The San Francisco Giants Underclass Scout Teams participated in the World Wood Bat National Championships in Fort Myers, Fla. during the weekend. The teams, started by Giants regional scout and Noblesville resident Kevin Christman, are based out of RoundTripper Sports Academy in Westfield and include a number of RoundTripper products and Indianapolis-area players.
“We couldn’t be happier that Kevin decided to host the Giants scout team out of our facility. We respect and appreciate his commitment to developing young ballplayers and providing them with chances to pursue the sport at the next level,” RoundTripper owner Chris Estep stated.
Estep said three teams participated: one with seniors and two underclassmen teams. The upperclass team included Tanner Reboulet and Brandon Yoho of Fishers; Adam Neal, Cathedral; David Herrmann, Hamilton Southeastern; and Dax McLochlin, Noblesville.
The San Francisco Giants’ two underclass teams are made up of high school freshman through juniors. One roster includes Clayton Marowski, Austin Shirley, Cory Conway and Connor Christman of Noblesville; Ryan Pepiot, Harrison Freed and Noah Shanteau, Westfield; Parker Miles, Guerin Catholic; Nate Carroll, Fishers; Austin Sale, Carmel; Will Conway, Cathedral; and Nolan Clark, Lapel.
The youngest Giants scout team is managed by Estep and includes Cade Carlson, Seth Keeling and Dillon Olejnik of Carmel; Garrett Hill, Zionsville; Zach Mannies, Westfield; Nathan Williams, Hamilton Southeastern; Grant Fremion, Guerin Catholic; Bryce Masterson, Noblesville; and Will Richman, Brebeuf.
“During the early part of the fall, the wood bat was truly an adjustment for these kids, especially facing teams that played with only aluminum bats,” Estep stated. “Our kids struggled with watching opposing jam shots going for base hits while their line drives turned in to outs. However, we have come full circle and are now swinging the wood bats with authority and in turn, it has made them better hitters. The strength of this team will lie in our pitching staff and their abilities to compete against wooden bats.”
