GHSA Scout Blog: Week 9

The Georgia Scout Blog will be a weekly blog with reports and videos from the players and teams that we go out to cover each week. The blog will remain for the length of the week with notes being added the day following from each game. At the end of the week we will update the POWER 25 and CLASSIFICATION RANKINGS, then at the beginning of the following week we will announce 2 Player of the Week awards, along with our Diamond Notes, which is a culminaton of all players that were not selected for player of the week. Note: Player of the Week submissions are sent in by high school coaches.

Monday

Cayden Sheffield, C, 2024, North Paulding
The senior leader and top bat for North Paulding came through with a pair of quality barrels in big situations, including an impressive backside double on a pitch where he was jammed. The Georgia Tech commit stays in his back hip really well while creating some separation and staying well-balanced. Flashes both hand speed and strength in the wrists to snap the barrel through the zone while generating leverage. It’s a plus arm that can be a carrying tool behind the plate with consistent on-target throws with some explosion out of the crouch. There's real tools defensively for Sheffield to stick long term.

Conrad Cason, RHP, 2024, Greater Atlanta Christian
With about 30-40 scouts and cross-checkers in attendance, Conrad Cason put together quite possibly the loudest pitching performance I've seen this spring, going six scoreless while racking up 13 strikeouts. The bread-and-butter for the Mississippi State commit was the electric bowling ball fastball that lived 94-96 throughout the outing while reaching back to grab 98 twice for a couple of big punch outs. Landed to both sides of the plate well and the heavy sink and run is tough to get a barrel on, especially coming downhill from a high over-the-top arm slot. Short low-80s slider showed cutter-like movement while flashing at times and was able to land it backdoor to freeze a couple hitters with really quality pitches. Splitter at 81-84 has good depth and glove-side action that plays well off both the fastball and slider. The most impressive thing shown may have been the overall command of all three pitches in tough weather, while mixing in elite velocity. Cason is one of the youngest arms in the 2024 draft class, and with a performance like this, will be hot name as we move closer to the 2024 MLB Draft.

Wednesday

Jamie Vicens, RHP, 2025, Marist
Georgia Tech Commit. Vicens had a strong outing in game 2 of a big region series against St. Pius tossing 5 innings. Vicens showed a lively FB up to 89 with strong movement arm side out of a lower arm slot. Jamie showed good command of the FB to both sides of the plate and was able to get hitters to chase above the zone. Vicens showed a strong CB off of the FB that had good depth to it. He was able to throw for strikes and get hitters to chase down and out of the zone. Vicens flashed a low 80’s CH with good fade to add a third pitch to his arsenal.

Thursday

Bryce Bause, C, 2024, Stockbridge
Pure physicality behind the plate at 6-foot-2, 185-pounds, the uncommitted senior took some quality swings throughout the night for Stockbridge while showing a strong defensive profile as well. Using a quick toe-tap trigger from the right-side, Bause shows good rhythm to his swing with great leverage through the zone from a vertical bat path. An efficient back hip to the ball with good incorporation of a strong lower half allows the backstop to generate significant raw power with minimal effort. Came through with a loud pull-side three-run homer in the first and would follow it with a double into the LCF gap. Showed big-time arm strength behind the plate with accuracy and carry on throwdowns. Bause has real impact with the stick, and holds real value as an uncommitted catcher in this 2024 class.

Friday

James Joiner, LHP, 2025, Greater Atlanta Christian
Uncommitted. Game 2 of this region match up was a big one, and Joiner got the ball against a fellow lefty. After the 1st he really settled in and started filling up the zone. The fastball was 83-85 with some arm side run and sink. Once he found the feel for the curveball he started to find his grove. He forced contact, and despite giving up a couple hits he still attacked hitters and left the game in the 5th with the lead. Joiner will be a good follow headed into the summer as he is one of the top uncommitted arms in the junior class.