VA/DC Ground Forces Scout Blog: Volume 2
March 20, 2026
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The Prep Baseball Virginia/DC staff makes their way across the Commonwealth and DC throughout the spring to assist high school players in gathering evaluations, including video and some data, that allow our staff to assist in the potential recruitment of student-athletes.
With the staggering start of private and public schools, we have a deeper collection of notes and video on players in this first edition of the Ground Forces Scout Blog.
*Schools and player names are in alphabetical order.*
*If a player does not have a profile, we will not feature them in the story. Create a FREE PROFILE*
Caroline
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Coby Southworth LHP / 1B / Caroline High, VA / 2026It was a solid outing in the start on Tuesday night. The fastball isn’t going to overpower hitters, but he locates it well and is able to get outs. He successfully mixed in the curveball with big shape frequently to keep hitters off balance, as well as showing the changeup at times for strikes. He located all three and competed in the zone. He ran into some trouble in the sixth as his pitch count stacked up but limited the Hanover offense to infield singles and reaching base due to defensive miscues.
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Cave Spring
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Evan Lee OF / Cave Spring, VA / 2027He started the spring doing what he does best, and that is just flat out hit. He went 2-3 on the day with a single and a triple down the line. He is a spark plug at the top of the lineup that can make things happen. It is an aggressive mindset on the base paths looking to advance on every pitch. He possesses some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the ‘27 class.
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Collegiate
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Michael Chambers SS / 2B / Collegiate School, VA / 2026Defensively he consistently showed the ability to make the routine play. He put together one of the best at-bats of the day in the middle of the game. He fouled off multiple two-strike pitches before sending a line drive single into the outfield.
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Sam Settar / 2B / Collegiate School, VA / 2027It was a strong showing, turning in two doubles and three runs batted in on the day for the physical QB1. He got the scoring started by sending a double into the gap in the first to score two. He showed the ability to defend at third base and impact the ball to the gaps. He should be a big contributor in the middle of that lineup.
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Douglas Freeman
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Justin Bischoff RHP / 3B / Freeman High, VA / 2027Bischoff took the mound and showed the ability to pitch to contact and get outs. He mixed both the fastball and slider well to help minimize damage after coming in relief in the first inning. He is an athletic mover that could eat up a big portion of innings as the season goes on.
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EC Glass
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Tyler Ruhl RHP / SS / EC Glass, VA / 2026It was a strong offensive showing from the VMI commit. Two doubles, a single, and a walk. Although the score wasn't changed by his at-bats, there's no doubt that he is the anchor in the lineup, from causing havoc on the basepaths to fielding multiple positions. He will be a key contributor to the Hilltoppers lineup this spring.
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Hanover
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Grayson Reece SS / 2B / Hanover High, VA / 2026It was a multi-hit day for the Hanover shortstop, picking up an infield single in the first and an RBI triple late in the ballgame. He was able to take advantage of the defense that was unable to hold runners well, collecting multiple stolen bases. He made the routine play at shortstop and hopped on the mound to get two outs at the end of the game and pick up the save in a 5-2 victory.
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Brayden Shreffler RHP / 3B / HANOVER HIGH, VA / 2026Shreffler filled up the zone and competed in his start. It is a stretch only delivery with repeatable mechanics. He threw a high strike percentage, getting swing and miss with the fastball that was up to 82 and the curveball. He went six full innings of one-hit ball, allowing no runs and striking out nine.
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James Wood
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Parker Kerns SS / RHP / James Wood High, VA / 2027Started the game and threw 5 strong innings. Athletic frame and athletic mover with an explosive delivery. Crossfire delivery and hides the ball almost until release. Three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action. The fastball was 85-86, touching 87 once. The pitch has some late armside run. He threw a true slider with good arm speed and a late tight 10/4 break, sometimes playing like a hard cutter, pitch was 76-77. Also used a change-up a few times to lefties that had a ton of late life to it and good arm speed at 78.
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Nolan Landry LHP / 1B / James Wood High, VA / 2028Athletic frame with strength present. Three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action. The fastball was 76-78, touching up to 79. What really jumped out was his off-speed pitches. He showed a change-up at 68 that had a ton of sink and dive, almost like a forkball movement. Also showed two breaking ball shapes at about the same velocity of 66-68. One was a 1/7 power curveball, and the other more of a 2/8 breaking slider that swept some when he faced a lefty. He is going to carve up high school hitters with that off-speed stuff, as he did in this game.
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Liberty Christian
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Griffin Bryant RHP / 3B / Liberty Christian Academy, VA / 2027It was a strong showing in relief. He had an early walk but struck out the next five batters faced, including securing the win in extras. OTT slot and longer arm action. Competed with FB at the top of the zone at 85-87 T88. Slider usage later in counts that would go on to pick up a pair of strikeouts.
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Gray Craddock C / 1B / Liberty Christian Academy, VA / 2027A physical catcher with power present. A simple load and short swing. Line drive tendencies but showed the ability to elevate to the pull side for power. He was 2-4 at the plate with an RBI HR and an RBI single. Competitive in the other two at-bats, with both being hard lineouts.
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Joseph Hagy LHP / OF / Liberty Christian Academy, VA / 2029Hagy is a competitor at the plate, putting together some longer at-bats while reaching base in all three at-bats. He worked gap to gap and showed the ability to go the other way with some power. 3-3 on the day with two singles and a double.
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Bryce Torres SS / 2B / Liberty Christian Academy, VA / 2026Torres is an athletic and fundamentally sound shortstop. He has quick hands and works through the ball well. He doesn't get cheated at the plate. He put together multiple competitive at-bats in which he won. Line drive tendencies that work gap to gap with power present to the pull side.
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Northside
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Evan Bruce OF / RHP / Northside High, VA / 2026Bruce was the standout of the day offensively by being on barrel 3 of his 4 at-bats. He hit a three-run home run and an RBI double down the line. The hit tool shows up in the game while not getting cheated while he is in the box. He is trending up for a strong senior campaign.
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Brett Taylor 3B / RHP / Northside High, VA / 2027Taylor had a strong performance, showing some evident pull-side strength. He was on time every at-bat with aggressive takes. He went 3-3 on the day with all hard barrels. He moved well defensively and showed fluid actions at third base.
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Justin Tucker 1B / RHP / Northside, VA / 2027He put together some healthy cuts in advantage counts in his at-bats on Wednesday. He was on time for a fastball in his third at-bat for a double off the wall. He threw five strong innings and pitched to contact and competed in the zone.
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Oakton
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Gordon Cozad / 3B / Oakton High, VA / 2026Cozad has a strong, physical frame. Had one of the better swings of the day, getting up to a high fastball for a sac fly to centerfield in the first. He also was a sure glove at shortstop for the Cougars. Looking to be a promising senior campaign for Oakton’s three-hole hitter.
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Logan Thompson LHP / 1B / OAKTON HIGH, VA / 2027Thompson completely shut down West Potomac across five innings pitched. The southpaw filled up the zone, landing 70% strikes. The fastball was consistently landing in the zone early and often, especially near the bottom of the zone. The breaking ball had more of a slurvy shape and was the go-to pitch in two-strike counts. Thompson was unfazed by the limited traffic he allowed, picking off two runners at first out of the three total that reached. Overall, a really strong opening day start for the junior left-hander.
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Patriot
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Ben Bosse C / 1B / Patriot High, VA / 2026Slid to first base on opening night, as that creates more depth for the Patriot lineup. A strong physical frame that shows some power to pull side, and did a good job of getting hands on top of an elevated pitch for his first inning hit.
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Cole Francis SS / RHP / Patriot High, VA / 2027Athletic frame with some strength. The bat has some quickness to it, and the ball jumps off of it a bit to the pull side. It is more of line drive gap power right now. He was 2-2 in the game and smoked both balls. Will want another look later in the season.
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West Potomac
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Barrett Baker SS / RHP / West Potomac High, VA / 2026It was a strong outing in relief. Came on with runners on base and just needed one pitch to get out of the jam. The Drew commit was in the zone and was efficient through his 2.1IP. The fastball dominated the upper part of the zone, and the curveball constantly kept hitters off balance. He was composed throughout his entire outing.
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Banks Holman OF / OF / West Potomac High, VA / 2026Though he didn’t barrel the ball today, he let his presence be known throughout the game. The Denison commit forced infielders to make tough plays using his advanced speed, reaching first once on an infield single. Holman’s speed also translated to center field, where he robbed an Oakton hitter of possible extra bases on a diving grab.
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