Archbishop Moeller Fighting Crusaders (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG Rank):

• Nick Bennett (LHP, 2016, 269)
• Grant Macciocchi (RHP/1B, 2015, Top 500)
• Josh Hollander (SS, 2016, Top 1,000)
• Bryan Soth (OF/1B, 2015, Top 1,000)
• Joe Vranesic (RHP/DH, 2015, Top 500)
• Kyle Dockus (SS/2B, 2015, High Follow)

Pitching:
The Fighting Crusaders—currently ranked in the top 20 of the Perfect Game High School Team Rankings—will travel south to Georgia with a full stable of talented arms at their disposal, even without Top 500 senior Joe Vranesic, who will not be cleared to throw quite in time for this event. They are led by lefthander Nick Bennett, a Louisville Cardinal commit, who offers outstanding size and present stuff to go along with significant projection. He already pitches in the upper-80s, touching higher, and projects to throw even harder in years to come. He complements the heater with a wipeout slider, and will undoubtedly be fun to watch. He’s joined on the mound by fellow Division I commits Grant Macciocchi (Missouri) and Joe Vranesic (Kent State, once he’s healthy). Macciocchi, a righthander, can sling it in the upper-80s from a three-quarters slot with quality off-speed stuff, giving Moeller a deadly 1-2, righty-lefty combo at the top of their rotation.

Offense:
Up the middle is no problem defensively for Moeller, as Top 1,000 shortstop Josh Hollander (Kent State) and High Follow prospect Kyle Dockus (Wright State) form the keystone combination and provide the Fighting Crusaders with excellent defense to go along with two integral pieces of their batting order. Hollander will hit in the middle of the lineup and provide some pop, while Dockus is an on-base machine towards the top of the order. Joining them will be outfielder Bryan Soth, a 6.6 runner with legitimate gap power and overall intriguing offensive tools. Vranesic will DH as he rehabs his arm, and provides home run power in the middle of the lineup.

Synopsis:
Archbishop Moeller provides extremely talented starting pitching to go along with a deep, loaded offense, making them a serious contender to win the championship at this event. They have as good a 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation as anyone, although it will be interesting to see how the rest of the rotation—as well as their bullpen—shakes out.


Dunwoody Wildcats (Dunwoody, Ga.)

Top Prospects:

• Kevin Smith (LHP/1B, 2015, Top 500)
• Chandler Dinsmore (RHP, 2015, High Follow)
• Chase Hawkins (OF/RHP, 2015, High Follow)

Pitching:
The Wildcats of Dunwoody High School will be led into battle by a trio of senior arms, all of who will also contribute offensively as legitimate two-way players. Top 500 prospect Kevin Smith, a University of Georgia signee, anchors the staff and is the ace. The tall, ideally-built Smith stands 6-foot-5 and weighs in around 200 pounds, and can work his fastball up into the 90s from the left side. He complements his fastball with a very good changeup and solid breaking ball, both of which are legitimate swing-and-miss offerings. Joining him on the mound are senior righthanders Chandler Dinsmore and Chase Hawkins, both High Follow prospects and both able to throw fastballs in the mid- to upper-80s. Both offer good size and projection, and naturally, both will be counted on heavily at this event.

Offense:
The offense will be led by the same trio of seniors, as any or all of them could be seen playing the field and hitting in the everyday lineup for the Wildcats. Kevin Smith plays first base when not pitching, and offers legitimate power from the left side of the plate. He may end up hitting in the cleanup spot for Dunwoody in the hopes that he can showcase his power. Chase Hawkins is primarily an outfielder, known for his 6.8 second speed and his legitimate top-of-the-order offensive tools. However, what makes him a complete prospect is his ability to play center field at a high level right now as well as in the future at the next level.

Synopsis:
The Dunwoody Wildcats have something that not every team has: A bona fide ace pitcher, and a lefthander at that. That luxury in it of itself makes them very dangerous, especially when one considers their overall depth in the pitching staff as well as their potentially dangerous offense.


Gloucester Catholic Rams (Gloucester City, N.J.)

Top Prospects:

• John Murphy (RHP, 2015, 216)
• Dante Scafidi (LHP, 2015, Top 1,000)
• Jake Gillis (3B/RHP, 2015, High Follow)
• Fran Kinsey (OF, 2015, High Follow)
• Tyler Mondile (RHP/IF, 2016, 149)
• Nicholas Seccia (C, 2016, High Follow)

Pitching:
Gloucester Catholic will head south to Georgia, escaping the still-chilly Atlantic April, with a loaded stable of arms at their disposal. Senior John Murphy, a Maryland signee and the No. 216 overall prospect in the country, is a big righthander with an even bigger fastball. The 6-foot-4 Murphy has been clocked as high as 92 mph at PG events, and projects to throw even harder as he continues to develop. Top 1,000 senior Dante Scafidi, a lefthander signed with Rutgers, works his fastball up into the upper-80s already with more to come. Junior Tyler Mondile, also a legitimate prospect as an infielder and the No. 149 overall prospect in the class of 2016, may have the highest upside of anyone at the event. He’s already up into the low-90s as a junior, and the Florida State commit could see his stock skyrocket at this event.

Offense:
Gloucester Catholic, to go along with an absolutely loaded pitching staff, carries a deep offense as well as a strong defense. Tyler Mondile, while being arguably one of the top pitching prospects at this event, is also a legitimate talent in the infield and in the middle of the lineup. Behind the plate, junior High Follow prospect Nicholas Seccia will do most of the catching, where his solid arm strength and 2.0 second pop times will keep opposing runners from getting too aggressive. He’s also a highly projectable and talented hitter who should do some damage. Jake Gillis will help out of the bullpen but primarily play third base in the everyday lineup, and senior Fran Kinsey will start in center field and hit near the top of the lineup.

Synopsis:
It’s hard to argue that this team isn’t one of the most talented and most well balanced in the entire event. They have a loaded rotation and a legitimate offense top to bottom, and they play good defense as a team. They may come from a cold weather state, but their play should be anything but cold when they take the field this week.


Greenbrier Christian Academy Gators (Chesapeake, Va.)

Top Prospects:

• Hunter Payne (RHP/3B, 2015, High Follow)
• Colby Lee (RHP, 2016, 369)
• Carson Henry (SS/2B, 2016, Top 1,000)
• Casey Williams (RHP/1B, 2016, High Follow)
• Erik Stock (IF/RHP, 2017, High Follow)

Pitching:
The Gators offer a deep pitching staff consisting mostly of two-way players who will contribute both on the mound and with the bat. The lone “pitcher-only” is staff ace Colby Lee, the 369rd ranked player in the Class of 2016. Lee offers good size to go along with fastball that can get up near 90 mph, and complements that offering with a very good breaking ball/changeup combination to round out his arsenal. Joining him on the mound will be senior Hunter Payne, a High Follow prospect who also works with a fastball in the mid- to upper-80s and a quality changeup with fading action. Junior Casey Williams and sophomore Erik Stock will also see time on the mound for Greenbrier Christian Academy.

Offense:
Most of the pitching staff listed above will also be in the starting lineup when not pitching, including Hunter Payne, who will play third base, and Casey Williams, the probable starting first baseman. Both of them will hit in the middle of the order and look to provide power for the offense. Junior Top 1,000 prospect Carson Henry will captain the defense from his shortstop position, where his excellent defense and on-base skills will play well at the top of the order. Sophomore High Follow prospect Erik Stock may join Henry up the middle and play second base, but he could play all over the field if needed.

Synopsis:
This team is younger compared to others in this event, but that doesn't mean they are any shorter on talent. They have a deep pitching staff, and that staff is composed of two-way players who can all hit the baseball and play solid defense, making Greenbrier Christian a very tough team.


IMG Academy Ascenders (Bradenton, Fla.)

Top Prospects:

• Austin Bates (C/OF, 2017, 95)
• Ian McEachern (RHP, 2016, Top 500)
• Sam Joyce (2B/OF, 2016, Follow)
• A.J. Hemmelgarn (RHP, 2015)
• Brett Tivnan (OF/RHP, 2016, Top 1,000)
• Coby Ghajar (LHP, 2016)
• Jacob Salim (3B/RHP, 2016, Follow)

Pitching:
The Ascenders of IMG Academy, having already shown well at the Perfect Game High School Showdown with their Varsity Black team, will head back to Georgia to compete in the Louisville Slugger Classic with their Varsity Blue team. This team still offers plenty of talent, especially on the mound, being led by junior Top 500 prospect and Pepperdine commit Ian McEachern. McEachern is an ideal-sized righthanded pitcher, standing 6-foot-5 with long limbs and a loose arm. He already works in the upper-80s and touches 90 mph with his fastball, and he should gain a good amount more velocity as he physically matures. He’s joined on the mound by several two-way prospects, including junior righthanders Brett Tivnan and Jacob Salim, both of who can reach into the mid-80s (and higher) with their fastballs when needed.

Offense:
Offensively, the Ascenders are lead by a good mix of upper and underclassmen, all of whom project both with the bat and with the glove. The highest ranked prospect on this roster is 2017 catcher/outfielder Austin Bates, who is ranked as the No. 95 prospect in the class of 2017. The North Carolina commit already pops in less than 2.00 seconds, has a very strong arm, is athletic and has projectable offensive tools. He’s a legitimate high-end prospect, as evidenced by his ranking. He’ll do the majority of the catching and hit in the middle of the order, but can play the outfield if needed. Junior Sam Joyce will do a little bit of everything, as he is a good enough athlete to handle either the middle infield or the outfield depending on the lineup of the day. Junior Follow prospect Jacob Salim could start at third base and will also contribute on the mound for IMG. Top 1,000 prospect Brett Tivnan will probably start in center field, as his 6.8 second speed plays well there, as well as at the top of the lineup.

Synopsis:
The Ascenders are a pretty solid squad top to bottom, and they do have star power at the top with McEachern on the mound and Bates behind the plate. Even with those two, they still have solid depth behind them, on the mound, at the plate and in the field. They are especially strong through the middle of the field and with righthanded pitching.


King’s Ridge Christian Tigers (Alpharetta, Ga.)

Top Prospects:

• Brandt Stallings (1B/OF, 2015, 41)
• Tarez Miller (OF/SS, 2015, Top 500)
• Connor Burns (LHP/OF, 2015, Top 500)
• Adam Moore (IF/RHP, 2015, Top 1,000)
• Austin Higginbotham (LHP, 2015, Top 1,000)
• Cullin Monette (IF/RHP, 2016, Top 1,000)
• Lawson Hill (C/RHP, 2017, Top 1,000)

Pitching:
The Tigers of King’s Ridge Christian have a big stable of arms, including a few lefthanders, which is something that not many teams have in this event. Seniors Connor Burns (Top 500) and Austin Higginbotham (Top 1,000) both sling it from the left side and all are key components of the pitching staff, giving the Tigers potential matchups throughout the tournament. Connor Burns has been up to 88 mph at PG events in the past and figures to have gained velocity over the winter, while Higginbotham can work in the low- to mid-80s from the left side. Senior Adam Moore, a righty, is a physical player who can also throw in the mid-80s. Rounding out the staff are junior Cullin Monette and sophomore Lawson Hill, who will also handle the staff from behind the plate.

Offense:
King’s Ridge Christian offers one of the top players in the entire nation in senior Brandt Stallings, the No. 41 overall player in the class of 2015. Stallings offers one of the highest ceilings with the bat of anyone in the nation, with legitimate hit and power projections at the next level. He’s also a very good athlete, running the 60-yard dash in 6.65 seconds at the PG National last summer. He’ll play the outfield and hit in the middle of the order. Tarez Miller, a Top 500 prospect, will play shortstop and hit at the top of the lineup. Adam Moore figures to play a corner infield spot when not pitching, while Cullin Monette offers a similar profile. Lawson Hill, a sophomore, should do most of the catching for the Tigers, and could end up pitching out of the bullpen as well.

Synopsis:
King’s Ridge Christian offers legitimate star power in the form of Brandt Stallings, who will almost definitely draw multitudes of scouts to his at-bats. However, they are also a very well balanced team top to bottom, both throughout the lineup and in the pitching staff. They have the arms to present matchup problems, and the bats to do damage against whoever they play.


St. Johns Cadets (Washington, D.C.)

Top Prospects:

• A.J. Lee (SS/RHP, 2015, 484)
• Brett Simon (C, 2015, High Follow)
• Brian Tagoe (CF, 2015, High Follow)
• Ryan Olsen (LHP, 2015)
• Josh Simon (C/OF, 2016, Top 500)

Pitching:
Senior righthander A.J. Lee will lead the staff, but is also the primary shortstop for the Cadets. The Maryland signee is an excellent athlete with advanced arm speed and feel for pitching, and can run his fastball up around 90 mph when he wants to. He’s a next-level prospect both on the mound and in the field. Joining Lee on the mound is fellow senior Ryan Olsen, a lefthander. Olsen is committed to Central Alabama Community College and shows excellent pitchability from the left side with a fastball that can work in the low-80s.

Offense:
The Cadets offer a deep, talented lineup that consists of several talented prospects. The aforementioned A.J. Lee will start at shortstop when he’s not toeing the rubber, and will either hit leadoff or right in the middle of the lineup. Senior Brett Simon will handle most of the catching duties behind the plate, and the High Follow 2015 prospect is no slouch with the bat either. Senior High Follow prospect Brian Tagoe will play center field and captain the outfield for the Cadets, and junior Top 500 prospect Josh Simon will play the outfield as well, when he’s not picking up time behind the plate.

Synopsis:
The Cadets have as good a two-way prospect as there is in this event with A.J. Lee who offers the potential and athleticism to be a two-way player at the Division I (Maryland) level as well. Lee and Olsen offer a very good 1-2, righty-lefty punch at the top of their rotation, and Lee, Simon, and Tagoe form a very good lineup nucleus for St. Johns.


Sumrall Bobcats (Sumrall, Miss.)

Top Prospects:

• Alex Knight (3B/RHP, 2015, High Follow)
• Drake Pace (RHP/1B, 2015, High Follow)
• Landon White (1B, 2015, High Follow)
• Briar Russell (RHP, 2016)
• Trace Jordan (OF/1B, 2016)

Pitching:
The Bobcats have started the 2015 season hot, holding a 17-1 record at the time of this writing. This outstanding record is due in large part to their pitching staff, which currently holds a 1.48 ERA as a team. They are led on the mound by several players, including junior Briar Russell and seniors Drake Pace and Landon White. Russell leads the team in innings pitched and strikeouts to go along with a sparkling 1.24 ERA. Pace and White both offer ERAs in the 2.00's to go along with excellent strikeout totals, and that's not even including the team leader in ERA, senior Joseph McLaurin. McLaurin has allowed only eight hits in 20 innings, and is striking out nearly two batters per frame.

Offense:
As stated above, the Bobcats have compiled a team ERA of 1.48 on the season, but it’s not only their pitching that has been impressive so far. They are hitting an astounding .322 as a team, a truly remarkable number. They are led on offense by senior third baseman Alex Knight, who is hitting .309 with extra-base pop while getting on base at an excellent clip and limiting strikeouts. Senior Drake Nightengale is putting up some eye-popping numbers so far, with a triple slash line of .339/.441/.535 with double-digit extra-base hits. However, the leader in the clubhouse for most impressive line so far is junior Trace Jordan. He’s hitting .434/.536/.792 with 13 doubles and a pair of homers. 'Impressive' doesn't even begin to do that justice.

Synopsis:
It would be hard for one to find a more statistically daunting team in this event, as Sumrall has done nothing but dominate their competition so far in 2015. They have limited runs to less than two per game, all while scoring bunches and bunches of runs, seemingly at ease. They'll surely be tested in this event, perhaps more so than they have been this season so far, but the numbers say that the Bobcats are up to the challenge.


Whitney Young Dolphins (Chicago, Ill.)

Top Prospects:

• David Craan (C/RHP, 2015, 418)
• Jonathan Eng (1B/RHP, 2015, High Follow)
• Justin Lo (SS/CF, 2015, High Follow)
• Andy Hayes (DH/C, 2015)
• Sam Reichert (OF, 2016)
• Aram Wilkinson (RHP, 2015)
• Sam Shuman (LHP, 2017)

Pitching:
The Dolphins of Whitney Young will travel down to Georgia having really just started their season, as the Midwest weather is traditionally difficult to play baseball in at this time of the year. However, they won’t be coming to Georgia with a lack of talent. They are led on the mound by several seniors, including David Craan, an Illinois signee. Craan is the starting catcher but also works as the team's closer with a fastball that has touched 90 mph. The rotation will be filled out by senior High Follow prospect Jonathan Eng, senior righty Aram Wilkinson and sophomore Sam Shuman. They've all gotten off to solid starts so far in 2015, especially Wilkinson, who has an ERA of less than 1.00 through two starts.

Offense:
Craan is the offensive leader, as the senior is hitting .500 through six games, with several doubles and a home run already. He hits in the middle of the order and is a legitimate power threat every time he steps to the plate. Senior Justin Lo, a former shortstop who has made the move to center field, is second on the team in hitting at .381 and hits at the top of the order. Eng joins Craan and designated hitter Andy Hayes in the heart of the order, where his extra-base power and excellent on-base skills translate to an impressive hitting line so far this season.

Synopsis:
This is a team who can get hot at the right time and run through the competition, but at the end of the day it will come down to how well they can balance their hitting and pitching performances against some of the best competition nationwide. They have their days of dominant pitching and their days of offensive explosions, but haven’t really put them together quite yet. Will they do so at this event? Time will tell.