By Brandon Hall
North Carolina Director of Scouting

Day two of the Powerade State Games of North Carolina begins the game portion of the event.  With day two, three, and four playing all of the games at UNC Greensboro it gives coaches and scouts an opportunity to sit in one spot and evaluate some of the top talent from the state in one place.  Each of the eight regions will play in a pool format for three days, prior to moving to the medal round on Sunday.

Saturday June 17th

It is moving day at the State Games of North Carolina.  Today, each of the 8 Region teams worked to position themselves for a chance to play for a medal on Sunday.  Medal games will be played at UNC Greensboro, with the consolation games being played at Grimsley HS.

Saturday June 17^th

Region 1 – 6       Region 7 – 2
Robert Whacker (2018, INF, JH Rose HS) came up a homerun short of the cycle, showing good barrel awareness and strength as he smacked to line drives to the pull side resulting in the double and triple. On the bump Hunter Christopher (2018, RHP, JH Rose HS) and Scott Mayo (2018, LHP, South Central HS) combined on the 2-hit win.  Mayo was up to 82 showing swing and miss on his change and breaking ball. 

Region 8 – 4       Region 4 – 3
The first walk-off win of the week comes curtesy of Region 8’s dramatic win in the 7^th.  Chad Treadway (2019, C/RHP, Christ School) doubled down the 1B line to score a runner from first base and secure the win.  Region 4 scored two in the sixth to take a brief lead before Region 8 came alive in the bottom of the 6^th to tie the game.  Treadway worked 1+ innings on the mound as well, touching 88 and working 85-87.  Jason Crowe (2018, RS Central) and Riley Johnson (2018, North Henderson HS) each doubled for Region 8.  Region 4 was led by Tylan Reece (2018, INF/OF, South View HS) with two hits, including a double to left field.  Region 8 will advance to the Bronze medal game on Sunday at UNC Greensboro at 10:00am.  Region 4 will play in a consolation game at Grimsley HS at 9:30am.

Region 2 – 8       Region 3 – 7
More late game dramatics as two teams battled to secure a birth in the Gold Medal round on Sunday.  Region 2 jumped out to a three run lead after 3 innings.  In the sixth, Region 3 answered to take a 4-3 lead with Sam Highfill (2019, INF/RHP, Apex HS) delivering a big blow, tripling to the left field wall.  Region 3 was not done, adding 3 insurance runs in the 7^th.  In the bottom of the 7^th, Region 2 strung together 6 consecutive good at-bats to put themselves in position to make a run.  With the bases loaded and down 7-5, Kyle Smith (2019, New Hanover HS) battled, fouling off several pitches until he hammered a change-up down the left field line, getting by a diving left-fielder and scoring three for the win.  With the win, Region 2 moves into the Gold medal game at UNC Greensboro on Sunday at 1:00pm.  Region 3 will play at Grimsley HS at 12:15.

Region 5 --  4      Region 6 – 3
Region 5 advanced to the Gold Medal game on Sunday by remaining unbeaten on the week with a 4-3 win over Region 6.  A well-played and fast paced game, Caleb Cozart (2019, 1B, Wesleyan Christian Academy) delivered the big blow, a double to the wall in dead CF giving Region 5 a cushion to work with.  Leading 4-0 through six innings, Region 6 made a run in the 7^th, piecing together several good at-bats to plate 3 runs and leave the tying run on base to end the game.  For Region 5, Bennett Nance (2018, LHP, Morehead HS) worked three scoreless innings, flashing an advanced slider.  Gianni Smith (2018, RHP, West Forsyth HS) worked a dominant inning pounding the zone with fastball, touching 91.

Friday June 16^th

Region 2 – 5       Region 8 – 3
Region 2 only secured two hits, but they were timely as they raced to a 5-3 win over Region 8.  A three run fourth spelled the difference in the game.  On the bump, four arms combined to contain Region 8, with Quinton Pittman (2018, RHP, North Lenoir HS) getting the start.  Pittman sat 82-86, touching 87.  Dylan Jefferies (2018, RHP, West Brunswick HS) returned for another inning today, showcasing a little better fastball, touching 84.  For Region 8, Riley Johnson (2018, INF, North Henderson HS) and Aaron McKeithan (2018, C/1B, TC Roberson HS) each doubled in the loss.

Region 6 – 9       Region 7 – 4
A late rally from Region 4 came up short as two pitchers combined to give Region 6 the win.  Owen White (2018, RHP, Carson HS) started on the bump, showcasing a hard, explosive slider and a change up that created swing and miss vs both right and left-handed hitters.  White’s fastball bumped 92 throughout the first couple of innings.  Trey Tujetsch (2019, RHP, Ardrey Kell HS) worked the final three innings, featuring his fastball throughout the outing, touching 87, sitting 83-85.  In the box, White and Cam Brantley (2018, OF, Ardrey Kell HS) both doubled.  Carson Lowder (2019, INF, North Stanly) found the barrel twice for two hits.  For Region 7, Alex Ortiz (2018, SS, West Wilkes HS) showed a direct path to the barrel, staying in the middle of the field for two hits.

Region 5 – 4       Region 1 – 0
Region 5 moves to 2-0 on the week with a shutout win over Region 1.  Capitalizing on the strong outings from Brett Kerry (2018, RHP, Wesleyan Christian Academy) and Jacob Edwards (2018, LHP, SW Guilford HS), Region 5 was able to scrap to build a lead in the third.  Kerry, a strike thrower, moved is fastball around the zone and flashed a solid average breaking ball.  The fastball reached 91, sitting 88-90.  Edwards has a quick arm from an over-the-top slot, touching 87.  He was wildly effective, competing throughout his innings.  Jaylen Guy (2018, MIF, SE Guilford HS) had two infield hits in the game, running 4.29 and 4.22 down the line.  For Region 1, 6-foot-10 2019 righty Austin Pace (RHP, Currituck HS) commanded the stage.  Well-coordinated for his size, the fastball sat 84-86 early with plenty of projection left in the frame.

Region 3 – 2       Region 4 – 1
Down to the wire and well played on both sides, Region 3 was able to slip past Region 4, 2-1 to move to 2-0 on the week.  Tyler Tuthill (2018, LHP, Clayton HS) set the tone early, working four scoreless innings pounding the zone with a fastball, curveball combination that kept Region 4 at bay.  Sam Highfill (2019, RHP, Apex HS) worked the final three innings to secure the final.   Offensively, both teams struggled to string hits together.  Ben Miller (2018, INF, Durham Jordan HS) had two hits, making loud contact in multiple at-bats. 

Thursday June 15th

Region 2 - 4        Region 4 – 0
A strong pitching performance from Region 2, eastern North Carolina, gave them the win over Region 4, southeastern North Carolina.  Cody Whaley (RHP, 2018, CB Aycock HS) worked three scoreless innings showing a feel for three pitches.  Whaley touched 85, but the impressive part of his outing was working stress free for two innings and out of a bases loaded, no out jam in the third.  Behind Whaley, Jonathan Peacock (RHP, 2018, Rosewood HS) attacked with a 3-pitch mix, touching 86 early in the outing.  Dylan Jeffries (RHP, 2019, West Brunswick HS) closed the 7^th, working with a little crossfire and a top slot. 

Region 8 – 3       Region 3 – 2
Region 8, from western North Carolina, used a patient offense and four arms to stifle Region 3, from the triangle area.  Mason Herbert (2018, RHP, Pisgah HS) started on the mound, pounding the zone with his fastball and showing a 3-pitch mix.  The most interesting arm may have been Eric Wallington (2018, LHP, TC Roberson HS).  Wallington is a tall, lean body with long levers working from a high-3/4 slot.  The fastball reached 82, but played better.  The breaking ball gave left handed hitters fits as he worked a stress free 7^th.  Offensively, Aaron McKeithan (2018, C, TC Roberson HS) had an RBI single in the first, showing consistent feel for the barrel. 

Region 1 – 5       Region 6 – 2
Region 1, from northeastern North Carolina, rode a couple of good innings at the plate and solid performances on the mound to a win in game 3 of the first day, over Region 6 from the Charlotte region.  Inning two was the big blow with Region 1 getting hits from 4 consecutive hitters, leading to three runs.  Phillip Boykin (OF, 2018, North Pitt HS) worked with a short stroke, finding the barrel and creating exit velocity.  Robbie O’Neal (RHP, 2019, DH Conley HS) worked a couple of scoreless innings, touching 88 from a stocky build with a clean arm action.  For Region 6, Daniel Bagwell (2018, RHP, Kings Mountain HS) worked two solid innings in relief.  Bagwell featured a slider for strikes, attacking the zone.

Region 5 – 11     Region 7 – 0
Region 5, from the Triad area, exploded for 11 runs, six in the first three innings as they beat Region 7, from the foothills area.  Connor Norby (MIF, 2018, East Forsyth HS) had four hits and Jaylen Guy (MIF, 2018, SE Guilford HS) had three.  Scout Cox (OF, 2019, West Forsyth HS) hit the first homerun of the weekend launching a breaking ball down the left field line, clearing the 340 sign.  Four pitchers combined on the 3-hit shutout.  Logan Whitaker (2018, RHP, Ledford HS) started, working three.  Davis Palermo (2018, RHP, Northwood HS) worked the next two. 

Individual player write-ups can be found on the 2017 Summer Scout Blog.  Individual player evaluations will include velocities, run times, and notes on the player and his efforts.