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PG Select Baseball Festival  | General | 8/17/2024

11u & 12u Select Festival Recap

Photo: 11u & 12u Select Festival Teams (Perfect Game)
The top 11 & 12U eligible players from across North America descended on the historic East Cobb Baseball Complex this past weekend for this year’s rendition of the 2024 Perfect Game Select Baseball Festival. 28 of the best comprised the 11U version, while 36 of the very best made up the 12U iteration as they culminated their summer seasons and gave us a glimpse into the next generation of youth amateur baseball.

The weekend was filled with fun filled activities including practices, home run derby’s and plenty of fun in our player's lounge area where both age groups got to engage in ping pong tournaments and play against each other in various video games like MLB The Show. They also got plenty of chances to learn from former Major Leaguers Tom “Flash” Gordon, Ryan Klesko and Charles Johnson throughout the weekend, as all three were members of our coaching staff for the young athletes. Perfect Game celebrated each of the player's accomplishments in being named to his prestigious event by hosting an awards banquet for each age group.



Not to be lost amongst all the exciting moments, both on-and-off the field, was the fundraising efforts by both the 11 & 12U participants. Each of the players put their best foot forward to try and raise funds for the Elite Development Academy based out of Tampa, Florida. The Elite Development Academy (EDA) is a transformative initiative addressing economic and racial disparities in baseball. Founded by the Fox Foundation and the HBCU, Dillard University, EDA brings together mentors, nonprofits, scouts, and coaches to enhance athletic skills and provide academic support and mentorship to young players from underserved communities. The program includes robust player onboarding, personalized guidance, and assistance with scholarships and federal grant applications, fostering athletic and academic excellence.

The amazing efforts of each participant in both the 11 & 12U games allowed for a little over $23,000 to be raised to help underserved players that go through the Elite Development Academy. Jordan Acosta of the 11U East team raised an astounding $3,585, while Easton Metzelaars helped the cause by raising $2,570. Leyland Henry led the 12U contingent, as he raised a little over $2,000 towards the fundraising efforts. Bryan Johnson Jr. was the second top fundraiser for the 12U participants, as he raised $1975.

Now let’s get to the games as the 11U squads got things rolling on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. The West squad took home a 7-5 victory in a back-and-forth affair that got started with the blazing fastball of our National Pitcher of the Year Carlo Rivero, as he notched two punch outs in a scoreless top of the first. It was his bat that got the West team on the board first as the left-handed hitting Arizona native stayed on a fastball from East starter Jack Mattingly and drove it out to left-centerfield. The West extended their lead in the bottom of the second thanks to a run scoring double by Mylo Leyja, which was followed up by RBI singles off the bats of Joshua Park and Ruben Elias. The East came roaring back in the top of the third inning, as they scored five to take the lead, capped off by a three-run opposite field bomb off the bat of Carlos Marrero. A couple of walks and wild pitches helped the East squad during that inning.

The scoring would halt until the bottom of the fifth, where the West team tied things at five as Ruben Elias notched his second RBI single of the game, while Kristian Valadez would strike out the side in the top of the sixth to keep things knotted at five after working around a one out walk. A one out walk by Hudson Bills would be followed by a Gabriel Gutierrez double down the left field line to give the West squad a 6-5 lead. They would add an insurance run on another double by 11U Home Run Derby Champion Brayden Worthen as he lifted one towards the left field line that fell in-front of the left field. 11U National Player of the Year Ethan Palacios would work around a two-out double from Jace Winston to punch out two and secure the victory for the West. Ruben Elias took home MVP honors by going 2-for-2 with three runs batted in.

11U Game MVP: Ruben Elias

11U Home Run Derby Champion: Brayden Worthen
 
11U Award Winners: Ethan PalaciosWaylon HarrisCarlo Rivero

The 12U iteration gave us a glimpse into the future stars of amateur baseball, as there were seven arms who toed the rubber and touched 80-plus mph and an outstanding twelve out of sixteen that touched at least 78 mph. The game itself came with plenty of action as the teams amassed twelve hits including three homers. Our National Pitcher of the Year Calvin Madenspacher started things off on the mound for the East squad as he continued to show exactly why he was the recipient of the award by punching out three in his inning of work. Tyler Early opposed him for the West and took home his own honors as our National Player of the Year. The West would strike first in the top of the second, as they scored a pair due to a few walks and an RBI ground out by Creed Peoples. The East would answer back on the shoulders of James Watson as he scorched a three-run homer to right-centerfield to give his team the lead. The East would extend their lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a quartet of walks as they continued to put together good at-bats against a talented West pitching staff. A pair of walks, an error and a couple wild pitches would allow the West to knot things at four heading into the bottom of the fifth. Eventual MVP Raymond Minaya took matters into his hands in the bottom half of the inning as the left-handed hitting New York native launched a two-run homer to dead center field. The East squad would extend their lead further in the sixth thanks to an RBI double off the bat of Cohen Ward and another two-run bomb from Maykel Jimenez. They would plate three runs in the seventh extend their lead to 8 as Watson, a Georgia native, secured the victory in his home state with a punchout to end another talent laden Perfect Game 12U Select Baseball Festival.

12U Game MVP: Raymond Minaya

12U Home Run Derby Champion: Kingston George

 
12U Award Winners: Tyler EarlyCalvin MadenspacherJesse Soberal Jr



PG Select Baseball Festival | General | 8/28/2025

14u Select Festival Turns Ten

Jheremy Brown
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You want to talk about something surreal? Back in 2016, we put together a roster of 40 players, divided to 20 apiece between East and West, with no qualification other than "play in one Perfect Game event" and all players must be born after May 1 of 2001. On top of that, there were significantly less national events at the 14u level, consisting almost exclusively of the 14u WWBA and the 14u World Series, with some other events sprinkled in and players who were eligible, playing up at 15u and 16u events. On top of all that, we turned around rosters in a super short time frame, a far cry from the year long process it's become now, never mind the fact that you can find a 14u event somewhere in the country on any given weekend.  Do the quick math and you realize the 2025 14u Select Festival marks year 10 of the event and since that first pitch in 2016, things have continued to evolve,...
College | Recruiting | 12/15/2025

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John McAdams
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Tucker Rice (27 MS) bumping up to 91; living hi-80s from real fast arm. Good SL @ 77-79 w/ depth & sold w/ intent. Loads of traits & strikes. #WWBA @PG_Uncommitted @PG_DeepSouth pic.twitter.com/DEjFqRcsIY — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 6, 2025 Tucker Rice, RHP, Class of 2027 Commitment: Alabama Alabama has continued to stay red hot in the recruiting trail ever since August 1st rolled around on the calendar and have continued to stack major pieces in their ’27 class. They dip into Mississippi to land one of the premier arms and one that’s stood out on the circuit for quite some time. It’s a fast arm and the athleticism certainly shines working down the slope. The velocity has continued to tick up over the last calendar year and reached into the low-90s towards the end of the summer. He’s confident in his changeup and the breaking ball is...
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

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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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Best Game I Saw: The Dream NTL 18U vs. MBA Scout Team Murphy Jupiter always brings out the best, and we got fireworks from the jump. Turner Marshall gave The Dream an outstanding 4+ innings of work on the mound, holding a lethal MBA team at bay with Chance Dixon, Derrick Carter, and Ellis Appling providing an offensive spark out of the gate for the Georgia based boys. However, it was only a matter of time before the talent on the other side got going, as MBA erased a 3-run deficit in the 5th to take a 4-3 lead led by a Parker Loew HR. The Dream then took command again in the Top of the 6th, before MBA punched right back with a huge 5-run inning in the bottom half capped off by a clutch RBI single from Matthew Kerrigan, ending a wild sequence with tons of notable performances from two very competitive rosters. Best Tournament Performance I Saw: Surely someone has already brought this...
College | Story | 12/12/2025

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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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