THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,572 MLB PLAYERS | 16,330 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,572 MLB PLAYERS | 16,330 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
College  | Story | 6/8/2011

Chapel Hill SR: Who has the edge?

Kendall Rogers

You can follow college baseball managing editor Kendall Rogers on Twitter @KendallRogersPG and can join the Perfect Game College Baseball Facebook page. Fans also can subscribe here to receive the college baseball ultimate ticket.

Like the college baseball content we provide at Perfect Game? If so, get the ultimate college baseball experience by subscribing to the College Baseball Ticket for just $7 monthly or $60 annually ($24 yearly savings). If you're interested in subscribing to the CBT, Click Here.

SUPER REGIONAL COVERAGE: SCHEDULE/RESULTS | PAIRINGS | MESSAGE BOARDS


After the many miles traveled by some teams last week, the Road to Omaha either continues or comes to an abrupt halt for 16 teams this weekend.

With the NCAA Super Regionals around the corner, we take an in-depth look at how each team stacks up against the other.

In our last NCAA Super Regional preview, we took an inside look at the Gainesville Super Regional between Mississippi State and Florida. Now it's time to take an in-depth look at the Chapel Hill Super Regional, which features a pair of hot teams in Stanford (35-20) and North Carolina (48-14).

For Stanford, the biggest key to the weekend is it must get solid starts from Appel, Pries and Sandbrink. All three threw well in the Fullerton Regional last weekend, but this is a team that isn't gifted with a lot of bullpen depth outside of stud lefty Chris Reed. Therefore, starters going deep into games is a huge need for the Cardinal. Stanford also needs to get on a roll offensively. They did a tremendous job of hitting last weekend in NCAA Regional play, so it'll be interesting to see if that translates to more success this weekend.

North Carolina is at home and has a lot of momentum after finishing the regular season on such a high note and playing extremely well in the Chapel Hill Regional last weekend. The Tar Heels need to get production from the bottom half of their lineup to take care of business this weekend. The starting rotation outside of Patrick Johnson also must be solid. It'll be interesting to see how freshman Kent Emanuel throws considering this is his first experience in an NCAA Super Regional.

UNC should be headed back to Omaha if the series goes as expected.

WHO HAS THE EDGE? Austin | Charlottesville | Columbia | Gainesville | Nashville | Santa Clara | Tallahassee

Chapel Hill Super Regional: Who has the edge?
Starting pitching

There's not a category tougher to choose than this one. Both teams have very solid weekend rotations, but Stanford gets an extremely slight edge for having a bit more overall consistency 1-2-3. The Tar Heels have a solid rotation entering the weekend, which includes surprising senior Patrick Johnson, freshman Kent Emanuel and Chris Munnelly. Johnson is having a campaign to remember, sitting at 12-1 with a 2.36 ERA in 99 1/3 innings. He also has struck out 113 and walked 29 and teams are hitting him at a .210 clip. Emanuel has blossomed in his first year and has a 2.62 ERA in 89 1/3 innings. Teams are hitting him at just a .257 clip. Munnelly, meanwhile, is by far the most hittable starter on this staff, sitting at a 4.11 ERA in 70 innings. Teams are hitting .267 off him ... When he's clicking on all cylinders, Stanford has a truly special prize pitcher in right-hander Mark Appel, potentially the top pick in the 2012 MLB draft. Appel has a 3.02 ERA in 104 1/3 innings. He also has struck out 83 and walked 26 and teams are hitting him at a .276 clip. Other weekend starters for the Cardinal include Jordan Pries, who was fantastic against Cal State Fullerton last week, and veteran Danny Sandbrink. Pries has started 15 games and has a 3.24 ERA in 94 1/3 innings. He has struck out 74 and walked 30 and teams are hitting .263 against him. Sandbrink, meanwhile, has plenty of experience having started a game in Omaha as a freshman few years ago. He has a 3.39 ERA in 61 innings and teams are hitting him at a .237 clip.
Bullpen

If there's a substantial advantage in one direction this weekend, it's in this category in favor of North Carolina. The Cardinal has an outstanding ace reliever in left-handed pitcher Chris Reed, who has a 2.54 ERA in 49 2/3 innings with nine saves. However, the Cardinal simply don't have the depth the Tar Heels possess with other arms to watch including A.J. Vanegas and Brian Busick, who tossed two shutout innings in the Fullerton Regional last weekend ... The Tar Heels are led in the bullpen by Tate Parrish, Greg Holt and R.C. Orlan, who each have made 30 appearances. The trio has ERAs of 2.35, 3.09 and 3.77, respectively. Also keep an eye on Andrew Smith, Shane Taylor and Michael Morin. Smith has a 2.77 ERA in 26 innings, Taylor has a 3.00 ERA in 36 innings and Morin has a 4.80 ERA in 60 innings with eight saves and teams hitting him at a .262 clip. One premier ACC coach told me earlier this season the Tar Heels had the arms in the bullpen to match up with anyone in the country.
Offense

Both Stanford and North Carolina have the ability to put up runs in a hurry, but both teams also have the ability to go into lulls at times. Both teams have played a very solid brand of baseball at the plate the past few weeks, so more runs than expected could be scored this weekend. The Cardinal has the better offensive lineup entering the weekend with a .302 batting average. Stephen Piscotty, Tyler Gaffney, Brian Ragira, Austin Wilson and Lonnie Kauppila lead the way. Piscotty leads the way with a .370 average, three home runs and 40 RBIs. He also has a solid .430 on-base percentage. Gaffney, a speedster, is hitting .323 with three home runs and 34 RBIs, Ragira is hitting .320 with four home runs and 43 RBIs and Wilson is hitting .309 with five home runs and 27 RBIs. Kauppila, meanwhile, also is a member of Stanford's talented freshman class and is hitting .303 with a home run and 25 RBIs ... The bottom of North Carolina's lineup certainly leaves something to be desired, but they have some solid hitters. Freshman third baseman Colin Moran is having a fantastic campaign and leads the way with a .335 average, 19 doubles, nine home runs and 69 RBIs. He also has a solid .443 OBP. Second baseman Tommy Coyle is hitting .322 with a .412 OBP and is 18-for-24 in stolen bases, while Jessie Wierzbicki is hitting .301 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs. Also keep an eye on stud prospect Levi Michael, who's hitting .297 with five home runs and 48 RBIs. Michael also has a team-best .444 OBP and is 15-for-16 in stolen bases.
Defense

Stanford has several solid defenders this season, especially freshman Lonnie Kauppila, who has a fabulous .992 fielding percentage at second base. North Carolina, though, has the edge in this category. The Tar Heels enter the weekend with a fabulous .979 fielding percentage. Catcher Jacob Stallings has a .990 fielding percentage, first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki has a .996 fielding percentage and third baseman Colin Moran has a .939 fielding percentage. In the middle, the Tar Heels have a solid duo with shortstop Levi Michael and second baseman Tommy Coyle leading the way. Michael is one of the nation's best defenders with a .968 fielding percentage while Coyle is sitting at .961. The Heels also have a solid outfield ... There isn't is a huge difference between the Cardinal and Tar Heels in this category, but Stanford does have some holes. For instance, third baseman Stephen Piscotty has a bad .910 fielding percentage and shortstop Kenny Diekroeger's .941 fielding percentage is far inferior to what Michael has accomplished this season. The outfield is the one area I really like about this Stanford club. Tyler Gaffney and Austin Wilson at the corners gives the Cardinal a pair of great athletes that can cover a lot of ground out there.
Intangibles

It's always tough to judge the intangibles department, but we're giving a slight edge to North Carolina. Though the Tar Heels only reached an NCAA Regional last season, several players off this team were part of teams that reached the College World Series. Stanford also has a couple of players with the same situation, particularly No 3 starter Danny Sandbrink. Outside of having a bit more experience in this situation, the Tar Heels are at home this weekend, where they're an amazing 34-3 this season. Stanford is playing an impressive brand of baseball, but once again will have to elevate its level of play to grab a road series victory this weekend. The more we look at it, the more we think this series will come down to the finale. We wouldn't want it any other way.


Kendall Rogers is the college baseball editor for Perfect Game USA and has covered the sport for over 10 seasons. He can be reached at kendall@perfectgame.org
Give us your feedback
College | Story | 7/14/2026

Coppy's Corner: July 14 Summer Edition
John Coppolella
Article Image
The amateur players in the Cape Cod Baseball League are the future stars of the 2027 MLB Draft. The league runs from June 13th through August 2nd. Games are played at historic stadiums in Old New England towns. It’s beautiful and charming. Hollywood even made a movie about the Cape Cod League ~25 years ago called Summer Catch. It scored an 8% (!) on Rotten Tomatoes, but, on the plus side, it featured 2001 Jessica Biel in a starring role.  It was so much fun writing Coppy’s Column this spring. My hope is to highlight a pitcher and position player each week from the Cape. And, who knows, maybe somewhere out there Jessica Biel is reading it.    Player of the Week: Carter White – Falmouth Commodores  Talk about making a great first impression! White introduced himself in a very loud and boisterous way this past week by going 9-17 (.529 AVG) with 6 RBI...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/15/2026

WWBA Arrives in Arizona

Emily Hicks
Article Image
After another week of summer baseball, Perfect Game action returns to Surprise Stadium as teams prepare for another exciting week of competition at the WWBA Championship. From July 14-18, some of the top programs in travel baseball will take the field looking to compete for a championship and showcase their talent against high-level competition.  The tournament will feature both the 15U and 16U divisions, bringing together talented teams and rising prospects from across the West and beyond. With several days of pool play and championship bracket action, teams will have the opportunity to test themselves against strong opponents while competing on one of the biggest stages of the summer.  Surprise Stadium will provide the setting for a week filled with competitive matchups, standout performances, and prospects looking to make an impact. From dominant pitching performances to...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 7/15/2026

East Cobb Go Undefeated, Takes 14U BCS

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
East Cobb Goes Undefeated, Takes 14U BCS Twenty years after winning the inaugural 14U BCS National Championship in 2006, the East Cobb Astros once again stood atop the tournament, defeating the Original Florida Pokers 7-4 at JetBlue Park. A hot, sunny afternoon set the stage for a tightly contested match between the Original Florida Pokers 2030 and East Cobb Astros 14U Orange. Although the Pokers had a two-run lead with just three innings to go, East Cobb showed their team had no quit as they pulled away with a 7-4 victory. The teams battled through a highly contested tournament field of over sixty teams from across the country, with the Pokers coming in 8-1 and East Cobb entering 8-0 in tournament play. Cohen Carter started on the mound for East Cobb, allowing seven hits and no walks while striking out three batters over four innings. His fastball sat 71-75 mph. Silas Anstett opened the...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/15/2026

Stars Marucci '27 Loaded and Poised

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
Expectations naturally follow one of the nation’s top ranked teams. For Stars Marucci 2027, those expectations have only grown as the summer season has progressed.  Ranked No. 16 nationally and featuring a roster loaded with Division I commits and nationally ranked prospects, Stars Marucci 2027 entered the 2026 Perfect Game 17U National Elite Championship as one of the top teams to watch.  Through the opening two days of the tournament, they have shown why they are a team to watch, opening the week with back-to-back victories over SBA Tucci 2027 (6-1) and FC Twins Scout (5-2) to build early momentum heading into the later rounds.  The talent on the roster is undeniable.  Virginia Tech commits Chase Colangelo, Yogi Colangelo, and Teagan Leach, Maryland commit Jerome Fortier, and Youngstown State commit Sam Capuano headline a group filled with college bound...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/15/2026

Mine Wood Bat World Series Notes

Jordan Gates
Article Image
‘28 OF/LHP Carson Tabler (OH) Rips one deep into the pull side gap for an inside-the-park HR. Athletic in the box w/ a projectable frame. Utilizes a toe tap on a fluid stroke w/ good bat speed. Good runner in stride + efficient around the bases. #MineWS @Carson_T7 @PFFlyers2028 pic.twitter.com/IVfICPg4qV — Perfect Game Ohio Valley (@PG_OhioValley) July 10, 2026 Carson Tabler (2028, Cincinnati, Ohio) Tabler was probably the most pleasant surprise when it comes to names from this weekend. A rather unknown for me and my staff going into the event, Tabler managed to cement himself by event’s end. It’s a true two-way projection at this stage, while he has the size in the 6-foot-3 long and loose frame, the strength will continue to add on to the 175-pound stature. While he only had two extra-base hits (triple, home run), the bat-to-ball skills were the calling card, and...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 7/14/2026

SBA Bolts National Raise Trophy at 16u

Will Dembo
Article Image
After an action-packed week at the 16u WWBA Championships, the tournament came down to two of the nation’s top teams battling for one of travel baseball’s most prestigious titles. No. 5 ranked SBA Bolts National faced No. 60 Alpha Prime 2028 after both teams reached the championship undefeated, but the SBA Bolts were the sole team to exit without a loss, defeating Alpha Prime 10-2 in mercy rule fashion and capture the national title behind dominant pitching and explosive offensive performances. The SBA Bolts were perfect throughout their week, running the table and going 11-0 while outscoring their opponents by an impressive margin of 108-25. “It was awesome,” SBA Head Coach Travis Thompson said on the mercy rule victory. “It just kind of culminated our week. It's been a long week. I can't even remember our first game, which felt like three weeks ago. The...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/14/2026

Coastal Region Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Ridge Whitfield (2029, Charlotte, NC) stands at 6-foot, 158 pounds with an athletic build that should allow him to maintain his mobility and quick-twitch actions as he continues to develop. He bats and throws left-handed. Whitfield locates his fastball to both sides of the plate, mixes his pitches effectively, and keeps hitters off balance. He competes on every pitch and doesn’t back down in big situations. Whitfield threw 5.1 innings, allowing three hits, one earned run, and no walks while striking out three on 75 pitches (58% strikes). He attacked the zone with a fastball that sat 73 mph and topped out at 78 mph, mixing in a 67 mph breaking ball and a 68-70 mph changeup to keep hitters off balance. Sam Jobe (2029, Charlotte, NC) stands at 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, with a lean, athletic frame and plenty of projection. He bats and throws right-handed. Jobe shows good feel for the...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/14/2026

14u & 17u West Scout Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
14u & 17u WWBA West Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Adryan Zaragoza (‘30 | CA) turns on this one, sending it down RF line for a 2B. Finished 2-for-3 w/ 2RBI, 2R, BB. PS approach, bat speed, raw strength #WWBAWest @California_PG pic.twitter.com/V6Ctus4CX1 — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) July 13, 2026 Adryan Zaragoza (2030, Lake Elsinore, CA) The 5-foot-9, 150-pound left-handed hitter and infielder had a great weekend for ZT Select Prospects, finishing with five hits, eight runs scored, one double, one triple, six RBI, one stolen base, and two walks during the 14U WWBA West National Championships. Zaragoza consistently ignited the offense from the top of the lineup, with a disciplined approach and the ability to create scoring opportunities. He can drive the baseball into the gaps while producing in big situations, combining quality contact with aggressive baserunning....
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/14/2026

14u BCS Scout Note Recap

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Jake Karpell (2030, Holmdel, NJ) got on the barrel a couple times in game five and totaled three rbis. Started his production with a single then later on hammered a heater down the right field and flew around the bases for a three run inside the park home run. Keeps the hands inside at contact really well and got the head around on the homer. Runs well and can hit it around the yard in the approach.  Luke Sauer (2030 C, FL)  put his hit tool on display with a well-struck double, continuing to show why he is regarded as one of the top catchers in the class. Owns a big frame with present physicality and does a good job keeping the hands connected throughout the swing. The barrel works efficiently through the zone and there is a solid offensive foundation present. Currently ranked as the No. 66 catcher nationally.  Gavin Politz (2030 OF, FL) continued a strong tournament...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/14/2026

15u World Series Scout Notes: Days 1-3

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Connor Ashley (‘29, FL) has struck out six over six no hit innings thus far. Got the FB up to 87 w/ feel for a sharp two-plane slider. #PGWS @Florida_PG pic.twitter.com/M7mEmTH8pk — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 12, 2026 Connor Ashley (’29, Minneola, FL) was stellar on Sunday, striking out seven in a seven inning no hitter. He operates from a medium-to-large right-handed frame with length, room to fill, and lower half strength. Ashley works exclusively from the stretch, starting at the belt before working into a higher compact leg lift, firing down the mound via a long arm action. He releases from a high three-quarters slot, with the fastball jumping from the hand up to 87. Ashley mixed in a sharp 11-5 breaking ball with depth and late bite, a true swing-and-miss offering.  Matthew Hernandez (’29, Miami Lakes, FL) has posted strong numbers on both...
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2026 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.