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2015 PG High School Showdown team previews


Cartersville Purple Hurricanes  (Cartersville, Ga.) - Roster/Schedule

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):

• Lane Wilson, RHP/OF, 2015, High Follow
• Elliot Anderson, LHP/OF, 2016, 164
• Carrington Evans, 3B, 2016, High Follow
• Devin Warner, SS, 2018, High Follow

Pitching:
The Purple Hurricanes will be paced on the mound by a pair of Division I commits in the form of senior righthander Lane Wilson (UNC-Ashville) and junior lefthander Elliot Anderson (Mississippi State). Wilson will show a quality four-pitch mix, and when he’s on, the ability to throw all four pitches for strikes with effectiveness. Anderson, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs in at 215 pounds, can ramp his fastball up into the low-90s from the left side with an excellent curveball/changeup combo to round out his arsenal.

Offense:
Wilson and Anderson will also play some outfield for head coach Stuart Chester when they’re not on the mound. The offense is highlighted by Wilson, Anderson, and junior Carrington Evans. Evans, who plays third base, showed excellent athleticism and hitting tools at the National Underclass Showcase-Main Event back in December, and will be counted on by Cartersville to hit in the middle of the lineup and produce runs. The coaching staff is very excited by freshman shortstop Devin Warner, who they expect to be a household name by the time it's all is said and done.

Synopsis:
Cartersville comes off of an excellent 2014 season, which saw them go 25-13 in Georgia’s AAA class; highlighted by a second-place finish in the state tournament. They combine a high level arm in Elliot Anderson with several quality bats to form what should be an excellent team in 2015.



Collierville Dragons (Collierville, Tenn.) - Roster/Schedule

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):

• Peyton Culbertson, RHP, 2015, Top 500
• Alex Hicks, RHP/OF, 2015, Top 1,000
• Parker Phillips, 1B, 2015, Top 1,000
• Bo Sutton, LHP/OF, 2015
• Hunter Hollis, RHP, 2015

Pitching:
Collierville may have the deepest pitching staff in this event. A high-level rotation features Top 500 righty Peyton Culbertson, an Arkansas State signee, and top 1,000 righty Alex Hicks, who is signed to play for Memphis. Rounding out the rotation for Head Coach Jeff Hopkins will be senior Bo Sutton, who will also play the outfield, and some combination of Hunter Hollis (Purdue), Alex Johnson (North Alabama), Ryan Tow (Arkansas-Monticello), and Justin Fowlkes.

Offense:
Leading the Collierville offensive charge will be a host of talented upperclassmen. Alex Hicks and Bo Sutton, both of whom project in the top of the rotation on the mound, will make up two-thirds of the Dragon outfield when not toeing the slab. Senior catcher Jesse Kelley will provide excellent defense and leadership from behind the plate. Joining first baseman Parker Phillips in the infield will be seniors C.J. Fleming and Austin Hall, both of whom can play up the middle with effectiveness.

Synopsis:
This is, without a doubt, an upperclassmen-heavy team with lots of depth across the board, especially in the pitching staff. The Dragons posted a 29-12 record in 2014, and hopes in Collierville are high for a return to the heights of 2013, when they won a state championship.



Columbia Wildcats (Columbia, Miss.) - Roster/Schedule

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):

• Bryson Medious, OF/RHP, 2015, Top 500)
• C.J. Newsome, OF, 2015, Top 500)
• Donte' Peters, 2B, 2015, Top 1,000
• Scooter Ginn, SS, 2016
• Parker Dungan, LHP, 2015
• Logan McDowell, RHP, 2016
• Ethan Seals, C, 2015

Pitching:
The Wildcats of Columbia High School will bring an older, experienced squad to the Perfect Game High School Showdown in 2015. The pitching staff is made up almost entirely of upperclassmen, highlighted by a pair of seniors in righty Bryson Medious and lefty Parker Dungan. Medious will also play the outfield and hit in the middle of the lineup, but provides Columbia with a solid pitching option. He’s been clocked as high as 87 mph from the outfield and can pitch in the low- to mid-80s on the mound. Joining those two on the pitching staff will be junior righties Logan McDowell and Jonathan Broughton.

Offense:
As mentioned above, Top 500 player Bryson Medious will patrol the outfield for the Wildcats when not on the mound. He brings speed, athleticism, an excellent arm and quality hitting tools to the middle of the lineup. Joining him will be a pair of speed demons in the form of seniors C.J. Newsome (outfield) and Donte’ Peters (second base), both of whom have been clocked in the 60-yard dash at 6.8 seconds. Senior catcher Ethan Seals is hitting .353 on the young season with a pair of home runs already. Junior shortstop Scooter Ginn, in addition to providing excellent defense up the middle, currently leads Columbia with an absurd .471 batting average through six games.

Synopsis:
The Wildcats will head to Georgia with a well-balanced, experienced team. They are hitting .300 as a team so far in 2015, while only allowing a paltry 2.87 runs per game. They are led by excellent athletes at all of the key positions throughout the lineup, as well as a quality pitching staff that limits base runners and misses bats.



Concordia Lutheran Crusaders (Tomball, Texas) – Roster/Schedule

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):

• Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B/RHP, 2015, 35
• Garrett Wolforth, C, 2015, 56
• Trey Jimmerson, OF, 2015, Top 1,000
• Garrett Spencer, 1B/LHP, 2015, Top 1,000
• Luke Watson, 2B/3B, 2015, Top 1,000

Pitching:
The Crusaders of Concordia Lutheran will make the trip from Tomball, Texas to play in the PG High School Showdown for the second year in a row. They will bring with them a star-studded team, highlighted by several high-level Division I signees amongst their senior class. The biggest name is Ke’Bryan Hayes. Primarily a third baseman, Hayes is certainly no slouch on the mound, where his fastball can work in the low-90s with a power curveball. Already an impressive arm, Hayes could be a really high-level pitching prospect if he wasn't already a potential first round pick as a position player. Joining Hayes on the mound will be Top 1,000 prospect Garrett Spencer, a Kansas State commitment, who can work in the low-80s with his fastball and complement it with a bevy of off-speed pitches, any of which can miss bats and be thrown for a strike.

Offense:
There’s little doubt that the Crusaders will hit the baseball and score plenty of runs. Already discussed above, Ke’Bryan Hayes will play third base on most days and hit in the middle of the order. With insane bat speed and excellent power, Hayes may be the best prospect in this entire tournament. Garrett Wolforth, a Dallas Baptist commitment, is arguably the best defensive catching prospect in the class of 2015. An excellent receiver with a plus-plus arm, Wolforth has recorded pop times in the 1.7’s and has thrown 90 mph from behind the plate. Trey Jimmerson, a senior Texas A&M commitment, will play an outfield spot and hit everyday as well. He combines solid athleticism with high level hitting tools. Luke Watson will be playing the middle infield in some capacity for Concordia Lutheran, as the Hill College signee shows an innate ability to get on base and steals bases with ease.

Synopsis:
The star power of having two of the top 56 players in the nation (Hayes and Wolforth) make Concordia Lutheran an attractive choice to win the whole tournament. However, beyond the two stars, this is a deep team with lots of offensive firepower, quality pitching and the defense to support both. They will be a very tough out, if they get taken out at all.



DeSoto Central Jaguars (Southaven, Miss.) - Roster/Schedule

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):

• Austin Riley, RHP/3B, 2015, 65
• Dallas Woolfolk, RHP/IF, 2015, 151
• Brant Blaylock, OF/RHP, 2015, 442
• Keegan James, RHP, 2015, Top 500
• Carson Klepzig, C/IF, 2015, Top 500

Pitching:
It’s easy to see that the Jaguars of DeSoto Central High School do not and will not have any problem throwing the baseball, and throwing it hard. They feature four Top 500 prospects in their pitching staff, highlighted by the 65th overall player in the class of 2015 in Austin Riley. Riley, the Perfect Game All-American and Mississippi State commit, should hear his name called early during the MLB Draft in June. He has been up to 94 mph off the mound with excellent feel for a curveball and changeup, as well as having outstanding potential as a power hitting third baseman on the offensive side of the game. He’s joined in the rotation by Dallas Woolfolk, an Ole Miss commit with a heavy, sinking fastball in the low- to mid-90s complemented by an excellent fading changeup. Brant Blaylock, a primary outfielder and Mississippi State commitment, has a fastball that can touch 90 mph out of the bullpen. Rounding out the staff is Top 500 righthander Keegan James, yet another Mississippi State commitment who can pitch in the low-90s from his 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame. There’s no question here, the Jaguars can bring the heat.

Offense:
In addition to being a potential high draft choice as a pitcher, Austin Riley can absolutely mash at the plate. He hits the middle of the order and does damage with regularity. Dallas Woolfolk can also hit, and will join Riley as two-way players. Blaylock, as mentioned above, is primarily a center fielder and perhaps offers the best pure hitting potential on the team. Senior Carson Klepzig, committed to Ole Miss, will start at catcher for the Jaguars and provides a quality all-around game from behind the plate.

Synopsis:
It would hard pressed for one to find a team at this event with as much two-way talent as DeSoto Central has. They have three of the top 442 players in the nation, all of whom provide impact, two-way talent on the field. They bring the firepower of several pitchers who pitch in the 90s in addition to the firepower of a lineup stocked top to bottom with high level, powerful bats. This will be a fun team to watch, make no mistake.



Houston Mustangs (Germantown, Tenn.) - Roster/Schedule

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG Naional Rank):

• Jack Rude, RHP, 2015, Top 500
• Walter Rook, RHP, 2015, High Follow
• Alex Sala, C/3B, 2015, High Follow
• Nikko Warmus, RHP/OF, 2015, High Follow
• Jack Kenley, 2B/SS, 2016, Top 500
• Conrad Ray, RHP, 2016, Top 500
• Cullen Ray, C/OF, 2016, Top 1,000
• Preston Collins, LHP, 2016, High Follow

Pitching:
The Mustangs of Houston High School head south to Georgia with a stacked roster, especially in the pitching staff. Led by senior righthander Jack Rude, a 6-foot-4 Samford commit, the staff is deep and talented. Rude can run his fastball up into the low-90s when he wants to, and complements that with a pair of quality breaking balls. Joining him in the rotation are seniors Walter Rook and Nikko Warmus, along with juniors Conrad Ray and Preston Collins. Rook and Warmus, a pair of senior righthanders, can each work their fastballs in the mid-80s with good size and athleticism on the mound. Conrad Ray, a junior righty who stands an imposing 6-foot-5 and weighs in at 200-plus pounds, is an Arkansas State commitment who can work his fastball into the upper-80s with projection for more velocity. Preston Collins, a junior, is the lone lefthander in this group. He brings excellent size at 6-foot-3 and has a quality fastball, one that can work in the mid- to upper-80s from the left side.

Offense:
As mentioned above, the Mustangs are undoubtedly a pitching-heavy team, but that doesn't mean that their offense isn’t something to be reckoned with. Leading the charge offensively is junior Top 500 prospect Jack Kenley, a middle infielder who is committed to Arkansas. Kenley brings excellent size, projectability and overall athleticism to the upper third of the lineup. He has been clocked in the 60-yard dash in less than 6.8 seconds while displaying a strong arm and quality offensive tools. Joining him in the lineup will be two-way player Nikko Warmus, who will patrol the outfield when not on the mound, as well as junior Top 1,000 player Cullen Ray. Ray will handle the bulk of the catching load for the Mustangs in addition to hitting in the middle of the order.

Synopsis:
This is a veteran, experienced team with lots of depth throughout the roster, especially in the pitching staff. The Mustangs could trot out any of six or more pitchers and stand an excellent chance to win, which is something most teams just can’t say with confidence.



IMG Academy Ascenders (Bradenton, Fla.) - Roster/Schedule

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):

• Logan Allen, LHP, 2015, 76
• L.T. Tolbert, SS/RHP, 2015, 79
• Danny Blair, CF, 2015, 120
• Ryan Karstetter, 3B/SS, 2015, 144
• Jason Groome, LHP, 2016, 4
• Anthony Holubecki, RHP, 2016, 48
• Nick Derr, 2B/SS, 2016, 120
• Dion Henderson, LHP, 2016, 138

Pitching:
If you want star power, especially on the mound, then the IMG Academy Ascenders are the team for you. Highlighted above are eight top prospects, all of them seniors and juniors, and all of them are committed to high level Division I colleges. Logan Allen, a South Carolina commit, leads the staff. The 6-foot-4 senior lefty can ramp his fastball up to the mid-90s with a potential plus curveball. A trio of juniors, all with very high ceilings, join Allen in the rotation, starting with Jason Groome, the No. 4 overall player in the class of 2016. Groome is a 6-foot-6 lefty committed to Vanderbilt who pitches downhill in the mid-90s with tons of projection, an excellent curveball and a rapidly improving changeup. Fellow lefty Dion Henderson, who is committed to Kentucky, is yet another highly projectable arm who can work in the upper-80s to low-90s with solid off-speed stuff. Righty Anthony Holubecki, a Notre Dame commitment, has been clocked up to 93 mph and pitches downhill with life.

Offense:
Offensively IMG Academy is perhaps just as stout as they are on the mound. Three seniors, shortstop L.T. Tolbert (South Carolina), center fielder Danny Blair (South Carolina), and third baseman Ryan Karstetter (Virginia) will pace the offense. Tolbert brings a strong arm (90 mph across the diamond) with good defense and projectable hitting tools, both for average and power. Blair is a 6.4 runner with plus defensive projection in center field with top-of-the-order offensive tools. Karstetter is just as fast as Blair, with high-level offensive projection to go along with present power and the swing for more to come. Junior Nick Derr, a Florida State commit, is a plus athlete who can play nearly anywhere on the diamond with a strong arm, quick feet and legitimate bat-to-ball skills.

Synopsis:
If there’s a team at this event that will attract the most professional scouts, it’s probably this ballclub. There are stars—legitimate professional prospects—top to bottom on this team. The pitching staff is deep and tremendously talented, the defense is strong and the offense is loaded with firepower. Watch out for IMG.



Kennesaw Mountain Mustangs (Kennesaw, Ga.) - Roster/Schedule

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):

• Reggie Pruitt, OF, 2015, 99
• Tyler Stephenson, C/RHP, 2015, 103
• Ryley Gilliam, RHP/SS, 2015, 152
• Cole Buffington, C/RHP/3B, 2015, 470
• Zach Goodman, RHP/OF, 2015, Top 500
• Terence Norman, OF/1B, 2016, 288
• Matthew Cole, SS/RHP, 2016, 318

Pitching:
The Mustangs, one of the best teams in the talent-rich state of Georgia, feature a multitude of two-way players throughout their roster. Two-way players or not, the pitching staff is a strong one. Seniors Tyler Stephenson (Georgia Tech commit) and Ryley Gilliam (Clemson commit) will lead the charge on the mound. Stephenson, a 6-foot-4 righty with excellent physicality, can pitch in the low-90s and gets downhill in a hurry. Gilliam, with an athletic presence on the mound, has been clocked as high as 94 mph on the mound and also features and excellent changeup. Zach Goodman (Clemson) gets his fastball up into the low-90s as well with quality off-speed stuff to round out his arsenal.

Offense:
The highest ranked player on the Kennesaw Mountain squad is senior outfielder Reggie Pruitt, ranked in the Top 100 and committed to Vanderbilt. A sub-6.6 runner with a plus arm from center field, Pruitt is one of the best overall athletes in the entire event. He projects to hit and hit for some power, and could eventually end up as a true five-tool talent. Stephenson and Gilliam will play catcher and shortstop, respectively, when not on the mound and both project well offensively in addition to their pitching prowess. Terence Norman will play the outfield as well as some first base, and shows interesting athleticism (6.8 runner) with legitimate power potential.

Synopsis:
This is a very deep team top to bottom, lead by a host of two-way players who have college (and beyond) potential both with the bat and on the mound. Getting through a tournament with two-way players is often an interesting chess match that a coach must master, but with the level of talent that the Mustangs offer in all three major facets of the game, it shouldn't be a big issue at the Showdown.



Magnolia Heights Chiefs (Senatobia, Miss.) - Roster/Schedule

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):

• Dustin Skelton, C, 2016, 132
• Riley Self, RHP, 2016, 421
• Wyatt Young, OF/RHP, 2016, Top 500
• Grant McMinn, RHP, 2016, High Follow

Pitching:
The Chiefs are led by junior ace Riley Self, a Mississippi State commitment. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound righthander is a highly projectable, high-ceiling pitcher who really has yet to scratch the surface of just how good he can be. His fastball already works in the upper-80s with lots of velocity projection remaining, and he complements the fastball with several off-speed offerings, all with varying levels of success and projection. Junior Wyatt Young, a Top 500 player and primary outfielder, will also see some time on the mound and brings athleticism and a fastball in the 80s to the table. Junior Grant McMinn, another projectable righty who stands 6-foot-4, will also throw for Magnolia Heights.

Offense:
The offensive attack is led by junior Dustin Skelton, a catcher committed to Mississippi State. Skelton is also the highest-ranked member of the Chiefs, checking in at 132nd overall in the class of 2016. He brings excellent defensive ability to the table, along with quality hitting tools and power projection. He’ll hit in the middle of the Magnolia Heights lineup and produce lots of runs. Wyatt Young will play the outfield when not on the mound, and he pairs with Skelton to form the beef and punch of the lineup.

Synopsis:
With two legitimate studs in Skelton and Self, both of whon will be heading to Starkville in a few years, the Chiefs have as good a shot as anyone to win the whole thing. They are balanced in all three facets of the game, and while they have yet to really hit their stride in 2015, the season is still young and the Perfect Game High School Showdown could be just the place for them to blow up.



Murfreesboro Central Tigers (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) - Roster/Schedule

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):

• Darek Sargent, SS/RHP, 2016
• Wes Duffield, 1B/RHP, 2017
• McKenzie Jackson, OF, 2015
• Reed Sullivan, 2B/OF, 2015
• Taylor Saling, C, 2015

Pitching:
The Tigers lose 2014 District 8-AA Pitcher of the Year in Alex Ropp, who is now playing at Jackson State, but return a quality of core of pitchers who will look to lead the team back to the Final Four of the state tournament, where they finished last season. Junior Darek Sargent, 2014’s Position Player of the Year, is back and will anchor the staff in addition to anchoring the everyday lineup when not pitching. Wes Duffield, an absolutely gigantic sophomore (6-foot-7, 225-pounds), who will play first base and hit in the middle of the order, will see plenty of action on the mound. Others to watch out for include juniors Jordan Jackson and Luke Patton as well as sophomores Chris Johnson and James Touchton.

Offense:
As stated above, the Tigers will be bringing back 2014’s position player of the year (per Tennessee Baseball Report) in Darek Sargent, a junior shortstop and pitcher. He’ll be the ace of the staff in addition to anchoring the lineup for Head Coach Jason Patterson. Joining him in the everyday lineup will be senior catcher Taylor Saling, a 2014 District 8-AA All-District winner, who will handle the bulk of the catching duties. Wes Duffield will play some first base when not on the mound, and his power should lead to some serious run production for the Tigers. A pair of seniors, McKenzie Johnson and Reed Sullivan, are both 2014 All-District performers and return to man the outfield for the Tigers. They should hit near the top of the lineup as well.

Synopsis:
The Tigers were a dominant team in 2014, posting a 33-11 record and making it all the way to the Tennessee State Final Four, where they lost only to eventual state champion Knoxville Christian Academy. They return several All-District performers, and will bring back excellent depth and talent throughout the everyday lineup. They suffered some losses in the pitching staff, but the overall depth of the 2014 squad will provide this year’s team with an excellent building block and core of a staff.



Parkview Panthers (Lilburn, Ga.) - Roster/Schedule

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):

• Brandon Hill, OF/LHP, 2015, 257
• Daino Deas, SS/2B, 2015, 294
• Ryne Inman, RHP/OF, 2015, Top 500
• Trevor Brown, SS/2B, 2015, Top 500
• Austin Biggar, C, 2016, 205
• Will Ethridge, RHP/1B, 2016, 260

Pitching:
The Panthers, traditionally one of the powerhouse teams across the nation, will bring another loaded squad to this event. Led on the mound by several two-way players who are committed to Division I schools, Head Coach Chan Brown should not have an issue mixing and matching his arms as he sees fit. Lefty Brandon Hill, a primary outfielder, can pitch in the upper-80s when called upon. Top 500 senior Ryne Inman, committed to Georgia State, is a 6-foot-5 righty who can ramp his fastball up to 90-plus mph. Perhaps the most talented arm on the staff, however, belongs to junior Will Ethridge. Committed to Mississippi, Ethridge is a highly projectable righthander who pitches in the upper-80s to low-90s with lots of projection from an easy arm action.

Offense:
In addition to being one of the top pitchers on the staff, Brandon Hill has made a name for himself as a talented outfielder with athleticism and offensive tools, and he’ll start in center field when not on the mound. The Panthers are very strong up the middle, with shortstop Trevor Brown (Kennesaw State) and second baseman Daino Deas (Auburn) as the keystone combination. Both will show good athleticism with quality defensive actions to go with high-level offensive tools. Junior catcher Austin Biggar, a University of Georgia commit, will consistently pop in the 2.0-second range as well as showing power at the plate.

Synopsis:
This is, not surprisingly, a very good and very deep team. Several Division I commitments make up the roster, and both the offensive and pitching sides of the ball are well represented with talent. Brown and Deas form one of, if not the most dynamic double play combinations in the whole tournament; and Brandon Hill is a legitimate high-level prospect. The pitching staff is very talented, and newcomers Garrett Fowler, Cody Callett, and Caleb Mitchell will all be well-known names in the future.



Sarasota Sailors (Sarasota, Fla.) - Roster/Schedule

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):

• Jordan Gubelman, RHP, 2015, 400
• Cody Brickhouse, 3B/RHP, 2015, Top 500
• Shelby Banks, RHP/UT, 2015, High Follow
• Skylar Frey, MIF/OF, 2015, High Follow
• Carson Keyser, C, 2015, High Follow
• Nick Long, RHP/SS, 2016, 144
• Andrew Jones, RHP, 2016, High Follow

Pitching:
The Sarasota Sailors, the defending champions, will travel north to the Perfect Game High School Showdown with a loaded pitching staff, led by several Division I commitments. Senior Jordan Gubelman, a North Carolina signee, is the ace of the staff. He stands 6-foot-5, 230-pounds, fitting to a T the “power pitcher” body mold. His fastball will work in the low-90s with life, and he complements that with a big breaking curveball that can be thrown for strikes or be used as a chase pitch out of the zone. Joining him on the mound are senior Cody Brickhouse, who will be heading to Chipola College, and Nick Long, a junior two-way player committed to Florida. Brickhouse can work in the mid-80s with his fastball, while Long has been up over 90 in the past. Senior righty Shelby Banks and junior righty Andrew Jones round out the staff for Sarasota.

Offense:
Brickhouse, who pitches for the Sailors, is the usual third baseman for Head Coach Clyde Metcalf. He’s committed to Chipola as a position player, and combines excellent bat-to-ball skills with raw power that is continuing to develop. Long is the highest ceiling position player on the roster, and despite being a legitimate pitching prospect, the University of Florida has offered him a scholarship as a shortstop. Long is an excellent hitter with present power and more coming as he matures. Senior Carson Keyser will handle the majority of the catching duties, while seniors Skylar Frey and Shelby Banks should also see a lot of time in the everyday lineup.

Synopsis:
The Sailors bring a deep team to Georgia, highlighted by a couple studs in Gubelman and Long, and quality depth throughout the roster. They’ve started the season off hot, posting a 7-1 record so far. Will they continue that hot streak as they head north on I-75?



Savannah Christian Raiders (Savannah, Ga.) - Roster/Schedule

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):

• Mark Fraser, 1B, 2015, High Follow
• Ben Haeussler, RHP/OF, 2016, Follow
• Zach Brockman, RHP/UT, 2017, High Follow
• Ben Jackson, UT/RHP, 2017, Follow

Pitching:
The Raiders are led on the mound by several right-handers who can pitch in the mid- to upper-80s, providing them with a deep and talented staff. Junior Ben Haeussler is an above average athlete who can play all over the diamond, but really leads the team on the mound. He'll work in the 83-86 mph range, touching higher while showing late life down in the zone. He has advanced feel for his changeup at present, and will continue to develop his breaking ball as well. Sophomore Zach Brockman, already a PG High Follow player, has taken strides forward already this spring. Brockman commands everything at an advanced level for a high school sophomore, as he already works in the mid-80s with a good breaking ball and feel for a developing changeup.

Offense:
The offensive charge of Savannah Christian is led by senior first baseman Mark Fraser, a 6-foot-5 thumper with lots of power. Fraser combines an advanced and excellent approach at the plate with light-tower power to form an undoubtedly formidable presence in the lineup. An outstanding student, Fraser is committed to play baseball at Cornell. Haeussler, due to his athleticism, will patrol the outfield when not on the mound and hit near the top of the lineup. Sophomore Ben Jackson is really a jack-of-all-trades super utility player, who his coach says can play all nine positions on the diamond if needed. Jackson hits at the top of the lineup and shows a really short stroke with the innate ability to put the barrel of the bat on the baseball and spray line drives all over the field. Showing tremendous quickness both in the field and on the bases, Jackson presents a base-stealing threat for the Raiders.

Synopsis:
The Raiders will head north with a balanced team, combining high-level pitching depth with a quality, deep offensive attack. Their combination of the two – in addition to excellent defense throughout the lineup – should prove to be a very tough out in this tournament.



Venice Indians (Venice, Fla.) - Roster/Schedule

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank):

• Cole Kragel, RHP, 2015, Top 1,000
• Josh Evans, OF/RHP, 2015, Top 1,000
• Colin Cristello, RHP/3B, 2015, High Follow
• Kade Hunkapiller, LHP/1B, 2015, High Follow
• Rylee Buckmaster, RHP/1B, 2016, Top 1,000
• Trevor Holloway, IF/RHP, 2016, Top 1,000
• Scott Dubrule, SS/2B, 2016, Top 1,000
• Shane Shifflett, MIF, 2017, 41

Pitching:
The Venice Indians, the event's inaugural champions in 2013, may lead the tournament in height amongst their pitching staff, as at least two of their pitchers stand at 6-foot-5 and above. Cole Kragel, a senior Virginia Tech recruit, stands at 6-foot-8 and throws from a lower slot in the mid- to upper-80s. His arm is very loose and easy, and the fastball really jumps at hitters and is especially effective vs. righthanded batters. Several two-way players will follow Kragel in the pitching rotation, including seniors Josh Evans, Colin Cristello, and Kade Hundapillar. All throw at least in the mid-80s with projection for more velocity, in addition to being position players for Head Coach Craig Faulkner. Junior Rylee Buckmaster, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound righthander, has been up over 90 with his fastball and probably possesses the highest upside of any Venice pitcher.

Offense:
As stated above, the roster is made up of several two-way players who are effective both on the mound and with the bat. Josh Evans is a Top 1,000 senior outfielder who plays center field and hits at the top of the lineup for Venice, where his 6.6 speed and contact-driven swing make him an ideal table-setter. Hunkapiller and Buckmaster both play some first base when not pitching, and both possess some legitimate power in their bats. Junior Scott Dubrule plays up the middle defensively and possesses good on-base ability. Sophomore Shane Shifflett is the everyday shortstop for the Indians, and is currently ranked the 41th overall prospect in the 2017 class. He’s committed to UCF, and displays excellent shortstop actions with quick feet, a strong arm and outstanding offensive projection.

Synopsis:
Venice will head north with a very deep squad, one unique in that it doesn't really have any pitcher-only players (outside of Kragel), which is relatively rare in warm weather states. A team made up of two-way players is definitely an interesting dynamic for a head coach, and it will be interesting to see how Coach Faulkner chooses to deploy his arsenal of arms.