Steve Sanders Tournament Scout Blog
March 1, 2022
Opening weekend in the state come and gone, and the first official weekend of the South Carolina High School baseball season is complete. Below, we highlight some of the top performances, from one of the first preseason tournaments in the state, The Steve Sanders Tournament.
SCOUTING REPORT STEVE SANDERS PRE-SEASON TOURNAMENT 2-25 TO 2-26
Tristan Smith (Boiling Springs, LHP, 2022) Clemson
The Lefty showed why he is one of the top arms in the country with big arm talent and electric upside. Had good feel for all his pitches. Showed a hard wipeout slider (79-82) that he would sometimes pitch backwards with. Overpowered hitters with his FB (91-94 T95). Often went to the top of the zone, creating a lot of swing and miss.
Tristan Smith (2022 LHP @BaseballBSHS) electric early in this one. Has K’d 6 of 9 batters faced. Wipeout Slider with the FB having late tail on RHH.
— Drew Stewart™ï¸ (@Stewie_2) February 26, 2022
FB | 91-94 T95
SL | 79-82 #PBRISTHERE #STEVESANDERS @PBR_SC @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/MZWzD4rs5v
Colin Elmore (Hillcrest, RHP, 2022) Uncommitted
Athletic body that showed a lot of poise on the bump. Threw a heavy FB 84-86. Was able to mix a breaker in at 71, with good feel. Kept a good hitting team off balance for most of the game. Showed good mechanics out of the stretch and windup.
Colin Elmore (2022 RHP @HHSRamsBaseball @ColinElmore5) keeping hitters off balance. Shown good feel for BB. Runs FB up the 🪜
— Drew Stewart™ï¸ (@Stewie_2) February 26, 2022
FB | 84-85
CB | 71-72#PBRISTHERE #STEVESANDERS @PBR_SC pic.twitter.com/2Biqbmmlxn
Johann Rodriguez (Chapman, C/OF, 2023) Uncommitted
Mainly a Catcher but played RF during this game. Barreled a lot of balls in this one but didn’t have the results to show for it. Athletic actions in the box and the field. High leg kick with average pop. Looks to lift most balls. Seems to get better each showing.
Carson Boleman (Southside Christian, LHP, 2026) Uncommitted
At lot to like from this kid. Tall/ Lanky frame with a lot more room to grow. He showed finesse in this game against an experienced team. Located in and around the zone. Showed a good slider with late break (70-72). Threw his changeup (75-76) effectively around the zone creating a lot of swing and miss. Located the FB (82-84) in all quadrants of the plate, effectively running it in on hitters. Definitely an arm to keep eyes on moving forward.
Carson Boleman (2026 LHP @SabresSCS) showing a lot of upside early in this game vs JL Mann. Tall/Lanky frame. Locates all pitches in/around the zone. Changes speeds w/ FB to keep hitters off balance as well as mixing in a late breaker.
— Drew Stewart™ï¸ (@Stewie_2) February 26, 2022
FB | 80-83 T84
CB | 70-72 @PBR_SC pic.twitter.com/qWfmCvK0gY
Joe Cash (Spartanburg, OF, 2023) Uncommitted
Lefty hitter with a knack for finding the barrel. Has + speed to go along with it. Very disciplined at the plate. Seemed to control the outfield very well. Barrel control with quick hand speed, looking to go middle/away. Will be a close follow this spring.
Joe Cash (2023 RF @SHSVikingSports @joewilly84) drives in two with a deep backside double. Athletic with +speed. Also has a single in this one. #PBRISTHERE #STEVESANDERS @PBR_SC pic.twitter.com/w4WMnQxhpO
— Drew Stewart™ï¸ (@Stewie_2) February 26, 2022
Ian Squires (Spartanburg, RHP, 2023) Uncommitted
First time seeing Squires pitch. Big frame, but sneaky athletic as he showed he can swing it with good power. Showed control of the whole game, staying out of trouble. Mixed pitches well. FB had hop coming in at 83-85. Late sharp break to the CB at 73-74. Lot of confidence on the bump. Will be an interesting follow this spring.
Ian Squires (2023 RHP @SHSVikingSports) 84-85 early in this one. Tallied 3 Ks in the Top of the 1st. Keeping hitters off balance. Big physical frame.#PBRISTHERE #STEVESANDERS @PBR_SC pic.twitter.com/B9iLy66V2i
— Drew Stewart™ï¸ (@Stewie_2) February 26, 2022
Davis Rising (Chesnee, IF, 2023) Uncommitted
Short/simple approach at the plate with good barrel feel. Had 2 backside knocks in the contest that I saw him. Played a strong 3B with a quick first step and average arm across the diamond.
Davis Rising (2023 3B @ChesneeBaseball) with another backside knock to drive in Thompson to stretch the Chesnee lead to 3-0 in the top of the 5th.#PBRISTHERE #STEVESANDERS @PBR_SC pic.twitter.com/Ajge32oa14
— Drew Stewart™ï¸ (@Stewie_2) February 25, 2022
Deacon Cox (Spartanburg, OF, 2022) Uncommitted
One of the fastest kids I have seen in SC. Had a hustle triple that wasn’t even close. Very simple approach at the plate, looking to hit line drives up the middle. Hand speed allows him to catch up the FB in many parts of the zone. The speed makes him a gamechanger in the outfield and to go along with the speed he has a above average arm.
Deacon Cox (2022 LF @SHSVikingSports @deacon_cox) w/ 2Ks stays short on this ball and drives it into RF for an RBI to put Spartanburg up 3-0 early #PBRISTHERE #STEVESANDERS @PBR_SC pic.twitter.com/iyQZ8qa6Sf
— Drew Stewart™ï¸ (@Stewie_2) February 26, 2022
Bryce Harder (JL Mann, RHP, 2024) Uncommitted
Solid arm that showed some promise. Harder’s FB sat 80-82 filling the zone producing a lot of soft contact. FB showed some cut late. Was able to command the breaker in the zone to become an effective out pitch. Athletic frame that will continue to fill out and add more velo.