Prep Baseball Report

TrackMan Leaders: NC/SC Border Battle Pitchers


Brandon Hall
Mid-Atlantic Scouting Director

Over 115 of the top players from North Carolina and South Carolina converged on UNC Charlotte’s Robert & Mariam Hayes Stadium on June 28, 2023 for the PBR NC/SC Border Battle.  In front of over 30 college and professional coaches and scouts, players from each state went through a pre-game workout and then played 9+ innings in a controlled scrimmage.

Position players opened the day with an offensive workout, taking live BP on the field.  TrackMan and Blast were used to track pre-swing and ball-flight analytics.  Players then went through a defensive workout at their position, allowing coaches and scouts to get a feel for their athleticism, movement, and arm strength. 

After the workout, North Carolina took on South Carolina in game play.  Pitchers threw to live hitters in a controlled environment, allowing PBR Scouts to control pitch count and stress of each inning.  Hitters got live looks at pitchers, allowing the coaches and scouts in attendance to further their evaluations after BP, in the live setting.

One of the marquee events of the summer, the 2023 NC/SC Border Battle did not disappoint.  Several players boosted their profiles, while others solidified their spot as one of the top prospects in the Carolinas.

Below we break down some of the numbers from the event.  To see a player’s full profile, simply click on his name.  To see the NC/SC Border Battle roster, full stat page, plus analytics from the event, CLICK HERE.


TrackMan Pitching Leaders

 

FASTBALL STATS


Peak Velocity

Rank Name State School Class Pos Velocity (max)
1 Christopher Donaldson NC Pro Five Academy 2024 RHP 90.7 mph
2 Peyton Rogers SC West Florence 2024 RHP 90.1 mph
3 Robert Cole SC P27 Academy 2025 RHP 89.6 mph
4 Andrew McLaughlin SC Ashley Ridge 2024 RHP 89.5 mph
5 Thomas Conrad NC Forbush 2024 RHP 89.3 mph
6 Dalen Boykin NC Rolesville 2024 RHP 88.2 mph
7 Trey Roberts NC Pro 5 Academy 2024 RHP 87.6 mph
8 Carson Dahle NC East Lincoln 2024 RHP 87.6 mph
9 Wells Anderson SC Wade Hampton 2024 SS 87.4 mph
10 Aiden Smith SC Clover High 2026 RHP 87.3 mph


Average Effective Velocity

Effective velocity is taking into account the velocity of each pitch, its release distance, the pitches time to the plate / hitting area, and the pitches movement.  With all of this information, Effective Velocity is allowing coaches and scouts to more accurately compare how a pitch is affecting a hitter.

Rank Name State School Class Pos Eff Velocity (avg)
1 Christopher Donaldson NC Pro Five Academy 2024 RHP 88.6 mph
2 Robert Cole SC P27 Academy 2025 RHP 88.4 mph
3 Thomas Conrad NC Forbush 2024 RHP 86.5 mph
4 Peyton Rogers SC West Florence 2024 RHP 86.5 mph
5 Andrew McLaughlin SC Ashley Ridge 2024 RHP 86.0 mph
6 Trey Roberts NC Pro 5 Academy 2024 RHP 85.7 mph
7 Dalen Boykin NC Rolesville 2024 RHP 85.5 mph
8 Thayer Tavormina SC Summerville 2024 RHP 84.6 mph
9 Carson Dahle NC East Lincoln 2024 RHP 84.3 mph
10 Wells Anderson SC Wade Hampton 2024 SS 83.7 mph


Peak Spin Rate

Rank Name State School Class Pos Spin Rate (max)
1 Trey Roberts NC Pro 5 Academy 2024 RHP 2464 rpm
2 Cooper Coleman SC West Florence 2025 RHP 2442 rpm
3 Cole Smith SC Northwestern High 2025 SS 2418 rpm
4 Peyton Rogers SC West Florence 2024 RHP 2409 rpm
5 Jake Klein SC Oceanside Collegiate 2024 LHP 2389 rpm
6 Seth Sharpe NC Morehead 2024 RHP 2384 rpm
7 Carson Dahle NC East Lincoln 2024 RHP 2371 rpm
8 Andrew McLaughlin SC Ashley Ridge 2024 RHP 2358 rpm
9 Micah Simpson NC TC Roberson 2025 LHP 2305 rpm
10 Larson Montgomery SC York 2025 RHP 2293 rpm


Average Spin Rate

Rank Name State School Class Pos Spin Rate (avg)
1 Andrew McLaughlin SC Ashley Ridge 2024 RHP 2288 rpm
2 Cooper Coleman SC West Florence 2025 RHP 2288 rpm
3 Trey Roberts NC Pro 5 Academy 2024 RHP 2286 rpm
4 Cole Smith SC Northwestern High 2025 SS 2276 rpm
5 Seth Sharpe NC Morehead 2024 RHP 2270 rpm
6 Jake Klein SC Oceanside Collegiate 2024 LHP 2242 rpm
7 Will Howard SC Emerald 2025 RHP 2232 rpm
8 Micah Simpson NC TC Roberson 2025 LHP 2226 rpm
9 Larson Montgomery SC York 2025 RHP 2218 rpm
10 Zach White NC Hickory Grove Christian 2026 C 2217 rpm


Average Induced Vertical Movement

Induced vertical movement tracks how the ball rides through the zone, or sinks through the zone.  For the purpose of this board we are tracking which fastballs showed the most ride, typically leading to more swing and miss opportunities

Rank Name State School Class Pos IVB (avg)
1 Will Howard SC Emerald 2025 RHP 19.9 in
2 Ayden Clay SC Pendleton High 2025 SS 19.6 in
3 Ayden Wall NC Ledford 2025 C 18.9 in
4 Briggs Lee SC Legion Collegiate 2026 3B 18.4 in
5 Cole Kuklick NC Heritage 2024 RHP 17.8 in
6 Cole Smith SC Northwestern High 2025 SS 17.3 in
7 Max Whitmer SC Wando 2025 RHP 17.2 in
8 Aiden Smith SC Clover High 2026 RHP 16.6 in
9 Peyton Rogers SC West Florence 2024 RHP 16.6 in
10 Zach White NC Hickory Grove Christian 2026 C 16.6 in


Average Horizontal Movement

Horizontal movement is often referred to as run.  This measurement does not distinguish between early and late movement, just the overall amount the ball tracks to the arm side out of the hand.

Rank Name State School Class Pos HM (avg)
1 Ethan Plesser NC Cape Fear 2024 LHP 17.6
2 Ayden Clay SC Pendleton High 2025 SS -16.5
3 Christopher Donaldson NC Pro Five Academy 2024 RHP -16.4
4 Briggs Lee SC Legion Collegiate 2026 3B -16.3
5 Wells Anderson SC Wade Hampton 2024 SS -16.3
6 Andrew McLaughlin SC Ashley Ridge 2024 RHP -16.1
7 Jacob Muir SC Dreher 2024 OF -15.2
8 Micah Simpson NC TC Roberson 2025 LHP 15.1
9 Thomas Conrad NC Forbush 2024 RHP -14.4
10 Dalen Boykin NC Rolesville 2024 RHP -14.1


Peak Spin Score

The Spin Score is a measurement linking velocity and spin.  It is calculated by dividing the spin rate by the velocity of each pitch.  

Rank Name State School Class Pos Spin Score (max)
1 Zach White NC Hickory Grove Christian 2026 C 30
2 Cole Smith SC Northwestern High 2025 SS 29
3 Jake Klein SC Oceanside Collegiate 2024 LHP 29
4 Cooper Coleman SC West Florence 2025 RHP 28
5 Anthony Marano SC Clover High 2026 OF 28
6 Briggs Lee SC Legion Collegiate 2026 3B 28
7 Seth Sharpe NC Morehead 2024 RHP 28
8 Micah Simpson NC TC Roberson 2025 LHP 28
9 Will Howard SC Emerald 2025 RHP 28
10 Trey Roberts NC Pro 5 Academy 2024 RHP 28


CURVEBALL STATS

Peak Velocity

Rank Name State School Class Pos Velocity (max)
1 Cole Smith SC Northwestern High 2025 SS 83.9 mph
2 Robert Cole SC P27 Academy 2025 RHP 79.2 mph
3 Thayer Tavormina SC Summerville 2024 RHP 79.1 mph
4 Cale Reynolds SC Clarendon Hall 2025 OF 77.5 mph
5 Shane Bernhardt NC Holly Springs 2024 LHP 77.1 mph
6 Landon Johnson NC Forsyth Country Day 2024 RHP 76.7 mph
7 Cole Kuklick NC Heritage 2024 RHP 76.7 mph
8 Jake Klein SC Oceanside Collegiate 2024 LHP 76.5 mph
9 Dalen Boykin NC Rolesville 2024 RHP 76.3 mph
10 Trey Roberts NC Pro 5 Academy 2024 RHP 76.3 mph


Peak Spin Rate

Rank Name State School Class Pos Spin Rate (max)
1 Ethan Plesser NC Cape Fear 2024 LHP 2839 rpm
2 Christopher Donaldson NC Pro Five Academy 2024 RHP 2813 rpm
3 Ayden Clay SC Pendleton High 2025 SS 2656 rpm
4 Wells Anderson SC Wade Hampton 2024 SS 2568 rpm
5 Dalen Boykin NC Rolesville 2024 RHP 2456 rpm
6 Cole Kuklick NC Heritage 2024 RHP 2446 rpm
7 Thomas Conrad NC Forbush 2024 RHP 2441 rpm
8 Peyton Rogers SC West Florence 2024 RHP 2414 rpm
9 Cole Smith SC Northwestern High 2025 SS 2405 rpm
10 Carson Dahle NC East Lincoln 2024 RHP 2379 rpm


Average Spin Rate

Rank Name State School Class Pos Spin Rate (avg)
1 Ethan Plesser NC Cape Fear 2024 LHP 2809 rpm
2 Christopher Donaldson NC Pro Five Academy 2024 RHP 2728 rpm
3 Ayden Clay SC Pendleton High 2025 SS 2616 rpm
4 Wells Anderson SC Wade Hampton 2024 SS 2456 rpm
5 Cole Kuklick NC Heritage 2024 RHP 2367 rpm
6 Thomas Conrad NC Forbush 2024 RHP 2343 rpm
7 Peyton Rogers SC West Florence 2024 RHP 2321 rpm
8 Micah Simpson NC TC Roberson 2025 LHP 2312 rpm
9 Dalen Boykin NC Rolesville 2024 RHP 2283 rpm
10 Cole Smith SC Northwestern High 2025 SS 2281 rpm


Average Induced Vertical Movement

This is a measurement of how much the ball drops from its original position and trajectory.  It does not measure how late the movement happens.  This can be referred to as depth on a breaking ball.

Rank Name State School Class Pos IVB (avg)
1 Jacob Muir SC Dreher 2024 OF 10.0 in
2 Wells Anderson SC Wade Hampton 2024 SS -9.4 in
3 Briggs Lee SC Legion Collegiate 2026 3B -7.8 in
4 Will Howard SC Emerald 2025 RHP -7.6 in
5 Christopher Donaldson NC Pro Five Academy 2024 RHP -7.5 in
6 Cole Kuklick NC Heritage 2024 RHP 7.3 in
7 Carson Dahle NC East Lincoln 2024 RHP -7.1 in
8 Ethan Plesser NC Cape Fear 2024 LHP -6.8 in
9 Cole Smith SC Northwestern High 2025 SS 6.6 in
10 Thomas Conrad NC Forbush 2024 RHP -6.4 in


Average Horizontal Movement

Rank Name State School Class Pos HM (avg)
1 Ethan Plesser NC Cape Fear 2024 LHP 17.6
2 Ayden Clay SC Pendleton High 2025 SS -16.5
3 Christopher Donaldson NC Pro Five Academy 2024 RHP -16.4
4 Briggs Lee SC Legion Collegiate 2026 3B -16.3
5 Wells Anderson SC Wade Hampton 2024 SS -16.3
6 Andrew McLaughlin SC Ashley Ridge 2024 RHP -16.1
7 Jacob Muir SC Dreher 2024 OF -15.2
8 Micah Simpson NC TC Roberson 2025 LHP 15.1
9 Thomas Conrad NC Forbush 2024 RHP -14.4
10 Dalen Boykin NC Rolesville 2024 RHP -14.1


Peak Spin Score

Rank Name State School Class Pos Spin Score (max)
1 Christopher Donaldson NC Pro Five Academy 2024 RHP 38
2 Ethan Plesser NC Cape Fear 2024 LHP 38
3 Ayden Clay SC Pendleton High 2025 SS 38
4 Briggs Lee SC Legion Collegiate 2026 3B 36
5 Wells Anderson SC Wade Hampton 2024 SS 36
6 Dalen Boykin NC Rolesville 2024 RHP 35
7 Zach White NC Hickory Grove Christian 2026 C 34
8 Larson Montgomery SC York 2025 RHP 33
9 Tristen Sumner NC East Henderson High 2026 RHP 33
10 Micah Simpson NC TC Roberson 2025 LHP 33



SLIDER STATS

Peak Velocity

Rank Name State School Class Pos Velocity (max)
1 Tate Jones NC Walter M Williams 2024 RHP 81.1 mph
2 Thayer Tavormina SC Summerville 2024 RHP 79.9 mph
3 Landon Johnson NC Forsyth Country Day 2024 RHP 79.2 mph
4 Robert Cole SC P27 Academy 2025 RHP 79.2 mph
5 Cole Kuklick NC Heritage 2024 RHP 76.9 mph


Peak Spin Rate

Rank Name State School Class Pos Spin Rate (max)
1 Christopher Donaldson NC Pro Five Academy 2024 RHP 2855 rpm
2 Cole Kuklick NC Heritage 2024 RHP 2435 rpm
3 Thayer Tavormina SC Summerville 2024 RHP 2402 rpm
4 Tate Jones NC Walter M Williams 2024 RHP 2266 rpm
5 Trey Roberts NC Pro 5 Academy 2024 RHP 2096 rpm


Average Spin Rate

Rank Name State School Class Pos Spin Rate (avg)
1 Christopher Donaldson NC Pro Five Academy 2024 RHP 2776
2 Cole Kuklick NC Heritage 2024 RHP 2376
3 Thayer Tavormina SC Summerville 2024 RHP 2289
4 Tate Jones NC Walter M Williams 2024 RHP 2190
5 Trey Roberts NC Pro 5 Academy 2024 RHP 2096


Average Induced Vertical Movement

Rank Name State School Class Pos IVB (avg)
1 Zechariah Haney SC Camden High 2025 C 8.6 in
2 Christopher Donaldson NC Pro Five Academy 2024 RHP -6.7 in
3 Cole Kuklick NC Heritage 2024 RHP 5.5 in
4 Tate Jones NC Walter M Williams 2024 RHP 4.8 in
5 Jake Klein SC Oceanside Collegiate 2024 LHP 3.8 in


Average Horizontal Movement

Rank Name State School Class Pos HM (avg)
1 Christopher Donaldson NC Pro Five Academy 2024 RHP -16.9
2 Cole Kuklick NC Heritage 2024 RHP -12.0
3 Thayer Tavormina SC Summerville 2024 RHP -11.1
4 Robert Cole SC P27 Academy 2025 RHP -5.9
5 Trey Roberts NC Pro 5 Academy 2024 RHP -5.5


Peak Spin Score

Rank Name State School Class Pos Spin Score (max)
1 Christopher Donaldson NC Pro Five Academy 2024 RHP 38
2 Cole Kuklick NC Heritage 2024 RHP 32
3 Thayer Tavormina SC Summerville 2024 RHP 30
4 Jake Klein SC Oceanside Collegiate 2024 LHP 29
5 Trey Roberts NC Pro 5 Academy 2024 RHP 29



CHANGEUP STATS

Peak Velocity

Rank Name State School Class Pos Velocity (max)
1 Thomas Conrad NC Forbush 2024 RHP 81.5 mph
2 Christopher Donaldson NC Pro Five Academy 2024 RHP 81.0 mph
3 Carson Dahle NC East Lincoln 2024 RHP 80.1 mph
4 Peyton Rogers SC West Florence 2024 RHP 79.8 mph
5 Robert Cole SC P27 Academy 2025 RHP 79.8 mph


Average Induced Vertical Movement

Rank Name State School Class Pos IVB (avg)
1 Aiden Smith SC Clover High 2026 RHP 19.3 in
2 Robert Cole SC P27 Academy 2025 RHP 15.0 in
3 Peyton Rogers SC West Florence 2024 RHP 13.0 in
4 Larson Montgomery SC York 2025 RHP 10.1 in
5 Carson Dahle NC East Lincoln 2024 RHP 8.1 in


Average Horizontal Movement

Rank Name State School Class Pos HM (avg)
1 Thomas Conrad NC Forbush 2024 RHP 16.3
2 Jake Klein SC Oceanside Collegiate 2024 LHP -15.9
3 Tate Jones NC Walter M Williams 2024 RHP 14.7
4 Trey Roberts NC Pro 5 Academy 2024 RHP 14.4
5 Andrew McLaughlin SC Ashley Ridge 2024 RHP -13.3