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High School  | General | 2/17/2025

Coastal Region Dream Team & Top Tools

David Rawnsley
Regional Previews: Florida | Georgia | Pacific | Deep South | Texas

COASTAL REGION (NC, SC, VA, WV)  

The key to the Coastal Region is the depth of the talent base, as it would be very easy to do a two-deep roster for this region, especially on the mound, and find almost as talented players on the second team.  And although this team features only 2025 and 2026 players, the 2027 class is significantly talented as well and there will be no fall off when next year’s All-Coastal Region team is announced.

One of the changes in the dynamics of the Region’s talent is the rapid growth of the P27 Academy (Lexington, SC), which now ranks near the top of the growing number of baseball centric sports academies in the country. 



Wesleyan Christian Academy (NC), led by a stellar pitching staff led by All-Region talents Samuel Cozart and Josh Hammonds, is the top high school program in the Region and starts the season at 18th in the PG National Rankings.  Charlotte Catholic is the only other Region school in the top 50, checking in at 41st overall.


C –  Taylor Belza (Sr., P27 Academy, S.C.)

Belza was a standout at St. Ignatius High School in Ohio before transferring to P27 Academy for his senior year.  He’s a big and physical left-handed hitter with a very strong arm behind the plate and hit .344-4-34 in 27 games in 2024 PG play.  The 107th ranked player and seventh ranked player in the 2025 class, Belza is signed with Auburn.

1B –  Evan Hankins (Sr., The Miller School of Albemarle, Va.)

Hankins repeats as the All-Region first baseman and is a two-way standout for coach Billy Wagner’s very talented Miller School team.  A 6-5/220 left-handed hitter who posts some of the most impressive exit velocities in the country, Hankins hit .465-1-15 in PG play in 2024 and .326-3-26 last spring while also going 4-2 on the mound.  The 129th ranked player nationally in the 2025 class, Hankins is signed with Tennessee.

MIF –   Coy James (Sr., Davie County HS, N.C.)

James has arguably been the top hitter on the PG circuit the past two years after hitting .580-1-25 in 18 games in 2023 and .560-5-26 in 20 games in 2024, including .710-4-15 at the 17U WWBA National Championships.  It makes one wonder why he “only” hit .413 as a high school junior.  James is ranked 13th overall in the PG national rankings and is signed with Mississippi.

MIF –  Ethan Ball (Sr., McLean HS, Va.)

Ball was an All-State middle infielder last spring on the McLean High School team that emerged as state Class 6 champions, then had an outstanding summer to become the 56th ranked player nationally and second ranked senior in Virginia.  A Virginia Tech signee, Ball’s best tool is his left-handed bat, which produced a .421-3-13 line in 16 PG games in 2024.

3B –  Zahir Barjam (Sr., P27 Academy, S.C.)

Barjam played shortstop at Columbus High School in Miami as a junior before transferring to P27 Academy and profiles best as a third baseman at the college level.  His best tool is his right-handed bat and high-level barrel to ball skills.  The West Virginia signee hit .439-4-26 in 25 PG games in 2024 after hitting .414 in 2023 and has the ability to hit the ball hard to all fields.

OF –   Peter Mershon (Sr., Eastside HS, S.C.)

Mershon is currently a primary catcher but projects best as an outfielder at the next level with 6.51 speed in the sixty.  His best tool is his right-handed bat and he hit .520-4-23 in 20 PG games in 2024 while showing some of the top raw bat speed and power in the 2025 class.  Mershon is the top ranked senior prospect in South Carolina and the 46th ranked player nationally.  A 2024 PG All-American, he is signed with Mississippi State.

OF –   Everett Johnson (Sr., Wayne Country Day HS, N.C.)

The 5-9/170 left-handed hitting Johnson is the consummate leadoff hitter and has posted some incredible on-base and stolen base numbers in his high school and Perfect Game career.  He’s posted a .589 OB% in his last four PG years over 111 games with 71-74 stolen bases and his four-year high school numbers, including an 8th grade year when he hit .608, are a .596 OB% to go with 82 stolen bases.  A primary outfielder at present, it’s easy to see Johnson playing second base at the next level.  He’s signed with North Carolina State.

OF –  Gunnar Alm (Jr, Polk County HS, N.C.)

Alm has one of the purest left-handed swings in the 2026 class and is ranked 58th nationally in the PG national rankings.  He hit .491-5-23 in 24 games of PG play in 2024 while also hitting .408-7-23 with 25 stolen bases for Polk County High School during the spring.  The North Carolina State commit also has 6.54 speed in the sixty.

LHP Carson Bolemon (Jr., Southside Christian Schools, S.C.)

Bolemon was unhittable in 2024, going 9-0, 0.52 with 129 strikeouts in 54 innings with only 14 walks for Southside Christian School, then coming back in the summer and striking out 34 hitters in 19 innings versus only 2 walks in PG play.  The 6-4/210 Bolemon works in the 89-92 mph with more there on his fastball, with a upper 70’s curveball and fading change up.  He’s a Wake Forest commit.

RHP Sam Cozart (Sr., Wesleyan Christian Academy, N.C.)  

Cozart seems to have been around forever because he basically has.  He’s entering his sixth year of varsity play at Wesleyan Christian Academy, where he owns a 13-1, 1.93 record with 194 strikeouts and only 18 walks in 116 innings.  He’s also pitched for an unprecedented six years at the WWBA World Championships.  Cozart pitches in the 91-94 range with his fastball and has outstanding command of four pitches.

RHP  Alex Hoffman (Jr., Charlotte Catholic HS, N.C.)

A highest-level arm talent, Hoffman could be the catcher or utility two-way player on next year’s All-Region team but he fits best on the mound this year.  The 46th ranked player in the 2026 class, Hoffman is 92-94 mph off the mound with a very good high spin slider and has also thrown 87 mph from behind the plate and 95 mph in the infield.  A right-handed hitter, Hoffman is committed to Virginia Tech.

RHP  Chase Kiker (Jr., Metrolina Christian Academy, N.C.)

Kiker was one of the most dominant players in the country throughout the 2024 year.  He went 11-2, 0.86 with 130 strikeouts in 73 innings during the spring while also hitting .440-4-29, then won the Most Valuable Pitcher award at the WWBA 16U National Championships before adding a Most Valuable Player and another Most Valuable Pitcher trophy at a pair of fall PG tournaments.  Kiker then had a season closing perfect two inning appearance at Jupiter where he was 93-95 mph.  The 28th ranked player in the 2026 class, Kiker is committed to Clemson.

RHP  Noah Yoder (Sr., Atlee HS, Va.)

Yoder stands out physically with his power pitcher’s 6-5/230 build and has some of the best power stuff in the 2025 class.  He especially stood out at the 2024 WWBA World Championships, working in the 94-98 mph range for three innings to go with a mid-80’s slider that has good depth and a change up.  Currently ranked 28th in the PG national rankings, Yoder is signed with Duke.

UT – Josh Hammond (Sr., Wesleyan Christian Academy, N.C.)

Hammond has always been considered a primary pitcher in his development, with a fastball that began hitting the mid-90’s as early as his sophomore year, but is a true two-way prospect now who may end up being more successful as a power hitting third baseman.  The Wake Forest signee hit .365-5-28 as a junior while going 6-1, 2.26 on the mound.  He’s ranked 82nd in the PG 2025 national class rankings.


Coastal Region Top Tools


Best Hitter for Average: Coy James (Sr., Davie County HS, N.C.)

James numbers speak for themselves.  The right-handed hitter doesn’t walk much but has such extreme barrel skills, any swing is likely to result in a base hit, mostly likely a pull side line drive.

Best Hitter for Power: Peter Mershon (Sr., Eastside HS, S.C.)

The 6-2/195 Mershon simply over powers baseballs and his performance at the PG National Showcase and at the 2024 WWBA 17U National Championships, where he hit .500-2-13 with 8 walks in 12 games, indicated that he can dial his power up against the highest level pitchers.

Best Runner: Ezra Essex (P27 Academy, Chicago, Ill.)

Essex is attending P27 Academy but is a Chicago native.  A right-handed hitting outfielder, Essex ran a 6.39 sixty at the 2024 PG National Showcase (along with hitting a home run) and stole 38 bases in 40 attempts in 47 games on the PG circuit in 2024.  He is signed with Oklahoma State.

Best Defensive Catcher: Jack Woda (Jr., Bishop O’Connell HS, Va.)

Woda has very quick and athletic actions behind the plate and it’s easy to see him playing all over the field defensively, especially with his 6.72 speed.  Is a solid right-handed hitter as well and hit .373-1-19 in 27 PG games in 2024.  The 129th ranked player in the 2026 class nationally, Woda is committed to East Carolina.

Best Defensive Infielder: Coy James (Sr., Davie County HS, N.C.)

James is more of an actions over pure tools defender in the middle infielder.  He could end up staying at shortstop but it’s easy to see him at third base or second base as well.

Best Defensive Outfielder: Sterling Coaxum (Jr., P27 Academy, SC)

The 6-0/180 Coaxum is simply going to outrun baseballs in center field with his easy strides and 6.36 speed.  He’s ranked 98th in the 2026 PG rankings and could be one of the surprise prospects in the class this summer if his bat continues to improve.  A Charleston-area native, Coaxum is committed to Clemson.

Best Defensive Arm: Alex Hoffman (Jr., Charlotte Catholic HS, N.C.)

Hoffman’s arm strength stands out all over the field and might work best as an infielder, although his 87 mph from behind the plate at the PG Junior National Showcase certainly grabs one’s attention.

Best Fastball: Noah Yoder (Sr., Atlee HS, Va.)

Yoder spent last summer throwing in the 91-94 mph range but took a huge jump in October at the WWBA World Championships, topping out at 98 mph and not throwing a pitch below 94 for three innings.  If he duplicates that effort this spring, he could rocket up draft lists.

Best Off-Speed Stuff: Carson Bolemon (Jr., Southside Christian Schools, S.C.)

Bolemon’s 78-80 mph breaking ball has slider velocity and curveball depth and is thrown for strikes, making it one of the most dominant swing and miss pitches in the high school ranks.  Bolemon’s change up is also a quality pitch, especially against right-handed hitters.

Best Pitchability: RHP Sam Cozart (Sr., Wesleyan Christian HS, N.C.)  

Although the 6-7/245 looks like a power pitcher, his command and pitchability far surpasses his low 90’s fastball.  He can throw any pitch in any count and rarely walks a hitter, as highlighted by his single walk in 29 innings (versus 56 strikeouts) as a sophomore.  The Texas signee has 74 strikeouts in 50 innings the past three years in PG play and has issued only 11 walks.

Best Multi-Sport Athlete: Micah Matthews (Sr., Turner Ashby HS, Va.)

Matthews was a two-time PG Select Festival athlete and was originally committed to South Carolina for baseball.  He then developed into a four-star wide receiver/athlete with a chiseled 6-3/220 build and 4.45 speed in the forty while catching 86 passes for over 1,500 yards as a junior.  He’s signed with Virginia Tech for football now, although he’s said he wants to play both sports.
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