Official League Website: www.scbl.org
It was apparent that the balance of power in the Southern Collegiate League in 2008 was in the Northern Division generally, and with the Tennessee Tornado specifically.
The Tornado was far and away the dominant team in the league as it posted a 29-10 record in the regular season, and swept undefeated (3-0) to the playoff title. The top three teams in the standings were the three Northern Division clubs, and the North also handily won the league’s all-star game, 13-1.
The accompanying list of the league’s 10 best prospects also is dominated by Northern Division teams, but the Thunder’s impact isn’t quite as apparent as it fielded a roster of older, more experienced players, but few true prospects.
FAST FACTS
Year League Established: 1999.
States Represented in League: North Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee.
Level of Competition (1-to-4 Scale): 4.
No. of Teams in League: 7.
Regular-Season Champion: Tennessee Tornado.
Post-Season Champion: Tennessee Tornado.
Teams, PG Crosschecker Summer 16/Final Ranking: None.
No. 1 Prospect, 2007 (per PG Crosschecker): Tommy Baldridge,
of, Carolina Sox (Coastal Carolina; Yankees ’08, 33rd round).
First 2007 Player Selected, 2008 Draft: Tommy Baldridge, of,
Carolina Sox (Coastal Carolina; Yankees, 33rd round).
Most Valuable Player: Brad Agustin, ss, Morganton Aggies.
Most Outstanding Pitcher: Boo Morrow, rhp, Tennessee Tornado.
Top Prospect (as selected by league): None selected.
BATTING LEADERS
Batting Average: Byron McCoy, of, Carolina Thunder (.414).
Slugging Percentage: Anthony Sosnoskie, c, Lake Norman
Copperheads (.653).
On-Base Average: Bart Roark, 1b-3b, Tennessee Tornado (.488).
Home Runs: Anthony Sosnoskie, c, Lake Norman Copperheads (7).
RBIs: Brad Agustin, ss, Morganton Aggies (41).
Stolen Bases: Marty Parks, of, Tennessee Tornado (22).
PITCHING LEADERS
Wins: Ken Graveline, rhp, Carolina Thunder; Kelly McLain, rhp,
Lake Norman Copperheads (6).
ERA: Stephen Shackleford, rhp, Morganton Aggies (1.65).
Saves:Zack Howell, rhp, Tennessee Tornado (4).
Strikeouts: Atlee Pearson, rhp, Spartanburg Blue Eagles (48).
Opponent Batting Average: Gary Kott, rhp, Tennessee Tornado
(.173).
BEST TOOLS
Best Hitter: Anthony Sosnoskie, c, Lake Norman Copperheads.
Best Power: Brad McDavid, of, Morganton Aggies.
Fastest Base Runner: Craige Lyerly, 3b-of, Morganton Aggies.
Best Defensive Player: Anthony Sosnoskie, c, Lake Norman Copperheads.
Best Velocity: Teddy Fallon, rhp, Carolina Thunder.
Best Breaking Ball: Boo Morrow, rhp, Tennessee Thunder.
TOP 10 PROSPECTS
| |
PLAYER |
POS. |
TEAM |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
YR |
2009 SCHOOL |
| 1. |
Anthony Sosnoskie |
C |
Lake Norman Copperheads |
R-R |
5-11 |
195 |
Jr. |
Virginia Tech |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Sosnoskie’s sophomore season at Virginia Tech ended in May when he was hit in the face by a pitch during practice and subsequently underwent facial surgery. Amazingly, he was the third Hokies player whose 2008 season was ended by such an injury. Sosnoskie showed no signs of being gun-shy at the plate when he joined Lake Norman less than a month later, and he went on to lead the SCL in doubles (18), home runs (7) and slugging percentage (.653), while hitting .368 with 40 RBIs. Hitting (both for average and power) is the strength of Sosnoskie’s game, but he is also solid mechanically behind the plate and few runners were successful attempting to steal against him as he popped consistent times in the 1.9-2.0 range. He caught in 44 of 45 games for Virginia Tech during the spring, while hitting .315-6-37. Sosnoskie’s younger brother Buddy, an outfielder, also played for Lake Norman this summer and he is a prospect as well, but an almost completely different kind of player. Taller, leaner, more athletic and lefthanded all the way, Buddy is a better runner than his brother and most of his power is to the gaps. He hit .275-0-8 with eight stolen bases this summer—commendable numbers considering he missed all of his freshman season at Virginia Tech with a torn labrum in his shoulder, and had originally enrolled in college as a pitcher. |
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