NC/SC Border Battle: Data Dive
June 18, 2024
Follow Prep Baseball North Carolina
@PrepBaseballNC | Instagram | Facebook
June begins the summer circuit for recruiting and player evaluation. One event that has become a "must" for players, coaches, and scouts in the Carolinas is the NC/SC Border Battle. This year's event took returned to UNC Charlotte's Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium for two days of action, featuring 130 of the best players in NC and SC. They did not disappoint.
On Tuesday June 11th, the position players went through their offensive and defensive evaluations. North Carolina worked out first taking multiple rounds of BP, followed by their defensive evaluations and athletic testing. As North Carolina finished, South Carolina started with their athletic testing, defensive evals, and finally their offensive evaluation. Coaches and scouts were able to see multiple rounds of BP from each player plus see them move around at their primary defensive position, getting a feel for their athleticism and feel for the game.
Wednesday June 12th was game day. Each player was scheduled to play in one 9 inning game with pitchers throwing live to hitters. In total, NC and SC squared off in 4 exciting games and the roster of the top players in the two states put on a show.
Below we begin the process of unpacking everything we saw at the high level event. From stats to player notes, to a deep dive into some analytics, we will work to uncover everything these players did and all the numbers they put up at the two day event. To see the full roster and full statistical package, CLICK HERE.
By the Numbers:
- 5 Players ran under 6.74 on the laser timing system
- 22 Players ran 7.00 or under
- 39 Players tested their vertical jump at 30in or above
- 20 Players saw at least one of their splits come in at 20mph or higher
- 17 Infielders saw their arm strength at 85mph or higher across the diamond
- 6 Outfielders tested with arm strength at 90mph or higher
- 13 Catchers posted a pop timed of 2.00 or under in the workout
- 5 hitters saw an exit velocity of 100mph or higher
- 78 hitters peaked their exit velocity at 90mph or better
- 6 hitters carried an average exit velocity of better than 90mph over two rounds of 8 swings
- 14 hitters posted a BLAST bat speed of 70mph or higher
- 189.7psi was the top grip strength posted at teh event
- 89.3mph was the top fastball velocity
- 10 arms were above 87mph on the day
- 3 arms saw their fastball spin rate above 2400rpm
- 2975rpm was the top breaking ball spin rate captured on the day
- 1 committed player took part in the event
Data Dive - NC/SC Border Battle
60 Yard Dash and Top Run Speed
Swift Athletic Laser Timers were used to time each runner in the 10, 30, and 60 yard run. Below we take a look at the best runners in the 60 and overall run speed from the event. The 60 is timed by the lasers while the overall run speed is looking at split times and doing the math to calculate each player's top mph. Look for more information coming from the Swift Athletics testing in the coming weeks.
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | 60-yd |
1 | Charlie Scott | SC | AC Flora | 2026 | OF | 6.59 s |
2 | Jacob Cesarz | NC | Cary Christian | 2026 | SS | 6.60 s |
3 | Ben Green | NC | HICKORY GROVE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | 2025 | SS | 6.68 s |
4 | Stephen Hudgins | SC | Powdersville High | 2027 | OF | 6.71 s |
5 | Bryan Franklin | SC | Blythewood High | 2025 | 2B | 6.74 s |
6 | Jacob Mackara | SC | Bishop England | 2025 | OF | 6.77 s |
7 | Banks Knight | SC | Summerville High | 2025 | OF | 6.80 s |
8 | Kellen Rogers | NC | Wake Forest | 2027 | SS | 6.85 s |
^ | Robert Sasser III | NC | Pro5 Baseball Academy | 2025 | OF | 6.85 s |
^ | Bryce Smith | NC | Voyager Academy | 2025 | LHP | 6.85 s |
9 | Alex Lerch | NC | Metrolina Academy | 2025 | 2B | 6.86 s |
10 | Ty Kerns | SC | Waccamaw | 2027 | SS | 6.88 s |
11 | Luke Godwin | SC | Greenwood High | 2025 | SS | 6.91 s |
12 | Jackson Gordon | SC | Legion Collegiate Academy | 2025 | OF | 6.92 s |
13 | Joey McGovern | SC | Seneca High | 2025 | OF | 6.93 s |
14 | Anderson Hayes | SC | Fountain Inn High | 2026 | LHP | 6.94 s |
15 | Ayden Clay | SC | Pendleton High | 2025 | OF | 6.96 s |
^ | Ethan Offing | SC | Dutch Fork | 2026 | SS | 6.96 s |
TrackMan Max Exit Velocity (BP)
During BP, TrackMan tracked ball flight off the bat. Each hitter took two rounds of BP and TrackMan is able to produce a lot of data on every ball put in play in fair territory. One element TrackMan is able to produce is the exit velocity. Below are the top Exit Velocities produced during live BP.
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Exit Velocity (max) |
1 | Justin Sheffield | SC | Atlantic Collegiate | 2025 | OF | 101.8 mph |
2 | Ethan Offing | SC | Dutch Fork | 2026 | SS | 101.5 mph |
3 | Robert Sasser III | NC | Pro5 Baseball Academy | 2025 | OF | 100.5 mph |
4 | Caden Davidson | NC | Roberson | 2025 | 1B | 100.2 mph |
5 | Connor Tregoning | NC | Ronald W Reagan High School | 2026 | 1B | 100.0 mph |
6 | Davis Phillips | NC | BURLINGTON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 2025 | C | 99.6 mph |
7 | Tariq Stone | NC | East Wake High | 2026 | OF | 99.4 mph |
8 | Cross Yarborough | SC | P27 Baseball Academy | 2025 | C | 98.9 mph |
9 | Ben Green | NC | HICKORY GROVE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | 2025 | SS | 98.8 mph |
10 | Andrew Caracio | NC | Pro5 Baseball Academy | 2027 | LHP | 98.7 mph |
11 | Joey McGovern | SC | Seneca High | 2025 | OF | 98.6 mph |
12 | Garrett Byrd | NC | North Lenoir High | 2025 | C | 98.5 mph |
13 | Fisher Goodwin | NC | North Brunswick | 2026 | 3B | 97.8 mph |
14 | Jackson Gordon | SC | Legion Collegiate Academy | 2025 | OF | 97.7 mph |
15 | Bryce Smith | NC | Voyager Academy | 2025 | LHP | 97.2 mph |
16 | Hayden Fones | NC | Apex Friendship | 2025 | SS | 97.0 mph |
17 | Michael Woodard | NC | New Bern High | 2026 | 1B | 96.9 mph |
18 | Evan Matile | NC | East Lincoln High | 2025 | OF | 96.9 mph |
19 | Reid Johnson | NC | South Iredell High | 2026 | C | 96.9 mph |
20 | Luke Godwin | SC | Greenwood High | 2025 | SS | 96.8 mph |
Positional Velocity - Infielders
Infielders were able to workout at shortstop throwing across the infield, or from 1B throwing to 2B and 3B in the pro-style workout. While the throwing velocity of an infielder does not tell the entire story of their arm strength, it does give us a feel for how different players can compare. During this drill, we did ask all infielders to work at game speed, making "game-type" plays.
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | INF Velo |
1 | Cooper Phillips | NC | Homeschool (NC) | 2025 | 2B | 90 |
2 | Zeb Swangim | NC | TC ROBERSON | 2025 | 3B | 88 |
^ | Parker Trexler | NC | West Forsyth High | 2025 | 3B | 88 |
^ | Luke Godwin | SC | Greenwood High | 2025 | SS | 88 |
3 | Vincent Lee | NC | Pro5 Baseball Academy | 2025 | 2B | 87 |
^ | Ben Green | NC | HICKORY GROVE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | 2025 | SS | 87 |
^ | Cooper Gornet | NC | CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | 2026 | SS | 87 |
^ | Connor Campbell | SC | HILTON HEAD PREPARATORY SCHOOL | 2025 | SS | 87 |
^ | Yamil Soto | SC | P27 | 2027 | SS | 87 |
^ | Trip Ostergard | SC | James Island Charter | 2027 | SS | 87 |
^ | Connor Hooks | SC | CARDINAL NEWMAN SCHOOL | 2026 | 3B | 87 |
4 | Crawford Elrod | NC | WESTCHESTER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL | 2026 | 3B | 86 |
^ | Zeke Adwaters III | NC | TC Roberson | 2026 | SS | 86 |
^ | Ethan Simmons | NC | JH Rose | 2025 | 3B | 86 |
5 | Seth Eckroth | SC | P27 Academy | 2026 | 2B | 85 |
^ | Michael Gurganus | NC | Bear Grass Charter School | 2025 | RHP | 85 |
6 | Ethan Offing | SC | Dutch Fork | 2026 | SS | 84 |
^ | Joel Cummings | SC | Lucy Beckham | 2026 | SS | 84 |
^ | Brodie Tuthill | SC | Ashley Ridge High | 2027 | SS | 84 |
7 | Christian Spivey | SC | Lexington | 2027 | 3B | 83 |
^ | Bryan Franklin | SC | Blythewood High | 2025 | 2B | 83 |
8 | Ty Kerns | SC | Waccamaw | 2027 | SS | 82 |
^ | Derrick Jones | SC | James F. Byrnes | 2027 | 3B | 82 |
^ | Braden Richardson | SC | Fort Mill | 2027 | 2B | 82 |
^ | Andrew Caracio | NC | Pro5 Baseball Academy | 2027 | LHP | 82 |
^ | Weston Sykes | NC | Wesleyan Christian Academy | 2027 | SS | 82 |
^ | Brayden Robinson | SC | South Florence High | 2025 | 3B | 82 |
^ | Garrett Blankenship | SC | Gray Collegiate Academy | 2026 | SS | 82 |
9 | Jacob Cesarz | NC | Cary Christian | 2026 | SS | 81 |
^ | Hayden Fones | NC | Apex Friendship | 2025 | SS | 81 |
^ | Alex Lerch | NC | Metrolina Academy | 2025 | 2B | 81 |
^ | Joel Irizarry | SC | Fountain Inn High | 2025 | C | 81 |
^ | Emmanuel Benitez | SC | Eastside | 2027 | 3B | 81 |
10 | Tyler Bolemon | SC | SOUTHSIDE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | 2025 | C | 80 |
Positional Velocity - Outfielders
Outfielders worked out from right field, making throws to the plate. Throws were measured by a radar gun to gauge arm strength. Players were asked to make "game-type" throws on balls hit from a fungo.
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | OF Velo |
1 | Joey McGovern | SC | Seneca High | 2025 | OF | 93 |
2 | Ayden Clay | SC | Pendleton High | 2025 | OF | 91 |
^ | Luke Godwin | SC | Greenwood High | 2025 | SS | 91 |
^ | Aiden Smith | SC | Clover | 2026 | RHP | 91 |
^ | Justin Sheffield | SC | Atlantic Collegiate | 2025 | OF | 91 |
3 | Jacob Mackara | SC | Bishop England | 2025 | OF | 90 |
^ | Julian Baldwin | SC | DW Daniel | 2025 | OF | 90 |
4 | Trip Ostergard | SC | James Island Charter | 2027 | SS | 88 |
^ | Eben Greene | NC | East Forsyth | 2025 | RHP | 88 |
^ | Anthony Marano | SC | Clover High | 2026 | OF | 88 |
5 | Jackson Gordon | SC | Legion Collegiate Academy | 2025 | OF | 87 |
6 | Southern Smith-Tilley | NC | Mooresville | 2025 | OF | 86 |
^ | Jeremy Powell | SC | White Knoll | 2026 | LHP | 86 |
7 | Brayden Brogdon | SC | Rock Hill High | 2027 | OF | 85 |
^ | Anderson Hayes | SC | Fountain Inn High | 2026 | LHP | 85 |
8 | Braden Richardson | SC | Fort Mill | 2027 | 2B | 84 |
^ | Robert Sasser III | NC | Pro5 Baseball Academy | 2025 | OF | 84 |
^ | Aaron Tolbert | SC | Easley | 2025 | C | 84 |
9 | Isaac Devine | NC | Overhills | 2025 | OF | 83 |
^ | Charlie Scott | SC | AC Flora | 2026 | OF | 83 |
^ | Christian Spivey | SC | Lexington | 2027 | 3B | 83 |
10 | Banks Knight | SC | Summerville High | 2025 | OF | 82 |
^ | Taco Ferguson | NC | Corinth Holders | 2025 | OF | 82 |
^ | Owen Cirasole | NC | Apex Friendship High | 2026 | LHP | 82 |
Catcher Pop Times & Positional Velocity
In the pro-style workout, catchers workout from behind home plate, making multiple throws to 2B, simulating a stolen base attempt. Scouts timed each throw from glove to glove, asking the middle infielders to let the ball travel to over the bag. A radar gun was used to gauge arm strength out of the crouch.
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Pop Time |
1 | Cross Yarborough | SC | P27 Baseball Academy | 2025 | C | 1.87-2.02 |
2 | Xander Sutton | NC | GASTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | 2026 | C | 1.93-2.02 |
3 | Mac Dawsey | SC | P27 Baseball Academy | 2025 | C | 1.93-2.09 |
4 | Davis Phillips | NC | BURLINGTON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 2025 | C | 1.93-2.11 |
5 | Chance Weathersbee | SC | Fox Creek High | 2025 | C | 1.93-2.26 |
6 | Tyler Bolemon | SC | SOUTHSIDE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | 2025 | C | 1.94-2.09 |
7 | Hodge Williams | NC | Holly Springs | 2026 | C | 1.94-2.13 |
8 | Gavin Squires | SC | switching | 2025 | C | 1.94-2.16 |
9 | Reid Johnson | NC | South Iredell High | 2026 | C | 1.96-2.14 |
10 | Garrett Byrd | NC | North Lenoir High | 2025 | C | 1.97-2.09 |
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | C Velo |
1 | Davis Phillips | NC | BURLINGTON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 2025 | C | 82 |
2 | Garrett Byrd | NC | North Lenoir High | 2025 | C | 79 |
^ | Cross Yarborough | SC | P27 Baseball Academy | 2025 | C | 79 |
3 | Mac Dawsey | SC | P27 Baseball Academy | 2025 | C | 78 |
^ | Xander Sutton | NC | GASTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | 2026 | C | 78 |
4 | Preston DeNapoli | SC | Lucy Beckham | 2025 | RHP | 77 |
5 | Evan Hogg | NC | SOUTHLAKE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 2026 | C | 76 |
^ | Tyler Bolemon | SC | SOUTHSIDE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | 2025 | C | 76 |
TrackMan Info - Pitcher Bullpens
Pitchers threw a controlled scrimmage, facing live hitters, showcasing their full arsenal of pitches. Velocity and spin rate information was gathered off of the TrackMan. TrackMan analytics are the official analytics and the velocities below were captured by TrackMan.
Max Fastball Velocity
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Velocity (max) |
1 | Dawson Siffri | SC | JL Mann | 2025 | RHP | 89.3 mph |
2 | JD Mace | NC | COMBINE ACADEMY | 2025 | RHP | 88.5 mph |
3 | Gabe Murray | NC | Fuquay-Varina High | 2025 | RHP | 88.2 mph |
4 | Garrett Byrd | NC | North Lenoir High | 2025 | C | 88.1 mph |
5 | Dane Purdy | NC | Apex High | 2026 | RHP | 87.5 mph |
6 | Caden Fragola | SC | Oceanside Collegiate Academy | 2025 | RHP | 87.3 mph |
7 | Owen Simmons | NC | JH Rose | 2025 | RHP | 87.2 mph |
8 | Aiden Smith | SC | Clover | 2026 | RHP | 87.1 mph |
9 | Jack Dalton | NC | Cleveland High | 2025 | RHP | 87.1 mph |
10 | John Collins | SC | Blythewood | 2026 | SS | 87.1 mph |
11 | Michael Gurganus | NC | Bear Grass Charter School | 2025 | RHP | 86.2 mph |
12 | Brayden Robinson | SC | South Florence High | 2025 | 3B | 86.1 mph |
13 | CJ Wallace | NC | TC Roberson | 2025 | RHP | 85.7 mph |
14 | Ayden Clay | SC | Pendleton High | 2025 | OF | 85.6 mph |
15 | Jeremy Powell | SC | White Knoll | 2026 | LHP | 85.6 mph |
Fastball Spin Rate (avg)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Dane Purdy | NC | Apex High | 2026 | RHP | 2356 rpm |
2 | Ben Bordeaux | NC | CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | 2026 | RHP | 2285 rpm |
3 | Jack Dalton | NC | Cleveland High | 2025 | RHP | 2235 rpm |
4 | JD Mace | NC | COMBINE ACADEMY | 2025 | RHP | 2218 rpm |
5 | Brayden Brogdon | SC | Rock Hill High | 2027 | OF | 2190 rpm |
- NC 2024 Top Prospect Games: Trackman Pitchers 8/16/24
- NC Future Games: Team NC vs. Team VA 8/15/24
- NC 2024 Top Prospect Games: Quick Hitters - 2027 Position Players 8/15/24
- NC Senior Future Games: NC Hitters BP Metrics 8/15/24
- NC 2024 Top Prospect Games: Quick Hitters - 2026 Position Players 8/15/24