DAKARI COOKE / BETHEL HIGH SCHOOL / OF

Dakari is back with the Canes in 2010 after having a big time year in 2009 as one of the top performers for the South 16 Canes a year ago. Cooke is a quick left handed hitting prospect that has some speed. Cooke can really get up and go when the engine is on full tilt. We look for Dakari to steal a lot of bases for us in 2010, and hit for a high average as he always has in the past. He is an outstanding student in the classroom.  Dakari has outstanding make-up, and is a pleasure to be around, and we love how hard he plays the game all the time. Cooke is a big time left handed hitting prospect!

#1 O’BRIAN NOBLE / FAYETTEVILLE ACADEMY / OF/1B

Noble is back with the canes in 2010 after having a stellar year last year with the green, and orange in 2009. Noble played a huge roll in the south 16’s success last year hitting in the lead off spot, and playing centerfield for Head Coach Tom Willoughby. Noble is one of those grinders that finds ways to beat you. He lives on the base paths, and simply finds ways to get on. OB has good speed, and is a very good defender in the outfield. Noble swings the bat from the right side, and throws lefty. In spots if needed Noble can be used on the mound as a situational arm. OB will likely see some time at first base for us this year as well. Definitely excited about what Noble brings to the table for the Canes in 2010, and is a team leader, and will be counted on for leadership!

#2 HUNTER HIGGERSON – GREAT BRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL – INF

Hunter is one of the top infielders in the state of Virginia in the 2011 class. He has a lot of the tools you are looking for in a infielder. He has the speed, the hands, and the strong accurate arm. Hunter stands 6 ft 3 170 lbs. This kid really projects to get a lot bigger, and stronger. We like him at the plate, and really think he can hit at a high level. Higgerson will play all over the infield for us this summer, and we are excited to see what offensive numbers he will show. With out a doubt Hunter is a nice looking prospect that if you are looking for a big, and strong reliable infielder with some pop in his bat you don’t need to look any further.

#3 JEFF MAXWELL – BROOKVILLE HIGH SCHOOL – LHP

Jeff was one of our favorite pitchers last summer when he pitched for Coach Willoughby and the South Canes last summer. His change-up was a great out pitch, and he worked in the mid 80’s with his fastball a year ago. Maxwell played football last year and was the quarterback at Brookville High School, so he didn’t play travel baseball last fall, but he has since hung up the football pads, and is concentrating on baseball for the rest of his high school days. We feel Jeff will be a major college prospect this summer. Huge upside, and very athletic big bodied lefty that knows how to pitch. Maxwell will get the ball in a lot of big situations for us in 2010, and has outstanding make-up absolute pleasure to be around!

#4 - JAMES MORGAN – PAUL VI HIGH SCHOOL – OF/INF/1B

James comes to the Canes in 2010 as one of our most versatile players. We like how much Morgan has progressed over the last 2 years, and we like him defensively all over the field. His athleticism plays well at 2B, and 3B he has very good hands, and an accurate arm. His speed has recently moved him to the outfield some, and he will see time in the corner outfield for us for sure in 2010. We also like Morgan at 1B we feel his hands, and size will fill in nice at 1B from time to time. The bat has come along, and he has gap to gap power, and rarely strikes out finding a way to put the ball in play more times than not. Very good athlete, and comes from good stock where his Older Brother was one of the best players in Canes History Chad Morgan now playing at Virginia Tech, and was slated to be an impact player as a freshman, but recently has been side lined for his freshman year with Tommy John Surgery, but will bounce back, and be a huge impact guy in 2011 for the Hokies.

#5 -TAYLOR MCCONNELL – POQUOSON HIGH SCHOOL – INF

Taylor is bringing his services back to the Canes again in 2010. McConnell is currently ranked the #188 player in the United States by Perfect Game in the 2011 class, and the #6 player in VA. McConnell is one of the top over all athletes in the state of Virginia he is a 3 sport star at Poquoson playing Quarterback for the football team, Point Guard for the basketball team, and playing middle infield for the Baseball team that won the Virginia class AA state championship a year ago where McConnell was named 2^nd team all state while being a huge part of the Islanders state championship run. We like the athleticism Taylor brings to the table for us. He can run, and can really hit for a high average. McConnell is with out a doubt a major prospect, and has a lot of experience in playing in big baseball games.

#6 – BENNETT HIXSON – WESEYLAN CHRISTIAN – RHP/C/UTILITY

HIXSON brings a lot to the table as a baseball player. On the mound he has had his fastball clocked in the mid to upper 80s, and he has good off speed stuff to go with it. Behind the plate he is a very clean receiver, and his arm plays well from behind the plate as well. Hixson can play pretty much anywhere on the infield, and is a solid corner outfielder as well. He is a very valuable player to have on any baseball club because of all the things he can do to help you. Great kid to be around, and with out a doubt a nice prospect in more ways than one.

#7 – EVAN MCCLOUD – HICKORY HIGH SCHOOL – OF

McLoud will be with the Canes this summer as an outfielder, and due to his age he can bounce up and down some, and play at the 16U level some as well. He is a great athlete that plays football in the fall for Hickory as well. Speedy 6.8 runner with an outstanding arm from the outfield. Evan has one of those arms that you pay close attention to after you see him let the first one loose in infield, and outfield. He swings the bat well, and is a scrappy player. He is a solid prospect, and definitely someone you want to keep your eyes on if you are looking for speedy, strong well put together kid that can swing the stick!

#9 BRANDON DELK – WARWICK HIGH SCHOOL – RHP/OF/INF

Brandon is coming back to the Canes after a MVP worthy 2010 for Tom Willoughby’s south squad. Delk was one of Willoughby’s top pitchers in 2009, and one of his top hitters. Delk has nasty sinking stuff at a 86 to 87 mph speed, and has a nice slider, and feel for a change. Swinging the bat Delk has extremely quick hands at the plate, and has the ability to leave the yard at any point in time. Defensively he is a rover like most of our players on this team. He can play corner outfield, but is dependable at any of the infield positions. Delk is a very good player, and he will help us win a lot of games in 2010, and will help whatever college he ends up at win a lot of games as well.

#12 TYLER LONG – HALIFAX HIGH SCHOOL – OF/LHP/1B

Tyler Long is one of the top players in the Canes organization and will be one of the most highly recruited players in 2010 as well. Long brings so much to the table on any team he can beat you with his bat from the left side, his speed, his stellar defense in the outfield, and is one of the top pitchers in the canes program as well. Ty will be a main stay for us in centerfield this summer, and can help us on the corners at times as well as fill in at first base some. On the mound he will be a go to guy with his mid to upper 80’s fastball, and nasty breaker. We project Ty will be a top of the order hitter for us on a team that is loaded with spark plug lead off type hitters. Tyler is a great kid to be around, and really plays the game hard the way we like to see it played.

 

#13 - BRADLEY STRONG – RICHLANDS HIGH SCHOOL – INF

Strong brings athleticism and some spark plug tools to the Canes South squad this summer.  Left handed hitting middle infielder with very sure hands, and a nice strong accurate arm. Strong also is a football player at Richlands High school as well. We like Bradley to play all 3 infield positions for us, and if we had to he could play some outfield. He is a very good athlete, and has good speed coming out of the left side of the box. We are excited to have Strong with us this summer. He is a very good play that was the Shortstop for the West Commonwealth team last summer in the Virginia Coventry Commonwealth Games, and was also a First Team All State AA Choice in VA last year as a sophomore which is very impressive.

#14 ALEX NEWMAN – DAVIE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL – OF

Newman is another athletic kid who stars on the football field in the fall season, but is a very good baseball player, and will bring his services to the college level to play baseball. Alex is currently being recruited very heavily to patrol the outfield in college. Great speed, and outstanding defensively in the outfield, and has power at the plate. He can beat you with his bat, his speed, and his arm from the outfield just an all around top notch baseball player. Newman will be a big time player for us this summer. Major prospect, and will get a lot more attention than he is currently getting which is plenty. Newman plays for Mike Herndon at Davie County High School.

#16 MICHAEL ELEFANTE – CHAPEL HILL HIGH SCHOOL – C/1B – ELON UNIVERSITY

Michael is returning to the canes after having a promising fall last fall with 5 homers, and a lot of disappointed base runners from the opposition walking back to the dugout after being hosed down by Elefantes plus cannon. Michael has some power tools in his arm, and his bat speed. When Elefante cleans up his receiving he will be one of the top catchers on the east coast.  The arm he possesses from behind the plate is something you simply cant teach, and when he connects at the plate he has hit homers 450 feet and beyond. We are excited to have Elefante back with us in 2010, and he also can get on the mound and run it up their in the upper 80’s and he may be called on to do so in spots. Michael recently committed to Elon. Elefante plays his high school baseball for Randy Trumbower at Chapel Hill High School.

#17 Luke Bondurant – South County High School- 3B/1B/OF –

Luke is one Coach Petty’s favorite hitters in the entire program in 2010 he can flat out swing it with anyone in the country, and will turn a lot of heads around in 2010. Bondo has it all at the plate the discipline, the approach, and the ability to hit tape measure shot home runs. Luke will be a middle of the order presence for the Canes every where they go, and will be counted on to be a RBI machine. Defensively he is a sound thirdbase man, can play some first, and a good corner outfielder as well. We are excited to have Luke sporting a canes uniform this year. It will be very interesting to see what kind of numbers Luke puts up. Major Prospect!

#18 Matt Kianka – Paul VI – OF/INF

Matt is one of the top prospects in the 2011 class in the country. He is the left handed hitting outfielder that everyone will be keeping tabs on in 2010. He can run, and swings it with authority. Plays in a very good high school program, and just loves to play baseball. He is simply a baseball player in every sense of the word. Matt will be relied on to be a top of the order hitter, and middle of the order guy for us all year. He brings a lot to the table, and will be able to steal a lot of bases for us in 2010 as well as drive in a lot of runs. Very excited about Kianka’s debut with the canes coming up in June he is going to be a big time college player for whoever scoops him up.

#20 Mike Wood – Tazewell High School – RHP

Mike is coming back to the canes after a fall where he showed velocity at the Underclass World Wood Bat Championship that got as high as 91 mph. Wood is a big tall lanky right hander with a very fast arm, and can really spin the breaking ball hard for a strike. Woods best strike pitch is his breaking ball, and when he is locating the 90 mph fastball for a strike he is very tuff to handle. His arm slot is a high 3 quarter coming down hill off a 6 ft 2 inch frame. Wood has the ability to be a pro prospect on the mound, and is going to be highly touted RHP on the circuit this summer! Outstanding young man with great make up he is a pleasure to be around! Wood will get the ball in big spots all year for the Canes!

#21 JOHNNY MILDNER – CATHOLIC MEMORIAL (MASSACHUSETTS) – RHP/OF

Mildner comes to the canes as the #10 ranked player in all of Massachusetts. To say the least Mildner is a top of the line pitching prospect with a fastball that sits at 90 mph, and has control of a nice breaking ball, and change-up. Mildner is currently being recruited by several major schools. We look to give the ball to Johnny in the biggest of situations in 2010. Big time pitching prospect, and looks to be a pro prospect as well out of high school. Very excited to have Mildner in our program in 2010 he is the type of arm that can take control of a baseball game from the time he toes the rubber until the last pitch is thrown!

 

 

 

#22 Nick Nagowski – Jack Britt High School – RHP

Nick is coming back to the Canes after having a very good summer last year for the Canes South 16 team for Coach Willoughby. Nagowski works in the mid 80’s and has a heavy fastball. Good breaking ball, and change-up, and had a rubber arm for Coach Willoughby a year ago. He can eat up a lot of innings, and has a lot left in the tank he projects to get better, and to throw harder down the line. Nagowski will see a lot of innings for the Canes in 2010, and we are looking forward to see how much he has progressed in the past year. Definite prospect as a pitcher for someone!

#24 ROBBIE KIDD – PAUL VI HIGH SCHOOL – RHP/UTILITY

Robbie comes into the canes pitching staff this summer, and is projected to be a top of the rotation type of arm. Kidd throws from a 3 quarter arm slot and produces a lot of run on all of his pitches. Very good pitcher, and has the type of stuff that can take control of a baseball game from start to finish. He throws a lot of groundballs, and is the kind of pitcher colleges love to get their hands on b/c he misses barrels. Velocity has been in the mid 80’s and has jumped to upper 80’s at times. Their will be a lot of schools interested in Kidd this summer, and fall, and we are excited to have him on our club. Kidd will also see time as a utility player as well.

#25 TAYLOR WEST – EAST CHAPEL HILL HIGH SCHOOL – C

Taylor is coming into the canes program this year as a very promising catching prospect. We really liked him a lot at our Camp in November. He showed sub 2.0 pop times, and really had a nice set up from behind the plate as well as soft hands receiving. West really swung the bat well for us in camp as well. The ball really jumped off his bat. We got a chance to see West play for MVP in Jupiter last fall, and we liked what we saw then as well. Very excited to see Taylor suit up for the Canes in 2010, and he looks to be a major prospect behind the dish. Our pitchers will really like throwing to West!

 

#26 PATRICK CORBETT – TABB HIGH SCHOOL – RHP – RADFORD UNIVERSITY

Corbett is coming back to the Canes after being one of the top arms in the rotation for the South 16 team a year ago, and he has recently committed to Joe Raccuia, and Radford University. Corbett is a big tall lanky right hander who has a quick arm. His stuff has been clocked as high as 87 this winter in indoor camps, and when the warm weather comes around this summer he could be a 90 mph guy. Good stuff on the mound, and he throws down hill which we love. Competitive kid that will only get better down the line, and a pleasure to be around. Corbett will be a top of the rotation guy for us this summer, and will get the ball in big games! Outstanding make-up.

#34 DILLON FRYE – LEE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL – RHP

Dillon is one of the top arms in our organization for sure, and projects to be a pro prospect on the mound down the line. Big 6 ft 3 frame, and has had his fastball clocked as high as 88 this winter in camps. Frye is a Great kid that is very coach able, and wants to be good at all costs. He works very hard on the small things to help his game get better. We like his tireless work ethic and his drive to continue to get better. Frye is currently being recruited by several schools, and will be one of our top go to arms all summer, and fall. We are very excited to have someone like Dillon at the top of our rotation.