2026 NC/SC Border Battle: Leaderboards, Notes & Analysis

The 2026 NC/SC Border Battle once again brought together many of the top underclass prospects from the Carolinas, as more than 120 players from the 2027, 2028, and 2029 grad classes gathered at UNC Charlotte's Robert & Mariam Hayes Stadium for two days of evaluations and competition.

The event began on Tuesday, June 9th with a complete workout day. Position players participated in offensive and defensive evaluations while collecting a wide range of measurable data and advanced metrics. Hitters went through multiple rounds of batting practice with TrackMan technology capturing batted ball data and BLAST Motion providing swing analytics. Defensively, players worked from their primary positions, allowing the Prep Baseball scouting staff to evaluate athleticism, range, footwork, arm strength, and overall feel for the game.

Players also completed athletic testing throughout the day, including laser-timed 60-yard dashes with 10-yard and 30-yard split times, along with jump testing to measure explosiveness and overall athletic ability.

Competition shifted to game action on Wednesday, June 10th as players took part in 8-11 innings of controlled scrimmages. The live game environment allowed scouts to evaluate how each player's measurable tools translated at game speed while providing valuable opportunities for hitters and pitchers to compete against some of the top talent from both North Carolina and South Carolina. Pitching data was collected throughout game play using TrackMan technology, providing advanced metrics and in-game performance analysis.

Following the event, each player's Prep Baseball profile will be fully updated with statistics, advanced metrics, video, and scouting reports, allowing college coaches and professional scouts to continue tracking player development throughout their high school careers.

Prep Baseball North Carolina and Prep Baseball South Carolina would like to thank all of the players, parents, coaches, and scouts who helped make the 2026 NC/SC Border Battle another outstanding event.

Over the coming days, Prep Baseball will release statistical leaderboards, scouting notes, and player reports highlighting the top performers from both days of action.

More information, including the full roster, statistics, and advanced metrics, can be found here:

• 2026 NC/SC Border Battle

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Border Battle - North Carolina Pitching Quick Hitters

Class of 2027

Philip Daly, RHP/3B, Jordan, 2027
Solid carry on the heater with 18.0 inches of induced vertical break, and showcased a firm heater topping out at 85 mph. Long arms and wiry frame. More coming as he continues to mature.
Key Stats: Fastball IVB at 18.0 in | Fastball at 85 mph | Slider Spin at 2044 rpm

Blake French, OF/RHP, Davie County, 2027
Athletic presence and solid mover down the hill. Raw delivery will polish with time, allowing stuff to sync. Attacked with fastball / curveball combo, both getting soft contact throughout his live outing.
Key Stats: Fastball at 86 mph | Curveball Spin at 2285 rpm | Fastball Spin at 2141 rpm

Julian Guthrie, RHP/1B, Hoggard, 2027
Fastball created outs from an over-the-top slot. Hitters struggled to barrel the fastball with late action.
Key Stats: Fastball at 83 mph | Curveball Spin at 1934 rpm | Fastball IVB at 13.9 in

Joyner Haddock, OF/LHP, Junius H Rose, 2027
Missed bats with a 3-pitch arsenal. Got punches from each pitch over his two innings of work. Ball seemed to tunnel with each pitch offering solid action through the hitting zone.
Key Stats: Fastball Spin at 2208 rpm | Fastball at 84 mph | Slider Spin at 1985 rpm

Elijah Martin, SS/RHP, Green Hope, 2027
Fastball has jumped since our last view, getting on top of hitters with some ease. Solid level of deception in the delivery and release. Arm strength and arm speed have continued to tick up.
Key Stats: Fastball at 87 mph | Fastball IVB at 17.8 in | Curveball Spin at 2122 rpm

Cooper Redfern, RHP, Eastern Carolina Academy, 2027
Long frame. Creates angle from his release. Fastball and splitter pair well together. Good action on the splitter. Split allows the fastball to play up in the zone at times.
Key Stats: Fastball Spin at 2171 rpm | Fastball at 85 mph | Curveball Spin at 2004 rpm

Parker Simo, LHP/OF, Junius H Rose, 2027
Attacked with a solid arsenal of pitches that created discomfort and swing and miss. Works with pace. Attacks hitters and the strike zone. Fastball has carry, getting chase above the zone. Slider pairs with the fastball that is located down in the zone, missing barrels.
Key Stats: Fastball at 88 mph | Fastball IVB at 19.4 in | Slider Spin at 2336 rpm

Robbie Sutton, 3B/RHP, Topsail, 2027
Repeats the delivery and has some deception in the high-¾ slot. Average arm speed. Works to move the baseball throughout the zone. Breaking ball acts as a change of speed as well.
Key Stats: Fastball at 80 mph | Curveball Spin at 1504 rpm | Fastball IVB at 13.0 in

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Class of 2028

Ryder Anderson, RHP/1B, DH Conley, 2028
Heavy fastball with significant arm-side run, and attacked the zone with good arm speed, peaking at 88 mph. Slider works from a similar window as he fastball, creating issues for hitters.
Key Stats: Fastball at 88 mph | Slider Spin at 1977 rpm | Fastball IVB at 14.9 in

William Fansler, RHP/OF, Willow Spring, 2028
High ¾ slot working to create arm speed. Some effort. Moved the ball throughout the zone. Good feel for attacking hitters.
Key Stats: Fastball at 83 mph | Curveball Spin at 1771 rpm | Slider Spin at 1881 rpm

Tyler Garnett, LHP/OF, Northside High, 2028
Left hander is a solid mover down the hill. Hitters showed some discomfort as he was around the zone but effectively wild at times.
Key Stats: Fastball at 77 mph | Slider Spin at 2052 rpm | Fastball IVB at 15.7 in

Aiden Kirk, LHP/OF, Grace Christian School, 2028
Demonstrated a heavy fastball with significant arm-side run, and showcased a true power curve with exceptional spin rates averaging 2493 rpm.
Key Stats: Curveball Spin at 2493 rpm | Fastball at 82 mph | Fastball IVB at 14.0 in

Cayden McFalls, LHP/OF, Lincoln Charter, 2028
Ran the fastball up to 84 mph with minimal effort. Loose arm easily loads the scapular. Solid carry created some swing and miss in the zone as well as chase on the elevated fastball.
Key Stats: Fastball IVB at 17.0 in | Fastball at 84 mph | Curveball Spin at 1903 rpm

PATRICK REYNOLDS, SS/RHP, Calvary Day, 2028
Over the top arm action with solid arm speed. Breaking ball presented with top to bottom action.
Key Stats: Fastball IVB at 17.9 in | Fastball at 79 mph | Curveball Spin at 2141 rpm

Brax Thompson, SS/RHP, Providence, 2028
Featured elite spin characteristics on the fastball, allowing it to play up, and featured hard, boring action on the fastball with advanced horizontal movement. Big winner on the bump with stuff that was loud and in the zone producing awkward takes and swings.
Key Stats: Fastball at 91 mph | Curveball Spin at 2716 rpm | Fastball Spin at 2403 rpm

Jack Vannoy, RHP/OF, Needham Broughton, 2028
Tight slider that spun at 2405 rpm on average flashed at times. Arm strength present, touching 86mph. Solid body feel and direction down the mound. Youthful look. Should continue to see jumps in the coming seasons.
Key Stats: Fastball at 86 mph | Slider Spin at 2405 rpm | Fastball IVB at 15.8 in

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Class of 2029

Bennett Bush, SS/RHP, Hoggard, 2029
Around the zone topping out at 75 mph. Solid mover in an youthful frame is poised for jumps soon.
Key Stats: Fastball at 75 mph | Slider Spin at 1683 rpm | Fastball IVB at 12.6 in

Karsen Dodd, SS/3B, Providence, 2029
Good athlete flashed with his presence and arm action on the bump. Featured a sharp, slider with late biting action at 2145 rpm. Fastball up to 84mph seemed to jump on hitters when located in.
Key Stats: Slider Spin at 2145 rpm | Fastball at 84 mph | Fastball IVB at 15.2 in

Grayson Durrant, C/OF, Pro5 Academy, 2029
Long, lean frame. Multiple position guy with a short arm stroke and over-the-top slot. Strike thrower. Attacked hitters.
Key Stats: Fastball at 81 mph | Curveball Spin at 1876 rpm | Fastball IVB at 15.5 in

Dylan McAvoy, RHP/3B, First Flight High School, 2029
Heavy arm side run at times, working out of the hand. Simple delivery, repeatable, with solid direction down the mound.
Key Stats: Fastball at 79 mph | Curveball Spin at 1933 rpm | Fastball IVB at 14.4 in

CJ Nixon, LHP/OF, Grace Christian School, 2029
Advanced athlete with excellent feel for his age, on the bump. Ran the fastball up to 84 mph with minimal effort, and featured hard, boring action on the fastball with advanced horizontal movement. Swing and miss on three different pitches in 1 inning of work.
Key Stats: Fastball Spin at 2127 rpm | Fastball at 84 mph | Fastball IVB at 12.7 in

Kaiwi Sharp, SS/RHP, First Flight High School, 2029
Intriguing athlete on the bump. Raw delivery but the arm is on time and he is around teh zone. Arm strength and solid arm speed present. Big jumps could be coming in the near future.
Key Stats: Fastball at 85 mph | Curveball Spin at 1991 rpm | Fastball IVB at 12.6 in

Trevor Snyder, 1B/LHP, Metrolina Christian Academy, 2029
Featured hard, boring action on the fastball with solid horizontal movement. Long arms and legs. Youthful look. Repeats the delivery. Lots to like in the present with an eye toward what could be coming in the near future.
Key Stats: Curveball Spin at 2314 rpm | Fastball Spin at 2107 rpm | Fastball at 81 mph

Connor Stein, 1B/OF, Emsley A Laney, 2029
Missed barrels up in the zone thanks to 19.1 inches of vertical carry, and showcased a firm heater topping out at 84 mph.
Key Stats: Fastball IVB at 19.1 in | Fastball at 84 mph | Curveball Spin at 2046 rpm

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