MARIETTA,
Ga. – For his first time back on the mound after two weeks of
healing a strained oblique muscle, left handed pitcher Mac Marshall
was able to pitch a solid 2 1/3 innings for Team Elite Prime on
Wednesday in a crucial win over Tri-State Arsenal Showcase 1 in the
second round of the playoffs.
“I
just got back from physical therapy and they cleared me to play,”
explained Marshall. “It was weird getting back on the mound, (and)
finishing pitches was a little bit of a struggle but (I feel) fine
now.”
Although
Marshall was focused more on just getting back in shape, he still did
a great job and managed to strike out three batters. He allowed one
single during his time on the mound, but didn’t allow any runs to
be scored.
“He’s
one of the most competitive players we’ve ever coached,” said
Team Elite Prime Head Coach Brad Bouras. “He’s a real gamer,
(and) he’ll find a way to win in big game situations. He had 50-60
scouts lined up back there to watch him and he found a way to throw a
shutout.”
Gabe
Friese (Kennesaw State commit) came in to relieve Marshall in the
third inning. Although Tri-State got three hits off him, Friese
didn’t allow any runs to score, striking out three. Ben Parr
(Georgia Tech commit) pitched the last 1 2/3 innings, completing the
collaborative shutout by not allowing any hits or walks while
striking out one. It’s safe to say Team Elite Prime has a quality
pitching staff.
“We
have a really strong pitching staff and everything’s based around
that,” explained Bouras. “But we (still) find ways to score runs
and play good defense.”
Team
Elite Prime was only allowed two hits against Tri State Arsenal. Nick
Poskey hit a clutch single in the second inning driving in two of
Prime’s three runs. Marshall helped his own cause, as he also hit a
single and scored a run on Poskey’s hit.
Marshall,
a 6-foot-2, 185-pound left-hander, is ranked No. 12 on the updated
Perfect Game High School Class of 2014 National Rankings.
“it’s
quite an honor (to be) with all the great players, (but) I still got
to keep working hard and get better,” said Marshall.
Marshall
is a 2014 graduate from Lilburn, Ga. He attends Parkview High School,
one of eight teams that participated in the inaugural Perfect Game
High School Showdown last April. Thanks in part to the success of
Marshall and his teammate, 2012 Perfect Game All-American and 2013
first-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles, Josh Hart, Parkview went
27-9 this year, finishing the season as the 56th best
team according to PG's final ranking of the top 100 teams in
the nation.
“That
was a lot of fun,” said Marshall about his high school season.
“Coach (Chan) Brown does a great job with all of us. He makes sure
we all stay in line, work hard, and play as a team. We’ve had a
bunch of great guys come through there.”
“It’s
another cool thing to have,” added Marshall, about his own personal
and his team's lofty rankings. “(But I want to) keep working, keep
getting better and keep climbing the rankings.”
Marshall
has been participating in Perfect Game events for several years. He
competed, along with the majority of his teammates, in the 2013
National Showcase that took place in early June.
“It
was great playing with the best players in the country,” said
Marshall. “Everyone surrounding you, all the scouts, it was a lot
of fun.”
Marshall
is currently uncommitted and undecided as to where he would like to
play baseball at the college level. He said he’s looking at
Louisiana State, Vanderbilt, Georgia and Alabama.
More
than half of Team Elite Prime’s lineup has verbally committed to
play at Division I schools. According to their website, Team Elite
has sent over 450 players to college and over 40 players to play
professional ball.
“Our
goal since 2005 has been to get as many kids into college baseball
and into professional baseball,” said Bouras about the team Elite
program. “It’s been the number one mission statement from day
one; helping them learn to play at the next level. Along the way we
want to win championships like anybody, but our main goal has always
been to get kids to the next level.”
Team
Elite Prime is now 5-0 in the WWBA 17u National Championship, and
will advance, along with 15 other teams, to the next round of
playoffs that take place on Thursday. They are scheduled to face the
Orlando Scorpions Prime at a time and location to be announced.