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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Pitching Quick Hitters

Dennis Andrison, RHP/OF, Topsail, 2029
Worked two innings in the finale, showcasing raw stuff that played well above the radar readings and consistently disrupted hitters' timing. His fastball topped out at 85 mph with carry, and he paired it effectively with a sharp breaking ball that showed solid depth and spin up to 2332 rpm.
Key Stats: Fastball at 85.0 mph | Fastball IVB at 16.7 in | Curveball Spin at 2332 rpm

Cole Christian, C/RHP, South Mecklenburg, 2029
Pitched with impressive power metrics, missing barrels up in the zone thanks to an elite 21.1 inches of vertical carry on his fastball. He reached 86 mph and generated multiple swings-and-misses in the zone while pairing the heater with a 12/6 breaking ball.
Key Stats: Fastball IVB at 21.1 in | Fastball at 86.0 mph | Curveball Spin at 2223 rpm

Karsen Dodd, SS/3B, Providence, 2029
Moved easily down the mound during his outing, running his fastball up to 87 mph. He spun a sharp breaking ball with late biting action, generating exceptional spin rates peaking at 2337 rpm.
Key Stats: Fastball at 87.0 mph | Curveball Spin at 2337 rpm | Fastball Spin at 2081 rpm

Owen Duncan, SS/RHP, Metrolina Christian Academy, 2029
Showcased high-end dual-prospect capability with a clean final inning. Working effortlessly down the line, he pumped fastballs up to 89 mph with 17.6 inches of carry and run. He paired his heater with an advanced breaking ball spinning up to 2605 rpm.
Key Stats: Fastball at 89.0 mph | Curveball Spin at 2605 rpm | Fastball IVB at 17.6 in

Jacob Frangipane, SS/RHP, NC Wake County Warriors, 2029
Kept Team Select within striking distance with two strong innings of relief. Working from a low-3/4 slot with long limbs, he fired a heavy sinker topping at 85 mph with significant arm-side run (14.3 inches of horizontal movement), paired with a sweeping slider.
Key Stats: Fastball HM at 14.3 in | Fastball at 85.0 mph | Slider Spin at 2431 rpm

Logan Grainger, 3B/RHP, Emsley A Laney, 2029
Located all around the zone with a simple, repeatable delivery. He showcased a firm heater topping out at 85 mph with huge horizontal movement (15.8 inches), setting it up with a late-fading changeup and a tight breaking ball spinning up to 2348 rpm.
Key Stats: Fastball HM at 15.8 in | Fastball at 85.0 mph | Curveball Spin at 2348 rpm

Aiden Kirkland, RHP/SS, High Point Christian Academy, 2029
Missed bats consistently with an electric fastball that topped at 85 mph and featured elite vertical movement, registering up to 19.5 inches of IVB. An athletic mover with an "effectively wild" presence that kept hitters uncomfortable throughout his live AB session.
Key Stats: Fastball IVB at 19.5 in | Fastball at 85.0 mph | Curveball Spin at 1952 rpm

Keaton Larsen, SS/RHP, Pinecrest, 2029
Impressed scouts in the bullpen with his ability to spin the baseball. While his fastball sat 83-85 mph, his breaking ball was the main attraction, showcasing a peak spin rate of 3026 rpm with hard 10/4 tilt and heavier sweep than depth.
Key Stats: Curveball Spin at 3026 rpm | Fastball at 85.0 mph | Fastball Spin at 2061 rpm

Cooper Long, SS/RHP, Our Home, 2029
Worked two controlled innings of relief, attacking aggressively out of a broad-shouldered frame. His fastball topped at 85 mph and showed significant run (13.3 inches of HM), which he complemented well with a fading changeup.
Key Stats: Fastball HM at 13.3 in | Fastball at 85.0 mph | Curveball Spin at 1888 rpm

Landen McElhinny, RHP/SS, Corvian, 2029
Set a dominant early tone, retiring every batter he faced in his first two innings. He pounded the zone up to 86 mph with heavy sink metrics that generated consistent soft contact, while still missing bats with both his fastball and a sharp 2348 rpm breaking ball.
Key Stats: Fastball at 86.0 mph | Curveball Spin at 2348 rpm | Fastball Spin at 2082 rpm

CJ Nixon, LHP/OF, Grace Christian School, 2029
Tossed two clean innings with a polished 3-pitch mix. He moved his fastball (topping at 82 mph) in and out while landing a sweeping breaking ball with sharp depth and tilt.
Key Stats: Fastball IVB at 17.4 in | Fastball at 82.0 mph | Slider Spin at 1939 rpm

Colton Pettinato, 2B/RHP, Metrolina Academy, 2029
Flooded the strike zone in a clean inning prior to the rain delay, displaying an athletic arm path and easy movement down the mound. He brought elite velocity, touching 88 mph with the heater and flashing a high-spin slider (2610 rpm).
Key Stats: Fastball at 88.0 mph | Slider Spin at 2610 rpm | Fastball HM at 13.5 in

Sam Piscorik, 3B/RHP, Wakefield, 2029
Came on in relief and pumped fastballs in the 84-88 mph range from a 3/4 slot to generate soft contact. Showcased high-end arm strength and spun a slider peaking at 2284 rpm.
Key Stats: Fastball at 88.0 mph | Slider Spin at 2284 rpm | Fastball IVB at 15.7 in

Noah Rumley, LHP/OF, Revolution Academy, 2029
Driven by an explosive high 3/4 slot, the physical lefty flashed massive potential. He brought elite velocity to the mound, touching 89 mph with a heavy heater that showed advanced arm-side run (-9.9 HM).
Key Stats: Fastball at 89.0 mph | Curveball Spin at 2450 rpm | Fastball Spin at 2150 rpm

Kaiwi Sharp, SS/RHP, First Flight High School, 2029
Worked two dominant innings with a high-upside fastball/curveball mix. His fastball topped out at 84 mph with elevation, paired beautifully with a late-biting 10/4 curveball that generated elite spin peaking at 2481 rpm.
Key Stats: Curveball Spin at 2481 rpm | Fastball at 84.0 mph | Fastball IVB at 12.9 in

Connor Stein, 1B/OF, Emsley A Laney, 2029
Sat up to 86 mph with natural whip and a power arsenal when flooding the zone. Missed barrels up in the zone thanks to an impressive 18.7 inches of induced vertical carry on his fastball.
Key Stats: Fastball IVB at 18.7 in | Fastball at 86.0 mph | Curveball Spin at 2083 rpm

Owen Todd, LHP/1B, Pinecrest, 2029
Generated high swing-and-miss rates from a low slot. His fastball reached 85 mph with significant horizontal run (-12.8 HM) and high spin (2333 rpm), paired effectively with a sweeping breaking ball spinning up to 2391 rpm.
Key Stats: Fastball Spin at 2333 rpm | Fastball at 85.0 mph | Slider Spin at 2391 rpm

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