Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

Statistical Analysis: NC/SC Border Battle

July 27, 2020
Brandon Hall
Executive Director, PBR of NC

For the second year, the NC/SC Border Battle was one of the most anticipated events of the summer.  This year saw the event moved to BB&T Point Stadium in High Point, NC, home of the High Point Rockers Independent Professional club.  Hosted at Winthrop in 2019, the 2020 event was suppose to be at UNC Charlotte, but moved to High Point with the ongoing NCAA Dead Period on recruiting. 

With the move, the event saw more of a North Carolina flavor as most players and families are still working to navigate the ongoing COVID-19 issues.  Due to the NCAA Dead Period, the event was live streamed utilizing multiple camera angles to allow college coaches to view from their offices. 

Position players were taken through a full pro-style workout, with a laser timed 60, full offensive workout, and a full defensive workout.  The pro-style workout was followed by a controlled scrimmage with pitchers throwing to live hitters.  PBR Scouts were on hand to evaluate and report on the players in attendance.

CLICK HERE to see the full roster and statistics from the 2020 NC/SC Border Battle

 

By the Numbers:

  • 73 players were a part of the NC/SC Border Battle
  • 61  players went through the pro-style workout
  • 28 pitchers threw in the controlled scrimmages
  • 92 mph was the top fastball thrown on the day
  • 8 arms worked at 87 mph or higher
  • 84 mph was the median fastball for the event
  • 4 players ran sub-7.00 on the laser timer
  • 23 players ran sub-7.20 sixties
  • 14 position players posted a positional velocity of 85 mph or higher in their workout
  • 90 mph was the top infield velocity
  • 91 mph was the top outfield velocity
  • 86 mph was the top catcher velocity, working out of the crouch
  • 2 hitters posted an exit velocity of 100+ mph off the tee
  • 22 hitters worked at 90 mph or higher off the tee with their exit velocity
  • 8 hitters posted exit velocities of 88 mph or higher in live BP

 

Statistical Leaders

 

THE 60 YARD DASH

Players ran a laser timed 60 yard dash at the outset of their workouts.  At each workout, the 60 was run on the artificial turf surface.  Four players ran under 7.00 with another 19 running under 7.20.  The median 60 from the NC/SC Border Battle came in at 7.24.

 

EXIT VELOCITY (OFF A TEE)

Hitters worked through offensive testing, including a static exit velocity test, working off a tee.  The exit velocity from live BP, gathered by TrackMan will be release soon.  The top exit velocity off the tee came in at 103 mph.  Two player were above 100 mph with another 20 above 90 mph. 

Rank Name State School Class Pos Exit Velo
1 Billy Amick SC P27 Academy 2021 3B 103
2 Caleb Freeman SC P27 Academy 2021 RHP 100
3 Jeb Despard NC Marvin Ridge 2021 C 98
4 Cody Chapman NC Gaston Christian 2021 RHP 95
5 Tyler Spruill NC Hillside 2021 OF 94
^ Kaden Smith NC Western Alamance 2021 1B 94
^ Banks Cox NC West Forsyth 2021 C 94
6 Nolan Lawrence NC Northern Guilford 2021 3B 93
^ William Gray NC Mount Pleasant 2021 SS 93
7 Jaxon Rauber NC Southwest Guilford 2021 OF 92
^ CJ Powell NC The Burlington School 2023 C 92
^ Hunter Livingston SC P27 Academy 2022 1B 92
^ Jackson Hull VA Carroll County 2021 SS 92
^ Nate Hoyt SC Bluffton 2022 OF 92
^ Alec DeMartino NC Millbrook 2021 OF 92
8 John Wimmer SC Rock Hill 2023 SS 91
^ Cameron Wiley VA Glenvar 2021 OF 91
^ Bailey Smith NC Ledford 2022 C 91
^ Bryson Horney NC Union Pines 2021 3B 91
9 Noah Thomas NC Rolesville 2021 OF 90
^ Talor Grubbs NC Southeast Guilford 2022 RHP 90
^ Ben Buchman NC East Chapel Hill 2021 OF 90
10 Luke Osteen NC Hough 2021 OF 89
^ Sean Donahue NC Durham Academy 2022 C 89
^ Clay Clinard NC Clayton 2021 SS 89

 

POSITIONAL VELOCITY – INFIELDERS

Infielders were able to workout at shorstop, throwing across the infield, or from 1B throwing to 2B and 3B in the pro-style workout.  Coaches are working to evaluate rhythm, footwork, hands, exchanges, arm action, accuracy, and carry.  To measure arm strength PBR Scouts utilize a radar gun.  Below are the top posted positional velocities from each day.

 

POSITIONAL VELOCITY – OUTFIELDERS

Outfielders worked out from right field, making throws to the plate.  Scouts are able to watch exchanges, arm action, arm strength, carry, and accuracy in this type of workout.  PBR adds a radar reading to assist with adding a number to the arm strength grade.  Below are the top radar readings from the outfielder workouts.

Rank Name State School Class Pos OF Velo
1 Caleb Freeman SC P27 Academy 2021 RHP 91
2 Jaxon Rauber NC Southwest Guilford 2021 OF 90
^ Luke Osteen NC Hough 2021 OF 90
3 Ben Buchman NC East Chapel Hill 2021 OF 88
4 Isaac Garner NC St Paul's 2021 SS 87
^ Alec DeMartino NC Millbrook 2021 OF 87
5 Cameron Wiley VA Glenvar 2021 OF 85
^ Yates Sikes NC Home School 2023 OF 85
6 Trenton Rhodes NC East Wilkes 2021 OF 83
^ Nate Hoyt SC Bluffton 2022 OF 83
7 Devin Tonkins NC Greensboro Day 2021 OF 82
^ William Sword NC Thales Academy 2022 RHP 82
^ Tyler Cherry NC Marvin Ridge 2021 OF 82
8 Ethan Velazquez NC Wakefield 2021 OF 81
9 Noah Thomas NC Rolesville 2021 OF 80
10 Tyler Spruill NC Hillside 2021 OF 77

 

CATCHER POP TIMES & POSITIONAL VELOCITY

In the pro-style workout, catchers workout from behind home plate, making multiple throws to 2B, simulating a stolen base attempt.  Scouts again are looking for a quick, clean transition to the release as well as carry and accuracy on the throw.  For catchers, evaluators will put a stopwatch on the “pop time” or the time the ball hits their glove to the time the ball hits the MIF’s glove at 2B.  Coaches can also time the transition from when the ball hits the catchers glove to when he is able to release his throw.  PBR scouts add the radar gun to put a number on the arm strength out of the crouched position.

Rank Name State School Class Pos Pop Time
1 Banks Cox NC West Forsyth 2021 C 1.95-2.17
2 Ben Buchman NC East Chapel Hill 2021 OF 1.97-2.03
3 Alex Levesque NC Corinth Holders 2022 C 1.98-2.05
4 Caleb Bowers NC Riverside 2021 C 1.99-2.05
5 Jeb Despard NC Marvin Ridge 2021 C 2.00-2.15

 

MAX FASTBALL

Pitchers faced live hitters in a controlled scrimmage.  Most pitcher-only players threw 2 innings, while the dual players threw 1 inning.  During the scrimmage, an LED Board was used to report velocity to the live stream and scouts in attendance.  TrackMan was in use as well, giving the most accurate accounting of each pitch.  More will come from TrackMan in the coming weeks.  For all the posted velocity, TrackMan was the hard ware used for posting.