2016 EvoShield High School Invitational Event Page
Chapel Hill Panthers (Alpharetta, Ga.)
Top prospects (Position, Class, PG Rank)
• Alex Green (3B, 2017, 500)
• Datren Bray (OF, 2017, Top 1000)
• Jamison Arnold (RHP, 2017, High Follow)
• Dwayne Franklin (OF, 2017, Follow List)
• J.T. Siekerman (OF, 2017, Follow List)
• Chase Coker (OF, 2018, Follow List)
Pitching
The Panthers under first year head coach Alan Adair return a strong crop of talent coming into 2016. They are led on the mound by senior Savonte Williams and junior Jamison Arnold, who both work in the low- to mid-80s with their fastballs.
Offense
Chapel Hill lost their ignitor from a year ago with middle infielder Triston Leggett graduating and moving on to play at Indiana. The team does have the highly athletic Datren Bray roaming center field and Alex Green working the hot corner to lead the way for their offense.
Summary
Led by a promising crop of juniors, the Panthers appear to be in good shape for the 2016 spring season with a talented young roster that should compete for this year and next at a high level.
Druid Hills Red Devils (Atlanta, Ga.)
Top prospects (Position, Class, PG Rank)
• Austin Ledet (RHP/OF, 2016, High Follow)
• Julius Morgan (RHP, 2016, High Follow)
• Curtis Jamerson (C, 2017, Follow List)
Pitching
A very strong two-way player, Austin Ledet should get the call as the Red Devils No. 1 starter with a fastball that works in the mid- to upper-80s on the mound. Fellow senior Julius Morgan fills their No. 2 rotation spot and should do so well from a strong 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame.
Offense
While also getting contributions from Ledet and Morgan, junior catcher Curtis Jamerson looks to make an impact at the plate filling the whole created by the graduation of Travis Bowman. Sewanee commit and senior Nick Ewing also stands to play a big role with a short swing at or near the top of their order.
Summary
Coming off a .500 finish a year ago, the Red Devils look to make strides both offensively and on the mound. They will look for positive contributions from their pitching staff with both Ledet and Morgan moving into the senior Nos. 1 and 2 roles as well as overall offensive improvements.
Evans Knights (Evans, Ga.)
Top prospects (Position, Class, PG Rank)
• Ben Adkins (RHP/3B/OF, 2016, High Follow)
• Daniel Lee (OF/RHP, 2016, High Follow)
• Levin Lackey (3B, 2017, Top 1000)
Pitching
Led by Senior Ben Adkins, the Knights keep their No. 2 starter from a year ago and move him up the No. 1 spot. The righthanded Adkins runs his fastball in the mid-80s while also mixing in a curveball and changeup. They also look to get contributions from Lee and Lackey this season to fill their innings opened by lefthander Kyle Anderson, who is now at South Carolina.
Offense
Levin Lackey is the name to watch for the Knights on offense as well as Senior Daniel Lee. Lefthanded hitting senior first baseman Austin Shead should provide some thump in the middle of their lineup as well. After the departure of senior catcher Matt Anderson to Georgia Southern, the Knights have big shoes to fill but should have the pieces to do it.
Summary
Head coach Richard Beale raves about his team’s defense and his lineup as a whole. They’ll be looking to improve off of their fourth-place finish in their region from 2015, and should have the pieces to compete. The Knights should benefit from strong pitching and a balanced lineup led by Lackey.
Grissom Tigers (Huntsville, Ala.)
Top prospects (Position, Class, PG Rank)
• Palmer Ford (3B, 2016, High Follow)
• Will Bianca (OF, 2016, Follow List)
• Justin Foscue (SS, 2017, High Follow)
• Johnny Mangini (C, 2017, High Follow)
Pitching
The rotation for the Tigers took a big hit with graduations from both Zack Moon as well as Matt Terry. Looking to fill their shoes are sophomore Nate Howell and a pair of promising sophomores, Nate Sanderson and Wesley Winder.
Offense
While the Tigers suffered several big losses in the rotation, they return their top four position players from a year ago. Seniors Palmer Ford and Will Bianca will fill the middle and top of the order respectively. Justin Foscue and Johnny Mangini are a pair of up-the-middle players who should also make a big impact.
Summary
Coming into the tournament as the only out-of-state team, the Tigers bring a very strong lineup to Georgia. Last year marked the first year since 2011 where the team hasn’t made the state tournament and they still finished with a 22-13 record. With most of their offensive weapons returning they should be in good position to get back.
Ringgold Tigers (Ringgold, Ga.)
Top prospects (Position, Class, PG Rank)
• Devin Lancaster (RHP, 2016, 500)
• Cade Gilbert (MIF/OF, 2016, Top 1000)
• Peyton Tennant (LHP/OF, 2016, High Follow)
• Rhett Baldwin (3B/RHP, 2017, High Follow)
Pitching
Senior Devin Lancaster should take the ball for the Tigers as their No. 1 starter every week. The Tennessee Tech commit works an upper-80s fastball on the mound and looks to repeat on a strong 2015 season. Head coach Brent Tucker also looks to get contributions from senior Peyton Tennant and junior Rhett Baldwin.
Offense
Tennant and Baldwin, in addition to pitching, will also hit in the middle of the Tigers’ lineup and be backed up by middle infielder Cade Gilbert. Tucker is also looking forward to a strong season from junior outfielder Tyler Nichols.
Summary
Built around a strong crop of two-way players the Tigers look to build off their very strong season a year ago winning their 6-AAA region with a 16-1 record and finishing 24-8 overall. The returning starters as well as the leadership from coach Tucker should give them every opportunity to do so.