2026 East Coast Super Sophomore Games: Rewinding a Premier Weekend for the Class of 2029

From Friday, July 31 through Sunday, August 2, Columbia, South Carolina, played host to the 2026 East Coast Super Sophomore Games. Rivaling the format and prestige of the legendary Future Games, this premier event served as a marquee showcase for the top high school baseball talent along the East Coast.

Over the three-day weekend, Founders Park (home of the University of South Carolina) and Lexington County Ballpark (home of the Coastal Plain League's Columbia Blowfish) transformed into the epicenter of amateur baseball. The tournament featured 10 regional teams representing nine different states, including dedicated rosters for Team NC and Team Select that highlighted top-tier regional talent.

For the players—all premier prospects from the Class of 2029—the event offered a massive opportunity to go head-to-head with their highest-ranked peers. For collegiate coaching staffs in attendance, and watching from their campus, the weekend marked the official starting line to initiate and build out their 2029 recruiting boards, backed by both advanced analytics and live in-game evaluations.

The action kicked off Friday at Founders Park with an intensive data-collection and player workout session. Following the showcase portion, teams transitioned to live game play, battling through three a three game schedule that concluded on Sunday.

Now that the dust has settled, we are diving deep into the data and the tape. Read on as we break down the standout performers, metric leaders, and defining scouting insights from a weekend loaded with future college and professional talent!

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Position Player Quick Hitters

Will Brincefield, C/2B, Needham Broughton, 2029
Switch hitter with advanced rhythm and solid barrel feel. Bat will drive the prospect. Displayed a strong, physical swing that produced a max exit velocity of 91.0 mph.
Key Stats: Max Exit Velocity at 91.0 mph | Average Exit Velocity at 82.5 mph | 30-Yard Dash in 4.01s

Whitton Butler, 1B/RHP, High Point Christian Academy, 2029
Physical with an advanced power tool. Produced elite-level peak impact, registering a max exit velocity of 99.0 mph. Flashed an ability to play 1B and OF.
Key Stats: Max Exit Velocity at 99.0 mph | Average Exit Velocity at 86.7 mph | 30-Yard Dash in 3.97s

Cole Christian, C/RHP, South Mecklenburg, 2029
Potential dual but projects as a position player first. Power tool is advanced. Natural lift in the swing. Showed elite consistency and hard-hit ability, averaging 88.8 mph. Good bend and a solid release behind the dish. Showed off a quick release and big arm strength, touching 79.0 mph from the crouch.
Key Stats: Average Exit Velocity at 88.8 mph | Catcher Velocity at 79.0 mph | Max Exit Velocity at 94.0 mph

Karsen Dodd, SS/3B, Providence, 2029
Length in the limbs, still growing into his frame. Just scratching the surface of what the ceiling could be in the future. Showed elite consistency and hard-hit ability, averaging 91.4 mph, and displayed high-end linear speed and athletic twitch with a 3.82s 30-yard dash.
Key Stats: Max Exit Velocity at 96.0 mph | Average Exit Velocity at 91.4 mph | 30-Yard Dash in 3.82s

Owen Duncan, SS/RHP, Metrolina Christian Academy, 2029
High level prospect was smooth in the field, quick in the box, and projects as a potential true dual position (SS/RHP) prospect. Featured a repeatable swing path, resulting in consistent hard contact, and produced elite-level peak impact, registering a max exit velocity of 95.0 mph.
Key Stats: Max Exit Velocity at 95.0 mph | Infield Velocity at 88.0 mph | Average Exit Velocity at 88.1 mph

Jacob Frangipane, SS/RHP, NC Wake County Warriors, 2029
Long limbs and young frame. Displayed a strong, physical swing that produced a max exit velocity of 89.0 mph. In game made adjustments at-bat to at-bat finding the barrel throughout the weekend. Featured a repeatable swing path, resulting in consistent hard contact.
Key Stats: 30-Yard Dash in 3.83s | Max Exit Velocity at 89.0 mph | Average Exit Velocity at 86.1 mph

Chase Kafes, C/OF, Heritage, 2029
Showcased high-end barrel strength, reaching a peak exit velocity of 90.0 mph, and tested as an elite athletic mover, registering a 25.2-inch vertical jump. Solid receiver with a solid release and easy carry through 2B. Pitchers enjoyed throwing to him behind the dish.
Key Stats: Peak Jump Height at 25.2 in | Max Exit Velocity at 90.0 mph | Average Exit Velocity at 82.7 mph

Keaton Larsen, SS/RHP, Pinecrest, 2029
Thin frame and young look. Still plenty of maturation coming to the frame. Good mover, flashed quickness and solid strength. Showcased high-end barrel strength, reaching a peak exit velocity of 91.0 mph.
Key Stats: Max Exit Velocity at 91.0 mph | Average Exit Velocity at 83.0 mph | 30-Yard Dash in 3.94s

Max Liriano, SS/3B, Eastern Carolina Academy, 2029
Showed explosive lower-half power with a top-tier vertical jump of 24.0 inches. Easy mover on the infield with rhythm in the feet and hands. Flashed the ability to throw with ease from multiple slots and platforms as he made plays on the move. Lived on the barrel during his BP session, posting a remarkable 89.9 mph average exit velocity.
Key Stats: Average Exit Velocity at 89.9 mph | Peak Jump Height at 24.0 in | Max Exit Velocity at 92.0 mph

Cooper Long, SS/RHP, Our Home, 2029
Potential dual position prospect. Excellent ball to barrel feel in BP and in live-game action. Gap strength. Back spun balls to both gaps in live game action. Produced elite-level peak impact, registering a max exit velocity of 96.0 mph in BP.
Key Stats: Max Exit Velocity at 96.0 mph | Average Exit Velocity at 81.2 mph | 30-Yard Dash in 3.99s

Michael Marelli, OF/RHP, Providence High School, 2029
Length in a young frame. Will mature and fill out, adding strength. Good quickness in the frame now. Direct bat path with good feel for pitch recognition and the strike zone. Generated firm contact throughout his BP round, topping out at 88.0 mph.
Key Stats: Max Exit Velocity at 88.0 mph | Average Exit Velocity at 79.1 mph | 30-Yard Dash in 3.85s

Colton Pettinato, 2B/RHP, Metrolina Academy, 2029
Does a lot of things on the field with ease. Consistently finds himself in the right spots on the field. Arm should play from the left side as the feet and hands continue to work to find their rhythm. Fired strikes across the dirt with a high-end 88.0 mph infield arm. Quick bat showcased explosive bat-to-ball strength, peaking at 95.0 mph off the bat.
Key Stats: Max Exit Velocity at 95.0 mph | Average Exit Velocity at 88.7 mph | 30-Yard Dash in 3.84s

Sam Piscorik, 3B/RHP, Wakefield, 2029
Left handed hitter was one of the highlights of the workout day with advanced strength and quickness while showing consistent barrel feel. This translated into game action as well, getting to high level fastballs and showing zone feel. BP averaged 93.4 mph, and displayed high-end linear speed and athletic twitch with a 3.84s 30-yard dash. Solid defender with plenty of arm to stay on the left side as he matures.
Key Stats: Max Exit Velocity at 101.0 mph | Average Exit Velocity at 93.4 mph | 30-Yard Dash in 3.84s

Deeyon Roundtree, OF/SS, Wake Forest, 2029
Advanced rhythm and looseness. “Hitterish” as he gets into the box and into his load. Setup to have success as he continues to add strength to the frame. Generated firm contact throughout his BP round, topping out at 93.0 mph, and tested as an elite athletic mover, registering a 24.4-inch vertical jump.
Key Stats: Peak Jump Height at 24.4 in | Max Exit Velocity at 93.0 mph | Average Exit Velocity at 85.0 mph

Kingston Rupert, OF/SS, Wilmington Christian Academy, 2029
Burned up the turf, clocking an impressive 3.74s in the 30-yard sprint. Speed translated defensively, marking his ability to stay in the middle of the field as he gets older. The speed played offensively as well, forcing quicker actions and decisions on several occasions in live game action. In BP, maintained a tight dispersion of contact quality with excellent barrel control.
Key Stats: Peak Jump Height at 25.9 in | 30-Yard Dash in 3.74s | Max Exit Velocity at 88.0 mph

Kaiwi Sharp, SS/RHP, First Flight High School, 2029
Good athlete. Solid combination of quickness and strength. Defensively, made several plays on the move look easy. Displayed a strong, physical swing that produced a max exit velocity of 93.0 mph in BP.
Key Stats: Max Exit Velocity at 93.0 mph | Average Exit Velocity at 78.2 mph | 30-Yard Dash in 4.17s

Ryder Sheffield, SS/RHP, North Stanly, 2029
Baseball player. Was a high end producer in the workout and in live game action. Plays with advanced pace, putting pressure on the defense, while creating an advantage on defense. BP swing carried over to live game action with ease. Showed explosive lower-half power with a top-tier vertical jump of 26.0 inches, and showcased quick-twitch athleticism and top-of-the-scale speed with a 3.75s 30-yard dash.
Key Stats: Max Exit Velocity at 95.0 mph | Average Exit Velocity at 90.5 mph | Peak Jump Height at 26.0 in

Connor Stein, 1B/OF, Emsley A Laney, 2029
Long frame, showed an ability to shorten the bat path and produce quality contact against high end arms. Lots of projection left as he continues to fill out the frame. Power tool could take big jumps as he begins to mature and age into the frame. Max exit velocity of 95.0 mph.
Key Stats: Max Exit Velocity at 95.0 mph | Average Exit Velocity at 86.9 mph | 30-Yard Dash in 3.97s

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