We have been lucky here in the upstate so far this fall with weather not playing much of a factor up until this week. Eight games on Monday got banged but fortunately we were able to reschedule four of them. Tonight DP posted up at Wren HS for a rescheduled doubleheader as the Hurricanes hosted both Easley and Southside Christian.

SMC commit Doug Gressly toed the rubber for Wren in game one versus Easley. This was a tight 2-2 ballgame until Wren went up 5-2 in the fifth. Easley answered in the top half of the sixth plating two but gave those two runs right back making it 7-4 which would end up being our final.

Southside Christian rolled in for the nightcap to face Wren and tallied up six runs in the first three innings. This game had run rule written all over it but the Hurricanes fought right back and made it a 6-4 affair in the third. Both teams continued to trade licks, scoring runs at will off one another until it became a 12-10 game; advantage Wren. Southside Christian didn’t back down and tied the game in the sixth. Wren threatened in the bottom half but failed to score which ended the game in a tie due to time limit.

-Prospects–

Doug Gressly – 2015, Wren HS, SMC commit, LHP/OF: Having the opportunity to bear down on Gressly for two years now I have seen very inconsistent stuff and a lack of confidence. There are minor mechanical issues that could fix his control problems but if he doesn’t start pitching with confidence, he will have a hard time moving forward in his career. Having said that, Gressly has a high ceiling and I have seen guys like this turn into something pretty good. Didn’t see any off-speed tonight but FB ran up to 86 while sitting 84. Ball has late action when he is arm side and down in the zone. He tends to cut his FB when trying to go glove side which is nothing but lack of confidence. He has a slight stabbing action but delivery works in tempo and arm is free. I would just like to see him get after it and become a bulldog on the mound. Stuff is there; he just has to turn that page of confidence and if he does, he will find himself pitching at the D1 level in two years. Not a bad athlete, outfielder or hitter either. Gressly reminds me a lot of Anders Deshields from a couple of years ago.

Casey Woody – 2015, Easley HS, Francis Marion commit, C: What I like about Woody is he just looks like a kid playing the game out there. What I mean is, I’m not so sure he has specialized in working on his game which is promising when looking towards his future. Nothing is eye popping about him but I know what hard work can do for a kid like this. Two things that could be easy fixes right now are shortening up his footwork and cutting down his slight hitch. The weight room and simply being on a college conditioning program benefits Woody greatly. Quick trigger swinging the stick; just nothing behind it.

Brandyn Herrick – 2016, Hillcrest HS, Uncommitted, OF: The 6-2/175 lean, athletic framed junior has some work to do on the field but tools are present. Herrick has the frame that could become beast mode in later years. He hit a triple tonight and once rounding 1B (didn’t get out of box well), Herrick glided to 3B easily. Bet he is a sub 7.0 guy. Playing a ton of baseball over the next year will naturally develop him. If he can play at a high level, that is what I would recommend.

Tanner Mack – 2015, Wren HS, SMC commit, UTL/RHP: Utility player that doesn’t hurt a team playing him anywhere in the INF. I’d say 3B will end up being his home but he has to start hitting like a 3B. Mack gets real pull happy at the plate which will become an automatic out at the college level. Got to learn to hit backside when thrown middle-away.

Conner Campbell – 2016, Mauldin HS, Uncommitted, RHP: New face, lean frame, and a strike thrower at 80-82. Campbell trusts what’s coming out of the hand and pounds the zone. He has a small slider with late action and a knuckleball that is telegraphed. Second time laying eyes on him. Campbell becomes an interesting kid if he gets physically stronger and it translates over to the mound.

Mason Stewart – 2017, Easley HS, Uncommitted, OF: Stewart is another interesting kid. He seems to find the barrel a lot which is always good to see. He is a little too young to say what he has the potential to turn into. I do know that the weight room could enhance his prospect potential. Definitely a pup to follow.

Notables: Jameson Spitzmiller (2015, Easley HS, Francis Marion), Noah Masters (2017, Wren HS, Uncommitted), Nick Anderson (2017, Wren HS, Uncommitted)