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By: Austin Alexander, Banks Faulkner & John Gilreath – March 6-9, 2025 -Capital City celebrates prep preseason- With 18 quality teams in the Lexington area at three sites, pitching rotation requests began on Monday morning so we could plot out the combined five days of two tournaments, the Opterra Solutions Invitational (formerly NaturChem) using Lexington/River Bluff’s fields and the Sandlapper Shootout hosted by Gilbert High School. Between these three facilities that are among the finest in South Carolina, each team migrated to the middle of the state to kickoff their 2025 campaign. The Opterra featured the two host clubs along with the following: AC Flora, Berkeley, Blythewood, Brookland-Cayce, Dorman, Mauldin, Spartanburg and Stratford. The Sandlapper had Beaufort, Bishop England, Chapman, Chesnee, May River, North Augusta and Saluda join Gilbert to round out that field of eight. Before the madness of covering each team could begin, Mother Nature’s first curveball of the spring cancelled schools across Lexington County and a couple of participating districts, thus wiping out any coverage on Hump Day. Armed with a full slate of games, pitching matchups, the radar gun, stopwatch and rosters tucked into a clipboard, we embarked upon a hectic four days of high-octane preseason baseball! Due to our version of March Madness, there will be no scores or game recaps, simply a long list of prospects viewed, complete with player breakdowns and some video too… And the winner is…A day after Blythewood skipper Travis Poole reported to DP that he was very thin on pitching for the championship game, their fourth game in four days, he looked a little deeper into the Bengal farm system and promoted 2027 grad Bowman Rummel. All the 10th grader did was throw a no-hitter in their 11-0 victory over Dorman in his first varsity game. Congratulations to the young man and to the Blythewood Bengals on going 3-1 while taking home the OSI title! Wow Factor: If you haven’t strayed out to Gilbert America in the last dozen years, you’re missing a hidden gem off of I-20 and one of the top baseball facilities across our state. Not only is the field always in immaculate condition, I haven’t found the baseball program yet that has a large locker room off the dugout, newly redone bullpens, plenty of spacious and covered batting cages to go with plenty of grandstand seating. Then just to completely show off, their indoor facility that is larger than a basketball court houses a shrine to a fallen player, coach’s office, lounge area for players, full weight room, and another indoor cage/bullpen. One other really cool feature is where they hang the gloves of former players who went on to play at the collegiate level. HC Ashley Burnett replaces their used glove with a brand-new piece of leather and hangs each one around the perimeter of the facility with a tag noting the player’s name and where he went to play at the next level. Tremendous idea and very classy look in a fantastic venue! Friday Night Lights: No sophomore slump on this evening as two top 2027 grads stole the show Friday at River Bluff High School during the Homerun Derby. The fireworks display was a fundraiser for Bart Owens’ #BattleForBart as this baseball lifer deals with a cancer fight. Money was pledged by many and a 50/50 raffle with a twist served as a way for the Owens’ family to offset hospital expenses. Mauldin’s Brennan New and Lexington’s Christian Spivey had advanced to the championship round with both raising quite a bit of cash as New eventually out-dueled Spivey and his seven dingers stood up to claim the crown. With the ballpark packed, Bart Owens throwing out the first pitch and these young men’s power surge – it was a great celebration of baseball, this OSI tournament and all for a very good cause! Tip of the Cap: While the talent on the field makes the true mark of a tournament’s value, some places continue to up the ante of hospitality and all three of these weighed in nicely. No shortage of good food and friendly faces graced each venue that we visited. We are always thankful when appreciation is extended to us, kudos to the folks at Gilbert, Lexington and River Bluff! Special Thanks: The young lady you may have seen running around taking pictures at River Bluff is Gia Palacios and she did a fine job all weekend capturing much of the OSI, DP thanks her for many of the still shots that we will use on the website. You can find here work on Instagram at GPhotography…Another fist bump to Caroline Hucks for awesome footage that she provided us from the Lexington site! -Prospect Info- Due to the volume of content, we have it for you broken down by graduation classes. Clink the links below and enjoy! Dozens of breakdowns for… Class of 2025 / Class of 2026 / Classes of 2027-2029 DP Note: FYI, Twitter/X was experiencing tech difficulties during our construction of the prospect info if you see errors on a page.

By: Barry Mabry & Cory Welch – March 6-8, 2025 When the first weekend of March rolls around, the DP staff packs up and heads to Georgetown for an event we eagerly anticipate every year—The Classic! The name may have changed, but the tradition, excitement, and high-level baseball remain the same. Picture this: top-tier competition, a stunning venue, endless laughter and unbeatable food courtesy of the legendary Winyah Bay Cafe. This year’s lineup was nothing short of spectacular, featuring a perfect mix of first-time contenders and seasoned powerhouses. One side of the bracket showcased Georgetown, Lucy Beckham, Woodmont and Daniel, while the other consisted of James Island, Laurens, TL Hanna and Chapin. Over three thrilling days, teams battled it out in intense pool play, setting the stage for a high-stakes championship showdown between Daniel High School and Chapin. So, sit back and get ready! We’ve got exclusive videos, standout player highlights, and well-deserved shoutouts from this unforgettable 35th edition of The Classic! Saluting the MVP’s Behind the Scenes: What a debut for Head Coach Tyler Vick in his first year leading the Georgetown program! Taking the helm at Georgetown also means stepping into a key role for this event, and from day one, he delivered in every way! He was outstanding to work with throughout the process and truly outdid himself during the event. Bonus point for launching the “Coaches Roundtable” podcast of the tournament – it was a hit! You can bet we’ll make this an even bigger tradition in 2026! Winyah Bay Cafe – The Real MVP’s: A Classic without the Winyah Bay Cafe Crew? Impossible. Led by the one and only Jason Ward, A.K.A. “Mr. Red Gloves,” the guys rolls out the red carpet every year. Their legendary “Perlo,” BBQ and this year’s cheeseburgers were just meals; they were experiences. They keep the players, coaches, scouts and most importantly the DP staff well fed and happy. If you’ve been to The Classic, you already know; Mr. Red Gloves is a much a part of the event as the games itself! Hats off to this incredible crew for yet another home-run performance! New Name, Same Heart-Pounding Action: At the close of 2025, International Paper closed its doors in Georgetown, a tough loss for the community. This meant a new chapter for the iconic tournament, previously referred to as the “IP.” But in no time, Coastal Chevrolet Cadillac Nissan & Coastal Car Wash stepped up in a big way as title sponsors. With a fresh name – The Classic – came with exciting upgrades and expanded promotion, making this year’s tournament feel bigger and better than ever. A huge shoutout to Brandon Brown for his vision and creativity, ensuring this event keeps evolving while staying true to its roots! A Standing Ovation for Alicia Johnson: Finally, let’s shine a much-needed spotlight on the one what makes it all happen behind the scenes – Tournament Director Alicia Johnson. Every year, she works tirelessly to make sure every detail is perfected, and once again, she delivered with a first-class experience for players, fans and coaches. Having coached in this event in the past, I know firsthand how much dedication goes into pulling it all together, and Alicia deserves all the praise for keeping The Classic at the top of its game! Remaining the Crown Jewel: Before the first pitch, we were reminded why “The Classic” remains the crown jewel of our state’s preseason tournaments. The atmosphere was nothing short of electric, starting with a breathtaking flyover following the National Anthem as James Island and Chapin took the field. Throughout the weekend, every new addition to the tournament added to the magic, culminating in a truly unforgettable Saturday night. One of the most touching moments came before the Georgetown game when the legendary Mike Johnson Sr. was honored. Seeing him alongside his son, Mike Johnson Jr., and grandson Davis made the moment even more special. The tradition continued as Georgetown freshman Michael Johnson III received the first pitch, creating a heartfelt tribute that showcased the deep-rooted legacy of baseball in our community. After the game, the celebration continued in grand fashion. Mr. Red Gloves took the mic and set the tone for an evening to remember. The National Anthem, beautifully performed by Grace Miller Moody —who is currently shining on The Voice—set the stage for something truly magical. Then, all eyes turned to left-center field for a “Field of Dreams”-style moment, where three IP Classic greats—Drew Meyer, Steven Jackson and Brad Chalk—took the mound to be honored. It was a scene straight out of a movie, one of the coolest and most memorable moments DP has ever witnessed in this game. Behind it all was the tireless dedication of Brandon Brown, whose hard work over the past several months ensured that The Classic remains the premier event to be at. And without a doubt, he delivered—raising the bar sky-high for 2026! The 35th edition of The Classic was truly spectacular, exceeding every expectation and leaving us all eager for what’s next. We can’t wait to do it all again next year! Stay tuned for more coverage, player highlights, and unforgettable moments from this incredible weekend! *The social media team for “The Classic” crushed it over the course of the weekend. Be sure to check it out to catch up on the action: “The Classic” Instagram Page Prospect Information: Due to the volume of content, we have it for you broken down by graduation classes. Clink the links below and enjoy! 2025 / 2026 / 2027, 2028 & 2029