Prep Baseball Report

NC Top Underclass Games Record Book


Brandon Hall
North Carolina Director of Scouting

Prep Baseball Report entered the North Carolina space in the summer of 2016.  The summer of 2017 saw the first full slate of events and an explosion of coverage across the state.  In August of 2018, the first Top Underclass Games was held, featuring players from across North Carolina competing at Jim Perry Stadium on the campus of Campbell University. 

Each of the last two summers the event has flourished at Jim Perry Stadium, featuring some of the best players in North Carolina.  Now that three years are in the books, we can begin to look back and compare players from different years.

The setup at Prep Baseball Report allows player statistics and performances to be saved.  This allows coaches, scouts, and even players to see how players from different graduating years may have stacked up when they were the same age.  For events like the Top Prospect Games, PBR can compare and contrast players and create a record book for the event.  

The 2019 Top Underclass Games were very successful with a lot of high end players on display for both pro scouts and college coaches.  Below is a look at the updated record book for the Top Underclass Games in NC.

 

North Carolina Top Underclass Games Record Book

 

The 60 Yard Dash

The 60 has been run on a synthetic surface all three years, utilizing a laser timing system.  In 2018, two blazing times were turned in by Wes Turley and Archie Dean Herring, each running under 6.55.  Two times from the 2019 event made it inside the top 5 of all-time.

Rank Name Grad YR Pos School TUG YR 60 Time
1 Wes Turley 2020 OF Porter Ridge 2018 6.48
2 Archie Dean Herring 2021 OF Westchester Country Day 2018 6.52
3 Hayden Brandon 2021 SS Charlotte Christian 2019 6.82
4 Malik Dixon 2019 SS North Lenoir 2017 6.87
5 Billy Waldron 2022 OF Holly Springs 2019 6.88

 

Exit Velocity

A new record was posted by Larson Scholtz in 2019, topping the 94 mph mark that led the way in both 2017 and 2018.  In all, the 2019 Top Underclass Games has 5 of the top 7 marks in the event’s history.

Rank Name Grad YR Pos School TUG YR Exit Velocity
1 Larson Scholtz 2022 OF/RHP Asheville 2019 95
2 Alex Sniffen 2019 3B/RHP New Hanover 2017 94
- Matt Kemp 2020 SS Randleman 2018 94
4 Brooks Brannon 2022 C Randleman 2019 93
- Brendan Burke 2021 C Panther Creek 2019 93

 

Positional Velocity – Infielders

The infielders that attended the 2019 Top Underclass Games re-wrote this section of the record book, taking all five of the top slots in the event’s history.  Bryan Arendt had a huge day last week and will show up a couple of more times in the record book, taking the top slot on the infield with a 90mph bolt across the diamond.

Rank Name Grad YR Pos School TUG YR INF Velo
1 Bryan Arendt 2021 C Holly Springs 2019 90
2 Will Marcy 2021 SS Pro5 Academy 2019 87
3 Joe Valchar 2021 3B Heritage 2019 85
4 Lefrederick Wooten 2021 OF/3B East Bladen 2019 84
- Gavin Sentell 2021 SS Ledford 2019 84

 

Positional Velocity – Outfielders

Freddy Wooten obliterated the standing record of 86 mph with a 91 mph throw from right field at this year’s Top Underclass Games.  Three of the top 5, top throws were recorded at the 2019 event.

Rank Name Grad YR Pos School TUG YR OF Velo
1 Lefrederick Wooten 2021 OF East Bladen 2019 91
2 Clay Minor 2021 SS/OF Northern Guilford 2019 86
- Cyle Phelan 2021 LHP/OF Fuquay-Varina 2018 86
4 Shemar Dalton 2020 OF South Stokes 2017 85
5 Anthony Mitta 2021 OF Leesville Rd 2019 84
- Michael Groves 2020 C/OF Holly Springs 2018 84
- Caleb Cross 2020 RHP/3B Southern Lee 2018 84

 

Catcher Pop Time & Positional Velocity

Bryan Arendt takes the top spot with both his pop time and his positional velocity out of the crouch.  The 2021 prospect has an elite arm, with carry, and a good exchange to compliment the arm.  Ryan McCrystal and Chris Katz each had big days in 2018 and have both continued to improve in the past year. 

Rank Name Grad YR Pos School TUG YR C Pop
1 Bryan Arendt 2021 C Holly Springs 2019 1.87
2 Chris Katz 2021 C Heritage 2018 1.90
3 Ryan McCrystal 2020 C/RHP Fuquay-Varina 2018 1.94
4 Brooks Brannon 2022 C Randleman 2019 1.97
5 Robbie O'Neal 2019 C DH Conley 2017 1.99
Rank Name Grad YR Pos School TUG YR C Velo
1 Bryan Arendt 2021 C Holly Springs 2019 85
2 Chris Katz 2021 C Heritage 2018 80
3 Brendan Burke 2021 C Panther Creek 2019 79
- Michael Groves 2020 C Holly Springs 2018 79
- Ryan McCrystal 2020 C/RHP Fuquay-Varina 2018 79

 

Max Fastball

In 2017, Tyler Driver went from relative unknown to a high end prospect after one inning and an Instagram post.  The 2019 committed to Charlotte, but decided to sign with the Mariners when selected in the 2019 MLB Draft.  His 90 mph fastball has held up for three years as the top fastball at the Underclass Games.  Harrison Garner was right on his heels in 2019, touching 89, with a very bright future ahead of him.

Rank Name Grad YR Pos School TUG YR Max FB
1 Tyler Driver 2019 RHP Pro5 Academy 2017 90
2 Harrison Garner 2021 RHP Garner 2019 89
3 Joe Valchar 2021 3B/RHP Heritage 2019 87
- Marlowe Iorio 2020 RHP Chapel Hill 2018 87
- Cyle Phelan 2021 LHP Fuquay-Varina 2018 87