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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

Quick Hitters NC Hitters - NC/SC Border Battle

2027 Class

Anderew Caracio, LHP/1B, Pro 5 Baseball Academy

6'1"-194lb frame, wide base and take direct path to ball, Max exit velocity of 98.7mph, shows quickness with 1.57sec ten yard gate and 82mph arm across the diamond. 

Fletcher Owens, 2B/SS, Homeschool

5'11"-155lb frame, upright stance with slight hand waggle before swing, Max Exit Velocity of 89.2mph, 7.16sec sixty yard dash time and a 76mph arm from the infield.

Nathan Rice, SS/2B, Willow Spring High School

5'8"-140lb frame, switch hitter, creates natural loft from left side and stays more line drive focused on right side, exit velocity up to 86.2mph, 77mph arm from SS. 

Kellen Rogers, SS/OF, Wake Forest High School

5'10"-139lb athletic frame, shows quickness with 6.85sec sixty yard dash, smooth swing with sligh bat wrap at load, exit velocity max of 90.6mph and 78mph arm across the diamond. 

Weston Sykes, SS/RHP, Wesleyan Christian Academy

5'11"-150lb SS with a strong arm reaching 82mph from his postion, short quick swing from the right side creating backspin and producing a max exit velocity of 82.1mph.

Giovanni Tafalla, C/2B, Willow Spring High School

5'11"- 183lb Catchers frame, best pop time of 2.19 with a 70mph arm from behind the dish, big leg load and stride from both sides of the plate producing a max exit velocity of 92.2mph. 

Luke Talley, 1B/LHP, Green Level High School

6'0" - 169lb frame, shows athleticism and a strong arm with 22.4mph max hand speed and 81mph arm from frist base. Relaxed hands during his load that get to the zone quickly and produce a max exit velocity of 88.7mph. 

Jacson Taplin, OF/LHP, Homeschool

6'2"-180lb frame, lofted swing from the left side that produces travle on the ball, max exity velocity of 92.1mph. 78mph arm from the outfield and 77mph arm from the infeld. 

Brodie Tuthill, SS/RHP, Ashley Ridge HIgh School

5'11"-156lb frame, shows a strong arm across the diamond with a max infield velocity of 84mph. Vertical barrel in box and gets the hands through the zone and to the ball, max exit velocity of 87.8mph. 

2026 Class

Zeke Adwaters III, SS/2B, T.C. Roberson High School

5'11"-156lb fast twitch RHH middler infielder, 21.2mph hand speed and a strong arm across the diamond at 86mph. Max exit velocity of 91.9mph in the box. 

Jacob Cesarz, SS/2B, Cary Christian School

5'10"-156lb middler infielder with speed and athleticism, 6.60sec sixty time and a 1.61sec 10 yard gate, vertical jump of 32.2". 82mph bolt across the diamond and a max exit velocity of 90.3mph.

Owen Cirasole, LHP/OF, Apex Friendship High School

6'0"-180lb OF with a strong arm and fast hands, 85mph throw of the outfield and a max hand speed of 23.4mph. Power from the right side with toe tap load producing exit velos up to 96.7mph.

Crawford Elrod, 3B/SS, Westchester Country Day High School

6'1"-170lb infielder showcasing a strong arm and power from the right side. 86mph infield velocity, bat speed up to 75.1mph, and a max exit velocity of 93.0mph. 

Christian Gentrup, SS/2B, Northwest Guilford High School

5'7"-174lb strong bodied middle infielder, 7.00sec flat sixty yard dash time, 80mph infield throwing velocity, bat speed up to 74.1mph and a max exit velocity of 92.4mph from the right side. 

Fisher Goodwin, 3B/1B, North Brunswick High School

6'3"-228lb corner infielder with pop from the left side, short stride and gets the barrel on plane and through the zone, 97.8mph max exit velocity and 79mph bolt across the diamond. 

Cooper Gornet, SS/3B, Charlotte Catholic High School

6'2"-168lb infielder with a smooth swing and feel for the barrel, Strong arm across the infield at 87mph, hand speed up to 22.7mph and a max exit velocity from the right side of 93.6mph.

Evan Hogg, C/SS, Southlake Christian Academy

5'11"-161lb Catcher/INF, 2.12sec best pop time to second showcasing a 76mph arm from behind home and 82mph across the diamond. Shows power producing exit velocities up to 94.7mph

Gavin Jackson, 1B/RHP, Cleveland High School

6'4"-215lb body on the right handed first baseman, 82mph arm from first to third, powerful swing with bat speed up to 74.8mph and a max exit velocity of 97.2mph.

Reid Johnson, C/OF, South Iredell High School

6'1"-192lb frame, smooth transition on throws to second with a pop time of 1.96sec and 75mph arm behind home and 82mph arm from the outfield. 96.9 max exit velocity from the right hander. 

Cole Rogers, C/3B, Wake Forest High School

6'1"-162lb Catcher with quick hands and a strong arm, 76mph velocity on throw downs with his best pop time coming in at 2.06sec. Narrow stance in the box transitions with a long stride and exit velocity up to 89.5mph. 

Tariq Stone, OF, East Wake High School

5'9"-193lb outfielder that gets the barrel on plane from the left side and shows power, 99.4 max exit velocity, 7.09sec sixty yard dash and a 79mph arm from the outfield. 

Xander Sutton, C/3B, Gaston Christian School

5'10"-165lb Catcher with event best pop time of 1.93sec and a strong arm on the throw at 78mph, toe tap load and a vertical barrel that creates loft with exit velocity max of 93.1mph.

Conor Tregoning, 1B/OF, Reagan High School

6'6"-195lb imposing frame, short compact swing from the right side that produces exit velocities up to 100mph and a max distance of 347 feet. 79mph velo from the outfield and 77mph from the infield. 

Hodge Williams, C/RHP, Holly Springs High School

5'11"-184lb catcher, 1.94sec pop time along with a 74mph velocity on the throw, wide stance in box with a no stride approach that produces power with a max exit velocity of 92.0mph.

Michael Woodard, 1B/LHP, New Bern High School

6'6"-205lb first basemans body, slight bat wrap from the left side, produces natural lift on the ball and exit velocities up to 96.9mph and a max distance of 351 feet. 

2025 Class

Bryce Smith, 2025, OF, Voyager Academy

6’4 185. Lanky LHH OF with quick hands.  Creates leverage with frame, exit velo maxed at 97.2 MPH and a Max Distance of 377ft. Ran a 6.85 60.

Evan Matile, 2025 OF/1B, East Lincoln High School

6’2 200. Physical LHH with power to pull side. Showcased good feel for barrel, max exit velo was 96.9 MPH. Arm Peaked at 81 MPH from OF.

Hayden Fones, 2025, INF, Apex Friendship High School

6’2 200. Whippy athletic barrel with plus bat speed. Bat speed peaked at 79.3 MPH. Max exit velo peaked at 97 MPH. Posted a 7.02 60.

Davis Phillips, 2025, C, The Burlington School

6’2 185.  Athletic catcher with exciting tools package. Pop Times ranged 1.93-2.13. Electric bat speed maxing out at 81.6 MPH. Exit velo peaked at 99.6 MPH.

Owen Simmons, 2025, OF, JH Rose High School

5’9 190. Athletic mover with a thick lower half. Posted a 1.61 10-yard split. Bat speed peaked at 77 MPH. Exit velo maxed out at 90.3 MPH.

Parker Trexler, 2025, INF, West Forsyth High School

6’2 175. Works behind the ball generating loft in swing. Had a average distance of 274 ft with a max distance of 347 ft. Arm peaked at 88 MPH across diamond with carry.

Garrett Byrd, 2025, C, North Lenior High School

5’10 190. Physical Catcher with good hands behind the plate. Pop times ranged 1.97-2.09. Plus bat speed peaked at 83.9 MPH with a max exit velo of 98.5 MPH.

Robert Sasser, 2025, OF, Pro 5 Academy

6’ 175. Elite athlete posted a 6.85 60 and a vertical of 36 in. Explosive strength in swing, exit velo maxed at 100.5 and a max distance of 391 ft.

Michael Gurganus, 2025, INF, Bear Grass Charter

5’10 200. Line drive approach with barrel feel working to the middle of field. Exit velo peaked at 94.7 MPH. Arm topped 85 across the diamond.

Thomas Shumaker, 2025, C, North Iredell High School

6’1 205. Physical presence in the box with strength in swing present.  Exit velo maxed at 96.2 with a max distance of 341 ft. Pop times ranged 2.18-2.21.

Caden Davidson, 2025, 1B, TC Roberson High School

6’2 205. Physical frame with a feel for the barrel. Power is present with a max exit velo of 100.2 MPH along with a average exit velo of 92.5 MPH.

Ethan Simmons, 2025, INF, JH Rose High School

5’11 190.  Simple direct swing with impressive bat speed up to 80.9 MPH. In the field a quick first step with good actions. Arm peaked at 86 across the diamond.

Eben Greene, 2025, OF, East Forsyth High School

5’10 177. Arm showed well from OF up to 88 with accuracy.  Posted a 1.68 10 yard split.  Exit velo peaked at 90 MPH.

Ben Green, 2025, INF, Hickory Grove Christian

5’11 185. Athletic mover posted a 6.68 60. Arm peaked at 87 MPH across the diamond. Looseness in the swing with a middle of field approach, exit velo topped at 98.8 MPH.

Cooper Phillips, 2025, INF, Pro 5 Academy

5’11 165. Rhythmic in the box with a pull side approach. Exit velo peaked at 90 MPH. Arm strength is present arm peaked at 90 across the diamond.

Southern Smith-Tilley, 2025, OF, Mooresville High School

6’ 162. Looks to do damage in the box, working more to pull side. Exit velo peaked at 96.4 with a average exit velo of 88.3. Arm peaked at 86 MPH from outfield.

Bradley Elias, 2025, OF, Camden Early College

6’ 150. Simple swing with good extension, likes to work in middle of field. Exit velo peaked at 93.9 MPH. Arm peaked at 79 mph.

Lucas Riley, 2025, OF, Ledford High School

6’ 165. Vertical approach with feel for barrel. Exit velo maxed at 92.4 MPH while the average exit velo maxed at 88.9. Arm peaked at 80 MPH from the OF.

Vincent Lee, 2025, INF, Pro 5 Academy

5’9 150. Athletic mover posted a 60 of 7.00, posted a vertical of 34.7 in. Arm peaked at 87 MPH across the diamond. Max exit velo was 90.8 MPH.

Issac Devine, 2025, OF, Overhills High School

5’8 150. LHH with rhythm in the swing. Posted a max exit velo of 91.3 MPH with a max distance of 330 ft. Arm peaked at 83 with accuracy on throws.

Taco Ferguson, 2025, OF, Corinth Holders

5’9 175. Middle of the field approach with carry in the gaps. Bat speed maxed out at 77.5 MPH. Exit Velo peaked at 91.3. Arm topped 82 from OF.

Tate Whitehead, 2025, INF, Southwest High School

5’9 170. Short swing with direct path to ball. Exit velo maxed out at 93.6 MPH with a max distance of 329 ft. Posted a 1.65 10 yard split.

Zeb Swangim, 2025, INF, TC Roberson High School

5’7 160. Whippy barrel with good extension, bat speed maxed at 80.2 MPH. Exit velo peaked at 94.2 MPH. Arm showed good carry topping 88 across diamond.

Jahdier Rodriguez, 2025, C, Charlote Catholic

5’11 172. Vertical barrel with a inside out approach. Exit velo maxed at 90.8 MPH with a max distance of 355 ft. Pop times ranged 2.1-2.26.

Alex Lerch, 2025, INF, Metrolina Christian

5’8 145. Quick twitch LHH athlete with a 1.63 10-yard split and 6.85 60. Exit velo peaked at 90.5 MPH and INF velo topped 81 across.