SuperState

New! It was a Super weekend for U.S.S.S.A. baseball as the Super State championships, hosted by Gameday Sports, were held in the Easley area. Junior Diamond Prospects had scouts scouring the ballyards for some newfound gems. We'll let you know what we harvested in our Junior Diamond Recap. For more, click here.

FD S'Out

Nations Baseball offers one day tournaments in the Gastonia/Charlotte area for teams interested in that format. It came in quite handy last weekend for teams who wanted to play a little ball before honoring dear old Dad on his day. Junior Diamond Prospects was at the Father's Day Shootout in Gastonia for some 10U and 12U action. Our Junior Diamond Recap of this tournament is next. To view, click here.

SCUpstate

Scorching temperatures approaching 100 degrees in the upstate reminded us last weekend that summer had officially arrived. And the Junior "Boys of Summer" were on the diamond at the J.B. Owens Complex and other venues competing for the SC Upper State Championships, hosted by Gameday Sports. JrDP scouts Richard Edwards, Jay Cox, Davis Simpson, and Cameron Edwards made appearances over the weekend. They will bring you more than a dozen recaps of games in this tournament and prospects galore in our Junior Diamond Recap. For more, click here.

SCMajor

The best in the state in U.S.S.S.A.'s highest classification met on the diamond last weekend as the South Carolina Major State Championships took place in the Columbia area. JrDP scout Tony Price had quite a pool of talent to choose from and he managed to take in games in the 9U, 11U, 12U and 14U divisions. In addition, he was on hand on Sunday to see two champions coronated. We'll tell you about those performances and more in our Junior Diamond Recap. For more, click here.

CWS Omaha

It's become an American tradition. Omaha, Nebraska. Rosenblatt Stadium. Eight teams. Two weeks. Double Elimination. One champion. God bless America... From the final eight teams to the bleacher creatures at Rosenblatt Stadium to everything Omaha, there's nothing like the College World Series. In an exerpt from his new book, The Road to Omaha, Ryan McGee takes you through the opening days of the College World Series. To read, click here.

BucBlast

Nations Baseball and Pro Level Sports played host to the Buc Blast in the Charleston/Goose Creek area last weekend. Brett Bullard was on hand to analyze the talent on some of the 14U and 15U teams. What he found were some players that are on the verge of making an impact on the junior varsity and varsity level in some Lowcountry high school programs. He also uncovered a 13 year old who was playing at a level much higher than his actual age. Find out their names in our Junior Diamond Recap. To view, click here.

WorthHR

We don't know if the scoreboard had a bull's-eye on it or not, but three players from three of the five teams in the 11U division of the Worth Homerun Challenge, hosted by Gameday Sports, were taking aim and actually hit homeruns over the scoreboard at Hargett Park in Rock Hill on Saturday. Sunday was no different as another pitch was launched over the scoreboard and one hit dead on the target. See how each of the teams fared in this tournament in our Junior Diamond Recap. To view, click here.

Photos

Junior Diamond Prospects subscribers can now access our "Photo Gallery" (look under "Players" on home page). View photos of some of the top young prospects from around the state in game uniforms. We have over 250 players in our gallery now. During 2009, we will be adding more and more of the better players that we see. Plus, we'll add more photos of the players already featured here. To view, click here.

Velocity

Ever wonder what the average velocity is for a particular age? Check out the peak velocity of some of the pitchers we have seen perform in person. You can find it on the tool bar under Players/Player Evaluations/Pitcher Velocity or to view it now, click here. We have over 300 players currently in our data base. Check back often as we will be updating this information as it comes in from our area scouts.

Tournaments

JrDP will continue to be your #1 source for baseball tournaments in the state. Check out Tournament Central for upcoming events...

SC Super State, Easley, Gameday Sports, June 26-28... Mid-State Slam, Lexington/Columbia, Gameday Sports, June 27-28... Summer Slam, Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach Sports, June 27-28... Summer Slugfest, Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach Sports, June 27-28... Upstate Summer Sizzler, Greenville, Upper State Baseball, June 27-28... Showdown in the Sand, Myrtle Beach, Coastal Baseball Academy, June 27-28... Beach Blast, Myrtle Beach, Ripken Experience, June 28-July 3

Nations Rankings

Nations Baseball figures to play a more prominent role in youth baseball in the Palmetto state in 2009, offering numerous tournaments in Anderson, Easley, Florence, Hartsville, Myrtle Beach, Rock Hill, Simpsonville, Spartanburg, and Taylors. Junior Diamond Prospects will provide tournament coverage of Nations Baseball events as well as the latest team rankings. To view the current rankings, go to the tool bar under "Teams" or click here.

Team Spotlight

Coaches, want to have your team featured in the Junior Diamond Team Spotlight? You'll have the opportunity to share with our readers about your coaching philosophy, your team's accomplishments, be able to recognize your players individually, and much more. Junior Diamond Prospects wants to recognize your

team. Email Richard Edwards at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and we'll let you know how to do it.

USSSA rankings

Find out if your team is in the top 5 in South Carolina according to U.S.S.S.A. For a quick view of the latest U.S.S.S.A. rankings, click here or look under "Teams" on the tool bar. We will update the rankings for all divisions in ages 9 through 14 on Wednesday of each week.

Subscribe Today!

Junior Diamond Prospects is a subscription-based site. In order to bring you top-flight coverage across South Carolina, JrDP is offering you a membership on a monthly or on an annual basis. Get all the insider information for just "pocket change" a day. Try a monthly subscription for only about 30 cents a day. Or better yet, take out an annual subscription for only about 15 cents a day. If you wish to subscribe, set up an account with Paypal first if you don't have one already, then return to JrDP, register (click on register under "Login Form" on left of home page) and connect the dots! For detailed instructions on how to subscribe, go to our FAQ page or click here.

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Baseball News

PG National Standouts
An alphabetical list of 25 players that stood out at the Perfect Game National Showcase in Minneapolis, June 11-14.
Vettleson Turning Heads
Central Kitsap HS switch-pitcher Drew Vettleson is turning heads on the showcase circuit this summer.
Pirates Keep Churning Outfielders
The Washington Nationals trade Lastings Milledge and Joel Hanrahan to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett.
Aflac All-American Rosters Announced
The 2009 Aflac All-American game features 39 of the best high school seniors in the country . . . and Bryce Harper.

JrDP Headlines

July 3-5 tournaments: U.S.S.S.A. and Gameday Sports will play host to the "Firecracker NIT" in Rock Hill. To register for that event, click here. U.S.S.S.A. and Myrtle Beach Sports will play host to the "Heat at the Beach" in Myrtle Beach. To register for that event, click here. U.S.S.S.A. and Lowcountry Baseball will play host to the "Firecracker Blast" in Bluffton. To register for that event, click here. Nations Baseball and Upstate Baseball will play host to the "Firecracker Bash" in Taylors. To register for that event, click here. Nations Baseball and Pro Level Sports will play host to the "PLS Firecracker Shootout" in Charleston. To register for that event, click here. And the Ripken Experience will play host to the "Tidal Wave" tournament in Myrtle Beach. To view brackets, click here.

JrDP Quote of the Week: "Every great batter works on the theory that the pitcher is more afraid of him than he is of the pitcher." Ty Cobb

Watch baseball, earn ca$h! JrDP Scouts needed: Do you consider your baseball background good enough to cover USSSA, AAU, Little League or Dixie Youth games? If so, we could use your help to write up contests in the 9-14 age groups across South Carolina, especially in the Florence, Myrtle Beach, and Charleston areas. The spring season is upon us with tournaments in every part of the state. What better way to earn some extra spending money than watching Americas pasttime played by the stars of tomorrow. Anyone interested in being an area scout for Junior Diamond Prospects - and being compensated - should contact Richard Edwards at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Diamond Devils to host C.A.B.A. events: The South Carolina Diamond Devils organization will host Continental Amateur Baseball Association (C.A.B.A.) events for ages 9-14 in the Charleston area in 2009. For registration information and to view the tournament schedule, click here.

Triple Crown Sports Summer Nationals: Triple Crown Sports will play their annual Summer Nationals in the Myrtle Beach area in late July and early August. This event annually draws some of the top teams in the eastern part of the United States. To view the dates for each age division, for registration information, and to find out who is coming, click here.

Fletcher Baseball Championships back in '09: The Fletcher Baseball Championships return to the Charleston area again in 2009. This year's event will be held at the Gahagan Sports Complex, one of South Carolina's finest facilities. To view a schedule of these summer opportunities for ages 11-14, click here.

Ripken Experience readies for another season: The Ripken Experience offers a playing opportunity unlike any other in our state. Play baseball on synthetic turf on fields designed after historic parks, all on the Grand Strand, South Carolina's most popular vacation spot. Tournaments begin in May and run through the fall. To view, click here.

Baseball Dreams ASA aligns with Top Gun Sports: Baseball Dreams is now affiliated with Top Gun Sports and will offer a full slate of tournaments around the state in 2009 in such places as Aiken, Hanahan, Murrells Inlet, Sumter, West Columbia, and York. To view the 2009 schedule of tournaments, click here.

Nations Baseball set to debut in the Upstate: Nations Baseball will offer an extensive schedule of tournaments in the Upstate in 2009. Crystal Carolina Sports and Nations Baseball will host tournaments in Anderson, Simpsonville and Taylors beginning in February. To view the schedule, click here.

Front Row Sports set to host first tourney of '09: Front Row Sports will host their "March Madness" tournament the weekend of March 7-8 in Greenville. Dan Wright will keep Greenville and Heritage Park in Simpsonville alive with U.S.S.S.A. baseball in 2009. To view their spring schedule, click here.

U.S.S.S.A. Tournaments in the Lowcountry: U.S.S.S.A. baseball tournaments in the lowcountry (Beaufort, Bluffton, Charleston, North Charleston, and Summerville) will once again be hosted by Lowcountry Baseball. John Hayes has put together an attractive schedule for '09. To view, click here.

Myrtle Beach Sports set to kickoff '09 season: Myrtle Beach Sports will kickoff the 2009 season with their "Sun Fun Chiller" in Myrtle Beach and Florence. For U.S.S.S.A. tournaments on the Grand Strand and in the Pee Dee area of South Carolina, check out their web site. To view, click here.

Atomic City Sports Schedule is on the web: Teams looking to play U.S.S.S.A. tournaments in the Aiken/North Augusta will get their first opportunity next month. If the weather cooperates, the first pitch will be thrown out on February 21st. For a look at the complete Atomic City Sports tournament schedule for 2009, click here.

Capital City Sports ready for 2009 season: Capital City Sports will host U.S.S.S.A. tournaments in Lexington, Columbia, Rock Hill and Charlotte (NC). To view the entire schedule for 2009, click here.

RBI Sports releases 2009 Tournament Schedule: RBI Sports is pleased to release their 2009 U.S.S.S.A. tournament schedule. RBI Sports will host tournaments in Anderson, Easley, Greenwood, Hendersonville (NC), Simpsonville and Spartanburg. To view the schedule of events, click here.

MLB Network: In case you missed it, Major League Baseball has launched a full-time channel to cover every aspect of our game 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year...If you really love the national pastime, click here.

Courage + Believe = Life: In 2006 doctors discovered a ten pound tumor in John Challis' stomach. Cancer meant there were some things he would miss more than others - striving, competing, belonging. Above all, he would miss the passion and purpose of playing. Cancer changed John's outlook about fear. The fear of getting hit by a pitch drove him away once from the sport he loved, baseball. After facing cancer for 18 months, he decided he wanted to face a fastball one more time. To view this ESPN Outside the Lines exclusive, click here.

The Science Channel: A lot of forces are at play on the humble baseball - not just the pitcher's arm or the hitter's bat. To view these Science Channel videos, click on the link: Flight of the ball, Fielding, Hitting, Pitching

Who is looking for players? All ages Shockwave Baseball (Summerville), New! 9U Carolina Cobras, 9U UBC Venom (Spartanburg), New! 9U Stars Sports Academy (Spartanburg), 10U Carolina Bombers (Powdersville/Easley), New! 11U Palmetto Surge (North Augusta), 11U Carolina Wolfpack (Goose Creek/Summerville), 13U Spartanburg Phillies (Spartanburg), & more. To view all, click here.

Who is looking for a team? New! 10U 1B/3B/P/C Spartanburg area, New! 11U P/IF/OF in North Augusta/Aiken area, New! 12U Utility/IF Anderson, 12U 1B/3B/RHP Spartanburg/Greer area, New! 13U P/OF Grand Strand, New! 14U 1B/P/OF Duncan area, 14U 1B/OF Greenville/Simpsonville/Greer, 14U 3B/RHP Blacksburg/Gaffney. To view all, click here.

JrDP Scoreboard: In our continual efforts to improve the visibility of youth baseball in South Carolina, Junior Diamond Prospects is very excited to introduce the website's newest feature! Subscribers now have the ability to post game information on JrDP's Scoreboard for everyone to view...For more, click here. Or, to go to the scoreboard, click here.

Polls: Tournament brackets are now up. Chime in on who you think will take home the top honors each weekend in our JrDP Polls. These can be found under the advertisement on the right side of each page.

Advertise on JrDP: Looking for widespread visibility? Want to sponsor an upcoming Junior Diamond Prospects event? Your business could possibly prosper from our rapidly growing exposure. For more information, click here.

Does your team/organization have a web site? Email your link to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and we will put it on our team page. To view "Team Links", look under Teams on the front page or click here.

Looking for players or a team in 2009? Are you looking for a player for the 2009 season? Are you looking for a team to play with? Maybe Junior DP can help. Send us what you are looking for and we will publish it. Please include city team is based out of or area that you live in, age group of the team or player for the 2009 spring season, and contact information (email address and/or phone number). Also, if your local league is having registrations, send us that information and we will publish it as well. Email Richard Edwards at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

JrDP Spotlights: We've featured many talented players over the past several months, and we plan to bring you more and more spotlights as we move through the 2008-09 season. In this Junior Diamond Prospects feature, our subscribers will learn more about who the better players are, what they like about the game, what they like to do off the playing field, and more. Stay tuned!

Want to be on JrDP's mailing list? Junior Diamond Prospects is in the planning stages for showcases and clinics this spring, summer and fall. We need your help to make these events a reality. Travel coaches/managers: Please email a list of mailing addresses of your team to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , individuals may send in their mailing address as well.