By R.L. Bynum

North Carolina has five players on Perfect Game’s list of the top 500 freshman baseball players, with three in the top 100 and three ranked as the top players at their positions in their state.

Shortstop Lee Sowers of Glen Allen, Va., (top photo) leads the way at No. 81, the No. 2 shortstop in Virginia.

Here’s what Prospectslive.com said about Sowers:
“A high-level performer all summer, Lee Sowers has been a barrel machine from the left side. The Richmond area native impresses with his advanced approach at the plate and demonstrates an ability to take the ball where it is pitched and drive it. At present, Sowers is more of all-fields, line- drive threat — but has also shown an ability to lift and go yard to his pull side. Sowers is an above-average runner [who] shows ranginess as a middle infielder, though he will need to add more strength to handle shortstop at the next level.”

Shortstop Perry Hargett of Peachland, N.C., is at No. 89 and rated as the top shortstop in North Carolina.

Hargett had a two-run triple, was 1 for 3 with three RBI and scored a run in UNC’s first scrimmage on Sept. 6.

At No. 90 is outfielder and right-handed pitcher Sawyer Black of Oak Ridge, N.C., ranked the top outfielder in North Carolina. Black had a triple, going 1 of 3 with two runs scored in the scrimmage.

Black led his team as a senior in hitting (.453), on-base percentage (.590), home runs (9), runs (46), hits (39), RBI (40), slugging percentage (.930) and triples (3) while stealing 10 bases in 30 games.

The No. 1 catcher in South Carolina, Mitch Wilson of Pauline, S.C., comes in at No. 181. Wilson hit a home run that traveled 376 feet to left-center in the scrimmage.

Versatile Walker McDuffie of Broadway, N.C., a right-handed pitcher who can play second base or shortstop, is at No. 485 and rated as the No. 9 right-handed pitcher in North Carolina.

Tar Heels in Top 500 ‘fresh arrivals’

No. 81 — Shortstop Lee Sowers, Freeman High School, Glen Allen, Va.
No. 123 overall, No. 32 shortstop, No. 4 overall in Virginia, No. 2 shortstop in Virginia

No. 89 — Shortstop/second baseman Perry Hargett, Metrolina Christian Academy, Peachland, N.C.
No. 132 overall, No. 34 shortstop, No. 2 overall in N.C., No. 1 shortstop in N.C.

No. 90 — Outfielder, right-handed pitcher Sawyer Black, Wesleyan Christian Academy, Oak Ridge, N.C.
No. 133 overall, No. 23 outfielder, No. 3 overall in N.C., No. 1 outfielder in N.C.

No. 181 — Catcher/first baseman/third baseman Mitch Wilson, Dorman High School, Pauline, S.C.
No. 232 overall, No. 24 catcher, No. 3 overall in S.C., No. 1 catcher in S.C.

No. 485 — Right-handed pitcher/second baseman/shortstop Walker McDuffie, Lee County High School, Broadway, N.C.
No. 500 overall, No. 182 right-handed pitcher, No. 17 overall in N.C., No. 9 right-handed pitcher in N.C.

Photo via @LeeSowers24