The summer recruiting and evaluation season officially kicked off in June, and one of the marquee events in the Carolinas continues to be the annual NC/SC Border Battle.  Returning once again to the pristine Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium on the campus of UNC Charlotte, this year’s event brought together close to 130 of the top players from North Carolina and South Carolina for two highly competitive and scout-packed days. The talent did not disappoint.

Tuesday, June 10 featured the full evaluation circuit for position players. South Carolina’s group opened the day with offensive testing—multiple rounds of batting practice—followed by defensive evaluations and athletic testing.  Once SC concluded, the North Carolina group ran through their own athletic testing, defensive showcase, and offensive performance.  Coaches and scouts were treated to extended looks at each player’s skill set in a pro-style format, offering insight into their tools, movement patterns, and overall feel for the game.

Wednesday, June 11 was reserved for gameplay, with each player participating in one simulated game contest.  Over the course of the day, North Carolina and South Carolina squared off in four live games, allowing pitchers to throw against live hitters and players to compete in a true game setting.  As expected, the top talent from both states put on a show in front of a strong contingent of college coaches and professional scouts.

We now begin the process of breaking down all the action from the event. From advanced metrics and scouting notes to standout performers and analytical takeaways, we’ll unpack everything that happened over the course of the two-day Border Battle.

👉 To view the full roster and statistical breakdown, CLICK HERE.

QUICK HITS - POSITION PLAYERS

Raleigh Salters OF / LHP / Dutch Fork, SC / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 112 / POS: 24 Raleigh had an impressive couple days  showing out in the workout portion along with in gameplay.  Durning BP had a top exit velocity of 101 mph with a max distance of 352 feet while showing off his arm from the OF up to 92 mph.  Durning the game kept a hot bat squaring up 2 balls one for a 1B and the other for a deep fly out to deep CF.

Newt Hinson C / 3B / West Florence, SC / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 71 / POS: 7 Impressive showing for Newt at the Border Battle.  During BP showed off big time power while launching multiple balls out of the stadium with a top exit velocity of 100.5 mph and a to exit distance of 392 feet.  Behind the plate showed off quick feet and a strong arm with a top pop time of 1.93 and velo of 79 mph.

Austin Jeffcoat OF / RHP / Westwood, SC / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 73 / POS: 13 Ausitn had another impressive showing at a Prep Baseball event.  This time at the Border Battle with a top exit velocity of 98.1 mph.  This physical hitter showed well in game play as well squaring up balls in the game going 1-2 with a hard hit line drive 1B to RCF.

Rohan Bremmer 1B / 3B / A. C. Flora High, SC / 2027 Rankings  StateRank: 27 / POS: 4 Big couple of days for Rohan as he put on a show with his bat.  This strong physical hitter showed why hes one of the top risers in his class going into the summer.  During BP launched multiple balls out of the park with a max exit velocity of 99.1 mph and max distance of 382 feet.  Carried that over to game play while mashing two balls one for a homerun!

Connor Hooks 3B / 2B / Cardinal Newman, SC / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 45 / POS: 4 Hitters hit and that is what Connor continues to do.  Each time we see Connor he gets hits.  Consistent hard contact in BP with a mac exit velocity of 91.7 mph and an avg exit velocity of 86.6 mph along with a max distance of 346 feet.  In game play went 2-2 with 2 hard hit 1B one off a RHP and one off a low slot LHP.

Charlie Johnson SS / 2B / Oceanside Collegiate Academy, SC / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 56 / POS: 13 Athletic infielder that shows the ability to be a high level defender with a bat that keeps develping and improving each time we see him.  Silky smooth actions in the infield with a big time arm, up to 87 mph across the diamond.  While producing a max exit velocity of 95.1 mph and a max exit distance of 347 feet.

Finn Kucaba OF / SS / Oceanside Collegiate Academy, SC / 2027 Rankings  StateRank: 39 / POS: 7 Finn turned heads with standout performances across multiple testing categories. During batting practice, he displayed impressive power, posting a max exit velocity of 97.6 mph and launching balls as far as 379 feet while consistently driving the ball with authority to all fields. His arm strength was equally notable, recording an outfield velocity of 88 mph. In game action, he continued to produce, going 1-for-2 with a hard-hit single, taking aggressive, confident swings throughout his at-bats.

Brayden Brogdon OF / LHP / Rock Hill, SC / 2027 Rankings  StateRank: 28 / POS: 5 Young athletic frame with room to continue to grow.  Good ball player that can do lots of things on the field to help his team him.  LHH that sprays the ball around the field with a good line drive approach with some pull side pop.  Good range in the OF while showing off an impressive arm up to 93 mph.  Young man continues to impress each time we see him play!!

Jeremiah North OF / River Bluff High, SC / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 126 / POS: 27 Big winner on game day while going 3-3 with 3 hard hit singles but also impress on the workout day.  Continues to improve each time out! Had a max exit velocity of 96.2 mph along with a max exit distance of 352 feet.  Showed off a good arm from the OF as well while up to 85 mph.

Brewer Cannon SS / OF / Conway, SC / 2027 Rankings  StateRank: 26 / POS: 7 Strong physical infielder that knows how to handle the bat and can play all over the infield.  Took an impressive round of BP while topping out with a max exit velocity of 97.7 mph and a max distance of 374 feet. Showed good actions and ability to throw from different arm slot in the INF.  In game play squred up one ball for a hard hit 1B to RF!  Talented looking prospect!!

Justin Iannetto 2B / SS / Sun Valley, SC / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 61 / POS: 4 Strong athletic frame that had a big couple days and turned some heads.  Justin showed off the ability to swing the bat for power to all fields along with athleticism and also play defense at a high level.  With the bat had a max exit velocity of 99.7 mph with a max exit distance of 383 feet.  Showed good actions and arm strength in the INF with a max velocity of 82 mph across the diamond.  Also showed out in the game with a couple walked and a hard hit 1B.

Weston Plotner OF / Chapin, SC / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 133 / POS: 30 Big day with the bat for Weston durning game play as he went 2-2 with a 2B, 1B, and a BB.  Showed his ability to hit and drive the ball to all fields.  In the workout had a good line drive approach with a max exit velocity of 91.3 mph while also running a 6.94 laser timed 60.  Overall good looking athlete that preformed at a high level.

Allen Hegler 3B / 1B / Lexington, SC / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 11 / POS: 3 Strong physical youngster with room to grow as he matures.  Has good pop in his bat and showed it off during BP with a max exit velocity of 97.7 mph and a max exit distance of 361 feet.  Makes lound noises at contact!!  Developing footwork and actions in the INF with a 79 mph velocity across the diamond.

Chaplin Cox OF / OF / Cardinal Newman, SC / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 106 / POS: 22 Athletic wirey frame with lots of twitch.  Big time athlete and lighting up the lasers while running a 6.6 60 laser timed.  Also showed of good arm strength from the OF while running it up to 84 mph.  With the bat showed off good hand and bat speed producing a top exit velocity of 93.7 mph and max exit distance of 364 feet.

Parker Herron C / RHP / Beaufort, SC / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 47 / POS: 8 Parker with a big couple days while showing out in the workout and in game play.  During the game was able to go 2-2 with 2 hard hit 1B.  During BP showed off his ability to handle the bat and drive the ball while producing a max exit velocity of 94 mph with a max exit distance of 327 feet.  Behind the play=te showed off good footwork and exchange while have a top pop time of 2.0.

Coleson Marino OF / RHP / Emerald High, SC / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 17 / POS: 2 Showed why he was high riser in the state this spring with a big preformance at the border battle.  Coleson showed off his ability to swing the bat and defend in game play.  Going 1-2 with a 2B and making a diving catch in the OF.  During the working had a max exit velocity of 95.8 mph and a max exit distance of 367 feet to go with his arm velo from the OF up to 77 mph.

Griffin Gowens 3B / SS / Greenville Senior High Academy, SC / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 9 / POS: 2 Griffin showed off his highend tools along with his ability to play tho game.  During the workout put on an impressive display with his bat, while hitting muliple balls out of the park and reaching a top exit velocity of 99.2 mph with a max distance of 357 feet.  In the INF showed off a big time arm while up to 89 mph across the dirt.  In game squared up some balls as well while collecting one hit as well.

Riggs Scott SS / RHP / AC Flora, SC / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 30 / POS: 10 Strong athletic youngster that is a 2way player with good upside at both spots.  Missed workout day but was able to get defensive portion in and showed off good action and footwork along with arm strength across the INF while up to 80 mph.  I game showed a good short swing and aggressiveness at the plate.  On the mound spun a good breaking ball and attacked hitters with a 3 pitch mix.

Bradley Runion SS / RHP / Pendleton, SC / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 10 / POS: 4 Bradley had a good couple days at the border battle.  During the workout portion showed off his ability to drive the ball to all fields with consisitent contact with a max exit velocity of 90.8 mph along with a max distance of 329 feet.  In the infield can bounce around and play all over but shows good clean actions and footwork.  In gameplay was able to have a 1B, BB, and a L9.

Mike Johnson 3B / SS / Georgetown, SC / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 7 / POS: 1 Mike a big strong physical hitter with really power in the bat.  Has always hit when we see him and this time it wasnt different, while during game play going 2-3 with 2 1B.  In BP showed off his power with a max exit velocity of 95.3 mph and a max exit distance of 361 feet.  Footwork and arm continue to improve as well each time out.  Bright future for this youngster!