RANKINGS
EVENTS
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ABOUT
Head coach Nate Eaton has a good thing going in the Carolinas.
His talented 14U team won the Triple Crown National Championship title on July 18, 2019 in Cumming, Georgia and many pieces of that team plus some excellent new pickups were added; now we’ll see just how competitive the champs will be at the 16U age division.
Eaton likes his chances as he feels his pitching staff is the best he’s ever had.
“We’re led by Olivia Cainey (Huntersville, NC) who is a lefty and is considered by many as one of the best 2022 pitchers in the country. We have three other pitchers to watch in Courtney Layne (LHP -Concord, VA), Rhyann Jones (RHP-Daleville, VA) and Sophia Kiseloski (RHP-Oak Ridge, NJ).”
Cainey, who is getting heavy ACC, Big Ten and SEC interest, was in the circle for last summer’s 7-1 win over the Texas Bombers Hybrid team at TCS Nationals.
She and skilled shortstop Atalyia Rijo were both in the Top 25 of last year’s 2022 Extra Elite 100, and give Team NC great experience and firepower; in fact, 14 of the 15 players on the team are sophomores (2022’s) so expect a lot of college coaches to be watching Eaton’s team closely come June when the travel ball season begins in earnest.
“This summer will be crazy,” Eaton laughs. “Rijo, Cainey and catcher MC Eaton will drive a lot of attention to the team this summer as all three bring something unique to the game that is hard to find.”
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Here are five key reasons this first-year 16U team will be one to watch…
1. And Layne Makes Four (In the Circle)
“We welcomed back LHP Courtney Layne from Virginia on February 17, Eaton says. “Courtney is a very poised lefty with lots of movement. She is battled tested and has faced off with some of the best. She is one of the three Tincher pitchers on our staff.” The others are Cainey and Sophia Kiseloski, right-hander from Oak Ridge, New Jersey. The coach continues, “Rhyann sees Rita Lynn Gilman, who’s another prominent pitching coach in Virginia.”
2. Talented Players from 7 States
Naturally there are players from the Carolinas, but five other states are repped on Team NC – Eaton as well. Kiseloski is from New Jersey, Jones is from Virginia, Rijo and utility player Ryan Starr are from New York, outfielder Skyler Harrelson is from Georgia and infielder Sylvia Burroughs, a Virginia Cavalier commit, is from Florida.
3. New Additions
Says Eaton: “We added two key players from the Northeast during the winter: Sophia and Ryan. Both of these players came to us from a very good Team Long Island team and Sophia was their ace in the circle. Ryan is going to open a lot of eyes this summer as she plays way bigger than her body and is super-fast. She can play anywhere on the field except pitcher and first base. Both players came to us for the reason of being exposed in the South where they prefer to attend college.
4. A Coaching Addition
Team NC added a new coach in Alex Emeterio, who is from Riverside, California and came to the Carolinas to play for North Carolina-Greensboro, where she is still the all-time hits leader. “Coach Emeterio will help with our hitters and infielders,” Eaton explained.
5. Speeding Up Their Game
“Our speed game has improved dramatically with the addition of Starr,” Eaton believes. And the speedsters on the team are working hard on their game. “Recently all four slappers—outfielders Jaylee Williams, Katriel Williams, Skylar Harrison and Ryan Starr all gathered in Nashville to work with slapping legend India Chiles,” the coach adds. “This weekend created tremendous improvements for all four.”
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Below is a look at each player on Team NC – Eaton, listed alphabetically with their jersey #’s, positions, hometowns and comments by the head coach.
*** Scroll down to get a scouting report on each of the 15 standouts on this 16U squad…