Top Juniors to Follow in the State

Who are the top juniors to follow this year.

Name- School and any information you can provide.

Logan Ratledge- Ardrey Kell, smooth mif with gap to gap power. Logan has worked hard this summer and fall to gain additional weight and muscle. He is now solid physically and it should carry over to his strong hitting

David Daniels- East Meck, most underrated player in Charlotte, but not to the coaches. David had an excellent summer and fall with the South Charlotte Panthers. As their lead off hitter, this 6'2" speedster turned every single into a triple by stealing the next two bases, David has great speed and quick hands, but also displayed power going yard on many occasions. He's a coach's dream because he can play every position in the field---and has. David Daniels is going to be a big time college player.

Lou Trosch- East Meck, another South Charlotte Panther, Lou is an amazing pitcher. He continues to prove you don't have to throw hard to be successful. The reason Lou is able to succeed is his pin point control. He can knock a flea off the plate. Many pitchers in HS just rear back and let it go, Lou sets you up and forces you to swing at his pitches. In a typical game for him, he struck out 8 batters in 7 innings in Ft Myers against some very strong teams at WWBA Underclassmen. Lou has been doing this for years, so it should come as no surprise, but he continues to have to prove himself....and that's one of the secrets to his success. He competes harder than anyone I've seen.

These three young men have something in common, all three are high quality in character: Yes sir- No sir type players. When they are not playing, you will always find them working out. They believe others are out there trying to out-work them. The only one I would question his decision making is Logan Ratledge---he's my fishing buddy!

 

Mikal Hill- Mallard Creek, it seems like Mikal has been playing HS baseball for 8 years already. One of the most talented players in Charlotte for many years, Mikal is as smooth as butter. This mif glides to a baseball with soft hands and has athleticism of a gymnast. Mikal, an USC commitment, is special to watch. He's a young man that it would be wise to get his autograph now...while it's free!

 

Hunter Conley - Hopewell
Left-handed Pitcher/1st base

 

These are just a few in the Observer area.
1.Brett Austin- Providence High. catcher, outfielder. Starting to realize that working hard will pay off. The young man can play. IMO one of the top two catchers in state( JR Class).
2.Blaine Lewis- Catcher- Mallard Creek High. I believe is the best catcher in the state(JR Class). Power to all fields, can run and very athletic, starting to make a lot of noise with the recruiters. Braves you have to use your GameCocks connections. We can't let someone else steal him.
3.Brandon Burris-2b- Mt Pleasant High. Athletic player who goes all out. The kid can play.
4.AJ James-3b, outfielder. Athletic player who can hit, run and can pickem at the corner spot.
5.Grayson Atwood-corner infielder-Mt Pleasant. Power hitter that can hit it out of any field. great size and knowledge of the game. Pure power hitter.
6.Steven Shue-2b-Home schooled Cabbarrus County. Not widely known in the high school scene but this kid is as fundamentally sound as you will find and knows how to play the game.
7. Tyler McCarthy-Pitcher-Mallard Creek . Great size and what the scouts call projectabilty. Plays with the SC-Panthers and is getting better and better, a name to remember.
8. Michael Russell-MIF-Hopewell High. Very talented player who can flat out hit. One of my favorite players to watch.
These are just a few of an outstanding 2011 kids in this area. There are many more so posters, post those names.

 

Thanks Pirate for posting those names. Some of them I would have, but didn't want to dominate this thread. Blaine Lewis!!!! Gamecock baby!!!!!

...and Brett Austin. Although a different type player, I believe he will be better than his drafted brother, Chase.

 

3 off the top of my head...

Carlos Rodon, Holly Springs
Havent seen him play but everybody I've talked to has raved about him. I'm sure I will see enough of him this spring in the Tri-9.

Max Povse, Green Hope
P-o-t-e-n-t-i-a-l.... Tall with good stuff. Will be one of the Top SRs in the state in 2011 after some more development.

Thomas Berry, Rocky Mount
Baseball player. Looks good behind the dish and you better not throw him a fastball.... or anything over the plate.

 

Blaine Lewis is definitely a kid to keep an eye on. A pleasure to watch behind the plate. Fundamentally sound, he gets down and blocks warm-up pitches. Because there's only one way he knows to play.

 

Tyler Thurber LHP Lake Norman
Keith Little LHP Mooresville
Jake Beaver corner if, lefty hitter Mooresville

 

Jake Fincher MIF Providence HS --He's also a SCPanther and is always impressive. He's smooth in the field, has a really good bat, and speed to boot. He'll be a big loss for Butler this year and a great addition for Coach Hignight.

Peter Hendel LHP/OF --If you need a clutch hit, this is the man for the job. His BA with RISP has to be off the charts. He also is an underrated pitcher and delivered one gutsy performance down in Ft. Myers for the SCPs against the Midland Scout Team in the round of 16. He hadn't pitched in several weeks due to a sore arm and came within a whisker of beating the eventual runner-ups of the WWBA.

Brett Lang C/1B -- Hits, hits, and hits some more.

 

Ben Morris RS Central

Ben Morris - RS Central, OF, R/R, good speed and will get faster, very good arm, runs great routes and gets a tremendous jump, excellent bat with power and may be better with wood. Plays with the Diamond Devils.