Teams – Page 55 – Diamond Prospects

Spring Preview: Spring Valley Vikings

By: Charlie Wentzky-January 16, 2009 The 2009 Spring Valley Vikings will move back into the Upper State for the first time in five years. We will be competing in Region 4-AAAA along with Blythewood, Rock Hill, Ridge View, South Pointe and Lancaster. This year’s squad is looking to make the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year. The Viki… The new DP website is here. For all the great DP content, subscribe. If you have any login/subscription issues, please contact our support team. Your feedback on the new experience is appreciated as well. Username Password Remember Me Forgot Password

DP Scout Day: Brookland-Cayce Bearcats

By: David List-January 13, 2009 Diamond Prospects stopped in at Brookland-Cayce, during class on Tuesday, to see what the Bearcats would bring to the table a year after being crowned 3A state champions. There are eight vacancies to fill by Coach Brian Hucks (left), as graduation took a toll on the starting line-up from last year. Several players looked poised to jump into the roles vacated by last year’s seniors. At the front of the list are seniors James Hall (right) and Matt Martin, followed closely by some underclassmen in Kenyatta Castleberry and Michael Gilroy. This group will head into the season with some big shoes to fill, but ultimately is was evident that these players believe they can make another run at the title in 2009. 60’s Name Grade Time Matt Martin 12 7.47 Garrett Williams 11 7.22 Foster Stephens 11 6.88 Zach Lambert 11 8.09 Alex Nettles 12 7.34 Austin Harris 12 7.48 James Hall 12 7.04 Brandon Sizemore 10 7.33 Zack Warner 10 7.62 TJ Hoard 10 7.59 Kenyatta Castleberry 11 7.18 Tanner Petrey 10 7.56 Michael Gilroy 10 7.54 Ashley Corley 12 7.84 Nick Horton 11 7.28 Jeremy Brazzell 12 7.34 Zack Lawson 10 7.18 Chad Blackwell 11 7.44 Cole Jacobs 9 8.69 Catchers-Pop Times Name Grade Time Zach Lawson 10 2.00-2.11 Zach Lambert 11 2.22-2.34 Austin Harris 12 1.89-1.99 Top Outfield Arms Rank Name Grade 1 James Hall 12 2 Jeremy Brazzell 12 3 Foster Stephens 11 4 Michael Gilroy 10 5 Alex Nettles 12 Top Infield Arms Rank Name Grade 1 Garrett Williams 11 2 Kenyatta Castleberry 11 3 Matt Martin 12 4 Nick Horton 11 5 Brandon Sizemore 10 Top Infield Actions Rank Name Grade 1 Kenyatta Castleberry 11 2 Matt Martin 12 3 Brandon Sizemore 10 4 TJ Hoard 10 5 Garrett Williams 11 Top BP Round/Swing Rank Name Grade 1 James Hall 12 2 Matt Martin 12 3 Kenyatta Castleberry 11 4 Foster Stephens 11 5 Austin Harris 12 6 Zach Warner 10 7 Michael Gilroy 10 8 Nick Horton 11 9 Jeremy Brazzell 12 10 Ashley Corley 12 Bullpens Name Grade R/L FB CB CH Notes James Hall 12 R 84-86 67-68 74-75 Slider 78 with a late jump Jeremy Brazzell 12 R 82-84 68-70 73 CB has depth Alex Nettles 12 R 78-81 66-67 — Keeps the ball down and hits spots well Michael Gilroy 10 L 80-84 66 73 Excellent arm-side run on fastball Garrett Williams 11 R 78-79 71 73 Submarine pitcher. Good frisby CB when located Nick Horton 11 R 77-78 58-59 68 Good command of all pitches DP Note: All velocity readings were recorded with a Stalker radar gun out of the stretch. Top Prospects Rank Name Grade Position 1 James Hall 12 P/OF 2 Michael Gilroy 10 P/OF 3 Kenyatta Castleberry 11 SS/2B 4 Jeremy Brazzell 12 P/OF 5 Matt Martin 12 SS/2B Note: Prospect Rankings are based on the player’s current ability level combined with how he projects at the next level.

Spring Preview: Waccamaw Warriors

By: Jeff Gregory-January 13, 2009 The 2009 Waccamaw Warriors baseball team will return twelve letterman, to a squad that finished the season 13-14 overall and a 10-2 finish in Region VII-2A. The Warriors were strong in their conference last season and were rewarded with a final regular season Coaches Poll ranking of #10. The Warriors will hop… The new DP website is here. For all the great DP content, subscribe. If you have any login/subscription issues, please contact our support team. Your feedback on the new experience is appreciated as well.

Spring Preview: Chester Cyclones

By: Dennis Jensen-January 13, 2009 The Cyclones return ten letterman and seven everyday starters from last year’s 2008 Varsity Baseball team that finished 10-12 and 4-10 in the region. The team finished second in the Chester County Natural Gas Pre-season Baseball Tournament and third in the Cliff Peeler Invitational in Salisbury, NC. Chester i… The new DP website is here. For all the great DP content, subscribe. If you have any login/subscription issues, please contact our support team. Your feedback on the new experience is appreciated as well.

Spring Preview: Blue Ridge Tigers

By: Steve Goodwin-January 10, 2009 After thirteen straight postseason appearances, Coach Steve Goodwin’s Tiger squad watched last season’s playoffs from home. It was not a feeling he hopes to repeat anytime soon. However, his leadership skills will be strongly tested with his 2009 team. Returning four starters and only two seniors, this young… The new DP website is here. For all the great DP content, subscribe. If you have any login/subscription issues, please contact our support team. Your feedback on the new experience is appreciated as well.

Spring Preview: Spartanburg Vikings

By: Tom Myers-January 10, 2009 The 2009 version of the Spartanburg Vikings will be a mixture of young old and old. Their are eleven players back from last year’s team (11-15). Six of them are seniors: Justin Gullickson, Ryan Traylor, Clark Wise, Brian Poteat, Caleb Jennings and Jordan Kollock. The pitching staff will be anchored by Traylor (2-3, … The new DP website is here. For all the great DP content, subscribe. If you have any login/subscription issues, please contact our support team. Your feedback on the new experience is appreciated as well.

Spring Preview: Wando Warriors

By: DP Staff Writer-January 9, 2009 The 2009 Wando High School Varsity Baseball team has a good mixture of veteran leadership and youthful talent. Led by fourth year coach Jeff Blankenship (79-16), pictured left, the 2009 Warriors look to build on their 25-9 record and Lower-State appearance from 2008. Five returning starters and five exp… The new DP website is here. For all the great DP content, subscribe. If you have any login/subscription issues, please contact our support team. Your feedback on the new experience is appreciated as well.

Spring Preview: Barnwell Warhorses

By: Joel Vaughn-January 7, 2009 The 2009 Barnwell Warhorse Baseball team will be a good mix of both young and old. Despite losing four Region V-AA All-Region performers from 2008, we expect to compete for our fourth consecutive region title, district title, and eventually win the lower-state and state championships. Key returners are as … The new DP website is here. For all the great DP content, subscribe. If you have any login/subscription issues, please contact our support team. Your feedback on the new experience is appreciated as well.

Spring Preview: Heathwood Hall Highlanders

By: Ashley Farr-December 31, 2008 A new era has begun as Ashley Farr takes the reigns of the Heathwood Hall baseball program after Charlie Assey, one of South Carolina’s most decorated high school coaches over the past 25 years, retired at the end of the 2008 campaign. Farr, a former Cincinnati Reds farmhand, looks to bring a fresh brand … The new DP website is here. For all the great DP content, subscribe. If you have any login/subscription issues, please contact our support team. Your feedback on the new experience is appreciated as well.

Pre-Season Rankings: 1A

-Overall- 1-Bamberg-Ehrhardt: The defending champs return the core of last year’s club and feature 1A’s toughest pitching staff. Senior right-handers Don Sandifer (right) and Zack Godley could very well overpower the competition to claim another ring for David Horton…2008 Finish: Won State Championship 2-Landrum: A new head coach is … The new DP website is here. For all the great DP content, subscribe. If you have any login/subscription issues, please contact our support team. Your feedback on the new experience is appreciated as well.