NHSI Preview: Blessed Trinity & South Forsyth

Blessed Trinity (17-3)

The No. 1-ranked team on the GA Power 25 is set to partake in the illustrious annual high school tournament: the National High School Invitational, hosted by USA Baseball in Cary, N.C. It’s a big year for Georgia baseball, with two of the state’s prospects ranked within the top five of the PBR national rankings, including one of the Titans’ own: C.J. Abrams.

Their star senior shortstop has guided the team to a 17-3 mark this spring, despite the level of competition on their schedule all spring long. Seven of their 20 games this spring have come against teams ranked on the GA Power 25. One of their three losses came to a team that’s also headed to Cary – IMG Academy.

So, as impressive as it is for any program to win 17 of its first 20 games, Blessed Trinity’s record looks even better than it does on paper.

Again, Abrams’ spark at the top of this order lights up the entire lineup. He’s hitting .400 this spring and is averaging almost a stolen base a game. He’s one of the twitchiest and quickest players in the nation and has a loose and easy swing that allows him to barrel a ton of balls.

But the Titans are more than just their top-of-the-order phenom. Joining Abrams are fellow D-I-committed seniors Jake Smith (Air Force), Ryan Davis (Alabama-Birmingham (football)), and Steele Chambers (Ohio State). Sophomore D.J. Radtke, an Auburn commit, is one of the country’s best 2021s and he should be relied upon to handle a significant chunk of the innings on the mound. Then there’s 2019 out Ryan Davis doesn’t have Abrams’ speed, but he is aggressive on the bases and has a high baseball IQ. 2020 RHP Trey Baker stands at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds and can pitch in the high 80s.

The Titans are one of the grittiest and toughest teams in the state, led by a star-level core of talent. BT’s prestigious 2019 class might be in line for a storybook finish, and the NHSI is just another (giant) stop along the way.

NEXT GAME: Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. ET, versus Marist (3-1), the No. 1-ranked team on the IL Power 25, at USA Baseball Complex, Cary, N.C.

South Forsyth (8-11)

While this season hasn’t gone as expected for the War Eagles, South Forsyth still has among the most talent on their roster in the state. They have among the top staffs in the state, led by Mississippi State commit and No. 3-ranked prospect in Georgia, right-hander Landon Sims.

Sims is a two-way star for his high school, roaming the outfield or filling up the DH slot when he’s not on the mound. A rotation headlined with a frontline arm like this can elevate any program from regional title to state title aspirations. Sims is a low-90s arm who attacks the zone and is able to spin it to earn weak swings and misses.

The War Eagles are deeper than Sims, too. They have two Georgia Highlands JC commits behind him on staff: Steven Thompson and Peyton Presley. These three seniors are going to help South Forsyth reinvigorate their season in Cary.

Catcher Colby Wheeler is one of the top bats on this offense and he’s also an imperative piece as a member of this talented battery, game in and out. Both he and two-way talent Tyler Cowan have been doing the heavy lifting for an offense that has struggled, for the most part, this spring. It won’t be easy to get an offense back on track amidst the kind of arms they’ll be opposing in North Carolina, but the talent is here for the War Eagles to become the team we had projected them to be at the start of the spring.

And while he’s scuffled this spring offensively, middle infielder Gehrig Frei is among the most talented sophomores to keep an eye on in the state. He’s a switch-hitter who has a natural feel for the shortstop position.

Despite their slow start in the regular season, South Forsyth still has plenty of prospects to watch at the NHSI this week.

NEXT GAME: Wednesday, 2:30 p.m., against Orange Lutheran, the No. 1-ranked team on California’s Power 25, USA Baseball Complex, Cary, N.C.

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