From baseball to track to tennis, here are the Sweet 16 prep players to watch this spring

Here’s the Observer’s spring sports Sweet 16 athletes and teams to watch.

Justin Best, Langtree Charter Baseball

The Langtree freshman, 14, became the youngest player ever to commit to Florida State.

The 6-2, 172-pound, left-handed centerfielder/pitcher recently attended the Major League Baseball/USA Baseball Dream Series’ Training Camp in Tempe, AZ.

Cade Caggiano, Jackson Price, Ardrey Kell Lacrosse

The Ardrey Kell junior duo hopes to lead a state championship repeat.

Caggiano, a Georgetown commit, had a school-record 83 goals last season.

Meanwhile, Price (a Division I football and lacrosse recruit) had a school-record 135 points last season, leading the state with 76 assists.

Gracie Colombo, Charlotte Latin Lacrosse

The Charlotte Latin senior is back after helping the Hawks to their first-ever state title in girls lacrosse last year.

Colombo, a three-time, all-state pick, is all over the field. She had 71 goals, 17 assists, 30 draw controls, 35 ground balls and 35 takeaways last season.

She is a Tampa signee.

Za’Nya Davis, West Charlotte Soccer

The West Charlotte junior center midfielder “has become the face of,” a resurgent Lions’ soccer program according to coach Ryan Copeland.

Davis has helped make soccer popular at West Charlotte as the team has gone from having seven to 40 players with a varsity and junior varsity teams each of the last three years.

Last season, Davis was voted the team’s most valuable player by her teammates, and she also earned all-I-Meck 4A conference honors.

Davis, a member of the National Honor Society, is the captain of the West Charlotte girls soccer and cheerleading teams.

Bryson Hammer, Alexander Central Baseball

The 6-3 left hander has a fastball that hits 90 miles per hour.

Hammer was 8-2 with a 1.39 earned-run average (ERA), striking out 128 batters in 65.1 innings, and allowed opposing hitters a .118 batting average a season ago.

This year, the Clemson signee will look to lead Alexander Central (4A state quarterfinalist last year) deep into the playoffs.

Bryson’s older brother, Zachary Hammer, is a right-handed pitcher in the New York Mets’ organization.

Jack Heath, Charlotte Catholic Golf

The Charlotte Catholic senior has exploded in the past year developing into one of top junior golfers in the country. Heath is currently ranked No. 10 in the nation, according to the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA).

The San Diego State signee had a great summer and won the 2019 Junior PGA championship, while shooting a match record of 22-under par.

Heath, who was named a 2019 AJGA first team All-American (one of top 12 players in the country) also helped Team USA win the 2019 Junior Presidents’ Cup in Melbourne, Australia.

Ella Mainwaring-Foster, Providence Track

The Providence senior was the Charlotte Observer’s indoor and outdoor runner of the year last season.

Mainwaring-Foster will look to add to her championship resume this spring after she won 4A state championships in the 400-meter dash (school-record, 55.13) and the 4 X 400-meter relay last year.

The Yale commit is also running to help her Providence girls outdoor track team finish on top after a 4A state runner-up finish in 2019.

Ryan Mangiapane, Hough Tennis

The Hough junior has been a force for his team as the No. 1 player in each of his first two seasons.

As a freshman, Mangiapane teamed with former Hough standout, Will Crane, to win the 4A state doubles championship.

Last year, Mangiapane was the I-Meck 4A conference champion and player of the year, the 4A West Regional runner-up and a state qualifier for a Hough team (15-1) that only loss came in the 4A West Regional final (4A state semifinals) to Myers Park.

This year, Mangiapane looks to take his game an even higher level as a legit, 4A state singles’ title contender.

John Miralia, Providence Day Baseball

The 6-7, 240-pound left-handed pitcher was nearly unhittable last season going 7-0 with a 0.68 ERA, including 98 strikeouts in 51.3 innings of work.

While Miralia is known for his 90-mile per hour fastball, he can also hit and batted .290 with five home runs and 19 RBI for the NCISAA 4A state semifinalist Chargers (18-7) a year ago.

Todd (T.J.) Moyer, Cannon School Golf

The Cannon School junior won the NCISAA 4A state individual title last year, while leading the Cougars to its third straight championship (by 11 shots).

Moyer has “improved vastly,” in his two years at Cannon School because “no one works harder,” according to Cougars golf coach Pat Whisenant.

Moyer, a Division I recruit, is also ranked No. 7 in the state in junior golf, according to the Tar Heel Youth Golf Association (TYGA).

Brann Reid, Newton Conover Tennis

The Newton Conover senior has a chance to make history as the only the second NCHSAA boys tennis player to win state singles titles in each of his four high school seasons. Charlotte Catholic’s Kyle Johnson had a four-peat eight years ago.

Reid was 25-0 in singles play last year on his way to a third straight 2A state title in 2019.

The UNC Asheville commit is ranked third in his class academically.

Cameron Rose, Hickory Ridge Track

The Hickory Ridge senior is one of the fastest runners in the nation with the top 200 and 300-meter dashes this indoor season, according to milesplit.com.

Rose’s 200-meter dash (20.94) at the Clemson Invitational on Jan. 25 broke the state record, previously held by former Cherryville standout Trentavis Friday.

Rose, a senior, finished last season with 4A state titles in both the 100 and 200-meter dashes.

Rose has signed with Virginia Tech.

Jake Soorus, North Lincoln Track

The North Lincoln senior is a standout for the varsity baseball, football and track teams.

Soorus, an Appalachian State track signee, won 2A state titles in both the discus and shot put and North Lincoln was the 2A state champions last season. He will also double as an outfielder and pitcher for the 2019 2A state champion North Lincoln baseball team.

Soorus also ran for 1,025 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Knights’ fall team last fall.

Sophie Spada, Charlotte Country Day Track

The Charlotte Country Day senior emerged as one of state most versatile runners in 2019, winning the NCISAA 4A state cross country title, while also claiming state outdoor championships in the 1,600-meter run and 3,200-meter relay.

Spada, who signed with Alabama, also had the No. 1 time in the state in the 1000-meters indoors (2:56.85).

Reigan Weisner, South Caldwell Softball

The South Caldwell junior had a historic season last year hitting .655 with school records of 17 home runs and 53 RBI while leading the Spartans (26-6) to a 4A state championship.

The North Carolina commit was also an all-state pick, NW3A/4A player of the year and 4A state championship series’ most valuable player in 2019.

Weisner already holds South Caldwell’s school-records for home runs (24) and RBIs (98).

Izzi Wood, Hickory Girls Soccer

The Hickory senior netted 53 goals and dished out 14 assists to earn all-state and Northwestern 3A/4A conference player of the year honors last season.

Wood, an Appalachian State signee, was also the Charlotte Soccer Gala Golden Boot winner and United States Soccer Coaches’ All-Mid Atlantic-team selection.

Wood hopes to prove she can be even better in her final high school season.

This story was originally published February 28, 2020 at 5:00 AM.