June begins the summer circuit for recruiting and player evaluation.  One event that has become a "must" for players, coaches, and scouts in the Carolinas is the NC/SC Border Battle.  This year's event took returned to UNC Charlotte's Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium for two days of action, featuring 130 of the best players in NC and SC.  They did not disappoint. 

On Tuesday June 11th, the position players went through their offensive and defensive evaluations.  North Carolina worked out first taking multiple rounds of BP, followed by their defensive evaluations and athletic testing.  As North Carolina finished, South Carolina started with their athletic testing, defensive evals, and finally their offensive evaluation.  Coaches and scouts were able to see multiple rounds of BP from each player plus see them move around at their primary defensive position, getting a feel for their athleticism and feel for the game.

Wednesday June 12th was game day.  Each player was scheduled to play in one 9 inning game with pitchers throwing live to hitters.  In total, NC and SC squared off in 4 exciting games and the roster of the top players in the two states put on a show.

Below we begin the process of unpacking everything we saw at the high level event.  From stats to player notes, to a deep dive into some analytics, we will work to uncover everything these players did and all the numbers they put up at the two day event.  To see the full roster and full statistical package, CLICK HERE.

By the Numbers:

• 5 Players ran under 6.74 on the laser timing system

• 22 Players ran 7.00 or under

• 39 Players tested their vertical jump at 30in or above

• 20 Players saw at least one of their splits come in at 20mph or higher

• 17 Infielders saw their arm strength at 85mph or higher across the diamond

• 6 Outfielders tested with arm strength at 90mph or higher

• 13 Catchers posted a pop timed of 2.00 or under in the workout

• 5 hitters saw an exit velocity of 100mph or higher

• 78 hitters peaked their exit velocity at 90mph or better

• 6 hitters carried an average exit velocity of better than 90mph over two rounds of 8 swings

• 14 hitters posted a BLAST bat speed of 70mph or higher

• 189.7psi was the top grip strength posted at the event

• 89.3mph was the top fastball velocity

• 10 arms were above 87mph on the day

• 3 arms saw their fastball spin rate above 2400rpm

• 2975rpm was the top breaking ball spin rate captured on the day

• 1 committed player took part in the even

Quick Hitters SC Hitters - NC/SC Border Battle

2026 Class

Ethan Offing, INF, Dutch Fork HS

6’0 183. Athletic frame with a feel for the barrel. Power is present with a max exit velo of 101.5 MPH along with a max exit distance of 346 feet.  Showed good arm strength with a max velo from the INF up to 84 mph, with clean smooth action.  Also ran a 6.96 60.

Jose Doubrant, INF, Greenville HS

6’1 190. Athletic frame with present strength.  Power is present with a max exit velo of 96 MPH while showing power in the game and driving the ball out of the park.  

Jeremy Powell, OF/LHP, White Knoll HS

5’11 181. Athletic frame with strength. Short compact swing with a max exit velo of 92.9 MPH along with a max exit distance of 330 feet.  Showed good arm strength with a max velo from the OF up to 86 mph.

Charlie Scott, OF, AC Flora HS

6’0 174. Lean athletic frame with room to grow.  Smooth swing with simple approach with a max exit velo of 92.8 MPH with a low line drive approach.  Showed good arm strength with a max velo from the OF up to 83 mph.  Big time speed while producing a 6.59 60!

Kyle Kirkland, 3B, Clover HS

6’0 156. Long lean projectable frame. Showed a flat stroke through the zone with a max exit velo of 92.2 MPH along with a max exit distance of 314 feet.  

Jake DiMartino, C, Oceanside Collegiate

5’11 185. Lean athletic frame with room to add on.  Natural lift in swing with a max exit velo of 92.1 MPH.  Pop times ranged between 2.11-2.18 with a maxed arm velo of 74 mph.

Anderson Hayes, OF/LHP, Fountain Inn HS

5’11 154. Aggressive swing and does a good job of getting into legs and having a max exit velo of 92.1 MPH along with a max exit distance of 320 feet.  Showed good arm strength with a max velo from the OF up to 85 mph.

Jonathan Waldrop, OF, Lexington HS

5’11 170. Lean athletic frame.  Swing produces natural lift with a max exit velo of 91.8 MPH along with a max exit distance of 338 feet.  Showed good arm strength with a max velo from the OF up to 81 mph.

Connor Hooks, INF, Cardinal Newman HS

5’9 167.  Short compact swing with a feel to hit.  Line drive approach with the ability to drive the ball around the field with a max exit velo of 91.3 MPH.  Showed good arm strength with a max velo from the INF up to 87 mph.

Anthony Marano, OF, Clover HS

5’11 185. Athletic frame with good strength.  Line drive approach with good extension out front with a max exit velo of 90.2 MPH along with a max exit distance  of 309 feet.  Showed good arm strength with a max velo from the OF up to 88 mph.

Aiden Smith, OF/RHP, Clover HS

5’10 161.  Smaller lean frame with good athleticsim.  Shows a good short compact swing with a line drive approach with a max exit velo of 89.8 MPH along with a max exit distance  of 343 feet.  

Seth Eckroth, INF, P27

5’8 131. Lean wiry frame with room to add on.  Line drive approach with a max exit velo of 89.7 MPH along with a max exit distance of 331 feet.  Good clean actions in the INF with a max arm strength across the diamond up to 85 mph.

Yamil Soto, INF, P27

5’9 167.  Athletic frame with a feel for the barrel.  Aggressive swing with a line drive approach with a max exit velo of 89.5 MPH along with a max exit distance of 319 feet.  Good footwork and actions in the INF with a max arm strength of 87 mph across the field..

Roper Wentzky, INF, AC Flora HS

5’11 160.  Athletic frame with a feel for the barrel. short compact swing with a line drive gap to gap approach with a max exit velo of 89.3 MPH.  Good footwork and showed the ability ro play all over the INF.  High IQ on the field.

Garrett Blankinship, INF, Gray Collegiate

5'10 155.  Lean athletic frame.  Aggressive short compact swing through the ball with good balance and a line drive approach with a max exit velo of 87.4 MPH.  Showed good arm strength with a max velo from the INF up to 82 mph, with good actions and footwork.

Joel Cummings, SS, Lucy Beckham

6'1 161. Long lean frame with room to grow.  Flat strong through the ball with good balance and a line drive approach with a max exit velo of 87 MPH.  Showed good arm strength with a max velo from the INF up to 84 mph.

John Collins, INF/RHP, Blythewood HS

6'4 185. Long lean athletic projectable frame.  Short flat stroke through the zone with good balance and a line drive approach with a max exit velo of 86.6 MPH.  

2027 Class

Cody Branham, C, Central HS

5'10 181. Present strength in frame.  Quick bat path through ball with a max exit velo of 93.4 MPH and a max exit distance of 303 feet.  Quick exchanges and footwork from behind the plate with pop times ranging between 1.97-2.12 with a max velo of 73 mph.

Derrick Jones, 3B, Byrnes HS

6'0 176.  Long lean frame with good strength.  Short compact swing with good balance and a line drive approach with a max exit velo of 93.4 MPH and a max exit distance of 334 feet.  Showed good arm strength with a max velo from the INF up to 82 mph.

Christian Spivey, 3B, Lexington HS

6'0 205. Strong physical frame.  Simple short compact siwng with good balance and and naturla lift in swing with a max exit velo of 92.3 MPH along with a max distance of 331 feet.  Showed good arm strength with a max velo from the INF up to 83 mph.

Rome DeRenzo, 1B, St. James HS

6'0 208. Strong frame with good athleticsim.  Short flat stroke down through the ball with good balance and a line drive approach with a max exit velo of 91.3 MPH.  Showed off a max bat speed of 70.6 mph.

Ty Kerns, INF, Waccamaw

5'7 154. Athletic quick twitch frame.  Short compact swing with a simple approach with a max exit velo of 90.1 MPH.  Showed good athleticsim while producing a 6.88 60 time along with a 35.8 in. vertical.

Emmanuel Bentiez, 3B, Eastside HS

5'11 188. Strong physical frame with present strength.  Present strength in barrel with a max exit velo of 89.4 MPH along with a max distance of 334 feet.  Showed good arm strength with a max velo from the INF up to 81 mph.

Stephen Hudgins, OF, Powdersville HS

5'7 162. Athletic frame.  Short compact swing with lift in swing with a max exit velo of 89.1 MPH along with a max exit distance of 328.  Showed good speed while running a 6.71 60.

Brayden Brogdon, OF/LHP, Rock Hill HS

5'11 145. Wiry lean athletic frame.  Short quick swing with good extension with a max exit velo of 89 MPH along with a max distance of 336 feet.  Showed good arm strength with a max velo from the OF up to 85 mph.

Trip Ostergard, SS, James Island HS

5'10 155. Athletic lean projectable frame.  Short compact swing while staying down and through the ball with good bat/hand speed with a max exit velo of 89 MPH.  Smooth action in the INF alomg woth good footwork and good speed while running a 6.99 60..

Braden Richardson, INF, Fort Mill HS

5'10 172. Athletic frame with present strength.  Present strength in barrel with a max exit velo of 88.4 MPH along with a max distance of 335 feet.  Showed good arm strength with a max velo from the INF up to 82 mph and 84 mph from the OF.