Page 817 – Diamond Prospects

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. Username Password Remember Me Forgot Password

Recap-BLWS State Championship, Game 1

By: Will Cheatham-July 8, 2008 Diamond Prospects was at Flour Field at the West End for the first game of a three game series for the State Championship in the South Carolina Big League. Two teams made up of outstanding young talent faced off with each other in a beautiful park under the lights. District 7 of the Greenville area hosted Distric… 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.

Summer Rankings: Class of 2011

-Diamond Rankings: 2011 Graduates- Right-Handed Pitchers Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Daniel Gossett Byrnes R/R Clemson 2 Taylor Guerreri North Augusta R/R Undecided 3 Hunter Cole Dorman R/R Undecided 4 Kyle Grant Hammond R/R Undecided 5 Brandon Landrie Spartanburg R/R Undecided 6 Evan Still North Augusta L/R Undecided 7 Tanner Hawley South Aiken R/R Undecided 8 Joshua Olson Southside Christian R/R Undecided 9 Dylan Joyner Lexington R/R Undecided 10 Brandon Wooten Blue Ridge R/R Undecided 11 Chipper Smith Wilson R/R Undecided 12 Josh Westmoreland Easley R/R Undecided 13 Taylor Purvis Blythewood R/R Undecided 14 Aric Bane Lexington R/R Undecided 15 Jordan Esposito JL Mann R/R Undecided 16 Cole Norwood Mayo Magnet R/R Undecided 17 Austin Weekley James Island R/R Undecided 18 Corey Crissone Gaffney R/R Undecided 19 Colby Painter Chesnee L/R Undecided 20 Ben Kyle Spartanburg R/R Undecided Left-Handed Pitchers Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Michael Gilroy Brookland-Cayce L/L Undecided 2 Austin Kerr Chester L/L Undecided 3 CJ Newton Southside Christian R/L Undecided 4 Russell Gahagen AC Flora /L Undecided 5 JR Black JL Mann R/L Undecided 6 Wesley Camp Pelion L/L Undecided Catchers Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Grayson Greiner Blythewood R/R South Carolina 2 Ryan McPhail Dutch Fork L/R Undecided 3 Nick Peter Riverside R/R Undecided 4 Steven Gerardi North Myrtle Beach R/R Undecided 5 Garrett Boulware TL Hanna R/R Undecided 6 Tyler Crocker Dorman R/R Undecided 7 Dylan McElhaney North Augusta R/R Undecided 8 Taylor Forcier Wando R/R Undecided 9 Jared Jennings Belton-Honea Path R/R Undecided 10 Bo Thompson JL Mann R/R Undecided 11 Brett Fisher JL Mann R/R Undecided 12 Connor Edwards Easley R/R Undecided 13 Jordan Mitchell TL Hanna L/R Undecided 14 Matthew Burton First Baptist R/R Undecided 15 Hunter Lambert Aynor R/R Undecided First Basemen Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Kyle Martin Wade Hampton L/L Undecided 2 Hiller Huggins Irmo S/L Undecided 3 Jimmy Lindberg Bishop England R/L Undecided 4 Chase Shelton Brookland-Cayce L/L Undecided 5 Jarrod Rickman Carolina Forest R/R Undecided 6 Matt Peden JL Mann R/R Undecided 7 Nathan Price Gilbert L/R Undecided Second Basemen Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Ryan Villareal Fort Dorchester R/R Undecided 2 Christopher Watford Dutch Fork R/R Undecided 3 Josh Long Loris R/R Undecided 4 Roy Faulks AC Flora R/R Undecided 5 Richie McCullough Lexington R/R Undecided 6 Matthew Layman Hilton Head Prep R/R Undecided 7 Kyle Peterman Greenville R/R Undecided 8 Tyler Asbil Ben Lippen R/R Undecided Shortstops Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Bruce Caldwell Sumter L/R Undecided 2 Connor Bright Wando R/R Undecided 3 Chris Harrison White Knoll R/R Undecided 4 Billy Motroni Statford R/R Undecided 5 Shell McCain Nation Ford R/R Undecided 6 Gunnar Heidt St. James R/R Undecided 7 Cam Smith Lexington R/R Undecided 8 Dean Stageburg Riverside R/R Undecided 9 Brady Hegwood JL Mann R/R Undecided 10 Evan Rollison Greenville R/R Undecided Third Basemen Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Joey Pankake Easley R/R Undecided 2 Austin Gambrell Belton-Honea Path R/R Undecided 3 Aaron Poole AC Flora R/R Undecided 4 Alex Roberts Myrtle Beach R/R Undecided 5 Anthony Cossentino St. James R/R Undecided 6 Jake Wolff Walhalla R/R Undecided 7 Allen Staton Laurens R/R Undecided 8 Taylor Eubanks Blythewood R/R Undecided Outfielders Rank Name High School B/T Committed 1 Shon Carson Lake City R/R Undecided 2 Domineke Albert Richland Northeast R/R Undecided 3 Tyler Rowe South Aiken L/R Undecided 4 Thomas Spencer Riverside R/R Undecided 5 Bobby Ison Stratford S/L Undecided 6 Reid Moman JL Mann L/R Undecided 8 Wade Wyatt Shannon Forest R/R Undecided 9 Tanner English St. James R/R Undecided T10 Drew Swiney Riverside R/R Undecided T10 John Puggott Hanahan L/R Undecided Top Two-Way Players Name High School Position Lance Hayes Irmo RHP/1B Hunter Cole Dorman RHP/OF Kyle Grant Hammond RHP/1B Austin Gambrell Belton-Honea Path 3B/RHP Jimmy Lindberg Bishop England 1B/LHP Brandon Landrie Spartanburg RHP/3B Kyle Martin Wade Hampton 1B/LHP Hiller Huggins Irmo 1B/LHP Jarrod Rickman Carolina Forest 1B/RHP Aaron Poole AC Flora 3B/RHP Alex Roberts Myrtle Beach 3B/RHP Taylor Guerrieri North Augusta RHP/3B Chase Shelton Brookland-Cayce 1B/LHP Thomas Spencer Riverside OF/RHP Dean Stageburg Riverside SS/RHP Taylor Eubanks Blythewood 3B/RHP Note: This category was a listing, not a ranking. Overall-Top 30 Rank Name High School Position 1 Shon Carson Lake City OF/INF 2 Joey Pankake Easley 3B 3 Kyle Martin Wade Hampton 1B/LHP 4 Bruce Caldwell Sumter SS 5 Daniel Gossett Byrnes RHP 6 Hunter Cole Dorman RHP/OF 7 Domineke Albert Richland Northeast OF/C 8 Taylor Guerrieri North Augusta RHP/3B 9 Hiller Huggins Irmo 1B/LHP 10 Jimmy Lindberg Bishop England 1B/LHP 11 Grayson Greiner Blythewood C 12 Connor Bright Wando SS 13 Austin Gambrell Belton-Honea Path 3B/RHP 14 Aaron Poole AC Flora 3B/RHP 15 Chase Shelton Brookland-Cayce 1B/LHP 16 Ryan McPhail Dutch Fork C 17 Michael Gilroy Brookland-Cayce LHP 18 Kyle Grant Hammond RHP/1B 19 Chris Harrison White Knoll SS 20 Nick Peter Riverside C 21 Brandon Landrie Spartanburg RHP/3B 22 Austin Kerr Chester LHP/OF 23 Billy Motroni Stratford SS 24 Jarrod Rickman Carolina Forest 1B/RHP 25 CJ Newton Southside Christian LHP 26 Evan Still North Augusta RHP/OF 27 Matt Peden JL Mann 1B 28 Thomas Spencer Riverside OF/RHP 29 Bobby Ison Stratford OF 30 Ryan Villareal Fort Dorchester INF Note: Rankings and positions are based on player’s current ability-level, or "tools", combined with how he "projects" at the next level. A player’s statistics do not factor into his ranking.

The Truth About Recruiting

By: Al Hudson-July 3, 2008 This column is designed to assist parents and prospective college athletes in their selection process for college. Selecting an institution will be one of the most important decisions a young man or young lady has to make in their entire life. Most of my reference will be toward college baseball, but the rules can be applied to most college sports. The biggest misconception is that "Junior" is an elite athlete, and that he can perform at the highest level of competition. As I have stated in previous columns, the truth is evident, the percentage of high school players that advance to professional baseball is infinitesimal. Ability is the determining factor. I may want to coach the Atlanta Braves or the Boston Red Sox, but my ability has only allowed me to ascend to the college ranks as an assistant coach. That is reality. The reality for a player is that very few have the ability to play at the NCAA Division I level. However, many opportunities exist at the Division II, Division III, NAIA, and Junior College levels. Players and parents need to understand that, and make their choices accordingly. Every player should set his goal to play at the highest level possible. But "play" is the operative word. The joy of being on the team is to play. Look for a program that wants you as much as you want them. Find a program that is willing to offer financial assistance. "Walking on", at a major college, and sitting for four years is not as enjoyable as playing for four years at a smaller school. If you are seriously considering an NCAA Division I or II program, you must register with the NCAA eligibility center. Schedule an interview with your guidance counselor to determine your core course progress. Next register online at: www.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter. Your counselor will assist you in getting the proper information to the center. Having a strong indication to whether you will be admitted academically and getting a ballpark figure to what college costs will be, are crucial factors that will affect your decision about a school. Take "unofficial" visits to as many of your top schools as possible. Call the office of admissions and determine when campus tours and information sessions are offered. Contact the coach at least 3-4 weeks prior to your visit to determine his availability to meet with you. Participating in summer camps can be an effective evaluation tool for college coaches. If a summer camp visit is not possible, a skills video may peak a coach’s interest. But remember, a coach must see you in person to truly evaluate your skills. No athlete wants to be at a school where he isn’t wanted, and sometimes coaches, just to leave you with a positive feeling or because they don’t want you to go elsewhere, will mention the opportunity to walk on. Make sure you know that the coach truly believes in your athletic ability before picking his school. And when one coach tells you to walk on, and another offers you a scholarship, the coach offering you money obviously believes more in your ability. Choosing between offers is just one situation when you’ll need to gauge each coach’s interest and commitment to you. Being mailed questionnaires, getting calls from coaches and receiving texts are a few others. Note the various ways a coach contacts you and what each one means. A general rule of thumb: the more a coach personally contacts you, the more serious he is. If a coach notices you at a game, camp or workout, they will generally send you a questionnaire to fill out and an application for a camp visit. If a coach is interested in you, he will call your high school coach, come to see you play, send you regular emails, and mail you a media guide and school information. If a coach is very interested, he will set up a phone conversation with you, and come to see you play more than once. If that coach is committed, he will set up regular phone calls, invite you for an official visit, and make a scholarship offer. Without this progression of events, the coach may not believe that you can help his program, and will not be offering a scholarship. Even if you have the brainpower to succeed in the classroom and the skills to dominate your sport, finding a college division or association that fits you both academically and athletically can be a tricky task. Most players grow up with certain colleges that have garnered their allegiance through childhood. It is not uncommon for players to have a Big Orange Tennessee "T" on their wall, or maybe it is a South Carolina "Gamecock" or a Clemson "Tiger". All fine schools, and it would be an honor to represent them on the field. Remember however, that "on the field" is the most important part of the equation. For some, an NAIA school may be the answer. These are four-year programs that offer an opportunity to get your degree, and fulfill your goal of playing college baseball. Another excellent option is the Community College or Junior College option. These are two-year programs that allow a player to sharpen his skills on the field or in the classroom. Two-year schools usually provide more playing time for freshmen and sophomores than four-year schools, but the recruiting process begins again after graduation. As you delve into the possibilities and prospects that await you, you will find numerous advantages and disadvantages with programs at every level. Do not choose a school solely on the coach. Coaches leave for many reasons. Sometimes they are fired, sometimes they get a better job, and sometimes the pressure it too great. You should choose a school based on their academic curriculum, your chances to participate, and cost factors for you and your family. In conclusion, remember the golden rule of college selection. "You are going to school to get an …

Firecracker Classic

By: Austin Alexander-June 26-27, 2008 Diamond Prospects made the rounds in Myrtle Beach on Thursday and Friday to check on some in-state talent on display at the Firecracker Classic hosted by Coastal Carolina. Today, DP breaks down a few of the top performers on the mound, at the plate and in the field. Gaither Bumgardner-2009, Great Falls HS, RHP: The slender righty sat at 84-85 on Thursday with a hard slurve at times that registered in the mid-70’s. Bumgardner is a three-sport standout at 1A Great Falls and the 6’6" two-way player is a very good athlete. He has clearly made some strides on the mound since my last viewing of him in January. Still a little crude, Bumgardner exhibits a high up-side, not just because of his height but more so when you take into account his arm speed and lack of time on the baseball field. His footwork is very quick on picks and he bounced well off the mound on a well-placed swinging bunt on the right-side of the infield. Bumgardner also turned at 4.56 on his single through the left-side. Definite follow for college guys this summer because it will be difficult to get another glimpse of him if you miss him before football season. Ben Carlson-2009, Mauldin HS, RHP: A very long-bodied, broad-shouldered, quality athlete that is not as much of a secret. Carlson (right) pitched between 84-87 on Thursday with a straight fastball and inconsistent curveball. When Carlson brings the breaking ball with him, it shows flashes of an above average college second pitch. Carlson has a very high ceiling and will likely be gobbled up in the Early Signing Period. Pat Dolan-2008, Summerville HS, UTL, RHP: Perhaps the most under-rated graduated player when you talk to coaches. Dolan (left) has tools, high-energy and a frame that will handle college weight well. He put a charge into one on Thursday and shows every single pre-sign of success at Charleston Southern, potentially as a two-way guy. Blake Gruel-2009, Beaufort HS, 3B: A prep shortstop, Gruel (right) seems to have found a home at the hot corner or behind the plate during summer ball. Not a plus runner by any means but he is athletic and has shown some versatility around the infield defensively. His calling card may be a flat swing that has shown the ability to punish mistakes, as evidenced by his bomb to left-centerfield on Friday at Coastal Carolina. Zac Fuesser-2008, York HS, LHP/1B: It was Fuesser’s left arm that landed him as a 19th rounder in the June draft to the Braves but if he ends up at school, his bat will make some noise among the JC ranks. His offensive numbers in high school were gaudy and he showed why when he took a few swats at marginal pitching on Friday. Fuesser has a clue at the plate and exhibits some juice. Christian Dickson-2008, Buford HS, RHP: Dickson sat on 86 MPH from a high slot and featured a quality curveball. Dickson posted big numbers at a small high school but it appears that his overall stuff may be good enough to log innings next spring at SMC. Adam Matthews-2008, White Knoll HS, OF: Matthews’ (left) bat failed him during Friday’s viewing but you can see how he also changes games with his feet and arm. Obviously he posts strong running times but he is a very smooth runner too. He glides around the bases and to fly balls, he has what is referred to functional baseball speed (as opposed to racing speed). The one area that his tool must improve in before USC is with the short game. That caliber of runner could bunt .600 or better just by putting the ball on the ground and taking off for first base. Darien Campbell-2008, Colleton Co. HS, UTL: Campbell is a very "handsy" hitter spraying the ball all over the field, depending on where it is pitched. Campbell has committed to Savannah State and projects to be a quality handler of the bat atop the line-up or as an 8, 9-hole type.

Fathers, Sons & Baseball

By: Austin Alexander-June 17-19, 2008 A Father’s Day Extravaganza On the heels of Father’s Day and amid another very exciting Major League Baseball season, I felt it may be appropriate to give you a recent glimpse of mine when it comes to fathers, their sons and the greatest game of all! Before you get started on my little journey here, it should be pointed out that if you are a father, a son or a father and a son, you may grasp some of this. If you do not fall into either category, you may miss some of the sentimental value of my words. Since the game’s inception in the 1800’s, baseball has served as a tremendous bonding opportunity between father’s and their sons. Be it a game of catch in the backyard, sitting in the bleachers learning how to keep a scorebook or breaking down a recent performance, this game of baseball has shaped many young lives, as well as provide a backdrop for meaningful father-son moments. My son Nolan is only 2½ years old and I was on the road coaching other folks’ sons for my first two Father’s Days. The preceding ten or so Father’s Days I was on the road recruiting other father’s sons and unable to spend time with my own dad. But Father’s Day 2008 was different and it even extended into a week-long celebration of our year’s best holiday, at least in my mind! The morning after Father’s Day, I had this crazy idea to load up the family and head toward St. Petersburg for the upcoming three-game series between the Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays. Area Scout Brad Matthews was kind enough to round up great tickets for me at the eleventh hour and we set out for our first vacation since the honeymoon in 2001 (which was also cut short because of a baseball tournament). My son was so excited about going to see his beloved Cubs that he became very uninterested in the Barney and Thomas the Train DVD’s that normally hold his attention in the car. Instead we listened to him endlessly sing his version of "Take me out to the Ballgame" and the Cubs’ rally cry, "Go Cubs Go". He kept asking if we were going to see D-Lee, Fukudome and Big Z, also every time the car slowed down, we’d hear that little voice in diapers ask, "Are we at the baseball game?" Finally, nine hours later, we pulled into Tropicana Field, got our tickets and entered the ballpark just in time for Chicago’s batting practice. We were able to race all the way down to the dugout and camped out just several feet away from all the players he had only seen on television or in a magazine. Now if you are a parent, maybe you can relate to this next part. There is absolutely nothing in life better than seeing your child experience uncontrollable joy. It was in those moments that my wife and I knew that Nolan was as much of a baseball junky as we were and that we had made the right decision by heading to Tampa. I cannot count how many Major League Baseball games I’ve attended and I have landed in stadiums from New York to Los Angeles but I do remember my first game in 1983 and I will never forget my son’s first MLB experience! To top it all off, Nolan walked away from his first game with a foul ball and three giveaway items that were thrown into the stands in between innings. Not a bad MLB debut for the young man! While he is way too young to eventually remember any of this and the mood was certainly tempered by Tampa Bay’s sweep of the Cubs, that hardball seed was planted in a toddler that may last a lifetime. Nolan has virtually grown up at ballparks around South Carolina and has had the opportunity to be around quite a few successful players and coaches who have taken time to show him different nuances of the game, thus spurring his love of baseball but the bond that he and I share is unlike any other on this Earth. You see, I had tremendous love affair with baseball and shared it with my dad. I, too, grew up at the park and he was always ready to throw BP, hit ground balls or drive to the local minor league stadium if I wanted to go. He would explain some of the general aspects of the game as well as share specific tips. Now that I am a father, the role is mine to pass along baseball to my son in hopes that he can enjoy it as much as I have over the years. In the business of baseball, too often we spend more time watching other people’s children than our own. So when we do have an opportunity to share this passion with our own child, it makes those moments so much more memorable! DP Note: It should be pointed out that the foul ball Nolan came away with was actually given to him by a kind man seated beside us who had won the struggle for the loose ball after I was camped directly under it, then completely dropped the ball… Of course, as the years pass, the story will hopefully end with me making a one-handed circus catch leaning over a railing! But for now I am left with a sizeable bruise on my right hand!

Player Profile: Justin Driver

Name: JUSTIN DRIVER Nickname(s): JD High School (coach): JODY LECROY & GREG HOUSTON Graduation year: 2012 Position(s): OF/CATCHER/2B/SS Other sport(s) played in high school: Height: 5’11" Weight: 165 Bats: R Throws: R GPA: 3.75 SAT: TAKING Oct 2009 PSAT: 138 ACT: N/A Class rank: N/A Academic awards: BETA CLUB, HONOR ROLL Intended major: KINESIOLOGY/PT Parent’s names (college attended, if any): Dale (WCU) & Lisa (TTU) Summer team (coach): ANDERSON BRAVES (Coach BRANDON BAILEY) & ANDERSON EAGLES-SR LEAGUE~18U~ LITTLE LEAGUE (Coach LUKE GIBSON) Fall team (coach): BLUE CHIP BULLS 18U (Coach SETH BRIZAK) High School statistics: (9TH ONLY:) BATTING AVG: .414 RBI: 5; SB: 2; 1B: 13; 2B: 2; 3B:1; HR:0; R:10 Athletic awards: JV (8TH GRADE) : BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER~CATCHER 60-yard dash: 7.3 Hobbies: WEIGHT TRAINING, SWIMMING, BASEBALL List any community service or charity work you have done: HOSPICE FUNDRAISER; YOUTH BASEBALL UMPIRE Would you consider a junior college? What do you want a college coach who is reading this to know about you? I have been playing baseball since i was 4 years old, It is MY LIFE! I enjoy the game and all the aspects surrounding it, too. I always give over 100% each time I step onto the field. I believe in Hustle, determination and strength, on the field, and in the classroom. I want to continue to grow as a player, continue to build core& arm strength, and get even faster. I enjoy playing different positions, as I feel it makes me a better all-around player. My goals are to get stronger, faster, help my team win a State Championship, graduate high school with honors, and then go on to play college baseball. It’s all about the game, I absolute LOVE it!! List your top five college choices (optional): USC-COL; ERSKINE; UNC-CHAPEL HILL; WINTHROP; USC-UPSTATE

Youth Be Served in Baseball

By: Al Hudson-June 17, 2008 It is amazing to me that so many major league owners can be so dumb about building a team. Certainly their ability to make money has never been their downfall. But they seem oblivious to the nuances of owning a franchise. There are exceptions such as the Florida Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays and the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Marlins have the youngest roster and the lowest payroll and a winning record. The Rays are fifth youngest with the second lowest payroll and they have a winning record. The Diamondbacks lead their division with the third youngest team and the twenty third highest payroll. The Los Angeles Angels get an honorable mention. I cannot find a lot of fault with the World Champion Boston Red Sox, the Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, or the Chicago Cubs, all are division leaders. The other end of the spectrum finds the New York Mets with the third highest payroll and the second oldest team. The Houston Astros with the oldest team and the fourteenth highest payroll, and the Detroit Tigers with the number two payroll and the twenty second youngest team. The Mets, Astros and Tigers all have losing records. The pitiful Seattle Mariners are last in the AL West with the ninth highest payroll and the seventh oldest team. Several teams are threatening to fire their managers, but what about the general managers? They created their monsters. Why aren’t they the ones on the hot seat? Here is a comparison of salaries of the highest compensated players at their position. I will follow that with a comparison of players less than twenty five years of age and making less than $1 million each. You decide what you would rather have. C – Jorge Posada – Yankees ($13.1 M), Pudge Rodriguez – Tigers ($12.3 M) 1B – Jason Giambi – Yankees ($23.4 M), Todd Helton – Rockies ($16.6 M) 2B – Jeff Kent – Dodgers ($9 M) SS – Derek Jeter – Yankees ($21.6 M), Rafael Furcal – Dodgers ($15.7 M) 3B – Alex Rodriguez – Yankees ($28 M), Aramis Ramirez – Cubs ($15.2 M) OF – Manny Ramirez – Red Sox ($18.9 M), Carlos Beltran – Mets ($18.6 M) OF – Ichiro Suzuki – Mariners ($17.1 M), Torrii Hunter – Angels ($16.5 M) OF – Bobby Abreu – Yankees ($16 M), Magglio Ordonez – Tigers ($15.7 M) SP – Johan Santana – Mets ($16.9 M), Carlos Zambrano – Cubs ($16 M) SP – Andy Pettitte – Yankees ($16 M), Mike Hampton – Braves ($15.9 M) SP – Tim Hudson – Braves ($15.5 M), Jason Schmidt – Dodgers ($15.2 M) RP – Mariano Rivera – Yankees ($15 M), BJ Ryan – Blue Jays ($12.3 M) RP – Billy Wagner – Mets ($10.5 M), Eric Gagne – Brewers, Frankie Rodriguez – Angels ($10 M each) Some of these names will be unfamiliar, but rest assured that they are the names of the future. All kids in the world of baseball, but highly respected within their organizations. C – Brian McCann – Braves, Dioner Navarro – Rays 1B – Prince Fielder – Brewers, Joey Votto – Reds 2B – Howie Kendrick – Angels SS – Hanley Ramirez – Marlins, Troy Tulowitzki – Rockies 3B – Evan Longoria – Rays, Mark Reynolds – Diamondbacks OF – Melky Cabrera – Yankees, Jacoby Ellsbury – Red Sox OF – Matt Kemp – Dodgers, Ryan Braun – Brewers OF – Carlos Gomez – Twins, Jeff Francoeur – Braves SP – Edinson Volquez – Reds, Cole Hamels – Phillies SP – Tim Lincecum – Giants, Jesse Litsch – Blue Jays SP – Felix Hernandez – Mariners, Jon Lester – Red Sox RP – Joba Chamberlain – Yankees, Matt Cain – Pirates RP – Joel Zumaya – Tigers, Joakim Soria – Royals This team would have a total team payroll of approximately $11.9 million.