For the second year, the NC/SC Border Battle was one of the most anticipated events of the summer.  This year saw the event moved to BB&T Point Stadium in High Point, NC, home of the High Point Rockers Independent Professional club.  Hosted at Winthrop in 2019, the 2020 event was suppose to be at UNC Charlotte, but moved to High Point with the ongoing NCAA Dead Period on recruiting. 

With the move, the event saw more of a North Carolina flavor as most players and families are still working to navigate the ongoing COVID-19 issues.  Due to the NCAA Dead Period, the event was live streamed utilizing multiple camera angles to allow college coaches to view from their offices. 

Position players were taken through a full pro-style workout, with a laser timed 60, full offensive workout, and a full defensive workout.  The pro-style workout was followed by a controlled scrimmage with pitchers throwing to live hitters.  PBR Scouts were on hand to evaluate and report on the players in attendance.

CLICK HERE to see the full roster and statistics from the 2020 NC/SC Border Battle

 

By the Numbers:

• 73 players were a part of the NC/SC Border Battle
• 61  players went through the pro-style workout
• 28 pitchers threw in the controlled scrimmages
• 92 mph was the top fastball thrown on the day
• 8 arms worked at 87 mph or higher
• 84 mph was the median fastball for the event
• 4 players ran sub-7.00 on the laser timer
• 23 players ran sub-7.20 sixties
• 14 position players posted a positional velocity of 85 mph or higher in their workout
• 90 mph was the top infield velocity
• 91 mph was the top outfield velocity
• 86 mph was the top catcher velocity, working out of the crouch
• 2 hitters posted an exit velocity of 100+ mph off the tee
• 22 hitters worked at 90 mph or higher off the tee with their exit velocity
• 8 hitters posted exit velocities of 88 mph or higher in live BP

 

Quick Hitters

 

Paddy McGonigal (2021, RHP, Grimsley HS) – Average frame with a quick arm.  Advanced breaking ball with hard, downer action.  Good depth.  Took him 15-20 to dial in and then control ticked up across the board.  Fastball up to 87.  The hard breaking ball has a chance to be a separator. 

Evan Suarez (2021, LHP, Oak Grove HS) – Tall, lean lefty.  Good athleticism around the bump.  Flooded the zone, creating bad swings and swings and miss while in the zone.  Created chase once he was ahead with the fastball and breaking ball.  Heavy run to the arm side.  6-foot-4 frame will add strength.

Will Saxenmeyer (2022, RHP, Holly Springs HS) – Every time we see him his stuff ticks up.  Long and lanky, standing 6-foot-4, worked up to 88.  Quick arm.  Still working to find a consistent release, but the ceiling is very high with the frame and arm speed. 

Alexander Woody (2022, LHP, Ashbrook HS) – Athletic lefty that committed to University of San Diego shortly after the NC/SC Border Battle.  Clean, compact, and repeats.  Has feel for three pitches.  Clean stroke with solid arm speed.  Up-tempo strike thrower.  Offspeed offerings are advanced.

Cody Chapman (2021, RHP, RHP) – Large frame with a sturdy base and broad shoulders.  Stands 6-foot-7.  Fastball and curveball tunnel.  Fastball has arm side run.  Strength over quickness.  Still working to find his center over the rubber and there is still room to his ceiling.

Jake Overton (2023, RHP, Home School) – Quick arm and athletic frame.  Worked up to 84.  Ball is hidden, working to jump on hitters.

Cameron Williams (2022, RHP, Apex Friendship HS) – Heavy arm side run on the fastball, boaring into bats and creating soft contact.  Showed feel for both sides of the plate.  Strike thrower as the outing progressed, attacking hitters with the fastball.  Good feel for the change-up with solid arm speed and deception.

Lucas Glover (2022, RHP, Ledford HS) – Long, lean 6-foot-5 frame.  Loads the backside and works to an over-the-top slot.  Intriguing combination of size and arm speed.  Fastball up to 85 with plenty of room to its ceiling.

Eli Crump (2021, LHP, High Point Christian Academy) – Lanky frame.  Works from a unique slot creating angle from the 1B side of the rubber.  Fastball up to 78.  Created soft contact.  Showed pitch-ability with a fastball – curveball mix.  Slotting and extension make him somewhat unique.  Arm speed and frame suggest more growth coming to the stuff.

Jackson Hull (2021, RHP, Carroll County HS (VA)) – Good arm.   Strong frame.  Fastball up to 88.  Heavy run.  Strike thrower.  A lot to like in this short outing where he attacked hitters with a FB/CB mix.  Fastball has the ability to create outs with heavy, hard run.

Luke Osteen (2021, RHP, Hough HS) – Athletic with twitch.  Loose high-3/4 slot coming from a slight cross-fire line, creating a tough angle for RHH at times.  Flashed really good feet on a pick-off at 1B.  Frame will add strength which will continue to add to stuff.

Brady Turner (2022, LHP, Oak Grove HS) – Bulldog mentality that is fun to watch.  Attacks with a FB/CB combo and can be very tough on LHH when landing the big breaking ball with depth and some length.  Fastball peaked at 85.

Banks Cox (2021, RHP, West Forsyth HS) – Big arm up to 92 from a short, hidden slot, allowing it to jump on hitters.  FB played up and down in the zone.  Showed feel for a short breaking ball that added just enough to keep hitters from being able to ambush the fastball.

Cole Schiff (2021, LHP, Heritage HS) – UNC Asheville commit.  Long frame with broad shoulders.  Will be a follow for pro scouts into the next spring.  Fastball peaked at 87 with room left to the ceiling.  Sweeping slider and breaking ball with some depth add two different options to keep hitters off the FB.  Easy with feel in a 6-foot-4 frame.