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With the fall finally wrapped up and the 2017 baseball season coming to an end, we take another extremely way too early look and preview into the 2018 high school season. With this Spring Forward segment we will highlight players to watch over the high school season, separated by categories that are listed below. Today we look into the pitchers to watch for the 2018 high school season. Before Christmas, we will have looked into the following categories: 

Hitters - 11/27
Power Hitters - 11/29
Pitchers Part 1
Pitchers Part 2
Athletes
Defenders
Speedsters
Underclassmen
Two-Way Players
Projection
Teams
Sleepers

Again, its important to note that this isn't a rankings based list. With Pitchers, we decided to break it down into two groups because we had too big of a list to watch. Today we give you part 1 and tomorrow part 2. This is in no particular order.

Spring Forward: Pitchers Part 1

Stephen Pelli RHP / 3B / St. Mary's, MD / 2018 The UNC commit brings a power pitcher attitude every time he steps on the mound with his competitive demeanor. Pelli has an explosive fastball that he uses to challenge hitters each at bat. He has strikeout ability and strives to get that each time. On top his big fastball, Pelli also has a plus pitch in a split change with late action.

 

 

Jacob Zebron RHP / OF / Colonel Richardson, MD / 2018 Zebron has been well known on the eastern shore but really jumped on to the scene this spring heading into the summer with a fastball that has been up to 92 mph. Was intrigues the most is that the Col. Richardson righty has the long and lanky frame that says that he still hasn't reached his ceiling yet and he could throw harder. His secondary stuff is inconsistent, but one of the more high ceiling pitchers around is this young man.

 

 

Tristan McDonough RHP / 1B / Stephen Decatur, MD / 2018 McDonough has been a household name at Stephen Decatur his high school career and heads into his senior campaign again as the ace of the staff. An athletic body and quick arm action, this talented righty is committed to Miami and is another with an attacking demeanor when stepping on the bump.

 

 

Dallas Repine RHP / 1B / James M. Bennett, MD / 2018 Keeping to the Eastern Shore, James M. Bennett has another arm who came on the scene late in Repine. This 6-foot-7 righty shows nice athleticism for his larger frame. There is still rawness in the delivery as he still to consistently repeat, but Repine could really see his stock rise in the next few years.

 

 

Colin Taeschner RHP / 1B / Calvert, MD / 2018 This Navy commit has transferred back to Calvert after spending one year at St. Mary's and instantly makes Calvert a tougher team every time toes the rubber. Taeschner is another who can bring it on the mound with an upper 80's fastball and has reportedly even been in the low 90's at times.

 

 

Jeremy Lapp-Barger RHP / OF / Century, MD / 2018 Lapp-Barger is another late blooming arm who has really come into his own in the past year. Last fall at this time Lapp-Barger moved to a pitcher primary wanting to utilize his strong arm and athletic frame. The righty continued to develop, getting up to 86 at our Preseason All State last year then up to 89 over the summer and another reportedly in the low 90's at times. The stock is up on this righty who also possesses a nice slider with late action and swing and miss potential.

 

 

Austin Koehn RHP / SS / Patterson Mill, MD / 2018 The Patterson Mill ace will continue to do so heading into the spring. Koehn has been a big piece of the Huskies success last season and will head up on what should be another strong season. Koehn has life in the arm and more in the tank with his youthful frame.

 

 

Matthew Dillard RHP / OF / Middletown, MD / 2018 The last time we saw Dillard pitching for Middletown it was in a dominant performance en route to the 2A state championship. Dillard has a fastball up to 86 mph who also shows nice command as he will once again play a big role on a Middletown team who should again contend for a state title.

 

 

Bryson Shaffer LHP / 1B / Brunswick, MD / 2019 Shaffer really came on the scene last year for Brunswick putting up some impressive numbers. This left handed arm is one to watch with his pinpoint accuracy and how much discomfort he provides to left handed hitters. As he continues to get stronger and add to his arm strength, Shaffer could be a very interesting pitching option.

 

Stay tuned later this week as we give you part two of the Spring Forward Pitchers

More Spring Forward