Scout Blog: Lowndes vs Houston County
February 15, 2023
2023, LHP, Ryker Chavis, Houston County
6-foot-3 185-pounds. Georgia commit. Chavis got one inning of work in the scrimmage vs Mount Paran on Friday. He came out swinging for his first official start of the year. The fastball was ticked up from the scrimmage and much sharper. He was 86-88 and mixed in his big, slower curveball at 68-70. The velocity difference in the two pitches keeps the hitter guessing. Then he will mix in the change up to make his fastball look even better. He worked quickly with an easy tempo, and clean delivery. The pitchability from Chavis will give him the chance to get innings next year as a freshman. The frame will continue to fill out, which will add mph to his fastball.
2025, OF, Vick Gann, Houston County#GoDawgs commit ‘23 LHP Ryker Chavis (@hocobaseball) with a strong 3 inning outing to open the season.
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) February 14, 2023
FB: 86-88
CB: 68-70
CH: 76-77
Controlled the game, threw 3 pitches for strikes and worked ahead with the FB. pic.twitter.com/Mk1wr8eQi2
5-foot-10 170-pounds. Vick has been one of my favorite players of the spring thus far. He burst onto the scene with a grand slam against Mount Paran, and carried the momentum into the home opener with two singles. The lefty gets out of the box, and gets down the baseline quickly. The bat path for Vick is the key to his swing. He keeps the barrel in the zone, which makes him a hit machine. He closes out the lineup for Houston County, which could prove to be one of the biggest assets for the Bears. If the hitters throw him fastball early in the count he will have one of the highest averages on the team when the season is over.
‘25 OF Vick Gann (@hocobaseball) picks up where he left off in the scrimmage Friday.
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) February 13, 2023
Drives in 2 with a hard line drive to right. The lefty looks comfortable in the box and hunts the fastball.
After 1
Lowndes 0
Houston County 5 @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/Eo0MIz3yug
2025, SS, Ethan Buffone, Houston County
6-foot 160-pounds. Buffone will be one of the most athletic kids on the field every time he crosses the lines. He moves effortlessly at SS, and has long athletic strides on the base paths. He battled in the scrimmaged against 2 of the top arms in the state. He got his first hit of the year against Lowndes with a single up the middle. The swing from the right side is simple and compact with a short stride and strong finish. He will also be a hit machine along with Gann in the bottom of the Bears line up. Buffone will be a high follow this summer after he gets a high school season under his belt.
‘25 SS Ethan Buffone (@hocobaseball) adds to the run count in the 3rd. The sophomore moves well, and looks the part at SS. Simple, short stride swing makes him a tough out in the already loaded Bears lineup. pic.twitter.com/n9BY5J2GKR
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) February 14, 2023
2023, 1B, Cooper Melvin, Lowndes
6-foot-2 185-pounds. ABAC commit. Melvin will be a power bat for the Vikings in the middle of the line up. He was a standout this summer at LakePoint, and looks to have gotten even stronger. The righty has a powerful swing with little effort. He has a short stride, and really strong rotation in his hips.
2023, OF/RHP, Qrey Lott, Lowdnes#ABAC commit ‘23 Cooper Melvin (@baseballlowndes) gets the Vikings on the board in the 4th. Let’s the ball travel and shoots it up the middle.
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) February 14, 2023
Mid 4
Lowndes 2
Houston County 14 pic.twitter.com/Vjb2eYy8MG
6-foot-3 175-pounds. Uncommitted. Lott started the game on the mound for the Vikings. He tallied two quick strikeouts and flashed a really good change up with heavy sink, and tunnel off the fastball. His fastball was up to 85. His swing, and range in centerfield is the strongest part of his game. He turned around 87 from Chavis to dead center, but got caught near the wall. He stands tall, and has crazy quick hands that generate a ton of power. He is super athletic and runs effortlessly with long strides.
2023, RHP, Caleb Thornton, Lowndes
6-foot-2 170-pounds. Thornton got called on early out of the pen, and was put in a tough spot against one of the best lineups in the state. The uncommitted senior ran his fastball up to 86 with some run and sink. He filled up the zone, and was not afraid to attack hitters. There were some defensive mistakes behind him, but he battled through. He could throw all 3 of his pitches for strikes.