Prep Baseball Report

2022 Junior Future Games: Team Carolina (NC) Game 4 Recap


Matt Payne
Director of Scouting, PBR of NC

The 2022 Junior Future Games are underway at LakePoint in Emerson, GA featuring some of the top 2026 and 2027 prospects from across the country. Team Carolina kicked off their Junior Future Games with a workout on Tuesday. The workout day consisted of a full pro-style workout with players taking BP on the field with Trackman capturing ball flight data, a defensive workout, and players running a laser timed 60. Team Carolina will take on Texas, Canada, and Mississippi in their pool play action with bracket play to follow. 

GAME 4 RECAP

Team Carolina- 8  Team Massachusetts- 0

Team Carolina took on Massachusetts late Saturday night. Carolina got an impressive pitching performance from starter Tucker Payton and reliever Cooper Summerlin. The two arms did not allow a hit and combined to strike out 11 in 4 innings. It was a big night for the offense as well putting runs on the board in the 2nd and 3rd innings. The offense was led by Eli Beekley driving in 3 runs, Stephen Crater driving in 2 runs and Michael Woodard driving in one run.The game ended with one out in the top of the 5th due to bad weather in the area. With the win Carolina would advance to take on Tennessee the following day. 


Player Notes

Tucker Payton, RHP, 2026

6-foot-1, 180-pound build. Started on the mound and was dominant in his 2 innings of work recording all 6 outs via strikeout. Fastball sat at 80-82 mph with run and sink to his arm side. Mixed in a breaking ball with sweeping action at 68-69 mph. Showed feel for the breaking ball landing it for called strikes while also using it to get swing a miss. Got his fastball to both sides of the plate. Attacked the zone with confidence in both pitches. 

Cooper Summerlin, LHP, 2026

5-foot-9, 130-pound build. Struck out 5 in his 2 innings of relief work making his second appearance at the event. Quick arm with his fastball sitting at 75-77 mph. Mixed in a breaking ball at 65-66 mph. Strike thrower who showed trust in his stuff throughout his outing. Should continue to see his stuff jump as the body matures. 

Eli Beekley, C, 2026

5-foot-11, 180-pounds. The left hand hitter continued to show strength in his hands hitting a ball to deep left for a double. Aggressive approach with fluidity in the swing looking to keep his barrel long through the zone out front. 

Wyatt Lytle, C, 2026

6-foot, 170-pound build. Had hits in both of his at bats. Doubled down the left field line and barreled another ball to center for a base hit. Continues to show an aggressive approach in a balanced swing with feel for the barrel. 

Stephen Crater, 3B, 2026

6-foot-1, 170-pounds. The left hand hitter stayed through a ball to right and squared another ball up to his pull side. Has feel for the barrel keeping it through the zone with strength and quickness in his hands.