8. Spartanburg Methodist (S.C.)

2008 Record: 44-15.

Team Capsule: SS Arturo Mogrezutt (.302-7-37) and OF Travis Witherspoon (.256-8-31) are the Pioneers top returning position players, but an influx of new talent will relegate them to secondary roles on the team in 2009. Sophomore C Stephen Cochrane, a former Oakland A’s draft pick and California junior-college transfer who arrived at the semester break, highlights an impressive list of newcomers. Even RHP Josh Salay (10-1, 3.63), the team’s top winner and potentially its best prospect, will be utilized in a secondary role this season as former South Carolina RHP Heath Hembree and two in-state high-school lefthanders, Jimmy Revan and Marty Gantt, have been slotted ahead of Salay in the rotation.

Top Prospect: Josh Salay, rhp. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Salay won in double-digits in 2008 with a fastball in the 88-92 mph range, but his prospect status is on hold as command of his pitches continues to be an issue.

Players, PG Crosschecker Top 250 Prospects: No. 107 Josh Salay, rhp; No. 116 Heath Hembree, rhp; No. 218 Stephen Cochrane, c.

Opening Game, 2009: Feb. 14 vs. Truett-McConnell (Ga.) JC.