Led by General Manager and Head Coach Jeff Petty, the Canes North 16’s won the World Wood Bat Association National Championship on Monday afternoon when USC target Dillon Maples hurled a complete game no-hitter.
The Canes have eight prospects being looked at by Carolina and given their performance on the biggest stage in summer baseball, the Gamecocks would be delighted to land even half of them.
“It’s the cream of the crop right now,” Petty said. “We don’t need to go look for better because it’s here. Every position, depth on the mound; it’s here. You can’t go out and find much better and we’re delighted with what we have.
The top college programs take time out of the schedule to watch the Canes, a name everyone has become familiar with in a short time. In this just their fourth season, they have put 25 players into Southeastern or Atlantic Coast Conference schools and more are on their way.
“In three years time it has exploded,” Petty said. “We did really well with that group and then it’s just kind of followed. We do things the right way, treat our players the right way, and run the organization the way it should be run. We’ve sent people all over the east coast and guys all over the country recruiting our guys.”
USC landed catcher Richard Royal out of the Canes organization and two more players are on their way this fall.
Pitchers Ethan Carter and Tyler Webb are set to enroll and Petty thinks the “Twin Towers” may be able to make an impact at USC as quick as the Canes have on a national level.
“I think they can make an immediate impact as freshman,” Petty said. “There both 6’6” and they’re both great kids. It would surprise me if they’re household names in Columbia right away.”
Carter is an Aflac All-American that committed to USC before his junior year of high school. He’s pitched on the biggest stages in both high school and summer league baseball and has come through winning a state championship with his Menchville HS team while never losing a game in three years as a Cane.
“We ran him out there on this stage at East Cobb, in Jupiter, in Fort Myers, and these big PerfectGame national events against some of the top teams in the country and the kid always won,” Petty said. “He’s just a competitor.”
Given his performances under his watch, Petty is sure that the confident right-hander will become a fan favorite in a Carolina uniform.
“If you put him on the mound in front of 9,000 people in Columbia and I think he’s just the kind of kid that will thrive off of that and perform better.”
Webb, a left-hander, suffered a season-ending injury last year but is on target to compete for a job this fall at USC.
“His demeanor is the complete opposite (of Carter’s),” Petty said. “You could put him out there in front of 9,000 people and he won’t even take notice to it; he’s just really focused on what he wants to do and he’s got lights-out stuff.”
With the way Canes’ baseball program is heading, all the top names in the collegiate ranks will continue to pursue their players.
“We’re still a young program, we’ve only been doing this for three years,” Petty said. “If those two hop in there right away, they’ll just carry the name in. You’ll continue to see Hurricanes running in there through Columbia on a regular basis.”
The Gamecocks have also landed a commitment from rising senior Erik Payne, a first baseman.
Petty, a former Irmo resident, is a great connection and the USC coaching staff is building a great relationship with Hurricane Baseball.
Carolina Targets
Perhaps the most highly sought after player amongst the six is outfielder/left-handed pitcher Jake Cave from Hampton, Va. The top teams in college baseball, including national champs LSU, are after the sweet-swinger. The Gamecocks have a fighting chance as Cave is scheduled to come on an unofficial visit this week.
“He’s a special talent,” Petty said. “He’s a three-hole type hitter and a Friday night starter as a freshman.”
Cave, a rising junior, has been as high as 93mph on the radar gun and is just a rising junior in high school. LSU is going after him hard and the Tigers could earn a commitment before he visits USC. Keep your fingers crossed the Gamecocks can get Cave on campus before he pulls the trigger just to give him something to think about.
Outfielder/catcher
Cameron Cappell is another player the Gamecocks are high on. The Louisburg, N.C. native has plenty of talent but the intangibles and work ethic the left-handed bat possesses also factors into the equation.
Perhaps the player the Gamecocks sit in the best shape for is pitcher/first baseman Curt Britt. Another left-hander, Britt is still working his way back to 100-percent from ACL surgery. He’s a power arm and a power bat that has USC and UNC high on his list. Associate head coach Chad Holbrook is working hard to steal another from the Tar Heels.
“Curt is going to get nothing but better,” Petty said. “He’s grown up his whole entire life with a high school baseball coach as his dad and a dang good coach. He gets after it, is a weight-room kid, and wants to get better. He’s a competitor and he’s a very unselfish guy. He’s had the luxury of being taught the game the right way. It’s going to be exciting to see where he’s going to be in a couple of years.”
Britt is just a rising sophomore and a part of the class of 2012.
USC is also keeping an eye on pitcher/utility player
Dillon Maples, who pitched a no-hitter in the WWBA championship game on Monday. The right-hander is also a standout high school kicker that could receive scholarship offers for his skills on the gridiron.
First baseman/left-handed pitcher Kyle Martin is also on the Carolina radar. With a strong fastball and a hard curveball, the 2011 prospect is receiving interest from some big name programs as well. He grew up a Clemson fan so USC has some obstacles to overcome but they’re in the thick of it with him.
Another pair of players that USC is keeping its eye on is middle infielder Josh Tobias and corner infielder Grayson Atwood. Both hailing from the Tar Heel state, think former USC second baseman Travis Jones in regard to Tobias. Atwood is a power-hitting righty.
Like Britt, rising sophomore Landon Lassiter is another prospect to keep a close eye on. Many of the top programs in the country are after the right-handed shortstop and the Gamecocks are one of them.
Check out the Canes North photo gallery to take a look at some of the USC targets.
