Fall Scout Day: South Carolina Diamond Devils

Compiled By: Nick Nickles-August 25-26, 2007

Prospect Info: 18U

Marty Gantt, North Augusta, P/OF, USC Commit: Gantt (left) plays the game with a purpose. Don’t expect a senior season let down from Gantt, but look for him to actually improve his overall game and be a bigger offensive contributor. Gantt has developed into one of the best hitters in the class of 2008. Gantt has savvy; he’s talented, and mature. He is a good one. Gantt projects to be on ESPN in the near future pitching in a super regional for the Gamecocks.

Jake Koenig, Greenville, SS, Spartanburg Methodist Commit: Koenig had a good weekend workout. A self-made player, who makes very few mistakes and maximizes his abilities by knowing his limitations, Koenig plays the game the right way and is very projectable to play a solid role at the next level. Koenig made several plays on balls that were smoked this weekend, which would be considered ‘plus’ plays on the collegiate level. A solid sign for Spartanburg Methodist. 

Nick Ferguson, Lancaster, OF, Un-signed Senior: Ferguson (right) played outstanding this weekend. He struggled during the summer, and seemed to have put those days in the past as he crushed everything he saw this weekend. Ferguson has some pull power as he drove a ball in the alley off the near rotten scoreboard for a two-run job at the infamous James Island High School field where only two lights work on the scoreboard. Ferguson should catch the eye of some of the smaller schools before the early signing period.

Troy Zawadzki, Dutch Fork, INF, Un-signed Senior: Zawadzki may be unfamiliar to most around the state. He moved to the Columbia area from Massachusetts this summer. Zawadzki plays an eye-catching infield with beautiful infield actions and a solid arm. Zawadzki is a contact hitter, who will develop into a solid line drive hitter with a solid batting average at the next level.

John Long, T.L.Hanna, 3B, Un-signed Senior: There is no doubt that Long’s strength is in his bat. He had a solid round of BP, hitting some tape measure shots along the way. Long has improved his footwork around the bag defensively at third and has a solid arm. Long has all the tools to be a good player at the next level.

Tony Micklon, Sumter, C, Un-signed Senior: Micklon is a good receiver behind the dish. He is solid at throwing out runners and plays with good instincts. He has quick hands at the plate. Micklon likes to get the bat head out and drive the ball to leftfield. Micklon is a good player to follow for the colleges looking for a solid backstop.

Jarett Miller, Easley, P, Erskine Signee: Miller (left) is coming off a tremendous summer in which he refused to give up runs. He carried that right into the workout this weekend. Miller throws a heavy baseball from a high-3/4 slot that he pounds repeatedly low in the zone. Miller and Christopher Owings (USC Commit) got locked up in an 8-pitch battle, where Miller stayed with the heater and eventually got Owings to strikeout after numerous foul balls. Miller is a bulldog, with a good fastball that he can locate and induce a lot of groundballs, he has recently become much more adept at driving the ball in on hitters. Miller will be a top tier pitcher in 2008 for Easley. A great sign for the Flying Fleet.

Dustin Morris, Landrum, 2B, Junior: Morris can hit it a little bit, and that makes him quite valuable as a true second baseman. Morris hits hard, line-drives all over the field. A pure hitter with good hands, and power does exist in his stroke, but he is content on driving balls and not elevating them. Morris is a definite follow guy in the class of 2009.

Bo Mooneyham, Wren, OF, Un-signed Senior: Mooneyham is a left-handed hitter who has some pull-side pop. He had a solid round of BP and drove a ball off the wall in right during the scrimmage. Mooneyham’s effort on a smashed ball to the fence stood out, as he just missed the ball and slammed head first in the wall turning his whole face into a bruise. One of the few times you can miss a ball and garner respect.         

Prospect Info: 17U

Greg Harrison, Hilton Head, Junior, P/INF: Harrison (right) could very well be the next Division I commit in South Carolina. Harrison throws from a mid to low-3/4 slot and gets a lot of whipping, arm-side action on his fastball. Harrison can run it up in the mid to upper-80’s topping out at 89 on Sunday. Harrison is a solid stick as well, and brings an aggressive style into the batters box. His at-bats don’t last long, and he gets on and barrels his share of pitches. Harrison will be a force in high school baseball the following two seasons.

Christopher Owings, Gilbert, Junior, SS, USC Commit: Owings (left) is a guy that makes everything look easy in all aspects of the game. He can run a little bit, flashing a 6.81/60 on a dew laden football field Saturday morning. He is a premium infielder, but what is deceptive about Owings is the amount of power in his swing in comparison with his frame. At, 5-10/155, Owings doesn’t blow you away physically, but watching him play quickly erases any doubt about what kind of talent this young player encompasses. Owings is a player whose instincts are tremendous and leadership traits are superior for his age. Owings could easily be labeled the best shortstop in the state.       

Daniel Aldrich, Wando, Junior, OF, USC Commit: He is a pure left-handed hitting power guy. He has a chance to hit a lot of homeruns in his baseball career. His approach is solid and his mentality is great for a power hitter in the like that he’s going down swinging some, but he hits the ball out of the park and drives in runs frequently to make him far more valuable in that role for a baseball team. Aldrich went yard in the scrimmage, and the fact he has two more years in high school, doesn’t seem sensible. Aldrich was born a hitter. He has the potential to end up in the record books at South Carolina.

Logan Thomas, Pickens, Sophomore, SS/P: Thomas is still maturing physically, but at just 15 years old, the ceiling for this young player is exciting. Thomas topped out at 87 on the mound, and didn’t throw a fastball under 85 in his 35-pitch outing. Thomas is starting to use more baseball technique rather than relying on superior athletic ability to dominate average high school players. His infield actions are very fluid and his throws have plenty of carry across the diamond. Thomas showed the best infield arm on the weekend. At the plate, he needs to be a little more consistent, not taking away from the fact that Thomas is a very good hitter. He has some pop and the baseball jumps off his bat. His BP round was impressive as he laced balls from center to left. Thomas can justifiably be considered one of the top two prospects in 2010.

Drew Cisco, Wando, Sophomore, P/INF: Cisco (right) is also a 15-year old who plays the game on a completely different level despite his youth. Cisco is going to be an outstanding hitter before his high school career is complete. He shocked balls all weekend in BP and in the scrimmage. Bloodline, great build for his age, superior pitching “know how”, projectable and a solid summer on the mound against quality competition makes Cisco a legitimate high Division I pitching prospect. He already holds at least one verbal offer from an SEC school, and this particular school is not South Carolina. Cisco is the other 2010 prospect that is justifiably in the top two players in his class.     

Paul Nitto, J.L. Mann, Junior, C: Nitto is the part when it comes to receiving the baseball. He has all the tools to be a Division I catcher. He has good size, receives great and blocks it up tremendously, and has a plus pop time. Nitto is a smart catcher and has great instincts behind the dish. Nitto has a quick, solid hack at the plate. Defensively, Nitto is ready for the next level. It is Nitto’s time to take the next step as a hitter.      

Prospect Info: 16U

Reid Langdale, Wando, Sophomore, 3B/P: Langdale plays the game with a lot of confidence. He expects to win. A taller third baseman with a slim build, he has good wing to deliver it across the diamond. It was a pleasant surprise to see how much athleticism he displayed during the defensive workout, he also can play short. Langdale is good with the bat; he projects to develop more pop as he fills out his frame. Langdale has all the tools to become a good player down the road. A strong work ethic on the field, and a serious dedication to the weight room could have Langdale receiving All-Region accolades in 2009.

Joey Pankake, Easley, Freshmen, SS/3B: Pankake (right) started for Easley High School as an eight grader. He earned all-tournament honors in the Greenville-Pickens pre-season tournament, so the youngster is no stranger to success. Pankake’s strength is in his bat. He is starting to develop power to accompany his hard-line drive producing swing. Pankake is solid defensively at shortstop, but could project better at third in the future. Pankake is a kid with a lot of special things ahead him if he continues to dedicate himself to the game.

Joe Jackson, Mauldin, Sophomore, C: Jackson is a good receiver and brings a left-handed stick to the plate. One trait about Jackson that projects well is his knowledge of the game. At this point his aptitude and desire are ahead of his physical development, to the point where he forces the issue and tries to do too much at times. When Jackson matures physically, he will quickly become a very good, solid backstop and a legit left-handed hitter.

Taylor Hollifield, Boiling Springs, Sophomore, 2B: Hollifield is going to be a great defensive player. He has good field awareness that allows him to always be in the right place to make plays. He is quite similar to Taylor Black (Charleston Southern 2007 signee, All DP Defensive Team 07) at a younger age. Hollifield handles the stick well now with a solid contact approach. Another young player who knows how to play and will only become exponentially better as he matures physically.