re: Baseball Recruiting Discussion

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Bleach blond-headed and blocking out back pain, class of 2014 commitment Braden Webb (Owasso, Okla./Owasso) stepped onto the mound on Saturday night looking to cap a perfect season with a state championship. After seven innings of three-hit baseball, his Owasso teammates dog piled on the mound to celebrate a 36-0 season and a title.

Webb, one of South Carolina’s prized pitching recruits in the junior class, had missed the last three weeks with some lower back pain. He lived in an ice bath with the hope he could get back on the mound at least one more time this season.

On Saturday night, he told his coach he would be able to pitch and helped his team to a 5-1 victory over Norman North.

“The first inning was a little rough. I had to get through the first inning so I could get the mound rust off,” Webb said. “In the second inning, when we were up 2-1, I knew that we had it under control. I zoned in and I could get people out. I trusted in my defense and bought into the plan the coaches had for us.”

After allowing the first inning run, Webb settled in and began to return to form. Ranked as the No. 33 player in the country regardless of position by Perfect Game, the right-hander used his low 90s fastball and dropped in a breaking ball every so often to shut out the opposition the rest of the way.

His hitters put up five runs over the first five innings, which was plenty for Webb, who allowed one earned run on three hits and no walks in his complete game performance. He struck out four hitters on the night against a team that tried to put down a lot of bunts and challenge the infield defense.

“I was just there to get outs and try to bring a championship back to our school,” Webb said. “It’s been four years and it was important to everyone in the town and our team. We had to bring it back. There was some pressure to get that 36th win and getting into the dog pile but we thought we had it under control.”

Webb entered the season with general goals in mind, mainly which related to the team. He wanted to improve his overall game, win a state championship and also improve his mound presence.

This summer, playing full-time with the EvoShield Canes, his goals are similar.

“I want to add some more velo consistently,” Webb, who has been clocked as high as 91 mph in a Perfect Game event, said. “I want to stay strong through the whole game and develop more mound presence. I want to mature more, basically. Of course, I want to win a national championship.”

Webb, who last visited South Carolina in March for the Texas A&M series, has stayed in close contact with the South Carolina coaching staff. He shared in the excitement with his future coaches after the championship win.

“Coach Holbrook told me that I’ve made them excited and they’re really proud of me,” Webb said. “Coach Meyers, he tells me just to keep throwing the ball. They’re excited to have me in a couple of years.”

Other recruiting nuggets

-- Class of 2013 left-handed pitcher commitment Josh Reagan (Lexington/Lexington) moved his record to a perfect 10-0 on the season pitching his team to a Game 1 victory in the best-of-three state championship series against Blythewood on Monday night. Reagan allowed two runs, only one of which was earned, on four hits and a walk. He struck out six on 99 pitches in his complete game win.

Reagan, in front of more than 1,000 fans, likely finished his high school pitching career with the victory. Over the last two years, he is a perfect 17-0.

Class of 2013 catcher signee Nick Ciuffo was 1-for-2 with an RBI and two walks in the game. Left-handed pitcher Cole McMillan, who also serves as the team’s left fielder, returned from a nose and eye injury just a week before to make the start. He was 1-for-3 in the game.

Class of 2015 commitment Tyler Romanik (Blythewood/Blythewood) was 0-for-2 with a strikeout.

-- Class of 2013 right-handed pitcher signee Reed Scott (Roswell, Ga./Blessed Trinity) is helping his high school team make a deep playoff run. Last week, in the round of 16, he threw a complete game allowing two runs, both of which were unearned. He struck out 13 in the seven-inning affair.

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