Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

2026 Shipyard/Prep Baseball Showdown: Scout Blog Part 2

March 5, 2026
PBSC Staff
PB of SC

Now in its eighth  consecutive year, the Shipyard/Prep Baseball Showdown high school preseason tournament returns bigger and better than ever. This year's event showcases a highly talented field, featuring 12 of the top teams from across South Carolina.

The tournament will take place from Friday, February 27th, through Monday, March 2nd, at the pristine Shipyard Park. This premier waterfront venue provides a truly unique experience, offering unparalleled views and unforgettable moments for both players and spectators.

Below, you'll find notes and video highlights of standout performers from each team in the tournament.

SHIPYARD PREP BASEBALL SHOWDOWN - PART 2

Frank Pepe, 2027, LHP, St. James

Pepe had a solid showing on the opening night of the Shipyard Showdown.  The Junior left-hander pitched primarily from the stretch all night and did a good job keeping the Fountain Inn hitters off balance.  He has a smooth, repeatable delivery with a clean arm action that will only improve.  He sat in the low-80’s all night with the fastball and mixed in a mid-70’s breaking ball.  Pepe battled through a rough stretch early in the game and settled in locating both pitches to both sides of the plate. 

Brayden Passmore ,2026, RHP, Fountain Inn Francis Marion 

Passmore opened his season by showcasing exactly what has made him one of the most effective pitchers in the state the past few years.  He topped out at 89 on a cold night in his first official start of the year.  The ball was jumping out of his hand and he blew away several good hitters getting swing and miss with the fastball in the zone. He also used a mid-70’s breaking ball that had late, sharp break to keep hitters off balance.  I expect a dominant senior season for Passmore and look forward to seeing him build on the progress he has made since being at Fountain Inn. 

Luke Kessler, 2026, C, St. James Florence Darlington Tech 

Kessler had as impressive of a weekend at the Shipyard Showdown as any player in the tournament.  He was dominant at the plate with several hits and found the barrel more often than not.  Behind the plate he was equally impressive showcasing a plus arm and the willingness to throw to any base at any situation.  He threw behind several runners and showed a 1.9 pop time multiple times between innings. Kessler did a great job handling the St. James pitching staff all weekend and repeatedly showed the ability to block tough pitches in the dirt.  


Michael Butler, 2026, OF, Lugoff-Elgin

The Lugoff-Elgin centerfielder continues to be one of our favorite players to watch.  He has a solid swing from the right side and consistently puts the barrel on the ball.  He is a versatile hitter in the 2-hole for the Demons that makes hard contact regularly and can also cause problems on the bases with good speed.  Butler covers a lot of ground in the outfield and is a very good all-around player that plays the game the right way.  

Aiden Proleau, 2026, OF/RHP, West Ashley

Aiden jumped on our radar early on in the first game of the tournament and continued to impress all the way until the end.  He does a good job setting the table at the top of the West Ashley order and has a short swing from the left side that creates consistent hard contact.  He tracks balls down with ease in the outfield and runs well on the bases.  He also had a very good outing on the mound filling up the zone and going deep into the game.  Proleau has all the tools and I look forward to seeing where he ends up. 

Finn Kucaba, 2027, OF, Oceanside Collegiate