not on the mound and both project
well offensively in addition to their pitching prowess. Terence
Norman will play the outfield as well as some first base, and shows
interesting athleticism (6.8 runner) with legitimate power potential.
Synopsis:
This
is a very deep team top to bottom, lead by a host of two-way players
who have college (and beyond) potential both with the bat and on the
mound. Getting through a tournament with two-way players is often an
interesting chess match that a coach must master, but with the level
of talent that the Mustangs offer in all three major facets of the
game, it shouldn't be a big issue at the Showdown.
Magnolia
Heights Chiefs (Senatobia,
Miss.) - Roster/Schedule
Top
Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):
• Dustin
Skelton, C, 2016, 132
• Riley
Self, RHP, 2016, 421
• Wyatt
Young, OF/RHP, 2016, Top 500
• Grant
McMinn, RHP, 2016, High Follow
Pitching:
The
Chiefs are led by junior ace Riley Self, a Mississippi State
commitment. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound righthander is a highly
projectable, high-ceiling pitcher who really has yet to scratch the
surface of just how good he can be. His fastball already works in the
upper-80s with lots of velocity projection remaining, and he
complements the fastball with several off-speed offerings, all with
varying levels of success and projection. Junior Wyatt Young, a Top
500 player and primary outfielder, will also see some time on the
mound and brings athleticism and a fastball in the 80s to the table.
Junior Grant McMinn, another projectable righty who stands 6-foot-4,
will also throw for Magnolia Heights.
Offense:
The
offensive attack is led by junior Dustin Skelton, a catcher committed
to Mississippi State. Skelton is also the highest-ranked member of
the Chiefs, checking in at 132nd overall in the class of 2016. He
brings excellent defensive ability to the table, along with quality
hitting tools and power projection. He’ll hit in the middle of the
Magnolia Heights lineup and produce lots of runs. Wyatt Young will
play the outfield when not on the mound, and he pairs with Skelton to
form the beef and punch of the lineup.
Synopsis:
With
two legitimate studs in Skelton and Self, both of whon will be
heading to Starkville in a few years, the Chiefs have as good a shot
as anyone to win the whole thing. They are balanced in all three
facets of the game, and while they have yet to really hit their
stride in 2015, the season is still young and the Perfect Game High
School Showdown could be just the place for them to blow up.
Murfreesboro
Central Tigers (Murfreesboro,
Tenn.) - Roster/Schedule
Top
Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):
• Darek
Sargent, SS/RHP, 2016
• Wes
Duffield, 1B/RHP, 2017
• McKenzie
Jackson, OF, 2015
• Reed
Sullivan, 2B/OF, 2015
• Taylor
Saling, C, 2015
Pitching:
The
Tigers lose 2014 District 8-AA Pitcher of the Year in Alex Ropp, who
is now playing at Jackson State, but return a quality of core of
pitchers who will look to lead the team back to the Final Four of the
state tournament, where they finished last season. Junior Darek
Sargent, 2014’s Position Player of the Year, is back and will
anchor the staff in addition to anchoring the everyday lineup when
not pitching. Wes Duffield, an absolutely gigantic sophomore
(6-foot-7, 225-pounds), who will play first base and hit in the
middle of the order, will see plenty of action on the mound. Others
to watch out for include juniors Jordan Jackson and Luke Patton as
well as sophomores Chris Johnson and James Touchton.
Offense:
As
stated above, the Tigers will be bringing back 2014’s position
player of the year (per Tennessee Baseball Report) in Darek Sargent,
a junior shortstop and pitcher. He’ll be the ace of the staff in
addition to anchoring the lineup for Head Coach Jason Patterson.
Joining him in the everyday lineup will be senior catcher Taylor
Saling, a 2014 District 8-AA All-District winner, who will handle the
bulk of the catching duties. Wes Duffield will play some first base
when not on the mound, and his power should lead to some serious run
production for the Tigers. A pair of seniors, McKenzie Johnson and
Reed Sullivan, are both 2014 All-District performers and return to
man the outfield for the Tigers. They should hit near the top of the
lineup as well.
Synopsis:
The
Tigers were a dominant team in 2014, posting a 33-11 record and
making it all the way to the Tennessee State Final Four, where they
lost only to eventual state champion Knoxville Christian Academy.
They return several All-District performers, and will bring back
excellent depth and talent throughout the everyday lineup. They
suffered some losses in the pitching staff, but the overall depth of
the 2014 squad will provide this year’s team with an excellent
building block and core of a staff.
Parkview
Panthers (Lilburn, Ga.) -
Roster/Schedule
Top
Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):
• Brandon
Hill, OF/LHP, 2015, 257
• Daino
Deas, SS/2B, 2015, 294
• Ryne
Inman, RHP/OF, 2015, Top 500
• Trevor
Brown, SS/2B, 2015, Top 500
• Austin
Biggar, C, 2016, 205
• Will
Ethridge, RHP/1B, 2016, 260
Pitching:
The
Panthers, traditionally one of the powerhouse teams across the
nation, will bring another loaded squad to this event. Led on the
mound by several two-way players who are committed to Division I
schools, Head Coach Chan Brown should not have an issue mixing and
matching his arms as he sees fit. Lefty Brandon Hill, a primary
outfielder, can pitch in the upper-80s when called upon. Top 500
senior Ryne Inman, committed to Georgia State, is a 6-foot-5 righty
who can ramp his fastball up to 90-plus mph. Perhaps the most
talented arm on the staff, however, belongs to junior Will Ethridge.
Committed to Mississippi, Ethridge is a highly projectable
righthander who pitches in the upper-80s to low-90s with lots of
projection from an easy arm action.
Offense:
In
addition to being one of the top pitchers on the staff, Brandon Hill
has made a name for himself as a talented outfielder with athleticism
and offensive tools, and he’ll start in center field when not on
the mound. The Panthers are very strong up the middle, with shortstop
Trevor Brown (Kennesaw State) and second baseman Daino Deas (Auburn)
as the keystone combination. Both will show good athleticism with
quality defensive actions to go with high-level offensive tools.
Junior catcher Austin Biggar, a University of Georgia commit, will
consistently pop in the 2.0-second range as well as showing power at
the plate.
Synopsis:
This
is, not surprisingly, a very good and very deep team. Several
Division I commitments make up the roster, and both the offensive and
pitching sides of the ball are well represented with talent. Brown
and Deas form one of, if not the most dynamic double play
combinations in the whole tournament; and Brandon Hill is a
legitimate high-level prospect. The pitching staff is very talented,
and newcomers Garrett Fowler, Cody Callett, and Caleb Mitchell will
all be well-known names in the future.
Sarasota
Sailors (Sarasota, Fla.) -
Roster/Schedule
Top
Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):
• Jordan
Gubelman, RHP, 2015, 400
• Cody
Brickhouse, 3B/RHP, 2015, Top 500
• Shelby
Banks, RHP/UT, 2015, High Follow
• Skylar
Frey, MIF/OF, 2015, High Follow
• Carson
Keyser, C, 2015, High Follow
• Nick
Long, RHP/SS, 2016, 144
• Andrew Jones, RHP, 2016, High Follow
Pitching:
The
Sarasota Sailors, the defending champions, will travel north to the
Perfect Game High School Showdown with a loaded pitching staff, led
by several Division I commitments. Senior Jordan Gubelman, a North
Carolina signee, is the ace of the staff. He stands 6-foot-5,
230-pounds, fitting to a T the “power pitcher” body mold. His
fastball will work in the low-90s with life, and he complements that
with a big breaking curveball that can be thrown for strikes or be
used as a chase pitch out of the zone. Joining him on the mound are
senior Cody Brickhouse, who will be heading to Chipola College, and
Nick Long, a junior two-way player committed to Florida. Brickhouse
can work in the mid-80s with his fastball, while Long has been up
over 90 in the past. Senior righty Shelby Banks and junior righty
Andrew Jones round out the staff for Sarasota.
Offense:
Brickhouse,
who pitches for the Sailors, is the usual third baseman for Head
Coach Clyde Metcalf. He’s committed to Chipola as a position
player, and combines excellent bat-to-ball skills with raw power that
is continuing to develop. Long is the highest ceiling position player
on the roster, and despite being a legitimate pitching prospect, the
University of Florida has offered him a scholarship as a shortstop.
Long is an excellent hitter with present power and more coming as he
matures. Senior Carson Keyser will handle the majority of the
catching duties, while seniors Skylar Frey and Shelby Banks should
also see a lot of time in the everyday lineup.
Synopsis:
The
Sailors bring a deep team to Georgia, highlighted by a couple studs
in Gubelman and Long, and quality depth throughout the roster.
They’ve started the season off hot, posting a 7-1 record so far.
Will they continue that hot streak as they head north on I-75?
Savannah
Christian Raiders
(Savannah, Ga.) - Roster/Schedule
Top
Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):
• Mark
Fraser, 1B, 2015, High Follow
• Ben
Haeussler, RHP/OF, 2016, Follow
• Zach
Brockman, RHP/UT, 2017, High Follow
• Ben
Jackson, UT/RHP, 2017, Follow
Pitching:
The
Raiders are led on the mound by several right-handers who can pitch
in the mid- to upper-80s, providing them with a deep and talented
staff. Junior Ben Haeussler is an above average athlete who can play
all over the diamond, but really leads the team on the mound. He'll
work in the 83-86 mph range, touching higher while showing late life
down in the zone. He has advanced feel for his changeup at present,
and will continue to develop his breaking ball as well. Sophomore
Zach Brockman, already a PG High Follow player, has taken strides
forward already this spring. Brockman commands everything at an
advanced level for a high school sophomore, as he already works in
the mid-80s with a good breaking ball and feel for a developing changeup.
Offense:
The
offensive charge of Savannah Christian is led by senior first baseman
Mark Fraser, a 6-foot-5 thumper with lots of power. Fraser combines
an advanced and excellent approach at the plate with light-tower
power to form an undoubtedly formidable presence in the lineup. An
outstanding student, Fraser is committed to play baseball at Cornell.
Haeussler, due to his athleticism, will patrol the outfield when not
on the mound and hit near the top of the lineup. Sophomore Ben
Jackson is really a jack-of-all-trades super utility player, who his
coach says can play all nine positions on the diamond if needed.
Jackson hits at the top of the lineup and shows a really short stroke
with the innate ability to put the barrel of the bat on the baseball
and spray line drives all over the field. Showing tremendous
quickness both in the field and on the bases, Jackson presents a
base-stealing threat for the Raiders.
Synopsis:
The
Raiders will head north with a balanced team, combining high-level
pitching depth with a quality, deep offensive attack. Their
combination of the two – in addition to excellent defense
throughout the lineup – should prove to be a very tough out in this
tournament.
Venice
Indians (Venice, Fla.) -
Roster/Schedule
Top
Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):
• Cole
Kragel, RHP, 2015, Top 1,000
• Josh
Evans, OF/RHP, 2015, Top 1,000
• Colin
Cristello, RHP/3B, 2015, High Follow
• Kade
Hunkapiller, LHP/1B, 2015, High Follow
• Rylee
Buckmaster, RHP/1B, 2016, Top 1,000
• Trevor
Holloway, IF/RHP, 2016, Top 1,000
• Scott
Dubrule, SS/2B, 2016, Top 1,000
• Shane
Shifflett, MIF, 2017, 41
Pitching:
The
Venice Indians, the event's inaugural champions in 2013, may lead the
tournament in height amongst their pitching staff, as at least two of
their pitchers stand at 6-foot-5 and above. Cole Kragel, a senior
Virginia Tech recruit, stands at 6-foot-8 and throws from a lower
slot in the mid- to upper-80s. His arm is very loose and easy, and
the fastball really jumps at hitters and is especially effective vs.
righthanded batters. Several two-way players will follow Kragel in
the pitching rotation, including seniors Josh Evans, Colin Cristello,
and Kade Hundapillar. All throw at least in the mid-80s with
projection for more velocity, in addition to being position players
for Head Coach Craig Faulkner. Junior Rylee Buckmaster, a 6-foot-5,
240-pound righthander, has been up over 90 with his fastball and
probably possesses the highest upside of any Venice pitcher.
Offense:
As
stated above, the roster is made up of several two-way players who
are effective both on the mound and with the bat. Josh Evans is a Top
1,000 senior outfielder who plays center field and hits at the top of
the lineup for Venice, where his 6.6 speed and contact-driven swing
make him an ideal table-setter. Hunkapiller and Buckmaster both play
some first base when not pitching, and both possess some legitimate
power in their bats. Junior Scott Dubrule plays up the middle
defensively and possesses good on-base ability. Sophomore Shane
Shifflett is the everyday shortstop for the Indians, and is currently
ranked the 41th overall prospect in the 2017 class. He’s committed
to UCF, and displays excellent shortstop actions with quick feet, a
strong arm and outstanding offensive projection.
Synopsis:
Venice
will head north with a very deep squad, one unique in that it doesn't
really have any pitcher-only players (outside of Kragel), which is
relatively rare in warm weather states. A team made up of two-way
players is definitely an interesting dynamic for a head coach, and it
will be interesting to see how Coach Faulkner chooses to deploy his
arsenal of arms.