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High School  | Rankings | 1/30/2017

2017 National HS Rankings: 6-10

Photo: Perfect Game



2017 Perfect Game High School Preview Index


6. American Heritage Patriots


Christian Santana
Plantation, Fla.
FHSAA Class 6A District 15
Head Coach: Bruce Aven
2016 Result: 19-5, 6A Regional Semifinals

Key Losses: MIF Gary Mattis (Florida Atlantic), RHP Taylor D’Agostino (Christopher Newport), RHP Michael Cortelli (Amherst), MIF Kyle Carter (Bates)

Top Players: SS Mark Vientos (Miami), RHP Christian Santana (Florida International), 1B/3B/RHP Triston Casas (Miami), MIF Cory Acton (Florida)

American Heritage slots in at the No. 6 spot after making it to the 6A regional semifinals last season and falling to eventual state champion Archbishop McCarthy.

The Patriots are a deep team and they are led with star power as high ceiling infielder Mark Vientos, a PG All-American and Miami commit, and hard-throwing righthander Christian Santana, a Florida International commit, will anchor the team in the lineup and in the pitching rotation respectively.

One of the younger, and more intriguing, players for the Patriots is recently reclassified 2018 graduate Triston Casas, a Miami commit, who will be asked to anchor the middle of the lineup and pitch for American Heritage. Playing on the varsity team as a freshman, Casas is one of the most potent hitters in his class, evidenced by his .453 batting average last season, with big power and can also bump the fastball up in the low-90s from the mound. He has recently re-classified to the class of 2018, making him draft eligible a year earlier than expected.

Infielders Cory Acton, a Florida commit, and Devyn Munroe round out the athletic infield as the pitching staff should have a reliable defense behind them. Acton was a force with the bat in 2016 hitting .500 for Westminster Academy. Losing two starting pitchers to graduation hurts but American Heritage should have the depth to replace those players and the pitchers will need to step up if the Patriots want to reach the state finals.


7. Barbe Buccaneers

Adam Goree
Lake Charles, La.
LHSAA 5A District 3
Head Coach: Glenn Ceccini
2016 Result: 35-6, 5A State Champions

Key Losses: OF Tyler Booth (Southeastern Louisiana)

Top Players: LHP Adam Goree (uncommitted), IF Antonio Gauthier (uncommitted), OF/RHP Damon Fountain (uncommitted), RHP Brandon Rushing (uncommitted)

As has been the case in the past with Barbe High School, this team is led by a combination of depth and a strong senior class. Turning in a remarkable 35-win season in 2016, the Buccaneers powered their way to the 5A State Championship and finished No. 5 in the Perfect Game Top 50.

The key loss for the Buccaneers came in the form of graduating senior outfielder and lefthanded pitcher Tyler Booth, who now attends Southeastern Louisiana, but aside from Booth this team retained a lot of talent and is led by a strong senior pitching staff.

The Bucanneers will have seniors Adam Goree, Brandon Rushing and Slate Fuller to round out a pitching staff that has a lot of experience up to this point. Goree, the highest ranked senior according to PG, is lefthanded and has been up to 88 mph with his fastball. He led the staff last season going 8-1 with a 1.17 ERA.

Damon Fountain is one of the more interesting pieces on this team as he is only a sophomore but is immensely talented. He’s a 6.8 runner in the 60-yard dash with strong tools on both offense and defense. Fountain pitches as well and should have no problem finding playing time.

The seniors on the roster come in the form of 12 players and their experience should be invaluable in leading the lineup. The offense will be the question mark entering the season but the leadership and experience should help the Bucanneers make a run to defend their state title.


8. Merritt Island Mustangs

Brady McConnell
Merritt Island, Fla.
FHSAA Class 6A
Head Coach: Greg Plecki
2016 Result: 20-8, 6A Regional Quarterfinals

Key Losses: OF Jackson Muldowney (Greenville), MIF Trent Taylor (Belmont Abbey), RHP Tyler Stephens (Shorter)

Top Players: SS Brady McConnell (Florida), C/RHP Mason Denaburg (Florida), 1B Connor Allen (Miami), MIF Ricardo Diaz (uncommitted)

The Mustangs return a strong collection of talent for the 2017 season led by a pair of Florida commits. Perfect Game All-American Brady McConnell returns as the starting shortstop and should be the catalyst near the top of the lineup. McConnell has a quick bat with advanced actions in the field and is one of the top draft prospects for the 2017 class.

Perhaps one of the most talented underclassmen in the country is fellow Florida commit Mason Denaburg. A legitimate two-way prospect, Denaburg has big power from the right side and can pump his fastball in the low-90s on the mound. Denaburg is joined in the lineup by lefthanded first baseman Connor Allen, a Miami commit. Allen is a power bat from the lefthand side who completes a strong "big three" in the lineup alongside Denaburg and McConnell.

Merritt Island has some 2017 arms returning but will need to find consistency from the rotation as the season goes on. Pitching can make or break a season but the Mustangs have enough talent on their roster to figure it out in the early part of the season. The Mustangs are no doubt a talented squad and should find themselves competing for their first state championship since 2000.


9. Walton Raiders

Jason Rooks
Marietta, Ga.
GHSA Class 6A
Head Coach: Shane Amos
2016 Result: 32-4, 6A State Champions

Key Losses: SS Carter Kieboom (MLB Draft, Nationals, first round), RHP Zac Kristofak (Georgia), C Drake Frix (College of Charleston), MIF Parker McCoy (Georgia Tech)

Top Players: LHP Luke Bartnicki (Georgia Tech), OF Jason Rooks (Georgia Tech), RHP Jacob Riordan (Uncommitted), OF Michael Guldberg (Georgia Tech)

Walton finished out the 2016 season not only as the No. 2 team in the Perfect Game Top 50 but carried their momentum all the way to becoming 6A state champs.

The big loss for the Raiders came as Carter Kieboom graduated and was selected in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals. Walton also graduated seniors from the infield, rotation and outfield.

Walton is not short of depth and will have many players willing to step up. The Raiders boast two of the top arms in the state with juniors Luke Bartnicki, a Georgia Tech commit, and Jacob Riordan. The lefthanded Bartnicki is coming off a very impressive outing at the WWBA World Championship where he threw 92-95 mph with his fastball and a tight slider in the upper-70s to low-80s.

The question for Walton is not the pitching staff but who will replace Kieboom’s presence in the lineup. Senior outfielder Jason Rooks, a Georgia Tech commit, should anchor the lineup but Walton will be expecting contributions from fellow seniors Jason Avers, an Appalachian State commit, and Chris Rolick, a Georgia College & State commit.


10. Marjory Stoneman Douglas Eagles

David Vazquez
Parkland, Fla.
FHSAA Class 9A
Head Coach: Todd Fitz-Gerald
2016 Result: 27-2, 9A State Champions

Key Losses: LHP Jesus Luzardo (MLB Draft, Nationals, third round), 3B Colton Welker (MLB Draft, Rockies, fourth round)

Top Players: MIF David Vazquez (NC State), OF Rafael Santos (Florida International), SS John Rodriguez (Florida International), LHP Brandon Kaminer (Miami)

Coach Todd Fitz-Gerald turned in an excellent season for the Eagles as they finished 8-0 in their district and eventually captured the school’s first state title. The team battled through some adversity and a season-ending injury to ace Jesus Luzardo before putting together a strong late season run to come away as champs.

The Eagles will have to make up for two big holes left by the lefthanded Luzardo, who was drafted in the third round by the Nationals, and third baseman Colton Welker, who was drafted fourth round by the Rockies. The pitching staff will also need some players to step up as the loss of Luzardo and fellow senior pitchers Brady Norris, Kyle Sha, and Jeremy Szozda leaves some holes.

Senior lefty Brandon Kaminer, a Miami commit, will lead the rotation and he has proven he has what it takes to be a staff ace. Last season Kaminer finished 11-0 with a 1.28 ERA and struck out 90 batters to step up when Luzardo went down with injury. The team will also certainly have some strength throughout the lineup. Seniors David Vazquez, a North Carolina State commit, and Rafael Santos, a Florida International commit, will anchor the lineup. Junior middle infielder John Rodriguez, another Florida International commit, is very smooth defensively and will be able to add some pop to the lineup as well.



High School | General | 11/20/2025

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Vincent Cervino
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College | Recruiting | 12/15/2025

Recruiting Notebook: December 15

John McAdams
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Tournaments | Story | 12/15/2025

17u Tourney All-American Team

Vincent Cervino
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There’s a lot of talent throughout this 2026 class, filled with the big-name stars, to talent that spreads across the nation. It’s been a lot of fun seeing these prospects grow and develop over the years, from the days of watching some of these guys at the 13/14u days at events on the circuit, to now where they are all graduating seniors in 2026. There’s been new faces who have popped along the way over the years, even in 2026, where some players who were relatively undiscovered, have come out and made a name for themselves with a statement performance. Between the familiar and the new, there’s a lot of names on this list that are going to be quite regularly talked about on the circuit, and for good reason.  Whether it’s PG All-Americans or not, there’s a lot of names with superstar potential at the next level. We’ve got 14 PG All-Americans...
Tournaments | Story | 12/13/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2029

Tyler Russo
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2028 These guys might just be entering high school, but they've certainly already made a name for themselves on the national circuit, especially with their abilities on the defensive side of things.  C: Xavier Rodriguez (Logansville, GA) Rodriguez is a polished defender with real arm strength behind the dish, while showcasing the ability to impact the baseball with authority to all fields evident by thirty of his sixty-five hits going for extra-bases including seven bombs. He handles high-level pitching extremely well, commands his staff and his offensive prowess makes him a true two-way asset. 1B: Cooper Knight (Buda, TX) Knight is a smooth operator at first base with plenty of range, fluidity and agility in his footwork around the bag. Add-in a rocket for an arm, the ability to change slots and to...
Tournaments | Story | 12/12/2025

Scout Stories: Part 5

AJ Denny
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College | Story | 12/12/2025

College Notebook: December 12

Craig Cozart
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Nebraska Cornhuskers 2025 Highlights: The Cornhuskers were a difficult team to figure in ’25 as they finished with 33 wins, played just .500 (15-15) in the Big Ten but had some big wins at various times during the season and got hot at the right time. They knocked off then #16 Vanderbilt in the second game of the year, beat #5 Oregon State 2-out-of-3 at home in late March and then got hot at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha to win the Big Ten Tournament. They beat Michigan State in a 10-inning thriller before taking care of #4 Oregon, knocking off Penn State and then shutout #13 UCLA to punch their ticket to the Chapel Hill Regional. Head coach Will Bolt has now led his alma mater to three conference titles and three NCAA Regional appearances during his six years in Lincoln. No different than when he was a player, Bolt’s teams play with passion and toughness, this was never more...
Tournaments | Story | 12/12/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2028

Troy Sutherland
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 You like athletes? You like defenders who can impact a game at any given point? Look not further than this class as it's loaded from coast-to-coast with elite defenders all over the diamond.  C: Brogan Witcher, Bakersfield, CA Our scouting staff got several strong looks at Witcher whether that was at the Summer Kickoff, Sophomore National or the Underclass All American Games where he showcased his strong overall skillset and especially his advanced ability behind the plate. His 6-foot-3,180 pound build looks like one that will fill in quite nicely and be that big and physical catcher’s frame. His arm talent is undeniable where he gets it out quick and runs it up to 79 mph on throwdowns to 2nd (1.84 pop). Besides the standout catch/throw ability, we’ve seen him frame/receive strong arms and block it well during...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 12/11/2025

PG Softball "Toys 4 Tots" Fundraiser 18U division

Dave Durbala
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BURLINGTON, IA - 2025 Perfect Game Softball Toys 4 Tots Fundraiser One Day, December 7, 2025. Kicking off the holiday season, six teams participated in this one day, 3 game guarantee tournament in the 18u Division. We would like to thank those that donated a toy, and know that they will be distributed to area underprivileged children through a local charity organization. Following are some of the top performers from the weekend. Earning Tournament MV-Pitcher was Jolee Strohmeyer (2026 Dubuque, IA), a RHP/UTIL with tournament champion Lady Expos Blue. Strohmeyer shows hitters a consistent and repeatable motion and delivery with good use of the legs in the drive phase, and a quick and aggressive arm whip. Working with a six pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, drop, curve and screw, Strohmeyer topped out at 60 mph, and showed good movement  as she worked her rise and curve just out...
Tournaments | Story | 12/11/2025

Scout Stories: Part 4

Tyler Henninger
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Scout Notes: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Best Game I Saw: Hudson Reed (‘26, GA) torches this ball to deep CF for a solo 💣. Generates easy power that plays to the big part of the yard. Middle of the order traits #UBCWest @PG_Georgia @PG_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/UXqDVFmUBx — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) June 18, 2025 I was fortunate enough to see a lot of highly competitive games with loads of talent on the field, the game that sticks out to me the most was Alpha Prime 2026 vs. ZT National Prospects at the UBC West. The game was an efficiently played affair with arms dominating on both sides. Graham Schlicht was masterful for Alpha, striking out 12 hitters over 5 dominant innings. PG All-American Julian Cazares came out of the pen blowing smoke, touching 97 mph with the fastball. On the other side, Jake Carbaugh surrendered just one hit and...
Press Release | Press Release | 12/11/2025

PG Believe In Baseball Announces Awards Dinner

Perfect Game Staff
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    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   THE PERFECT GAME BELIEVE IN BASEBALL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES DETAILS FOR FIRST ANNUAL “IN THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME” AWARDS DINNER AND AUCTION   Los Angeles, California (Thursday, December 11, 2025) – The Perfect Game Believe in Baseball Foundation, together with Perfect Game leadership of Chairman Rick Thurman and CEO Rob Ponger, has announced the inaugural “In the Spirit of the Game” event, an evening of baseball and laughter, taking place Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the iconic Laugh Factory in Hollywood, Calif. The evening supports the Foundation’s mission to provide financial assistance and resources that allow deserving young athletes to play, learn and grow through the...
Tournaments | Story | 12/11/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2027

AJ Denny
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 Elite defenders from coast to coast certainly seems to be a strength and to think you could make another top-tier team without thinking, speaks to the real depth this group possesses. The infield is a no-doubt strength of the group, but what catcher Dariel Carrion can do behind the plate is like something we haven't seen in a while in the prep ranks with an absolutely bazooka of an arm.  C: Dariel Carrion (San Juan, PR)  It isn’t often you get a catching prospect as athletic and natural as Dariel Carrion, a big reason why he holds the rank of #1 player in PR and #18 nationally. Metrics wise, the 5-foot-10, 210 pound San Juan native is all you can ask for and more, posting a sub 1.80 pop time with an 84 mph arm behind the dish. He has both contact and clear power threat on the offensive end, ending 2025 with a .337 BA and 4 HRs while also...
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