Prep Baseball Report

Shippensburg Raiders Announce 2017 Early Signing Class



By Greg Williams
Pennsylvania / West Virginia Director of Scouting

Raiders Main LogoThe Shippensburg Raiders and head coach Matt Jones have announced the signing of five players to National Letters of Intent, including three recruits from Pennsylvania and one each from West Virginia and Virginia. The Raiders went 25-27 in 2016, including a 14-14 mark in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Shippensburg will look to return to the NCAA Division II World Series this spring after last making an appearance in 2013.

2017 EARLY COMMITS

James (Austin) BulmanAustin Bulman, 3B/RHP, Jefferson HS (WV)
PBR Rank: #5 in WV Class of 2017 rankings 
PBR Notes:
Physical right-handed hitter with a chance to be a two-way performer at the next level. Starter since his freshman year of high school for a program that has won back-to-back big school classification state titles. Career .375 hitter is closing in on 100 RBI and could also reach 100 runs scored during the course of his senior season.

Brayden ClairBrayden Clair, OF, Lancaster Catholic HS
PBR Rank: #106 in PA Class of 2017 rankings 
PBR Notes:
2015 PA Top Prospect Games 6/17/15 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed hitter with room to add strength, especially to upper half. Starts slightly open, strides to square, utilizes inside out approach with uphill path. Deep launch point creates some length with occasional spin on backside. Ran balls down well on defense. Long arm action and release with max workout arm strength of 86-mph on accurate throws with low trajectory.

Tanner HelmsTanner Helms, OF, Bellefonte HS
PBR Rank: NA
PBR Notes:
Athletic 6-foot-1, 190-pound three sport athlete (football/basketball). Helped lead Bellefonte to state AAA title in 2016. Hit .347 with 13 RBI and struck out just 11 times in 27 games. Showed signs of power potential with six doubles and a pair of home runs.

Scout KnottsScout Knotts, UTIL/RHP, South County SS
PBR Rank: NA
PBR Notes:
Projectable size at 6-foot-4, 210-pounds. Switch hitter with present power from both sides of the plate. Moves well for his size (7.25 60-yard dash) and has shown 85 mph arm strength across the diamond. Has shown raw ability on mound with potential to be a two-way guy at the next level.

Logan WilliamsonLogan Williamson, SS, Phillipsburg-Osceola HS
PBR Rank: #113 in PA Class of 2017 rankings
PBR Notes: Pennsylvania Travel Baseball Championships (8/19/16)
5-foot-10, 165-pounder went 4-for-11 with one double, two runs scored and two walks out of the leadoff spot over the course of the weekend. The right-handed hitter flashed bat speed and maintained it on offspeed pitches. Sound defender displayed the ability to make all the routine plays with above average arm strength while playing the ball on the move. Williamson committed to Shippensburg shortly after the completion of the tournament.

ADDITIONAL PA NEWS: