EMERSON, Ga. – The always-exciting Perfect Game summer tournament circuit came to a close last week, but left everyone with plenty of memories. Some organizations will get to boast about very successful summer tournament showings, while many players made a name for themselves in front of some of the most heavily scouted amateur baseball events in the world.
The memorable summer tournament circuit started off with a pair of thrilling WWBA East Memorial Day Championship matchups between two of the most reputable organizations in travel baseball. The Florida Burn met Elite Squad baseball in both championship matchups. It was Florida Burn 2016 Pennant that took home the 16u title, defeating Elite Squad 16u Prime. Weather got the best of the Elite Squad 17u Prime and Florida Burn 2015 Pennant matchup and that game was called with the two named co-champions.
The Memorial Day weekend tournament set the tone for the Elite Squad organization, which finished third or better in eight events this summer. The 17u Prime club finished second in the WWBA 17u National Championship, while the 16u Prime club got their title at the 16u BCS Finals. Elite Squad 15u Slugger took home the 15u Florida State Championship title, Elite Squad 17u Slugger finished second in the 17u Florida State Championship, Elite Squad Baseball took home second place in the 16u Perfect Game World Series, while Elite Squad 14u finished third in the 15u Florida State Championship. In all, the Elite Squad organization showed a lot of promise at their 14u-17u age groups.
The 16u Florida Burn team enjoyed continued success well past their Memorial Day title, finishing third in the 16u Perfect Game World Series and the 16u BCS Finals. The program finished with four Top 3 spots this summer, all in Fort Myers, Fla.-based tournaments.
East Cobb continued to add to their already-rich organization history, with an incredible 11 finishes in the Top 3 in tournaments, the most of any organization. It was the old kids who enjoyed the organization’s summer spotlight. The East Cobb Astros 18u team won the Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational, finished second in the 17u/18u PG/Evoshield Classic, and third in the 18u BCS Finals. The organization did well at nearly every age level, as well. The East Cobb Astros finished third in the 13u BCS Finals, the 14u Astros took home second place in the 14u BCS Finals, the 16u Astros finished second in the 17u BCS Finals, the Astros TECB got third in the 16u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational, and the East Cobb Braves 16 also settled for third place in the 16u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational. The East Cobb Bulldogs 17u hoisted the 17u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational trophy, while the East Cobb Twins finished third in the WWBA 17u National Championship Qualifier, and East Cobb Baseball also finished third in the WWBA 17u National Championship.
The Team Elite organization made their presence felt on the summer circuit with eight Top 3 tournament finishes. It was the Team Elite Roadrunners who represented the strongest, winning the 16u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational and finishing second in the WWBA 16u National Championship. Team Elite South finished third in the 14u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational, Team Elite Prime took second in the 15u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational, the 16u Team Elite Prime finished runner-up in the 16u BCS Finals, the 17u Prime club took home a third place finish in the 17u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational, and the 18u finished second in the 18u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational and third in the WWBA 18u National Championship.
A year after the Orlando Scorpions organization enjoyed unparalleled tournament success, they returned to similar form in the 2014 circuit and took home seven Top 3 tournament finishes. Most of the success belonged to the new Scorpions Panhandle. The Scorpions Panhandle 2015 team brought home third place trophies from the WWBA 17u National Championship Qualifier and the 17u Florida State Championship. The 2017 Panhandle club finished second in the 15u BCS Finals, while the Scorpions Prime 2017 took third in the very same tournament. The Scorpions South Underclass captured the organization’s only title of the summer, winning the 16u Florida State Championship. The Scorpions 2016 Prime finished third in the WWBA 16u National Championship, while Scorpions Orlando 2015 Purple also took third, in the 17u BCS Finals.
Just a year ago, a pair of 16u Evoshield Canes teams met in the WWBA 16u National Championship. The same thing almost happened once again this year at the 17u age level, with most of the same players from the two clubs. The Evoshield Canes South 17u fell to the Evoshield Canes 17u team in the semifinals of the WWBA 17u National Championship, taking a respectable third place. The 17u Canes team went on to win that tournament and finish second in the highly competitive 17u Perfect Game World Series. The Evoshield Canes finished third in the 15u and 16u Perfect Game World Series tournament, giving the organization five Top 3 tournament finishes.
You could make a strong argument for the 6-4-3 DP Tigers 14u as having the most successful summer in Perfect Game tournaments as a team. They won the 15u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational, finished second in the WWBA 14u National Championship, and finished third in the 14u/15u PG/Evoshield Classic. The 6-4-3 DP Cougars Montgomery ended up winning the 14u/15u PG/Evoshield Classic and the 6-4-3 DP Jaguars took third place in the 14u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational.
A lot of people were saying watch out for the Upstate Mavericks, who enjoyed a successful 2014 summer, particularly at the 14u age level. They took home the WWBA 14u National Championship title and finished second in the 14u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational. A lot of their success can be traced back to Jamison Patterson, who took home the tournament MVP in both events, a rare feat. The 17u team finished second in the 17u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational and the 16u team took third in the WWBA 16u East Memorial Day Classic.
The Home Plate Chilidogs organization placed in the Top 3 in four Perfect Game tournaments this summer, with strong support from HP Maldonado in the 17u age group. HP Maldonado took first place in the WWBA 17u National Championship Qualifier and the 17u/18u PG/Evoshield Classic. Home Plate Vandy took runner-up in the 12u BCS Finals, while Home Plate Dyal finished third in the WWBA 14u National Championship.
Arguably the most successful team of the summer, the Georgia Jackets 15u, finished the summer with not one, not two, but three tournament titles. They won the 15u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational, the WWBA 15u National Championship, and the 15u BCS Finals. A lot of it due to exceptional pitching from Weston Bizzle, who was named the Most Valuable Pitcher and the 15u BCS Finals and tossed a perfect game during another title run. Teammate Will Lumpkin also played a huge role in the team’s success, claiming a pair of tournament MVP awards.
The MBA Pride Elite enjoyed huge success at the 16u level this summer, despite being a 15u team. They won the WWBA 16u National Championship Qualifier, finished second in the 16u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational, and took third in the 16u BCS Finals.
The reputable Houston Banditos took home a few trophies of their own. The 17u age level won the 17u Perfect Game World Series, the 13u Banditos Black hoisted the 13u BCS Finals trophy, and the Houston Banditos Black finished third in the WWBA 16u National Championship.
At the 14u age level, the Miami Suns enjoyed much success in a pair of Fort Myers tournaments, winning the 14u Florida State Championship and coming in second in the 14u Perfect Game World Series. Pitcher Jordan Rodriguez took home the Most Valuable Pitcher award in back-to-back weeks to close out an exceptional summer.
Below, you can see the tournament results for all the Perfect Game tournaments dating back to the Memorial Day weekend tournaments.
|
16u WWBA East Memorial Day Classic |
Champion |
Florida Burn 2016 Pennant |
Runner-up |
Elite Squad 16u Prime |
3rd Place |
South Florida Storm Blue |
3rd Place |
Upstate Mavericks 16u |
MVP |
Ben Rowden (Florida Burn 2016 Pennant) |
MVPitcher |
Jesus Luzardo (Elite Squad 16u Prime) |
|
|
|
18u WWBA East Memorial Day Classic |
Co-Champion |
Elite Squad 17u Prime |
Co-Champion |
Florida Burn 2015 Pennant |
3rd Place |
FTB Chandler |
3rd Place |
SWFL 17u Grey |
MVP |
Elih Marrero (Elite Squad 17u Prime) |
MVPitcher |
Dillon McCollough (Florida Burn 2015 Pennant) |
|
|
|
18u WWBA West Memorial Day Classic |
Champion |
AZ Athletics 18u |
Runner-up |
All Star Baseball Academy 17u |
MVP |
Jayden Eggiman (AZ Athletics 18u) |
MVPitcher |
Brandon Browne (AZ Athletics 18u) |
|
|
|
16u WWBA West Memorial Day Classic |
Champion |
North Coast Reds |
Runner-up |
War Eagle 16u |
MVP |
Christian Encarnacion Strand (North Coast Reds) |
MVPitcher |
Aaron Makil (War Eagle 16u) |
|
|
|
14u WWBA West Memorial Day Classic |
Champion |
Team Phenom |
Runner-up |
Warriors Baseball Academy 2018 |
MVP |
Preston Hartsell (Team Phenom) |
MVPitcher |
Diego Alarcon (Team Phenom) |
|
|
|
16u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational |
Champion |
Team Elite Roadrunners |
Runner-up |
MBA Pride Elite |
3rd Place |
Astros TECB |
3rd Place |
East Cobb Braves 16 |
MVP |
Cobie Vance (Team Elite Roadrunners) |
MVPitcher |
Jonathan Gettys (Team Elite Roadrunners) |
|
|
|
17u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational |
Champion |
East Cobb Bulldogs 17u |
Runner-up |
Upstate Mavericks |
3rd Place |
Prospects National Team |
3rd Place |
Team Elite Prime |
MVP |
Jackson Webb (East Cobb Bulldogs 17u) |
MVPitcher |
Brando Ernest (East Cobb Bulldogs 17u) |
|
|
|
18u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational |
Champion |
East Cobb Astros 18 |
Runner-up |
Team Elite 18u |
3rd Place |
North Alabama Vipers |
3rd Place |
Sandlot |
MVP |
Chase Illig (East Cobb Astros 18) |
MVPitcher |
Max Wotell (East Cobb Astros 18) |
|
|
|
13u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational |
Champion |
MVP Elite Squad |
Runner-up |
Kentucky Baseball Club-Blythe 1 |
3rd Place |
Hardknox Orioles |
3rd Place |
S3 Hustlers |
MVP |
Luis Tuero (MVP Elite Squad) |
MVPitcher |
Yordani Carmona (MVP Elite Squad) |
|
|
|
14u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational |
Champion |
6-4-3 DP Tigers 14u |
Runner-up |
Upstate Mavericks |
3rd Place |
6-4-3 DP Jaguars |
3rd Place |
Team Elite South |
MVP |
Jamison Patterson (Upstate Mavericks) |
MVPitcher |
Davis Sharpe (6-4-3 DP Tigers 14u) |
|
|
|
15u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational |
Champion |
Georgia Jackets 15u |
Runner-up |
Team Elite Prime |
3rd Place |
Mizuno Team GA Baseball Academy 15u Blue |
3rd Place |
Sandy Plains Wildcats 15u |
MVP |
Will Lumpkin (Georgia Jackets 15u) |
MVPitcher |
Austin Weiermiller (Georgia Jackets 15u) |
|
|
|
WWBA 17u National Championship Qualifier |
Champion |
HP Maldonado |
Runner-up |
Cstixx |
3rd Place |
East Cobb Twins |
3rd Place |
Scorpions Panhandle-2015 |
|
|
|
WWBA 16u National Championship Qualifier |
Champion |
MBA Pride Elite |
Runner-up |
Mid South Gamers |
3rd Place |
Fat Cat Thunder |
3rd Place |
Knoxville Stars 16u |
|
|
|
12u BCS Finals |
Champion |
West Raleigh 12u |
Runner-up |
Home Plate Vandy |
3rd Place |
IBAHS Knights |
3rd Place |
S3 Texas |
MVP |
Garrett McCraw (West Raleigh 12u) |
MVPitcher |
Clayton Weatherly (Home Plate Vandy) |
|
|
|
13u BCS Finals |
Champion |
Banditos Black |
Runner-up |
Florida Stealth |
3rd Place |
East Cobb Astros |
3rd Place |
Weston Black Hawks |
MVP |
Ryan Rivera (Florida Stealth) |
MVPitcher |
Jacob DeLaCerda (Banditos Black) |
|
|
|
WWBA 15u National Championship |
Champion |
Georgia Jackets |
Runner-up |
Tri-State Arsenal Showcase 1-Rizzo |
3rd Place |
Academy Select Sun Devils-Ingram |
3rd Place |
Elite Baseball Training-Kopacz |
MVP |
Chaney Rogers (Georgia Jackets) |
MVPitcher |
Jason Groome (Tri-State Arsenal Showcase 1-Rizzo) |
|
|
|
16u BCS Finals |
Champion |
Elite Squad Prime |
Runner-up |
Team Elite Prime |
3rd Place |
Florida Burn Pennant |
3rd Place |
MBA Pride Elite |
MVP |
Gregory Veliz (Elite Squad Prime) |
MVPitcher |
Nick McDonald (Elite Squad Prime) |
|
|
|
WWBA 18u National Championship |
Champion |
Knights Baseball 18u National |
Runner-up |
Georgia Roadrunners 17u |
3rd Place |
Next Level Upperclass |
3rd Place |
Team Elite Prime |
MVP |
Kyle Wright (Knights Baseball 18u National) |
MVPitcher |
Will Neely (Knights Baseball 18u National) |
|
|
|
14u BCS Finals |
Champion |
Connecticut Wolfpack 14u |
Runner-up |
East Cobb Astros 14u |
3rd Place |
Chain Stealth |
3rd Place |
SBA Canes 14u Black |
MVP |
Mike Torniero (Connecticut Wolfpack 14u) |
MVPitcher |
Darius Pope (East Cobb Astros 14u) |
|
|
|
15u BCS Finals |
Champion |
Georgia Jackets 15u |
Runner-up |
Scorpions Panhandle 2017 |
3rd Place |
Chet Lemon's Juice |
3rd Place |
Scorpions Prime 2017 |
MVP |
Will Lumpkin (Georgia Jackets 15u) |
MVPitcher |
Weston Bizzle (Georgia Jackets 15u) |
|
|
|
WWBA 17u National Championship |
Champion |
Evoshield Canes 17u |
Runner-up |
Elite Squad 17u Prime |
3rd Place |
East Cobb Baseball |
3rd Place |
Evoshield Canes South 17u |
MVP |
Desmond Lindsay (Evoshield Canes 17u) |
MVPitcher |
Ashe Russell/Beau Burrows (Evoshield Canes 17u) |
|
|
|
WWBA 16u National Championship |
Champion |
BPA DeMarini Elite |
Runner-up |
Team Elite Roadrunners |
3rd Place |
Houston Banditos Black |
3rd Place |
Scorpions 2016 Prime |
MVP |
Hagen Danner (BPA DeMarini Elite) |
MVPitcher |
Zach Wolf (BPA DeMarini Elite) |
MVPitcher |
Mason Thompson (Houston Banditos Black) |
|
|
|
17u BCS Finals |
Champion |
Texas Sun Devils |
Runner-up |
East Cobb Astros 16u |
3rd Place |
Scorpions Orlando 2015 Purple |
3rd Place |
SWFL 17u |
MVP |
Reggie Pruitt (East Cobb Astros 16u) |
MVPitcher |
Kale Breaux (Texas Sun Devils) |
|
|
|
18u BCS Finals |
Champion |
Midwest Elite Baseball |
Runner-up |
Next Level Upperclass |
3rd Place |
East Cobb Astros 18u |
3rd Place |
Powermill 18u |
MVP |
Randy Righter (Midwest Elite Baseball) |
MVPitcher |
Karl Kauffmann (Midwest Elite Baseball) |
|
|
|
WWBA 14u National Championship |
Champion |
Upstate Mavericks |
Runner-up |
6-4-3 DP Tigers 14u |
3rd Place |
Dulin Dodgers |
3rd Place |
Home Plate Dyal |
MVP |
Jamison Patterson (Upstate Mavericks) |
MVPitcher |
Robert Bennett (6-4-3 DP Tigers 14u) |
|
|
|
PG 13u Florida State Championship |
Champion |
Iron Pigs |
Runner-up |
Central Florida Wolverines |
3rd Place |
Florida Stealth |
3rd Place |
The Roaddogs |
MVP |
Julian Rivera (Central Florida Wolverines) |
MVPitcher |
Joshua Kinker (Iron Pigs) |
|
|
|
PG 14u Florida State Championship |
Champion |
Miami Suns 14u |
Runner-up |
Florida Stealth |
3rd Place |
Brevard Aces 14u |
3rd Place |
SWFL Canes Elite |
MVP |
Nicholas Wells (Florida Stealth) |
MVPitcher |
Jordan Rodriguez (Miami Suns 14u) |
|
|
|
PG 15u Florida State Championship |
Champion |
Elite Squad 15u Slugger |
Runner-up |
Gainesville Naturals 15u |
3rd Place |
Elite Squad 14u |
3rd Place |
SWFL 15u Grey |
MVP |
Anthony Leary (Elite Squad 15u Slugger) |
MVPitcher |
David Archacki (Elite Squad 15u Slugger) |
|
|
|
PG 16u Florida State Championship |
Champion |
Scorpions South Underclass |
Runner-up |
Xtreme Baseball Navy |
3rd Place |
FTB Max Bats |
3rd Place |
FTB Sarasota |
MVP |
Josh Jano (Scorpions South Underclass) |
MVPitcher |
Matthew Doden (Xtreme Baseball Navy) |
|
|
|
PG 17u Florida State Championship |
Champion |
SWFL 17u Grey |
Runner-up |
Elite Squad 17u Slugger |
3rd Place |
North Florida Storm 17u Black |
3rd Place |
Scorpions Panhandle 2015 |
MVP |
Jacob Silverstein (SWFL 17u Grey) |
MVPitcher |
Michael Schappell (Elite Squad 17u Slugger) |
|
|
|
17u Perfect Game World Series |
Champion |
Houston Banditos |
Runner-up |
Evoshield Canes |
3rd Place |
Elite Squad Baseball |
3rd Place |
NorCal Baseball |
MVP |
Conner Capel (Houston Banditos) |
MVPitcher |
Christopher Paddack (Houston Banditos) |
|
|
|
14u/15u PG/Evoshield Classic |
Champion |
6-4-3 DP Cougars Montgomery |
Runner-up |
Chain Dirtdawgs |
3rd Place |
6-4-3 DP Tigers |
3rd Place |
Team ECB Select |
MVP |
Skylar McPhee (6-4-3 DP Cougars Montgomery) |
MVPitcher |
Drake Murray (6-4-3 DP Cougars Montgomery) |
|
|
|
17u/18u PG/Evoshield Classic |
Champion |
HP Maldonado |
Runner-up |
East Cobb Astros 18 |
3rd Place |
GBSA Blue Rays |
3rd Place |
Team Alabama |
MVP |
Kel Johnson (East Cobb Astros 18) |
MVPitcher |
Adam Goodman (HP Maldonado) |
|
|
|
14u Perfect Game World Series |
Champion |
Florida Pokers |
Runner-up |
Miami Suns |
3rd Place |
Central Florida Gators |
3rd Place |
Chain Stealth |
MVP |
Eddie Ayala (Florida Pokers) |
MVPitcher |
Jordan Rodriguez (Miami Suns) |
|
|
|
15u Perfect Game World Series |
Champion |
Team California Warriors |
Runner-up |
West Coast Mariners |
3rd Place |
Chet Lemon's Juice |
3rd Place |
Evoshield Canes |
MVP |
Damien Rinehart (Team California Warriors) |
MVPitcher |
Jack Melton (Team California Warriors) |
|
|
|
16u Perfect Game World Series |
Champion |
Dallas Patriots Stout |
Runner-up |
Elite Squad Baseball |
3rd Place |
Evoshield Canes |
3rd Place |
Florida Burn |
MVP |
Michael Neustifter (Dallas Patriots Stout) |
MVPitcher |
Garret Rukes (Elite Squad Baseball) |
|
|
|
9u PG Super25 National Championship |
Champion |
Midland Blackhawks |
Runner-up |
Midland Aces |
|
|
|
10u PG Super25 National Championship |
Champion |
Banditos |
Runner-up |
Easton Elite |
|
|
|
11u PG Super25 National Championship |
Champion |
Arkansas Express |
Runner-up |
East Cobb Astros 11u |
|
|
|
12u PG Super25 National Championship |
Champion |
East Coast Bombers |
Runner-up |
Home Plate Schmits |
|
|
|
13u PG Super25 National Championship |
Champion |
PSA Sox Red |
Runner-up |
Dallas Tigers-Hernandez |
|
|
|
14u PG Super25 National Championship |
Champion |
Tri-State Arsenal 14u Red |
Runner-up |
ASBA-West Chester |
|
|
|
15u PG Super25 National Championship |
Champion |
Tri-State Arsenal |
Runner-up |
Houston Banditos |
|
|
|
16u PG Super25 National Championship |
Champion |
East Cobb Astros 16u |
Runner-up |
FTB Chandler |
|
|
|
17u PG Super25 National Championship |
Champion |
Marucci Elite |
Runner-up |
9ers Prime |