Lets Talk About The Other 07's

07 Olympic High Hopefulls

Two Sr's at Olympic HS players worth mentioning are the two starting pitchers Matt Rose and Brian Redmond. They both had no hitter games last year and made all Conference in the Queen City 4A/3A.

 

Northern Nash has 3 seniors that are getting some looks. RHP Zack Woodley,OF Daniel Moore, and SS Andrew Webb. All three of these boys have shown that the attention they're getting is well deserved. Good kids from good families. Also, Brian Allen of Southern Nash is a multi position player who is going to wind up on someone's roster next year.

 

THANK YOU

Thank you Red Bear, that really means alot to me. I hope I can get the new shop in a good groove soon, so I can spend more time at the academy.

How is Ben doing at Naval Prep?

 

Talking to his dad recently and he said Michael has been working out at Catcher and pitching this summer and fall and he had attended an NC State camp at the end of the summer and hit 88 off the mound and had pop times around 2.0, also attended a UNC-G showcase this past weekend as a catcher and pop-times were between 1.9 & 2.0 pretty consistently. He's playing with the Diamond Dreams team this fall.

As for 07's at Hopewell, Vaughn isn't alone as Zach Turton, hit .323 and had 26 stolen bases (believe he was only caught twice) and made some very big plays for the Titans last year. He has been pitching well this summer. Playing for Diamond Dreams this fall.

Also, Anthony Sully, a part time starter last season that hit .350 and went 3-0 off the mound is back. Heard he has been having a real good summer for the Copperheads.

And, Drew Rochester, a part time starter last season who hit .380 until a shoulder injury sidelined him for the last part of the season and the summer, should be recovered and start playing again later this fall.

 

Central NC - Pritchard, Marsh, and.....

In the MPC the 3 best position players are easily Asheboro's SS N. Pritchard (unknown don't fit here), SW Randolph's CF Ethan Marsh, and Randleman's 1B Bunting (UNC). I think Pritchard has visited a few top schools and Bunting is committed. Marsh burst onto the scene last year after 2 years in Funk's shadow. The Courier-Tribune's All-Area team showed him @ .465 for the season which was easily the best in the area. I, and many around Legion (Post 45) and high school think he is one of the best defenders walking, and he has a CANON for an arm. No Impact for him so he's mostly an unknown. What a shame. The kid can play with anyone I've saw in high school ball the last few years. I know Stetson liked him and I have heard Wake was going to try to see him this fall? I couldn't tell you where he's visited but know for a fact he has the grades so hopefully he'll make it at least three out of our area to play college ball at a higher level?
I'm sure I missed a few solid players in our conference but after watching many games, HS and Legion, these 3 jump at you as being able to dominate a game and just their presence makes their teams that much stronger.
Notice I said position players, though all 3 pitch.

 

Props to Wil Lambert

I've just found this board......I think one of the most dedicated baseball players I've ever met is a young 17yr. old Wil Lambert out of East Montgomery High School. For the last couple of years while I am practicing football ..... Wil is out on either the baseball mound or the football field working out.....he's alone,with his dad, or he's convinced someone else to come out and train with him, but he's there most every day...pitching, hitting in the cage, or running......most days he's doing them all every day right through football season and beyond.........He's been asked by our football and basketball coaches to play both sports for the past four years because he's a good athelete and he doesn't depend on Coaches to push him....he seems to have an inner hunger for bettering himself "in baseball"and the coaches see that I think...they think they can translate his desire for baseball to their sport I guess...but he passes on those sports so he can concentrate on "his" game, and he says he won't take a chance on being injured and messin up his chances of playin college baseball, almost nobody in our school other than Ryan Houser, Travis Mcbride or Eddie Kellam,likes to catch him up when he pitches because he pitches so fast.

I've heard that he plays all year and I know from talking to some other players that Wil's gone every weekrend playing. He loves baseball, he works at it harder than most anyone I know in any sport, and last year at East Montgomery he won the award for most improved student out of our entire school because he was prepping for the chase of the elusive college baseball scholorship......I've learned that baseball players have to have good grades to get the scholarships.

So when you are talkin about great 07 players who ABSOLUTELY LOVE the game that are great players and WORK HARD at improving themselves who push themselves to train hard independently....I think you can ask any of his coaches or players who have played with him over the years and they will agree.Wil Lambert is a super guy, with a super attitude, and a super example for baseball in general.

He goes to a little 1-a high school........but it's my opinion he'lll be a great player one day if he holds onto his desire, and stays healthy.

He has a fire within him, and he has a genuine "passion"for the game.

He's got game!!

T

 

08 Pitchers

I would like to shift gears a little and talk about the 08 pitchers in NC. We all know about the 07 class. It is loaded on the hill. I would like to hear who you guys think are the rising studs on the hill in the 08 class. I would like to hear about guys that have already proven themselves at the varsity level. Im sure there are some very good pitchers that will be moving up to varsity for some programs. That is fine lets hear about them too.

I'll start it off.

Jim Leggett - Rocky Mount RHP OF. Has been very sucessfull both as a Fresh and Soph on the varsity for RMSH.

Craig Farmer - Northern Durham RHP. Came on big last year and I hear he is really throwing it well this fall.

Pratt Maynard - South Granville RHP 3B. Like Leggett he has been very sucessfull as a Fresh and Soph on the varsity for the Vikings. Pratt should have a big Jr season.

Ok thats a start lets hear about some guys in your neck of the woods. I know of several more but Ill let someone else chime in now before I add some more names here. It we could lets limit it to 08 pitchers , if someone wants to talk about posistion players lets start another thread for that one.

 

already listed him earlier but... Jimmy Messer: south caldwell hs, rhp, great offspeed pitcher but can also bring some gas in the upper 80"s-lower 90"s. throws all pitches for strikes and has pitched in some BIG games including post season run to state championship runner-up through 06 season. very mature young man with a bright future. also played well with caldwell county post 29.

 

Messer

I have not seen him pitch yet. As long as we are not facing him I can't wait to see him. Several baseball guys I know say he is the best pitcher in the 08 class they have seen. Based on what he did last year in the regular season and playoffs he might just be. What a staff at South Caldwell. And they have some very good posistion players to go along with that staff.

 

I'm sure some others will pop up, but Messer has to be the top '08 pitchers I've seen so far. I hear he's a decent football player too. Here are some other proven '08s. Jeff May,c, South Granville. Two yrs. varsity exp., 10HRs last year. Bentley Massey,rhp, Wilson Fike, Fike's #1 pitcher. Zach Furl, Lee County,rhp,3b,1b, can reach upper 80s, and hit for power. Ryan Waldrep, lhp,6'5", 45 IP last year with .15 ERA. Zack Briggs, ss, C. Davidson, can hit for power. Corey Thompson, Apex, ss/3b, power hitter. Cameron Conner, Fuquay-Varina,OF, power hitter. Adam Waters,rhp, Hopewell. Mark Wilder,lhp, JH Rose, could wind up as Rose's #1 this yr. Zack White, N. Davidson,lhp, proven high level player.