THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,580 MLB PLAYERS | 16,393 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,580 MLB PLAYERS | 16,393 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Summer Collegiate  | Story | 10/10/2013

Coastal Plain prospect reports


Official League Website: 
www.coastalplain.com
2013 Summer Collegiate Top Prospect coverage
Coastal Plain League Top Prospect list (free)


The Peninsula Pilots historically have had the most prospect-rich team in the Coastal Plain League, but until the 2013 season didn’t have a championship to show for it.

That ended for the Virginia-based club this summer as it beat the defending champion Columbia Blowfish in two straight extra-inning games in a best-of-3 final. On three previous occasions (2006, 2007 and 2009), the Pilots had lost in the championship series.

Oddly, this club may have been one of Peninsula’s least-talented in several years—if Perfect Game’s ranking of the top prospects in the CPL can be used as a measuring stick. The top prospect on this year’s club, by most accounts, was third baseman Jordan Negrini (Old Dominion), who played a pivotal role in the team’s success after going undrafted in June. He ranks no higher than fifth overall in the league, in contrast to the four-year period from 2008-11, when the Pilots boasted the league’s No. 1 prospect, and even 2012, when they had the second-best prospect. In 2010 alone, six of the top nine CPL prospects were Peninsula players, yet the team advanced no further than the semi-finals.

The depth of talent on this year’s club wasn’t quite as prevalent, either, though the Pilots won a club record 39 games (including playoffs) and still had nine players ranked among the league’s Top 60 prospects. A year ago, a 26-28 Peninsula team had a dozen players in the top 60, and didn’t win a playoff game.

Typically, the Pilots recruited aggressively in the past and while they landed their share of front-line prospects, they also invariably got burned by losing a number of key players to the draft; numerous others arrived late because of their participation with Division I teams in post-season play. But this year, the Pilots made a conscious point of scaling back their recruiting efforts, focused more on players with Virginia roots, and were justly rewarded.

A pair of local high school products, lefthander Brandon Vick and righthander Aaron Myers, both attending college at Longwood and ranked 15
th and 16th respectively on the accompanying list of the league’s top prospects, combined to pitch the Pilots to the title with a 2-1 win over Columbia in the deciding game of the 2013 season, while Negrini, a local college product, delivered the winning run in the eighth-inning on a sacrifice fly. The game was scheduled for seven innings because a rain out the previous day necessitated a possible doubleheader on the final day of the season.

Peninsula went only 14-13 in the first half of the CPL season, but caught fire in the second half, going 19-9, and entered the CPL playoffs on a roll as the No. 4 seed. They reached the final by dismantling the No. 1 seed Edenton Steamers in three games in the semi-final round, marking the third straight season that the Steamers, typically an older team with proportionately fewer high-end prospects, had posted the best record in the league, only to get bounced in the playoffs.


FAST FACTS

Year League Established:
1997
States Represented in League: North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia
No. of Teams in League: 14
Regular-Season Champion (best overall record): EAST/First Half—Edenton Steamers (20-6); Second Half—Edenton Steamers (20-5). WEST/First Half—Asheboro Copperheads (18-8); Second Half—Asheboro Copperheads (17-10)
Post-Season Champion: Peninsula Pilots
Teams, Perfect Game Summer 50/Final Ranking: No. 6 Edenton Steamers, No. 14 Peninsula Pilots; No. 28 Asheboro Copperheads; No. 34 Columbia Blowfish
No. 1 Prospect, 2012 (per PG CrossChecker): Andrew Brockett, rhp, Wilmington Sharks (Richmond/Royals, 22nd round, 2013 draft)
First 2012 Player Selected, 2013 Draft: Nate Smith, lhp, Asheboro Copperheads (Furman/Angels, 8th round)

Player of the Year:
Luke Tendler, of, Asheboro Copperheads (North Carolina A&T)
Pitcher of the Year: John Tuttle, rhp, Asheboro Copperheads (Catawba, N.C.)

BATTING LEADERS (League games only)

Batting Average:
Luke Tendler, of, Asheboro Copperheads (.351)
Slugging Percentage: Nick Thompson, 2b/of, Edenton Steamers (.594)
On-Base Average: Patrick Grady, of, Peninsula Pilots (.487)
Home Runs: Ryan Cranmer, of/3b, Edenton Steamers (12)
RBI: Josh Hampton, 3b, Edenton Steamers (42)
Stolen Bases: Hunter Burton, 2b, Gastonia Grizzlies (28)

PITCHING LEADERS (League games only)

Wins:
John Tuttle, rhp, Asheboro Copperheads (9)
ERA: John Tuttle, rhp, Asheboro Copperheads (0.78)
Saves: Jake McCoy, rhp, Edenton Steamers (11)
Strikeouts: Tim Hill, lhp, Florence RedWolves (61)

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete:
Jared Foster, of, High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms
Best Hitter: Evan Stephens, of, High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms
Best Power: Chase McDonald, 1b, Morehead City Marlins
Fastest Base Runner: Kyle Brandenburg, of, High Point-Thomasville Hi Toms
Best Defensive Player: Evan Stephens, of, Asheboro Copperheads
Best Velocity: Matt Pope, rhp, Asheboro Copperheads
Best Breaking Ball: Travis Hissong, rhp, Fayetteville Swampdogs
Best Command: John Tuttle, rhp, Asheboro Copperheads


TOP 40 PROSPECTS

1. TYLER BOLTON, rhp, Wilmington Sharks (East Carolina/JR in 2014)
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Bolton made a sudden and dramatic emergence as a legitimate prospect this summer in the CPL, posting a 5-0, 0.87 record in eight starts for Wilmington; in 49 innings, he allowed 15 walks and struck out 49, but most impressively allowed just 24 hits, which translated to an eye-popping opponent batting average of just .137. That’s in stark contrast to a 0-2, 7.36 record in 15 innings as a sophomore at East Carolina and just three brief appearances at ECU as a freshman, along with an 2-6. 4.48 mark (55 IP, 32 BB/30 SO) in the CPL in 2012, while pitching for Wilson. Against his former team, the Tobs, he allowed just one run in three starts. A bigger, stronger Bolton featured the best combination of the liveliest arm in the league with the least amount of effort in unleashing his arsenal. His fastball was a steady 89-92 mph, peaked at 93-94 and even reached 95 on a couple of occasions at the league all-star game in his abbreviated two-inning stint as the starter for the Eastern Division squad. He also gets excellent arm-side sinking action on the pitch from a high three-quarters angle, but his arrival as a prospect coincided with his ability to command both his secondary pitches, notably his changeup, though his slider has also become a solid third offering. He excelled at attacking hitters inside, especially in getting balls under their hands. Overall, he made huge strides in his understanding of how to pitch and slowing a game to his pace, and no longer qualifies as just a hard thrower with limited pitching acumen. But it’s imperative that Bolton carries over his breakout summer showing to his junior year at ECU in order to qualify as a legitimate early-round prospect for the 2014 draft.

This is PG 'DiamondKast' Level content.
You must be either an DiamondKast, Crosschecker Rankings & Scouting Reports, or Scout subscriber to read the rest.

Sign in Subscribe Now

Summer Collegiate | Story | 9/26/2023

Cape Cod: Best of the Rest

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
Cape Cod Top 100 Prospect List | Cape Cod Top 2025 Prospects * indicates draft eligible sophomore ^ indicates incoming transfer Name Pos. Team School Hometown State Andrew Sundean C Hyannis UCF Lakeland FL Bradke Lohry^ IF Hyannis Tennessee Trinity FL Cam Schuelke^ RHP Hyannis Mississippi State Dorr MI Carter Lovasz RHP Hyannis William & Mary Midlothian VA Colby Shelton*^ IF Falmouth Florida Lithia FL Colin Tuft^ OF Orleans Tulane Vienna VA Daniel Corona^ IF Cotuit Missouri Brooklyn NY Derek Clark^ LHP Orleans West Virginia Petersburg MI Duce Gourson IF Falmouth UCLA San Diego CA Eddie Micheletti OF Orleans George Washington Wilmington DE Enzo Apodada^ OF YD Baylor Scottsdale CA Evan Truitt RHP Orleans Charleston Southern Berlin MD Finnegan Wall RHP YD UC Irvine Hesperia CA Garrett Coe RHP Falmouth Uconn Lakeside CT Ian Petrutz OF Bourne Maryland Mantua NJ Jakob Christian^ 1B YD...
Draft | Story | 7/30/2026

2026 MLB Draft Signing Deadline Recap

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
As of Monday at 5 p.m. ET, the 2026 MLB Draft is officially complete. The signing deadline has passed, meaning we now know every team’s finalized draft class and exactly how much each player signed for. Entering the draft, it was clear there was a distinct top tier consisting of Roch Cholowsky, Grady Emerson, and Vahn Lackey. That separation became even more evident once contracts were signed. Cholowsky became the first player in draft history to sign for more than $10 million, agreeing to a record-setting $10,347,500 bonus with the White Sox. Emerson set a new high school signing bonus record at $9,747,500, the second-largest bonus ever awarded to a draft pick. Lackey rounded out the trio with a $9,497,500 bonus, the third-largest signing bonus in MLB Draft history. Those weren’t the only records set. Teams combined to spend $402,481,143 in signing bonuses, surpassing last...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/30/2026

Blue Wave Battle & Prevail at 14u Classic

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
For Excel Blue Wave, the summer was never about being perfect. It was about getting better. After a season filled with challenges, growth, and plenty of learning along the way, Excel Blue Wave put everything together when it mattered most, defeating SBG Sox Prime, Al 9-3 to capture the 2026 14U Perfect Game Hoover Classic championship. For Excel Blue Wave Coach Forrest Heacock, watching the group celebrate with a championship trophy was especially meaningful because of everything it took to get there.  “It hasn’t been the easiest summer, and have battled a lot,” Coach Heacock said. “The kids have improved so much over the summer, and that is really what it’s all about at this age. It’s really just about improving at this age, and to see them be able to put it together, and just really compete together and play as a team, I couldn’t be...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/30/2026

Excel Leaves No Doubt at 15u Hoover Classic

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
Excel Blue Wave National wasn’t leaving Hoover empty-handed.  At least, that was the message head coach Wes Henderson gave his team.  After a summer filled with strong performances but without a tournament title to show for them, Excel Blue Wave National entered the 2026 15U Perfect Game Hoover Classic with one more opportunity to finish the season the way they wanted.  This time, they left no doubt.  Excel Blue Wave National defeated East Coast Sox 2029 Victus, 12-0 in the championship game, combining a balanced offensive attack with a strong performance on the mound to secure their first tournament title of the summer.  “It’s been a special group,” Coach Henderson said. “They fought really hard, and they played really well this summer, and this is the first championship that we’ve been able to bring home. We typically...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/29/2026

"Excel"ling Through the Hoover Classic

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
After a long summer of baseball, Excel Blue Wave National had one final opportunity to end it the way every team hopes to.  Together, having fun, and as champions. Excel Blue Wave National closed their summer with a 13-9 victory over Excel Blue Wave American – Morrison to capture the 2026 16U Perfect Game Hoover Classic championship. In a game that required contributions throughout the lineup and seven innings of competition, the Excel Blue Wave National relied on the same qualities and approach that had carried the group all summer. With talent, perseverance and a chemistry built far beyond the baseball field, they were unstoppable.  For head coach Brennan McCullough, there couldn’t have been a much better way for his players to finish their final weekend together .  “It’s great,” Coach McCullough said. “We’ve had a long...
Tournaments | Story | 7/29/2026

16u West WS Scout Notes: Days 3-4

Quinton Hall
Article Image
16u West World Series Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Jason Lizotte (‘28 | NV) Smooth LHH, hunts pitches down in the zone he can rip to the middle & PS w/ a downhill & direct path. Some strength in the hands w/ feel for the barrel #PGWS pic.twitter.com/kbK5Ayvhd7 — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) July 27, 2026 Jason Lizotte (2028 | Las Vegas, NV) The 5-foot-9, 145-pound left-handed hitter and outfielder was a spark plug all weekend for MTBA Dawgs 2028, finishing with seven hits, eight runs scored, one double, one triple, four RBI, three stolen bases, and four walks without a strikeout. Lizotte refused to give away an at-bat, consistently working hitter’s counts before spraying line drives all over the field. The left-handed swing stays short and direct with plenty of feel for the barrel, and once he reached base, he immediately put pressure on the defense with...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/29/2026

SBA Sox Save Best for Last

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
Sometimes the best ending comes after a season of figuring things out. For SBG Sox American, the summer wasn’t always seamless. The team spent their early weeks learning where players fit best, building chemistry and searching for the combination that would allow them to play their best baseball. By the final weekend, they found it.  SBG Sox American closed their summer with a 7-5 victory over Dirtbags Midsouth 2027 Black to capture the 2026 17U Perfect Game Hoover Classic championship, putting together one final winning performance in the last tournament this group would share this summer.  For SBG Sox Coach Cooper Williams, that made taking home the championship trophy even more meaningful. “It’s been great, especially for it being their last summer event,” Coach Williams said. “It’s really cool for them to kind of pull this thing out for...
Tournaments | Story | 7/29/2026

East World Series Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Evan Brand (2027, Acworth, Ga.) has been solid at the plate all summer and did not slow down late in the summer. This week, Brand was able to hit just under the .700 mark and tallied three extra base hits, including a homer. The switch hitter has a fluid barrel path with plus feel for the barrel to all fields. The lower half also moves with some rhythm, and the switch hitting ability with the accuracy to the barrel provides plenty of intrigue. The middle infielder is committed to Georgia Tech. Atley Schwarzrock (‘27 GA) catches of all of the first pitch he sees launching it over the wall in left for a 2-run 💣 sending it with some heat; stays loose in his progressing ripping the barrel thru the zone with some strength behind it and staying tall on impact. #EastWS… pic.twitter.com/oGxbPQN1W0 — Perfect Game Georgia (@PG_Georgia) July 27, 2026 Atley Schwarzrock (2027,...
Tournaments | Story | 7/29/2026

17u World Series Scout Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
17u World Series Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Lukas Waite (‘27, CA) showed LOUD stuff out of the pen. 6-2/205 frame. High-end athlete on the mound. FB sat 92-95 (T96). SL at 80-82 generated uncomfortable whiffs #PGWS @California_PG @PG_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/UXaVxqA2kv — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) July 27, 2026 Lukas Waite (2027, San Diego, Calif.) came out of the pen on day four and showcased the loudest stuff out of the entire event. The recently named PG All-American ran the fastball up to 96 mph and sat 92-95 mph throughout the outing. A slider at 80-82 mph was lethal. It tunnels well off the heater and gets uncomfortable whiffs often. Waite features a 6-2, 205-pound frame that moves extremely well. There is supreme athleticism throughout the delivery that stands out. The upside is extremely high and will be sure to draw heavy draft interest during this...
All American Game | Story | 7/29/2026

Victorino & Girardi Tabbed PGAAC Managers

Article Image
    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   SHANE VICTORINO AND JOE GIRARDI NAMED MANAGERS FOR PERFECT GAME DICK'S ALL-AMERICAN CLASSIC AT CITIZENS BANK PARK   Former Phillies Stars to Lead Nation's Top High School Baseball Players on August 16 in Philadelphia   Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Wednesday, July 29, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that former Phillies All-Star outfielder Shane Victorino and former Phillies manager Joe Girardi will serve as managers for Team East and Team West, respectively, at the 2026 Perfect Game DICK'S All-American Classic, taking place on Sunday, August 16, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa.   Joining Girardi and...
College | Story | 7/28/2026

Coppy's Corner: July 28 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: Blake Schaaf – Bourne Braves  Schaaf had a big week, going 12-for-22 (.545 AVG) with 3 Doubles, 4 Stolen Bases, and 9 Runs Scored. It’s been the continuation of a terrific summer for the...
Loading more articles...