BRISTOL, Tenn. – High school baseball fans around far Southwest Virginia have heard glowing reviews about Union High School pitcher Liam Skeen.
The 6-foot freshman phenom has developed his skills with elite travel ball squads and can frustrate hitters with a fastball that has been timed in the 88-90 mph range.
Skeen earned more raves Friday at Tod Houston Field.
In his third mound appearance on the varsity level, Skeen guided the Union Bears to a 4-1 victory over the Tennessee High Vikings.
With a mix of fastball, slider and change-up, Skeen allowed just two hits and one run over the first four innings. Locating his pitches on the corners, Skeen recorded eight strikeouts against one walk.
“I have things to work on, but I’ve been pleased so far,’’ Skeen said. “My favorite pitch right now is a high fastball because I can just give it all I have.”
Skeen said that he grew up in Bristol, Virginia, before his family moved to Big Stone Gap in 2020.
He made his entry into the world of travel ball at age 10 and has since earned national rankings with scouting services via national showcases and games with the Wow Factor national team across the East Coast.
“I try not to look at the rankings,” Skeen said. “It’s good to have expectations but I have to rise up in every game.”
Sophomore right-hander Collyn Neff replaced Skeen in the fifth inning Friday. Relying on his curveball, Neff collected six strikeouts over the final three innings while not allowing a run.
“I know the majority of those guys from Tennessee High and I wanted to keep going, but we’ve got a big district game on Tuesday,” Skeen said. “Collyn has a hammer curve, and I like us pitching back-to-back.
The night ended with high drama after the Vikings loaded the bases in the seventh inning.
Facing a 3-2 count against the No. 4 hitter in the THS lineup, Neff ended the suspense with a strikeout on a slider.
“I really like pitching Liam and Collyn together, and it worked tonight,” Union head coach David Wyrick said.
What sort of impression has Skeen made on Wyrick?
“He’s certainly got some potential,” Wyrick said. “We’re trying to be very cautious with Liam and he’s been good so far.”
The Bears (4-3) generated six hits against three THS pitchers but committed five errors.
“We need to clean some things up on defense and be better on offense, but that’s a well-coached Tennessee High team,’’ Wyrick said.
Neff and Kam Bishop each drove in runs for Union, which took advantage of three errors by the Vikings.
After opening its Upper Lakes Conference schedule in style, THS (8-4) has dropped two straight games against non-conference foes from Southwest Virginia.
“Our guys are a little frustrated, but seeing all those really good arms out of our conference will make us better,” THS coach Preston Roberts said. “We knew Union had two legit arms. We didn’t know both of those guys were going to pitch tonight, but that’s good for us.”
Roberts was impressed by the poise and power of Skeen.
“It’s rare to see a freshman who is throwing in the upper 80s and touching 90,” Roberts said. “We had some good at-bats on him. We just couldn’t string anything together. With half our lineup being freshman, it’s all part of the process.”
Dayne Musick and Preston Feagins delivered singles for THS, while Hudson Pender plated the lone run on the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly.
The highlight for THS was the work of senior pitcher Cooper Harris.
After entering the game in the fourth inning, Harris allowed just one hit and struck out eight.
“Cooper has battled back from an arm injury,” Roberts said. “He threw 20 pitches in Thursday’s game and wanted the ball again today. Cooper kept us in it and gave us a chance in the last inning.”
With every player back from a 12-9 Region 2D playoff team, expectations are high for Union in all areas.
The only losses for the Bears have come against Science Hill, Easley, South Carolina, and Mauldin, South Carolina.
“We got introduced to some really good competition in South Carolina, but we wanted to see good teams,’’ Wyrick said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, but this was a good win.”
Union 101 200 0-4 6 5
Tennessee High 001 000 0-1 2 3
Skeen, Neff (5) and K. Chandler. Keesee, Ragan (4), Harris (4) and Harbor, Altizer (4), Harbor (6). W-Skeen. L-Keesee. HR-none.