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Tournaments  | Story  | 6/1/2018

Familiar faces lead DRB Elite

Nate Schweers     
Photo: Josh Shuler (Perfect Game)

EMERSON, Ga. – DRB Elite Sapp improved to 2-0 at the Perfect Game/East Cobb Invitational on Friday with an 11-3 win over CBBA Gold 16u. After jumping out to an early 6-0 lead, DRB used a five-run fifth inning highlighted by a long home run from Western Carolina commit Carson Ford to pull away for good.

Formerly known as the Dunn Right Dawgs, the DRB program joined with Christian organization One Thing For Youth in 2016, with the goal of creating an environment where their players could succeed on and off the field. Head coach Dwayne Sapp believes the partnership has been a success, and is looking forward to seeing his guys continue to develop.

“Ryan Dunn wanted to take his past experiences of his pro ball and combine it with working with youth and showing them more or less the right path” said coach Sapp. “We’re real proud of everything, and I think the kids have really bought in to the game being bigger than baseball.”

One of the kids that has bought in to the program is coach Sapp’s son, Hudson. The younger Sapp, a Mississippi commit, has been showcasing his talents on the Perfect Game circuit since the inaugural 14u Perfect Game Select Baseball Festival in Fort Myers, Fla. in 2016.

The Festival was the first of its kind, giving the top 14u prospects in the country a chance to compete on the national stage. The event was also nationally televised through Fox Sports. Four total players from this DRB Elite squad were invited to participate, including Josh Shuler, Hank Bearden, Travis Hamrick and Sapp; however, these are very different players now than the ones we saw in September of 2016.

“I’ve worked on several things between hitting and playing the outfield,” said Hudson Sapp. “I’m trying to hit pitches early in the count better and really take advantage when I get into those hitters counts.”

Hudson also made the decision to play his collegiate baseball at Mississippi, a choice he says was a no brainer.

“I love the coaches and the school, and it’s an awesome atmosphere. Their Regional is tonight and they’re playing Saint Louis, so hopefully I can get back and watch them.”

Another player that garnered a lot of interest following the Festival, and who has also made his college decision already, is Hank Bearden. Bearden has committed to attend Georgia in the fall of 2020, and is part of a recruiting class that currently ranks as the 27th best in the country, and similar to Sapp, his decision was an easy one to make.

“For me that [Perfect Game Select Baseball Festival] is really when the colleges became interested in me, and since then I’ve been focused in the weight room trying to get better,” said Bearden. “I’ve loved Georgia ever since I was little, and the coaches are good and nice. I’ve just always liked them, they’re the hometown team.”

Josh Shuler was the third player to begin his recruiting process down at the Select Festival. Shuler ripped a three-run double in Friday six-run second inning, and while he doesn't know where he will be playing his college ball yet, he knows he wants to join Sapp and Bearden in the SEC.

With a nation-leading 10 teams in this year’s NCAA Tournament, the SEC has proven time and time again they are one of the best conferences in college baseball. Florida, Mississippi, Arkansas and Georgia are all hosting regionals this weekend, and one of those spots just might be where Shuler ends up.

“I’m looking to play early and compete every day,” said Shuler. “In my opinion there’s no conference better than the SEC, and I just want to play for a good school.

While Shuler, Sapp, and Bearden want to take their talents to the SEC, the ACC is getting a good one in North Carolina commit Travis Hamrick. Hamrick features an upper-80s fastball with big-time life, and ranks as the 70th best prospect in the 2020 class.  Hamrick, who is from Banner Elk, N.C., said the proximity to home played a big role in his commitment decision.

“My parents can come watch the games, and it’s an in-state school that I really like as well as the coaches,” said Hamrick.

On a team with already eight college commitments, Coach Sapp believes these four are just a few of the standouts that will come from the DRB Elite program.

“We get phone calls every day, and all of them we hope to have a home soon,” said Coach Sapp. “They’re almost ready to move on to the next level now and go play college ball, but fortunately they have two more years and I get a couple more summers with them. Maybe one day a few of them will make it on TV.”

While the end goal for any baseball player is to one day play on television under the bright lights of Yankee Stadium or Dodger Stadium, for right now these DRB Elite players are one win away from the playoffs at the 16u Perfect Game/East Cobb Invitational, and will be looking to leave Monday afternoon with a championship.
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