Quick Hitters: NC/SC Border Battle - '24 SC Position Players and Pitchers
July 6, 2023
Over 115 of the top players from North Carolina and South Carolina converged on UNC Charlotte’s Robert & Mariam Hayes Stadium on June 28, 2023 for the PBR NC/SC Border Battle. In front of over 30 college and professional coaches and scouts, players from each state went through a pre-game workout and then played 9+ innings in a controlled scrimmage.
Position players opened the day with an offensive workout, taking live BP on the field. TrackMan and Blast were used to track pre-swing and ball-flight analytics. Players then went through a defensive workout at their position, allowing coaches and scouts to get a feel for their athleticism, movement, and arm strength.
After the workout, North Carolina took on South Carolina in game play. Pitchers threw to live hitters in a controlled environment, allowing PBR Scouts to control pitch count and stress of each inning. Hitters got live looks at pitchers, allowing the coaches and scouts in attendance to further their evaluations after BP, in the live setting.
One of the marquee events of the summer, the 2023 NC/SC Border Battle did not disappoint. Several players boosted their profiles, while others solidified their spot as one of the top prospects in the Carolinas.
Below we break down some of the numbers from the event. To see a player’s full profile, simply click on his name. To see the NC/SC Border Battle roster, full stat page, plus analytics from the event, CLICK HERE.
Quick Hitters
Wells Anderson, Wade Hampton, 2024, MIF/RHP
5-11 155 wiry frame with room to add on. Showed natural lift in swing with a compact stroke while producing a max exit velo of 89.7 mph and a max distance of 339 feet. Good arm strength across the diamond. On the mound had a max FB velo of 87.4 mph with a max spin of 2153 rpm. Spun his CB up to 70 mph with a max spin of 2568 rpm.
Thatcher Baughman, Ben Lippen, 2024, 3B
Long lanky frame at 6-3 185 pounds with present strength and room to grow. Has a flat swing through the zone with good extension and a line drive approach. Had a max exit velo of 95.8 mph and a max distance of 301 feet. Good carry on his throws while fielding the ball out front.
Cole Bellinger, Greer, 2024, C
5-10 180 pound athletic frame. Slightly uphill path through the ball with natural lift in swing producing a lot of high line drives. Had a max exit velo of 91.7 mph and a max distance of 328 feet. Showed good athleticism while bouncing and showing the ability to play multiple positions. Behind the plate showed of quick feet and exchanges.
Jeb Britt, Cardinal Newman, 2024, 1B/RHP
6-3 192 long projectable frame. Hits from a balanced slightly closed stance with a shirt leg lift and stride to a balanced hitting position. Has a flat stroke through the zone with a line drive approach to the poolside gap. Showed a max exit velo on the day of 92.4 mph. On the mound had a max velocity of 84.5 mph with a max spin of 2080 rpm. Spun in his curveball up to 74.5 mph with a max spin of 1992 rpm.
Will Burgess, Lexington, 2024, 3B
6-2, 183 pounds, has a long, lean, athletic physique that has space for growth. A short, strong swing with good extension out front and a good path through the ball. A maximum distance of 325 feet and 96.2 mph exit velo. Uses a slight lift back to load the rear hip before bursting through the ball. On ground balls, demonstrates outstanding hands and footwork as well as the capacity to throw from various arm angles.
Dominic Camacho, Beaufort, 2024, INF
6-0 165 lean athletic frame with strength. Uses a short compact swing while getting through the ball and producing a max exit velo of 90.3 mph with lots of line drives. Had a max distance of 313 feet. Showed good arm strength across the diamond with a max velo of 86 mph and the ability to throw from different arm angles.
Gavin Edens, Berkeley, 2024,MIF, Coker Commit
5-9 158 pound frame with good athleticism. Has a short swing while working above and through the ball making consistent hard contact. Had a max exit velo of 89.9 mph and a max distance of 335 feet. Defensively showed off good actions and footwork while fielding the ball out front.
Cooper Godsave, Ashley Ridge, 2024, 1B/OF
6-4 210 pound strong physical frame. Hitter!! Lots of hard consistent contact in his swing while working a gap to gap approach with hard line drives. Had a max exit velo of 97 mph and a max distance of 370 feet. Shows off good footwork around the bag at 1B with the ability to really pick the ball.
Hunter Gomes, Hanahan, 2024, RHP/1B
6-0 185 pound strong frame with present strength. Lots of hard contact while working above the ball and producing a max velo of 92.3 mph. On the mound showed off a good arm with a smooth arm action. Had a max FB of 86.9 mph and a max spin at 2131 rpm. Spun a good hard CB up to 74.8 pm and a max spin at 2017 rpm.
Landon Gomes, Hanahan, 2024, OF
5-10 170 pound strong frame. Left handed hitter with a good short stroke while staying flat through the zone and good strength in hands. Good line drive approach while producing a max exit velo of 89 mph and a max distance of 329 feet. Showed of big arm strength from the OF while up to 92 mph.
Gunner Jordan, Marlboro Co., 2024, 1B
6-3, 200 pounds, long and lean, with good strength and room for growth. Has an unconventional stance and load, but his bat speed and strength really help him get the bat through the zone. This young man consistently has one of the best exit velos at our competitions, and this time was no exception. Consistently hard impact, 105.6 mph top exit velocity missiles flying across the field and a max distance of 399 feet. Fun to see this player swing the bat!
Jack Luthren, Ben Lippen, 2024, 1B
6-3 187 long lean frame with room to grow. Lots of hard contact in BP while staying above the ball and working though it. Had a max exit velo of 90.3 mph and a max distance of 304 feet. Showed good footwork in the INF along with hands while working out front.
Noah McGarity, Dorman, 2024, OF
With current strength, a 5-10 frame weighing 180 pounds. Showed an excellent line drive approach in the middle of the field and a short, flat path through the zone. Had a maximum distance of 350 and an exit velocity of up to 94.6 mph. Showed off good arm strength and carry on throws from the OF.
An athletic 5-11, 175-pound build. a balanced, upright stance and has a short leg lift, a short stride to load, a clean swing through the zone, and a higher finish. Good line drive approach with firm contact, 92.1 mph maximum exit velocity, and a maximum distance of 313 feet. Good athlete who exhibits quickness and an accurate throwing arm from the OF.
Cade Norton, Blue Ridge, 2024, C
6-0 185 pound strong athletic frame with room to add on. Uphill path through the ball with high finish. Lots of strength in swing while producing a max exit velo of 91.7 mph and a max distance of 329 feet. Showed off good exchanges and footwork behind the plate to go along with athleticism to play the outfield as well.
Landon Penfield, Blythewood, 2024, 3B, College of Charleston Commit
With present strength and room to grow, the 6-1, 195-pound frame. Hitter!!! This lefty exhibits exceptional skill when barreling up the ball. A balanced and a slightly open wide stance. Leg lift in to load and positions himself for a powerful swing. Exhibits a short, swift stroke that extends through the ball. Possesses a powerful swing and a terrific approach when it comes to hitting to all fields. He can play in the infield and is athletic defensively. Has a short arm action, accurate throws, good hands and footwork, and projects as a cornerback.
Owen Pridgen, Laurens, 2024, 1B
6-2 180 pound strong frame with present strength. Good short path through the zone with lots of strength at contact and producing lots of line drives around the field. Power to all fields while having good extension out front and keeping barrel in zone. Max exit velo of 93.3 mph and a max distance of 351 feet.
Brayden Renfrow, Greenville, 2024, OF
5-10 170 pound athletic frame. Baseball player that shows off a short compact swing with a gap to gap line drive approach. Shows good strength at contact while producing a max exit velo of 95.2 mph and a max distance of 359 feet. Multiple barrels in game to go with an opposite field home run. Showed off good arm strength from the OF while up to 86 mph.
Garrett Sanders, River Bluff, 2024, OF
An athletic 5-11, 175-pound build. a balanced, upright stance. Possesses a short leg lift, a short stride to load, a clean swing through the zone, and a higher finish. Good line drive approach with firm contact, 89.7 mph maximum exit velocity, and a maximum distance of 336 feet. Good athlete who exhibits quickness and an accurate throwing arm from the OF.
Brandon Smith, Clover, 2024, 2B
5-8 147 pound frame. Hits from an upright slightly opened stance. Has a medium leg lift in to get loaded and good forward movement to balance. A gap to gap line drive approach. Had a max exit velocity of 85 mph and a max distance of 285 feet.
Riley Stiles, Legion Collegiate, 2024, OF
6-0 155 lean athletic frame with room to add on. Shows a short compact swing with a line drive approach and a gap to gap approach. Made consistent hard contact on the day while having a max exit velo of 91.5 mph and a max distance of 328 feet. Showed good speed with a 6.88 swift 60 time.
Jake Klein, Oceanside Collegiate, 2024, LHP
5-10 and 175 pounds. Delivered at a moderate tempo and with nice direction down the mound. Lefty lower slot from a L 34 release. Fastballs can reach speeds of up to 84.4 mph and have a maximum spin of 2389 rpm. Spun a good breaking balls that was up to 76.5 mph with a max spin of 2211 rpm and CH that had goo sink and fade down in the zone. Tough at bats for both right handed and left handed hitters.
Andrew McLaughlin, Ashley Ridge, 2024, RHP
6-2, with a solid 190 pound build. Delivered at a controlled pace, this truly loads up the lower half. throws down the mound with strong direction from a L 3/4 arm slot. Fastball has a good life with speeds up to 89.5 mph and a maximum spin of 2359 rpm. The breaking ball had a nice downward break to it in late action. Maximum spin of 2330 rpm and breaking ball speeds of up to 75.1 mph. When in the zone, the change up had good sink and fade. CH could spin up to 2118 rpm.
Peyton Rogers, West Florence, 2024, RHP
Strong 6-1 190 pound frame with present strength and room to add on. Good tempo in delivery with a shorter arm action in the back with direction down the mound and extension out front. Fastball was located well and jumped on hitters while up to 90.1 mph and a max spin at 2409 rpm. Spun a good CB that had good depth to it while up to 75.8 mph and a max spin at 2414 rpm. Change had good action down in the zone while up to 79.8 mph and a max spin at 1492 rpm.
Thayer Tavormina, Summerville, 2024, RHP
6-2 195 pound frame with present strength and room to add on. Slower paced delivery with a higher leg lift to balance. Shorter arm action from a L ¾ arm slot. Fastball showed tons of run and sink to it while up to 87 mph and a max spin at 2225 rpm. Slider showed a short later break to it at 2/8 break to it. SL was up to 79.9 with a max spin at 2403 rpm. Change up was tunneled well off of FB with run and sink down in the zone. CH was up to 86.7 mph and max spin at 1984 rpm.