Page 816 – Diamond Prospects

Confirmed-Pal Gms

August 16-17, 2008 Sarge Frye Field -Pitchers- =application received -committed to attending + have made contact with Name High School Class Committed Madison Younginer-Wrigley Field showcase Mauldin 2009 Clemson =Greg Harrison Hilton Head 2009 South Carolina Colby Holmes- Conway 2009 South Carolina Bobby Watford-injured Conway 2009 Coastal Carolina =Brooks Hall TL Hanna 2009 USC Upstate =Christian Powell Greenwood 2009 – Dre Watts- Laurens 2009 South Carolina =Tucker Hawley South Aiken 2009 Alabama Matt Pegler-Treatment on back Riverside 2009 College of Charleston =Cameron Holmes Boiling Springs 2009 College of Charleston Jake Zokan-family trip Spring Valley 2009 College of Charleston =Ben Carlson Mauldin 2009 – =Stefan del Pino Dorman 2009 – Drew Cisco+ Wando 2010 – Tyler Wilson- Gaffney 2010 – =Chris Hanna Stratford 2010 – =Daniel Palka Greer 2010 – Krishawn Holley Mid Carolina 2010 – Forrest Koumas-No Lugoff-Elgin 2010 – =Tyler Smith Sumter 2010 – =Michael Hanzlik Blythewood 2009 – =Chris Cox Mauldin 2009 – =Kyle Ward Georgetown 2009 Don Sandifer Bamberg-Ehrhardt 2009 – Travis Murphy+ Dillon 2009 – =Ryan Connolly Bishop England 2009 – =Jared Keels Spring Valley 2010 – =Daniel Gossett Byrnes 2011 – Kelly Wright- St. James 2009 – =Austin Pritcher James Island 2009 Citadel =Ryne Slack Ninety-Six 2010 – =Brandon Henderson Chesnee 2010 – =Alex Wilson Landrum 2009 – =Chase Goude Battery Creek 2009 – =Gaither Bumgardner Great Falls 2009 – Hunter Cole Dorman 2011 – =Chad Balderman Dutch Fork 2009 – =Taylor Guerrieri North Augusta 2011 – Zach Godley+ Bamberg-Ehrhardt 2009 – =Bobby Jackson Gaffney 2009 – =Emilio Pagan JL Mann 2009 Gardner-Webb =James Hall Brookland-Cayce 2009 – John McInnis-injured North Myrtle Beach 2010 – =Jake Long Westside 2009 – =Ben Sauls Beaufort 2009 – =Cole Robison Blue Ridge 2010 – Cody Craig-Football Timberland 2010 – Tyler Broome- Wilson Hall 2009 – =Jake Padgett Gilbert 2009 – =Steven Bleile North Augusta 2009 – =Taylor Grover Midland Valley 2009 – -Catchers- Name High School Class Committed =Brison Celek Bishop England 2009 South Carolina =Dylan Cole Dorman 2009 Furman =Paul Nitto JL Mann 2009 – =Landis Lane West Florence 2009 – =John Michaels Gaffney 2009 – =Will Bedenbaugh Mid Carolina 2009 – =Austen Barber Eastside 2009 – =Kirk Shelley Hillcrest 2010 – =David Rickenbacker Socastee 2009 – Phillip Herring Dillon 2009 =Tyler Montgomery Greer 2010 – =Dillon Gaines Irmo 2010 – =Brad Zebedis South Pointe 2010 – =Luke Feisal Greenville 2010 – =Grayson Greiner Blythewood 2011 – =Jeremy Beacham Palmetto 2009 – -Infielders- Name High School Class Committed =Kyle Martin Wade Hampton 2011 – =Phillip Alexander Mauldin 2009 – Corey Holmes White Knoll 2009 – =Chris Owings Gilbert 2009 South Carolina =Justin Trapp Fairfield-Central 2009 College of Charleston =Matthew Moore Belton-Honea Path 2009 – =Logan Thomas Pickens 2010 – =Bruce Caldwell Sumter 2011 – Dustin Morris-No Landrum 2009 – =Reggie Weatherford Lake City 2009 – =Seth Neely Rock Hill 2009 Clemson =Adam Spires Gilbert 2009 – =TJ Young Dorman 2009 Coastal Carolina =Cameron Yost Hillcrest 2009 – =Chandler Smetana-injured West Florence 2009 – =Joey Pankake Easley 2011 – =Tyler Jackson Robert E. Lee 2009 – =Blake Gruel Beaufort 2009 – =Justin Gullickson Spartanburg 2009 – Luke Tollison- Laurens Academy 2009 Spartanburg Methodist Stephen Curtis Sumter 2010 – =Jared Huffman Myrtle Beach 2010 – =Alex Abrams Bishop England 2010 – Hunter Rice-cruise Boiling Springs 2010 – =Taylor Rozier North Augusta 2009 – =Josh Pless Boiling Springs 2009 Citadel =Brody Greer Belton-Honea Path 2009 – =Will Muzika Dorman 2009 – =Gray Stafford Cheraw 2009 – Corey Forrester Bishop England 2010 – =Daniel Rawls Chester 2009 – =Drake Thomason Eastside 2010 – Connor Lewis AC Flora 2010 – =Tori Patterson Laurens 2010 – =Ryne Hardwick Conway 2009 – =Hiller Huggins Irmo 2011 – =Jimmy Lindberg Bishop England 2011 – =Evan Darr North Augusta 2009 – =Jake Kirkland Dorman 2009 – -Outfielders- Name High School Class Committed =Travis Burnside Laurens 2009 – =David Donald JL Mann 2010 – =Shon Carson Lake City 2011 – =Nick Berry West Ashley 2009 – =Daniel Aldrich Wando 2009 South Carolina =Shane Miles Lake City 2009 Charleston Southern =Greg Milanes Aiken 2009 – =Matthew Van Laan Lexington 2009 – Anthony Smith Dillon 2009 – Jordan Scott-Football Riverside 2010 – =Matt Brown Conway 2009 – =Tripp Faulk North Myrtle Beach 2009 – Jacob Tavernier Belton-Honea Path 2010 – =Tyler Miller Fort Mill 2009 – Domineke Albert- Richland Northeast 2011 – =Justin Brewer Liberty 2009 – Dominique Anderson- Hillcrest 2009 – Ryan Walker First Baptist 2009 – Matthew Roberts Greenville 2009 Air Force Josh Greene- York 2010 – Tavaras Smith Cainhoy 2009 – Kieston Stevens- Union 2010 – Tevins Walker Mid Carolina 2010 – =Josh Knab Carolina Forest 2009 – -Coaches- Name High School Steve Williams Lancaster Roger Finley Easley Ed Taylor Walhalla Dean Jones Chesnee John Daurity Socastee Jimmy White Hartsville DP Note: Players were selected by a handful of pro scouts, college coaches, high school coaches and the DP staff. To print application, click here. Football Players: Invitees that play football should make an attempt to determine if they will be able to attend Saturday, Sunday, both days or not at all ASAP. Please email your response to: [email protected] Injured Players: If your name appears on this list but you have sustained an injury that you know will prohibit your participation on August 16-17, please email us ASAP at: [email protected]

Recap: Big League World Series

By: Nick Nickles-July 26, 2008 Jarett Miller silences District 7 bats. Host team holds on for a 2-0 victory in a pitcher’s duel DP was in Easley to take in the first round match-up between the two upstate teams in the Big League World Series. Matt Pegler would toe the rubber for the Greenville area District 7 team and Jarett Miller count… 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

Easton Summer Sizzler

By: Will Cheatham-July 20, 2008 SC Bombers, Summerville Hawks, Palmetto Crushers square-off Diamond Prospects was at White Knoll High School in Lexington for a Sunday round robin tournament against three 16U teams from around the state in the Easton Summer Sizzler. The SC Bombers are a team built of guys from the Aiken area. The Palmetto Crushers were a local team from the Columbia area. Summerville was also represented with the Hawks. There was a slight cloud cover, which kept the heat away for much of the day and made for some great baseball weather. In Game 1 the SC Bombers would match up against the Palmetto Crushers. The Bombers sent Auston Peel to the mound. The Crushers countered Peel with a side-arm slinger in Cody Mincey. Peel would ease through the first with no hits allowed. In the bottom half of the inning the Bombers gave him some run support off the bat of Andrew Faulkner of South Aiken who lined a ball into left for an RBI single. The Crushers would jump back on top in the 2nd when Tyler Asbill was walked and moved around the bases and came in to score on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Kyle Inabinet hit into a fielders choice to plate the second run of the inning. In the bottom half, Mincey would settle in. He struck out the first two batters of the inning, hit the third batter and then got the fourth batter to fly out to right. The Crushers continued to pound the baseball as they tacked on three more runs off a line shot homerun off the bat of Charlie Sowell, a senior from Dutch Fork. Mincey continued to control the bats of the Bombers as he went up and down in the bottom of the 3rd. In the 4th, the teams would trade single runs. Corey Weeks drove in a run for the Bombers, and Derrick Evans did the same for the Crushers. The Bombers would scratch one more run on the board with an RBI single by Jamie Randall that plated Faulkner who doubled in the inning. The Crushers added on some more run support for Mincey in the next two frames with a two-out single by Mincey to drive in two runs in the 5th. Sowell would strike again in the 6th with a big double to drive in two more runs. Douglas Pender would follow with a single to drive in Sowell. This game came down to the pitching performance of Mincey. He had a two different arm angles where he could throw three pitches for strikes. The Bombers did a great job putting the ball in play but could never hit the ball hard on the barrel. They would get a second chance to make a run at the Championship in Game 2. Palmetto Crushers 11 SC Bombers 3 WP-Cody Mincey, LP-Auston Peel, HR-Charlie Sowell (PC) Prospect Info: Palmetto Crushers Cody Mincey-RHP, 2011, Hartsville HS: Mincey was the bright spot for the Crushers this morning. He had a delivery that would resemble a swivel. He twisted back around and unwrapped and came from the side with a fastball that was moving all over the zone. When he stayed over the top, he had better command of his off-speed pitches. If he got ahead of the hitter, you could bet that you would see the side-armed delivery and it continued to get batters out. A slim figure and good height on this young kid will be a big asset to him in years to come. Grant Davidson-Catcher: Davidson did a great job for the Crushers behind the dish. With Mincey having a different type of delivery, he kept most of the balls in front of him and had great hands receiving the baseball. Sometimes you see young guys struggle with pitchers that have a lot of movement, but this was not the case today. Notables: Charlie Sowell, Derrick Evans Prospect Info: SC Bombers Auston Peel-P, Milan, GA: Peel started on the mound for the Bombers this morning. He kept the ball off the barrels the first few innings. I was really impressed with his ability to throw strikes. This is something that you preach as a pitching coach. Sometimes hitters will win the battle like they did in this case, but Peel never hurt himself by giving up free bases. Cody Carol-Catcher: If you could give this guy a nickname it would be Charlie Hustle. He had great energy throughout the game. These two teams had faced off in previous tournaments and I gathered that they had a little history. He played hard every pitch and did a great job blocking balls in the dirt. He had good arm strength down to second but struggled a little with his footwork. With some time working on this, it will really bring his pop times down into the low 2.10’s. He averaged around a 2.25-2.35. Notables: JR Holmes, Jamie Randall ————————————————————– Game 2 Diamond Prospects was on hand for Game 2 at White Knoll High School to see the SC Bombers complete their doubleheader against the Summerville Hawks. The Bombers, coming off a big loss against the Palmetto Crushers, had a lot to prove while the Hawks were finishing up their summer season and trying to go out a good note. The Bombers would send their ace Andrew Faulkner of South Aiken to the mound to face off against Dustin Brodie of the Hawks. Faulkner is a soft crafty lefty that used command and movement of his pitches to run through the Hawks lineup. Brodie was a bigger kid that had a sharp hook, but struggled early in the game with his command. The Bombers got things going early with a one out double by JR Holmes who was starting behind the plate in this game. In the bottom half, Faulkner struck out the first two batters of the inning, but would then give up a double to Gabe Craven and an RBI triple …

All-Star Memories & Respect

By: Al Hudson-July 17, 2008 It was described as the greatest collection of players in one spot in the history of baseball. Perhaps, but the occasion fell short of matching the similar ceremony before the 1999 All Star Game at Fenway Park, when baseball honored the All-Century team. That night could have only been topped had the players entered the ballpark through a cornfield. Despite the many Hall of Famers who took the field Tuesday night, the ceremony was notable for its many absences. Where was Sandy Koufax, Stan Musial, Tom Seaver, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Nolan Ryan, Carlton Fisk or Carl Yastrzemski? The highlight of the 1999 event was the appearance of the since deceased Ted Williams. The mere presence of “The Splendid Splinter” brought tears to the eyes of many an old timer. The absolute sham of the 2008 festivities was the eerily similar appearance of George Steinbrenner at Tuesday’s event. Resplendent in his tailored blue suit, Steinbrenner does not deserve to be on the field with the greats that were present to represent what is right with baseball. This owner was twice banned from baseball, and is generally reviled outside of New York. His appearance did not have the same emotional tug as Teddy Ballgame’s last national public appearance. For the Hall of Famers that were present, this was a special day for them. While the current All-Stars were clearly in awe of their forefathers, the Old Timers were equally in awe of their present day heroes. Brooks Robinson said earlier in the day that Derek Jeter was his favorite player to watch, “but I have never met him. Maybe I will, tonight”. When Jeter was introduced as the starting American League shortstop, Robinson made a point of introducing himself to Jeter on the field. The opening ceremony was a tear-filled tribute to yesterday’s superstars. Many of them stars of my childhood, that brought back a lifetime of memories. I am not ashamed to say I shed tears for my heroes. Most of them were men of honor, and my respect for them is meaningful. I must admit that I was disappointed that I did not see any present day stars remove their caps in respect when meeting the Hall of Famers. Tiger Woods has a fitting tribute to all his opponents by removing his cap in victory or defeat in respect. The masters of our great game deserve the respect of all who now follow. The Hall of Famers paid the dues for today’s stars. Pitchers that I tried to emulate included Bob Gibson, Whitey Ford, Bob Feller, and Steve Carlton among others were the first to grace our television screens. Toronto ace Roy Halladay enjoyed the experience, “A lot of guys, a lot of history. Just being on the same field with these guys is an honor. I feel like a kid in a candy store.” Mike Schmidt, George Brett, Wade Boggs and Robinson were warmly embraced by both Alex Rodriguez and Chipper Jones when introduced as starters. Jones, however, felt a sense of remorse as he stood, once again, on the hallowed ground that his idol Mickey Mantle patrolled back in “the day.” “Being here with the “Mick’ is the only thing missing for me,” said Jones. An illustrious group of shortstops led by Cal Ripken, Ozzie Smith, and the immortal “Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks” greeted Jeter and his counterpart Hanley Ramirez of the Florida Marlins.I can only imagine the goose bump reaction of meeting these true stars of the game was for Ramirez. There were numerous outfielders present but none more respected than Willie Mays and Hank Aaron. Mays, considered by most as the most complete player to don a major league uniform, received the loudest ovation of any non-Yankee. I thought it only fitting that he stood alone in centerfield. The New York crowd fittingly paid homage to not only the greatest centerfielder, but the greatest Giant of all-time. If not for Mays, then Aaron might be considered the greatest living ball player. Even a partisan Yankee crowd paid tribute to Aaron with a tremendous ovation. I think that somehow that recognition was a positive response to his accomplishments. To the true fan, Aaron’s records were tainted by Barry Bonds, and Aaron is the true home run king even in New York, even in the House that Ruth Built. It was obvious that any former Yankee in attendance would receive a tremendous ovation. It was fitting that Hall of Fame catcher, Yogi Berra, was the last player to be introduced. Berra, probably the most revered Yankee alive, is the epitome of the true everyday man. Undersized, pudgy, and with an affinity for bollixing the King’s English, Berra represents what each and every one thought we could do. Play Major League Baseball. A dream we perpetuated every day on the sandlots of our youth. With this being the last season at Yankee Stadium, Tuesday’s eagerly awaited pregame ceremony was billed as the greatest in the history. However, that distinction must have been anytime Babe Ruth walked on to that field. I have been very fortunate to have met a few of the stars of the game, Tommy LaSorda, Ken Griffey, Jr, George Brett, Tommy John, Greg Maddux, and Bobby Cox. Each, in his own way, represents the game. Tommy John is deserving of the Hall of Fame, and I hope he gets in. He is a true gentleman of the game. Junior Griffey, who recently hit his 600th home run will be a first ballot Hall of Famer. It was a shame that the National League couldn’t find a way to place Griffey on the All-Star team. As a fan, I would have loved to have seen him participate. George Brett is the man we all should meet. Many years ago, Brett scouted a player that I coached. During the pregame infield, Mr. Brett and I were standing by the fence near third base. Imagine if you can, the pressure on my third …

Summer Rankings: Class of 2009

-Diamond Rankings: 2009 Graduates- Right-Handed Pitchers Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Madison Younginer Mauldin R/R Clemson 2 Greg Harrison Hilton Head R/R South Carolina 3 Colby Holmes Conway R/R South Carolina 4 Christian Powell Greenwood L/R C of C 5 Bobby Watford Conway R/R Coastal Carolina 6 Matt Pegler Riverside R/R C of C 7 Travis Murphy Dillon R/R Undecided 8 Ben Carlson Mauldin R/R Spartanburg Methodist 9 Alex Wilson Landrum R/R Wofford 10 Gaither Bumgardner Great Falls R/R USC Upstate 11 Tucker Hawley South Aiken R/R Alabama 12 Michael Hanzlik Blythewood R/R Gardner-Webb 13 Tyler Broome Wilson Hall R/R Undecided 14 Chad Balderman Dutch Fork R/R Undecided 15 Don Sandifer Bamberg-Ehrhardt R/R Undecided 16 Austin Pritcher James Island R/R Citadel 17 James Hall Brookland-Cayce R/R South Carolina 18 Ryan Connolly Bishop England R/R Coastal Carolina 19 Jay Harrison Dillon R/R Undecided 20 Zach Godley Bamberg-Ehrhardt R/R Undecided 21 Kevin Cantrell Riverside R/R Undecided 22 Taylor Grover Midland Valley R/R USC Aiken 23 Ryan Gunther Stratford R/R Undecided 24 Steven Bleile North Augusta R/R Undecided 25 Ben Sauls Beaufort R/R Undecided 26 Bobby Jackson Gaffney R/R USC Upstate 27 Kit Carter Byrnes R/R Erskine 28 Jake Padgett Gilbert R/R USC Aiken 29 Will Smith Blythewood R/R Undecided 30 Alex Mitchell AC Flora R/R Undecided 31 Coty Smith Barnwell R/R Undecided 32 TJ Estes Northwestern R/R Anderson 33 Jeremy Brazzell Brookland-Cayce R/R Undecided 34 Kyle Christian Wando R/R Undecided 35 Zac Drafts Blythewood R/R Undecided 36 Jacob Webb Summerville R/R Undecided 37 Kilby Lesley Easley R/R Undecided 38 Devin Dwyer Wade Hampton R/R Undecided 39 Nick Stewart Westview Prep L/R Undecided 40 Kellen Easterby James Island R/R Undecided 41 Gaston Albergotti TL Hanna R/R Undecided 42 Preston Glew Westside R/R Undecided 43 James Newman AC Flora R/R Undecided 44 Austin Bullard Mauldin R/R Undecided 45 Seth Cooper Edisto /R Undecided 46 Joseph O’Steen AC Flora R/R Undecided 47 Justin Henson Landrum R/R North Greenville 48 Tyler Gay Chapman R/R Undecided 49 Matt Haig James Island R/R Undecided Left-Handed Pitchers Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Jake Zokan Spring Valley R/L C of C 2 Cameron Holmes Boiling Springs R/L C of C 3 Stefan del Pino Dorman L/L Coastal Carolina 4 Kelly Wight St. James R/L Presbyterian 5 Chris Cox Mauldin L/L Spartanburg Methodist 6 Trey Tuten Hillcrest L/L Undecided 7 Chase Goude Battery Creek R/L Presbyterian 8 Todd Gray Mauldin /L Undecided 9 Robert Hendrix Lexington L/L Undecided 10 Ryan Mercer Richland Northeast /L Undecided 11 Stephen Melonas Chapin R/L Undecided 12 Josh Owens Barnwell L/L Undecided 13 Brock Cooper Johnsonville /L Undecided 14 Cal Simmons Homeschool L/L Undecided Catchers Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Brison Celek Bishop England R/R South Carolina 2 Dylan Cole Dorman R/R Furman 3 Paul Nitto JL Mann R/R Furman 4 Austen Barber Eastside R/R Undecided 5 Will Bedenbaugh Mid Carolina R/R Charleston Southern 6 John Michaels Gaffney R/R Undecided 7 Landis Lane West Florence R/R Undecided 8 Jeremy Beacham Palmetto R/R Undecided 9 David Rickenbacker Socastee R/R Undecided 10 Joseph Wright Buford R/R Undecided 11 Phillip Herring Dillon R/R Undecided 12 Ryan Ziegler St. James R/R Undecided 13 Charles Hill Wando R/R Undecided 14 Tripp Ross Seneca R/R Undecided 15 Josh Crout Stratford R/R Undecided 16 Trey Mabry Boiling Springs R/R Undecided 17 Elliott Van Dyke Hilton Head R/R Undecided 18 James Pegram Waccamaw R/R Undecided 19 Blake Howard Riverside R/R Undecided 20 Brad Barwick Berkeley R/R Undecided 21 Lance Maynard Waccamaw R/R Undecided 22 Brandon Griffin Wando L/R Undecided First Basemen Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Phillip Alexander Mauldin L/L Undecided 2 Evan Darr North Augusta R/R Newberry 3 Corey Holmes White Knoll R/R Undecided 4 Taylor Rozier North Augusta R/R Wofford 5 Jake Kirkland Dorman R/R Erskine 6 Kyle Ward Georgetown L/L Charleston Southern 7 Brandon Pounds Hillcrest R/R Undecided 8 Harrison Wilkins Easley L/L Undecided 9 Kyle Blocker Laurens R/R Undecided 10 Dylan Taylor Bluffton R/R Undecided 11 Matthew Stroud Chester R/R Undecided 12 Justin Uyar Eastside R/R Undecided Second Basemen Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Dustin Morris Landrum R/R Undecided 2 Josh Pless Boiling Springs L/R Citadel 3 Reggie Weatherford Lake City L/R Spartanburg Methodist 4 TJ Young Dorman L/R Coastal Carolina 5 Ryne Hardwick Conway R/R Undecided 6 Ryan Westbrook Broome R/R Undecided 7 Jocquese Brunson Spring Valley R/R Undecided 8 Daniel Andreu Blythewood S/R Undecided 9 Kendall Ray Pickens R/R Undecided 10 Clay Tucker TL Hanna R/R Charleston Southern 11 Jack LaFrage Camden R/R Undecided 12 Jeff Witt Greer R/R Undecided 13 Will Keel Dutch Fork R/R Undecided 14 Carson Parker Porter-Gaud R/R Undecided 15 Matt Lightsey Williston-Elko R/R Undecided Shortstop Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Chris Owings Gilbert R/R South Carolina 2 Justin Trapp Fairfield-Central R/R C of C 3 Matthew Moore Belton-Honea Path R/R Wofford 4 Seth Neely Rock Hill R/R Clemson 5 Chandler Smetana West Florence L/R Undecided 6 Cameron Yost Hillcrest L/R Erskine 7 Gray Stafford Cheraw R/R Undecided 8 Tony Price Ridge View R/R Anderson 9 Rob Middleton Walhalla R/R Undecided 10 Ben Scroggs Riverside R/R Undecided Third Basemen Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Brooks Hall TL Hanna R/R USC Upstate 2 Luke Tollison Laurens Academy R/R Spartanburg Methodist 3 Tyler Jackson Robert E Lee L/R Spartanburg Methodist 4 Adam Spires Gilbert R/R Undecided 5 Blake Gruel Beaufort R/R Undecided 6 Daniel Rawls Chester R/R USC Sumter 7 Justin Gullickson Spartanburg R/R Gardner-Webb 8 Emilio Pagan JL Mann L/R Gardner-Webb 9 Jaren Sustar TL Hanna R/R Charleston Southern 10 Brody Greer Belton-Honea Path R/R USC Upstate 11 Bradley Evsich Wando R/R Undecided 12 Jason Tomlinson Socastee R/R Undecided 13 Creighton Quinn Hilton Head Prep L/R Undecided Outfielders Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Daniel Aldrich Wando L/R Undecided 2 Travis Burnside Laurens R/R Spartanburg Methodist 3 Dre Watts Laurens L/R C of C 4 Nick Berry West Ashley S/R Undecided 5 Tyler Miller Fort …

Cape Cod and Baseball

By: Al Hudson-July 25, 2008 The Cape Cod Baseball League is an amateur baseball league located on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, in which many college baseball stars play during the summer. Many future Major League Baseball players have started there during their college years; MLB has provided financial support to the Cape League for over 40 years. During the 2007 MLB season, 200 CCBL alumni played in the majors or were on injured reserve; additionally over 1000 CCBL alumni were playing in professional baseball. The league is also notable for its continuing use of wooden bats. Because it draws top-tier college players, the level of play is often considered the equivalent of high-A Minor League Baseball. But it is more than that. The setting reminds one of the purest expression of the sport. As a young man, I can remember my Dad and I attending a Cape League game. I couldn’t tell you which teams we saw, but I remember the feeling that we had stepped back in time. On my most recent trip to the Cape, that feeling sent chills up my spine as I could feel the presence of my father standing next to me down the third base line quietly taking in the game. Cape baseball is reminiscent of the "fifties" because the ambiance is unchanged. There are no tickets to be bought. At most games, they pass the hat. In this age of commercialism, when was the last time you attended a game where they passed the hat for admission. The baseball is very competitive, and why not. These are the cream of the crop, and they know what is at stake. Professional scouts are everywhere, taking in the action, while getting to know the players in an almost professional setting. To quote a player, "This is absolutely the place to play. If you ask anyone one place they want to play in the summer, it’s the Cape. This is the place you dream about playing." If you go, the following list of teams makes up the league. The Bourne Braves, Brewster Whitecaps, Chatham Athletics, Cotuit Kettleers, Falmouth Commodores, Harwich Mariners, Hyannis Mets, Orleans Cardinals, Wareham Gatemen, Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox provide an opportunity to view the stars of tomorrow in a setting from the past. If you have never been to Cape Cod, for a Southerner, it is a different world. History buffs will revel in the artifacts native to the area. The Kennedy clan alone, from Hyannis, will provide enough material of interest for even the casual vacationer. Provincetown is an excursion for the open-minded. Non-traditional values may be disconcerting to Southern conservatives, but remember we have our own skeletons. Several day trips are available for vacationers such as Plymouth Rock, less than an hour away, and Fenway Park in Boston is about an hour and a half. Order tickets early, as most games are sold out well in advance. Tickets are available through ticket outlets such as Stub Hub, but expect to pay top dollar. However, if you have never been to the "Cathedral of Baseball", it will be a memory that you will relive for many years. Ferry rides are available to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Island. The serenity and charm of these islands will be relaxing and memorable, especially if you have a penchant for antiques. The beaches are among the best in the world, however, most can be very crowded. Let me suggest the Coast Guard Beach on the National Seashore in Eastham. It is the top of the line, but may not be as convenient as some others. One of my favorite pastimes on the Cape is mealtime. You have never had fried clams until you go to the Cape. Make sure you ask for clams with the bellies intact. Don’t ask what the bellies contain, just enjoy. They will go down better. In addition to clams, lobster is plentiful and relatively inexpensive. Try a lobster roll, it will make you want to return every year just for the delicacy. Housing is expensive and primitive. Most cottages are within walking distance of the ocean. Don’t expect the normal amenities of a vacation cottage. Most do not have air conditioning, and are equipped with outdoor shower facilities. The atmosphere is eerily similar to what I can only imagine the 30’s and 40’s were like for my parents as they vacationed on the Cape. My sister and I would spend a month at the Cape every summer with my Mom. Dad would come down on weekends, and usually take a week’s vacation during that time. Amazingly, I can remember intimate details of our trips. The cottages are basically the same today with a little new paint and very little polish, but in my mind, all the people that I knew return to the Cape every year for vacation. I know, most are gone, replaced by new families and maybe more than a few descendents. The "Chowder Bowl" is gone, replaced by a new cottage, but I would still walk to that store looking for a newspaper for my Dad, and a "Devil Dog" for myself. If it wasn’t for friends, family and memories what an uneventful life we would lead. Questions and comments should be sent to: [email protected]

Palmetto Games Info

Palmetto Games / August 16-17, 2008 / Sarge Frye Field Diamond Prospects is very excited to introduce the list of invitees for South Carolina’s inaugural ‘Palmetto Games’ at USC’s Sarge Frye Field! States across America have used a similar format for years to market their top talent and on August 16-17, Diamond Prospects will deliver a weekend that will be like no other in the history of prep baseball in our state. It will be highly attended by professional cross-checkers, area scouts and college coaches, the perfect atmosphere for DP’s top event to date! In addition to quality talent, unique features of the event will include: -Free seminar by a professional baseball advisor for each player and family in attendance… -An in-state video company will be on hand to film the event and offer specific recruiting requests for participants… If your name appears on the roster, please submit the sign-up information to DP by August 6 in order for us to publish complete contact info for scouts and to ensure that the ‘Palmetto Games’ program is accurate. Invitees / Application Come catch your glimpse of baseball’s future in the state of South Carolina! Our staff is intent on delivering a successful event on August 16-17, we hope to see you at The Sarge!

Summer Rankings: Class of 2010

-DP Rankings: 2010 Graduates- Right-Handed Pitchers Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Drew Cisco Wando L/R Georgia 2 Tyler Wilson Gaffney R/R Undecided 3 Forrest Koumas Lugoff-Elgin R/R South Carolina 4 Hunter Rice Boiling Springs R/R Undecided 5 Krishawn Holley Mid Carolina R/R Undecided 6 Jared Keels Spring Valley R/R Undecided 7 Tyler Smith Sumter R/R Undecided 8 John McInnis Lexington R/R Undecided 9 Matt Radford Dutch Fork R/R Undecided 10 Kyle Johnson Dillon Christian R/R Undecided 11 Drew Bailey Dorman R/R Undecided 12 Jake Long TL Hanna R/R Undecided 13 Matt Reeves Riverside R/R Undecided 14 Champ Rowland Wade Hampton R/R Undecided 15 Matthew Jolly Carolina Forest R/R Undecided 16 Zack Holt Lake City R/R Undecided 17 Alex Brooks Lexington R/R Undecided 18 Dustin Sherbert Chesnee R/R Undecided 19 Jesse Morris Chapin R/R Undecided 20 Ryland Culbertson Laurens Academy R/R Undecided 21 Robert Lawhon Florence Christian /R Undecided 22 Daniel Chappell Easley R/R Undecided Left-Handed Pitchers Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Daniel Palka Greer L/L Clemson 2 Chris Hanna Stratford R/L Undecided 3 Brandon Henderson Chesnee L/L Undecided 4 Ryne Slack Ninety-Six L/L Undecided 5 Sammy Nix Easley R/L Undecided 6 Cole Robison Blue Ridge L/L Undecided 7 Cody Craig Timberland L/L Undecided 8 David Leeth Hartsville L/L Undecided 9 Jordan McNeely Seneca L/L Undecided 10 David Barnette Stratford L/L Undecided 11 Justin Turner Boiling Springs /L Undecided 12 Chase Corn Blue Ridge L/L Undecided 13 Tyler Fletcher Summerville R/L Undecided 14 Robert Landers JL Mann L/L Undecided 15 Jesse Brewer Rock Hill /L Undecided 16 Brandon Smith Easley L/L Undecided 17 Justin Charles JL Mann S/L Undecided Catchers Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Kirk Shelley Hillcrest R/R Undecided 2 Luke Feisal Greenville R/R Undecided 3 Tyler Montgomery Greer L/R Undecided 4 Dillon Gaines Irmo R/R Undecided 5 Brad Zebedis South Pointe R/R Undecided 6 Tim Starkey Socastee R/R Undecided 7 Joe Jackson Mauldin L/R Citadel 8 Ross Lissee Rock Hill /R Undecided 9 Jack Blackwell Lexington R/R Undecided 10 Chas Goodwin Blue Ridge R/R Undecided 11 Austin Dunn White Knoll R/R Undecided 12 Matt Archer Carolina Forest L/R Undecided 13 Ben Boykin Nation Ford L/R Undecided 14 Luke Webber Spartanburg R/R Undecided 15 Austin Hall Boiling Springs R/R Undecided 16 Ward Jones JL Mann R/R Undecided 17 Mitchell English Easley R/R Undecided 18 Josh Powell Johnsonville R/R Undecided 19 Bobby Haas Aiken R/R Undecided 20 Josh Tant Fort Dorchester R/R Undecided First Basemen Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Connor Lewis AC Flora L/L Undecided 2 Justin Turbeville Carolina Forest R/R Undecided 3 Brad Cherry Wando R/R Undecided 4 John Eric Haynes King Academy R/R Undecided 5 Christian McClure Southside Christian R/R Undecided 6 Will Lucas Hartsville L/R Undecided 7 Zach Smith White Knoll R/R Undecided 8 Jordan Griffin Fort Mill R/R Undecided Second Basemen Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Wil Leathers Riverside R/R Undecided 2 Taylor Hollifield Boiling Springs R/R Undecided 3 Daniel Revis Union R/R Undecided 4 Parker Frost Belton-Honea Path R/R Undecided 5 Corey Forrester Bishop England L/R Undecided 6 Trace Rogers Hillcrest R/R Undecided 7 Nicholas Myers Spartanburg R/R Undecided 8 Brantley Rumford Rock Hill R/R Undecided 9 Duy Phan AC Flora R/R Undecided 10 Taylor Strickland Johnsonville L/R Undecided 11 Davis Behrendt Greenwood R/R Undecided 12 Lucas Knight Airport R/R Undecided 13 Kyle Leggette Stratford R/R Undecided 14 Dylan Usher Hartsville R/R Undecided 15 Chris Manning Dutch Fork R/R Undecided 16 David Jones Chesnee R/R Undecided 17 Josh Sealey White Knoll /R Undecided 18 Collin Green Easley L/R Undecided 19 Matt Stegal Gilbert R/R Undecided 20 Lucas Britt Myrtle Beach R/R Undecided Shortstops Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Logan Thomas Pickens R/R Undecided 2 Luke Black Blue Ridge R/R Undecided 3 Hunter Burton Palmetto L/R Undecided 4 Tori Patterson Laurens R/R Undecided 5 Kris Nelson Camden R/R Undecided 6 Braden Roth JL Mann R/R Undecided 7 Adam Peterson Hartsville R/R Undecided 8 Stephen Cantrell Chesnee R/R Undecided 9 Travis Parker Carolina Forest R/R Undecided Third Basemen Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Steven Curtis Sumter R/R Undecided 2 Drake Thomason Eastside R/R Undecided 3 Jared Huffman Myrtle Beach S/R Undecided 4 Alex Abrams Bishop England L/R Furman 5 Patric Limehouse Stratford R/R Undecided 6 Martez Gallman Mid Carolina R/R Undecided 7 Scott Price Batesburg-Leesville L/R Undecided 8 Cole Tompkins Carolina Forest R/R Undecided 9 Reid Langdale Wando R/R Undecided 10 Spencer McCants Aiken R/R Undecided 11 Travers Woodward Socastee R/R Undecided 12 Bryce Hines Hanahan R/R Undecided Outfielders Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Jordan Scott Riverside L/R South Carolina 2 David Donald JL Mann R/R C of C 3 Kieston Stevens Union R/R Undecided 4 Jacob Tavernier Belton-Honea Path R/R Undecided 5 Zach McAllister Hillcrest L/R Undecided 6 Tevins Walker Mid Carolina L/L Undecided 7 Hughston Armstrong Ridge View L/L Undecided 8 Josh Greene York R/R Undecided 9 Sheldon Robinson Lake City L/L Undecided 10 Max Dunham Wilson R/R Undecided 11 Alex Poag Riverside R/R Undecided 12 Cullen Dalton Irmo R/R Undecided 13 Stephen Stafford Sumter R/R Undecided 14 Robbie Dodds Wando R/R Undecided 15 Fisher Easterling Dorman R/R Undecided 16 Heath Burton Palmetto R/R Undecided 17 Demetrius Robinson Batesburg-Leesville L/R Undecided 18 Derek Cushman Airport R/R Undecided 19 Douglas Long Loris R/R Undecided 20 Zack Hagaman Waccamaw R/R Undecided 21 Logan Pemberton Lewisville R/L Undecided 22 Evan Hunt Wando L/R Undecided 23 Brandon Herring Blue Ridge R/R Undecided 24 Jonathan Jones Hillcrest R/R Undecided Top Two-Way Players Name High School Position Committed Kieston Evans Union RHP/OF Undecided Cody Craig Timberland LHP/1B Undecided Matthew Jolly Carolina Forest RHP/OF Undecided Drew Cisco Wando RHP/3B Georgia Daniel Palka Greer LHP/1B Clemson Logan Thomas Pickens SS/RHP Undecided Tyler Smith Sumter RHP/OF Undecided Forrest Koumas Lugoff-Elgin RHP/3B South Carolina Jared Keels Spring Valley RHP/SS Undecided Alex Abrams Bishop England 3B/RHP Undecided Jared Huffman Myrtle Beach 3B/RHP Undecided Steven Curtis Sumter 3B/RHP …

Palmetto Games 2008: Application

Tentative Schedule for Saturday and Sunday * August 16-17, 2008 Saturday 8:00 AM Session 1 Check-in at Sarge Frye Field (Pick-up jersey) 8:45 Session 1 players report to the field for a meeting and stretching 9:00-1:00 Batting Practice, Infield/Outfield, 7-inning game 12:00 Session 2 Check-in at Sarge Frye Field (Pick-up jersey) 12:45 Session 2 players report to the field for a meeting and stretching 1:00-5:00 Batting Practice, Infield/Outfield, 7-inning game 4:00 Session 3 Check-in at Sarge Frye Field (Pick-up jersey) 4:45 Session 3 players report to the field for a meeting and stretching 5:00-9:00 Batting Practice, Infield/Outfield, 7-inning game Sunday 9:00 AM 9-inning game 12:00 9-inning game 3:00 9-inning game Rosters will be set and exact times will be posted on August 12. Stay tuned to the website in the preceding days for updated information, DP will be our way of communicating with you. *Note-Concession stand will be available each day. ———————————————————————————————— Palmetto Games Application Please PRINT the following form neatly, the information you provide us will be listed in the Scout Book for coaches and scouts. Detach this section and mail back with payment to: Diamond Prospects : PO Box 1262 : Conway, SC 29528 Stay tuned to TheDiamondProspects.com leading up to the event for hotel information, directions, rosters, last second announcements, etc. Name _____________________________ High School ____________________ Grad Year ___________ Address _______________________________ City ____________________ State ______ Zip ________ Home # _____________________ Cell # __________________ Email ___________________________ DOB _________________ Fall/Summer team ________________________________________________ 1st position ________ 2nd position _________ HT __________ WT _________ Bats _____ Throws_____ GPA ___________ SAT (total, math, verbal) __________/__________/__________ ACT _____________ Medical Waiver: I waive and release Diamond Prospects, its staff and the University of South Carolina from any injury that may occur during the event to the above-mentioned invitee, on site or involving travel to and from the event. I also take responsibility for any expenses that incur during the camp due to necessary treatment of injury. I also give permission for emergency treatment if needed. I understand by signing this waiver, I give consent to participation in the event and assume all risk arising from it. Parent/Guardian Signature: ________________________________ Date ________ Registration Fee: $50-Please make checks payable to Diamond Prospects, Deadline August 6 Due to insurance, facility fees and other expenses involved that are paid-in-full prior to the showcase, this event is NON-refundable. In the case of inclement weather, every effort will be made to move this event to an alternate date. Note: Event application and tuition must be received, not post-marked, by the posted deadline. Total amount enclosed: $_______________ www.TheDiamondProspects.com Diamond Prospects PO Box 1262 Conway, SC 29528

Recap-BLWS State Championship, Game 2

By: Will Cheatham-July 9, 2008 District 7 vs. District 6, Game 2 Diamond Prospects was again at Flour Field for Game 2 of the State Championship in the SC Big League. With threats of rain on the horizon both teams would look to put runs on the board early in the game. Laurens High right-hander Travis Burnside would take on Riverside r… 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.