Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

2026 Playoffs Week 1 Scout Blogs

May 8, 2026
PBSC Staff
PB of SC

The 2026 State Playoffs Are Here!

The regular season is complete. The road to a state title starts now.

Class 5A and 4A open postseason play on Monday, May 4. First pitch marks the start of a high pressure stretch where every pitch matters. Class 3A, 2A, and 1A follow on Tuesday, May 5 with first round matchups across the state.

Teams earned their spot through months of work. Now the margin for error is gone. Pitching staffs get tested. Lineups need quality at bats. Defense must hold up in big moments.

Early games will set the tone. Expect tight scores. Expect momentum swings. Expect players to step into bigger roles.

Below are notes and video highlights from standout performances during the opening rounds.

+ Interested in attending an upcoming event? CLICK HERE

+ Interested in a Prep Baseball Subscription? CLICK HERE

SCOUT BLOGS

Tre Lawrence, 2029, OF, Cane Bay HS
One of the top freshmen in the state and in the country and he showed why in a small sample size Monday night. Physical frame that grabs your attention as soon as he steps to the plate. While he didn’t collect a hit in Game 1 of the playoffs, he was able to work a long AB that resulted in a walk and later on hit a screaming L8. Simple approach in the box with no stride. Explodes the hands thru and keeps them inside. Great pitch recognition for a youngster. Keeps the chase rate down and doesn’t try to do too much. Going to be a real problem for opposing teams for years to come. 

Parker Holladay, 2028, 3B, Summerville
Impressive showing to start the playoffs for another youngster. 3-4 night with 3 RBIs and a 2B. Showed ability to hit to all fields for power. Keeps a flat bat path through the zone. Consistent loud contact all night long. Good runner. A great kid to follow for the next 3 years. 

Carter Gulloti, 2026, OF, Summerville
Cleveland CC signee. The senior leadoff hitter showcased his ability to be an on base machine. Simple approach with a quiet load. Consistent LD to both sides of the field early in counts. Controls the zone well and is the perfect guy to get an offense rolling. Covers ground well in the OF also. Smooth LHH that has strong hands. 

Jack Lerstang, 2027, OF/LHP, Greenville
Lerstang had a big game to give Greenville a 1-0 series lead both at the plate and on the mound. Lerstang had a big jump in power from his sophomore year to his junior year having his max exit velo at our events jump over 5 mph. At the plate Lerstang has a simple approach with a rhythmic setup. He lifts his front foot during his load and gets into the back hip upon impact. Lerstang stung 2 balls to RF, one for a triple off of the wall that led to the first run of the game and then a 2-run single which helped break the game open in extra innings. On the mound, Lerstang left the game in position for a win after a 5.2 IP / 1 R / 4 K performance. While the stuff wasn’t overpowering, FB T-81, CH 72-74, and CB 70-73, Lerstang had great feel for the zone setting up the fastball high in the zone then effectively using his changeup away from RHH and the Curveball away from LHH to induce weak contact all day. 

Braden Richardson, 2027, RHP, Fort Mill
Richardson proved himself as one of the top right-handed pitchers in the state within the 2027 class, working deep into the eighth inning in a playoff setting. He operates from a sidesaddle windup with a tall and fall delivery, pairing it with a quick arm from a ¾ release point that creates a tough look for hitters while allowing him to repeat his mechanics. He displayed a strong feel for a four pitch mix throughout the outing. The FB sat 86-88 and T89 early, showing heavy armside run that generated weak contact against right-handed hitters early in counts. The SL 70-73 featured a sharp sweep, consistently getting right-handed hitters to lunge away. His CH 78-79 tunneled well off the fastball, mirroring the arm side run with added depth. The CB 70-73 was rarely used but remained effective, showing depth and keeping hitters off balance.        


Ethan Offing, 2026, SS/CF, Dutch Fork
Clemson recruit. Easy to see present strength at 6-1, 195-pounds with tools and athleticism. Looks like he’s moving in slow motion at times with how easy the game comes to him. Would like to see him show a little more aggression and flash those high end tools more frequently. Some swing & miss at the plate but shows top of the scale bat speed through the zone producing hard hit bolts off the barrel. Uses the whole field consistently. Ton of talent already showing and even more ceiling to be uncovered in the profile.

Briggs Lessmeister, 2028, OF/RHP, Clover
Looks the part in a 6-4, 220-pound physical and athletic frame. Toolsy with clear strength. Smooth load as hands stretch creating a strong launch position. Short and quick to the baseball with an uphill path looking to launch at all times. Big time bat speed in the zone produces high exit speeds off the barrel. Launched baseballs out to dead center consistently in BP. Some of the highest power upside in the 2028 class. Also shows a strong arm, up to 87 on the mound in this look. 

Coleman Fryer, 2026, IF, Dutch Fork
Lander recruit. The tall 6-5, 215-pound senior made a huge impact at the plate for his squad in Game 1 to bring home the win. Narrower and slightly crouched stance with rhythm as he loads with a toe-tap. Not the most efficient in the zone with long arms and a longer swing that comes off the baseball early but still shows the ability to produce hard hit balls to all fields when caught out front. If the swing path can shorten up and stay through the ball as he connects, would be interested to see if he finds more consistent power in the tall and strong frame.


Hansen Haning, 2028, 1B/OF, Dutch Fork
Present strength in frame at 5-10, 165-pounds. Left handed hitter with a simple setup and load with a good short, flat path in the zone. Shows feel for the barrel and a willingness to use the entire field with multiple balls sent up the middle and to the opposite field. More line drives than long homers for the time being but a good chance to see more power as he ages. 


Banks Head, 2029, LHP, Dutch Fork
5-10, 161-pound frame is still maturing with plenty of room to add on. Competitor. Fired 5 innings of 1 run ball to go with 9 Ks giving his offense time to climb back in Game 1 and secure the win late. Good deception with short arm action and a H3Q slot. Generates some carry on the FB in the mid-70s that doesn’t overpower hitters but has at least average feel and can land it in the zone consistently. Drops his arm slot slightly to mix a solid, shorter SL in the mid-upper 60s. Also flashed a CH at 70 with similar arm speed to the FB. Lots of room to grow. 

Cal Schnabel, 2028, INF, Daniel
Schnabel wastes no time and jumps the first pitch for a hard single through the right side.  Handles left on left and shoots a line drive to left, showing comfort against tough matchups.  Controls the barrel and uses the whole field.  Simple approach that plays in game. Knows how to hit and competes every at-bat.  Really shows the ability to hit at a high level with feel for the barrel.

Ty Simpson, 2026, INF, Daniel
USC Sumter Commit.  Big strong physical hitter with juice and the ability to use the whole field with big bat speed.  Swings it with intent and the ball jumps when he squares it up.  Also hopped on the mound and showed good arm strength while running his fastball up to 90 mph.

Liam Purcell, 2026, RHP, Daniel
Eastern Kentucky Recruit. Liam took the hill standing at 6-4 195-pounds, the Right Hander lived with the Fastball at 84-86 T87. Showcasing a SL and CHG, the SL lived at 73-74 and CHG 77-78. The fastball created arm side run into the hands of RHH making it hard to square up when in the zone. While struggling with command early, Liam was able to get through 3 innings of work with little damage on the way to a victory for the lions 

Roper Wentzky, 2026, 2B, AC Flora
College of Charleston Commit.  Big time performance for roper with 3 hits on the night. Confident in the box and seeing it well. Hot bat at the right time for his club.  Shows the ability to drive the ball to all fields with a simple approach.  Plays the game hard and the right way and the ability to bounce around and play all over the field when needed.  

Charlie Scott, 2026, OF, AC Flora
The Citadel Commit.  Scott drives one into the opposite gap for a double and it gets there quick.  Twitchy athlete with easy bat speed and a loose, repeatable swing.  The ball jumps off the barrel with carry and he stays balanced through contact.  Let it travel and keeps good direction in swing, allowing him to use the whole field.  High-level athlete with real tools and impact potential all across the field.

Jack Chetwood, 2026, INF, AC Flora
Uncommitted. Chetwood came through in a big spot, driving a ball into left-center for a two-RBI single to take the lead early in the game.  Shows good hands through the zone and stays short to the ball.  Keeps it simple and gets the barrel where it needs to be.  Competitive at-bat with a feel for the moment.  Produces when his team needs it.  Has been a big time producer for the Falcons this season with the bat and in the field.

Monty Laffitte, 2026, 1B, AC Flora
Uncommitted. Laffitte with a big time swing of the bat on the night while helping put the game out of reach with a 3 run bomb.  The swing works with strength and intent, and the ball jumps off the barrel with carry.  Shows confidence in the box and looks ready to do damage.  Impact bat that can change a game.


Dylan Hernandez, 2027, C, AC Flora
Uncommitted. Tall and lean 6-4, 205-pound frame. Nice job at the plate in this one with a pair of RBI hits. Shows a good tight stroke through the zone with feel for the barrel and has the ability to shoot liners to all fields. Above average bat speed is continuing to develop as more in game power is showing of late. Strong clean and quick exchanges behind the plate with average arm strength. Controls the staff and gives pitchers confidence and allows them to attack the zone with conviction.



Rohan Bremmer, 2027, 1B, AC Flora
Uncommitted. Big and strong 6-3, 215-pound proportionate frame. Another loud showing with the bat in front of our scouts with two doubles deep to LF and a hot shot for a single. Bigger load as he sinks into the back hip and a long stride, can make him susceptible to timing issues. But when all synced up shows a short path with strong hand speed that allows him to turn on heaters and deliver a forceful barrel. Easy effort through the zone, ball really jumps. Smacked an 89mph inner half heater into LF in his second AB. Needs to take another step defensively and the hot streaks come and go at the plate, but when he’s on, can be one of the more formidable bats in the state. 

Greyson Austin, 2026, INF, Wren
Catawba Valley CC Recruit. Greyson led the charge for the hurricanes at the plate with 2 hits, leading off the game with a single and hitting a walk off double to win the game. Advanced feel for the barrel with plus hit tool and gap to gap pop. A little more than shoulder width apart when getting into the box. A big leg kick while loading the back hip allows him to get into a strong + balanced spot to hit from constantly. 

Colton Motley, 2029 OF/INF, Wren
5-10 165-pounds the youngster of the hurricane lineup handles the bat well, with 2 loud backside doubles on a line in back to back at bats. A narrow stance with hands set out front underneath the back shoulder, loading the hands back while striding forward creates good stretch within the swing putting himself in a strong position through contact. Good extension through the ball allows for the ability to drive the ball gap to gap

Thomas Bishop, 2026, OF, Camden
Bishop turned in a big time performance in a huge upset win for his team. Legit power bat with physical strength and strong intent in the box. Hits from a balanced setup with a controlled load. Lower-half usage stands out the most, as he stayed through the baseball evident from the backside grand slam HR early in the game. The approach was confident and aggressive. Attacked pitches he could drive and didn’t appear sped up in any situations. Power is a projectable tool rather than just the one-game stat line of 2 HRs and 7 RBIs.  


Xander Fly, 2027, RHP, Chapman
Fly was polished and confident on the mound for Chapman in the winners bracket playoff game against Walhalla. Delivery works clean and repeatable with good temp throughout. Pounded the strike zone and stayed ahead in counts. The fastball operated at 80-82 touching 83 with solid life throughout the zone and enough carry to generate uncomfortable swings. Located all quads of the plate creating weak contact early in counts. Slider at 70-73 was his best swing and miss offering. Showed late tilt with solid depth. Hitters appeared uncomfortable against the SL especially when he threw it ahead in counts. 

Lewis McAlister, 2026, OF, Chapman
Strong/physical frame that has carried the Chapman lineup this year. Showed a confident presence in the box with an aggressive approach and the ability to drive the baseball with authority. The swing works with good rhythm and balance, allowing him to stay through the zone and create hard contact. There was noticeable bat speed and strength through extension, especially when getting pitches out over the plate. Effected the game early with 2 hits in 2 ABs collecting 3 RBIs to essentially put the game away early for Chapman. 



RELATED CONTENT