Team Carolinas took the field again on Friday against Team Select, made up of players from across PBR territories.  One of the more anticipated match-ups of the week, the billing lived up to the hype. Team Select handed Team Carolinas its first loss in the PBR Future Games by a score of 7-5.

The buzz around the players making up Team Carolina produced a throng of college coaches and scouts around BP and the game.  With over 150 college coaches on site at anytime during the PBR Future Games, several players have played very well in the spotlight.

Through the first three innings, each teams starter kept the opposing offense off the board.  For Team Carolinas’ Caleb Freeman (RHP/Util, J.L. Mann HS, 2020)  set the tone, tossing 3 scoreless innings allowing only 1 hit and 1 walk.  The 6-foot-4, 190 pound righty pounded the zone with a steady mix of fastball, breaking ball, and a hard knuckle ball.  The knuckler is thrown with hand speed, fading and dipping as it reaches the plate.

Down 3-0 in the bottom of the 4th, Team Carolinas would plate 5 runs to take a brief lead.  Chet Sikes (C, Wesleyan Christian Academy, 2020) produced an RBI on a fielder’s choice where Team Carolinas loaded the bases and got on the board.  Shemar Dalton (OF, South Stokes HS, 2020) then doubled to right, scoring two.  Alex Rodriguez (C/MIF, Southeast Guilford HS, 2020) then added to the inning with a 2 RBI single to center.   In the 6th, down 6-5, Team Carolinas righty, Andrei Beal (RHP, Parkwood HS, 2020) worked a gem of an inning to keep the game within reach.  Peaking at 83, Beal works from an over-the-top slot with a mix of sink and a cutter to keep hitters off balance.  Beal punched two, throwing 10 pitches and 8 strikes.

Team Carolinas will finish up their PBR Future Games schedule on Saturday with a 2:45 first pitch vs. Team Mid-Atlantic (VA, MD, DC, DE).

Game Notes:

+  Gus Hughes (RHP, Grimsley HS, 2020) worked for a second consecutive day on Friday.  Following a sparkling performance on Thursday, Hughes was not quite as sharp but did touch 88, carrying arm speed and stuff on back-to-back days.

+  Braxton Elms (RHP, Lewisville HS (SC), 2020) is an intriguing follow.  Another physical presence on the Team Carolinas roster, Elms features a heavy fastball with a slider that created swing and miss.  Elms will be on the bump again Saturday.

+  Alex Rodriguez added to his 2 RBI single with another hit on the day.  The right handed hitter found the barrel, staying in the middle of the field.  Behind the dish in the 7th, he produced a 1.94 game pop on a fastball above the hitter’s hands.

+  Chandler Riley (SS, Cox Mill HS, 2020) continued to create a buzz around the field with two more hits on Friday.  The left hander has an easy presence in the box with a short, direct path. He has shown an ability to recognize offspeed and has been on the barrel when ahead in the count.