2016 Final Travel Team Rankings: 12u | 13u | 14u | 15u | 16u | 17u | 18u
643
Notable Tournament Performances: 1st 17u PG Super25 National Championship (643 DP Cougars), 17u PG/EvoShield Classic (643 DP Cougars), 18u PG/EvoShield Classic (643 DP Cougars), 17u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational (643 DP Cougars).
643 had another banner year for the organization and collected a lot of hardware throughout the year. The highlight of the organization was the ninth-ranked 643 DP Cougars team that closed the summer out on a remarkable winning streak and collected four championship trophies. Brant Hurter, Ben Anderson and Perfect Game All-American Drew Waters led the way although the entire team was incredibly consistent throughout the year. The depth of the organization was another high point with 10 teams being ranked across the age groups. The end of the summer was an impressive two weeks as the Cougars went undefeated over the course of two tournaments, winning consecutive PG/EvoShield Classic titles.
12u Teams Ranked:
#18 643 Tigers
13u Teams Ranked:
#38 643 Jaguars
#44 643 DP Cougars Sterling
14u Teams Ranked:
#15 643 DP Cougars
#90 643 DP Jaguars
15u Teams Ranked:
#13 643 DP Cougars Montgomery
16u Teams Ranked:
#38 643 DP Baseball Mang
#49 643 DP Sterling
#133 643 DP Cougars Montgomery
17u Teams Ranked:
#9 643 DP Cougars
#104 643 DP Athletics Haddock
Banditos
Notable Tournament Performances: 1st 15u WWBA National Championship (Banditos Black), 1st 15u PG World Series (Banditos Elite), 1st WWBA Freshman World Championship (Banditos Elite).
One of the most dominant organizations in the younger age groups and the only organization with No. 1 ranked teams in multiple age groups is the Banditos. With teams coming in at No. 1 in both the 14u and 15u rankings, the Banditos continue their recent elite performance. With Matthew Thompson and Jared Thomas, 15u WWBA National Championship MVP, leading the way for Banditos Black the team they secured the 15u WWBA National Championship and 15u PG World Series. The 14u Banditos Elite team was just as impressive with a great end of the year performance culminating in a victory in the WWBA Freshman World Championship. Albert Hernandez, Carlos Perez, and Carlos Rodriguez are a strong core of players that make the Banditos Elite one of the most feared teams heading into next year.
12u Teams Ranked:
#6 Banditos Elite
13u Teams Ranked:
#2 Banditos Elite
#7 Banditos Black
#46 Banditos Houston
14u Teams Ranked:
#1 Banditos Elite
#71 Banditos Black
15u Teams Ranked:
#1 Banditos Black
#3 MVP Banditos
16u Teams Ranked:
#33 Houston Banditos Black
17u Teams Ranked:
#96 Houston Banditos Black
CBA
Notable Tournament Performances: 1st California Underclass World Series (CBA Marucci 16u), Quarterfinals WWBA World Championship (CBA Marucci National), Playoffs 17u WWBA National Championship (CBA Marucci National).
The California-based CBA has multiple teams ranked per age group and is led by the success of their ultra-talented 2017 class. CBA Marucci National was loaded with talent and was always one of the final teams standing. The up-the-middle combination of Perfect Game All-Americans Nick Allen and Tyler Freeman was one of the best defensive duos in the country, and Tyler Hardman was one of the leading bats all year. Perfect Game All-American Jeremiah Estrada, along with Jonathan Stroman and Daniel Ritcheson, helped form a dominant pitching staff. The talent and success of the older teams have trickled downward too as CBA has teams ranked in the younger divisions as well.
14u Teams Ranked:
#27 CBA Wave
15u Teams Ranked:
#65 CBA Bulldogs National
#75 CBA Wave
#77 CBA Bulldogs American
16u Teams Ranked:
#20 CBA Marucci
#67 CBA Wave
#130 CBA Bulldogs American
17u Teams Ranked:
#5 CBA Marucci National
#164 CBA Nevada
#168 CBA Marucci American
Dirtbags
Notable Tournament Performances: 1st WWBA World Championship (Dirtbags All Blacks), 1st 18u WWBA Memorial Day at LakePoint (Dirtbags All Blacks), 2nd 16u PG World Series (Dirtbags Falcon).
The Dirtbags All Blacks seized the biggest tournament win of the entire season with a WWBA World Championship title. With the three-time defending champion EvoShield Canes knocked out of the tournament, the Dirtbags defeated some stout competition and came out on top. Tournament MVP Davis Schneider and co-Most Valuable Pitcher Mason Hickman were both outstanding and helped propel the Dirtbags to the championship. The Dirtbags also had teams ranked in the top 35 for each age division from 14u-17u with the 16u Dirtbags being in the top 10 after their runner-up performance in the 16u PG World Series. With Angel Zarrate and Logan Jarosz the Dirtbags were able to nearly capture the PG World Series title.
13u Teams Ranked:
#12 Dirtbags
14u Teams Ranked:
#33 Dirtbags 2020
#76 Dirtbags Hobson
#85 Dirtbags Wilson
15u Teams Ranked:
#34 Dirtbags
16u Teams Ranked:
#6 Dirtbags Falcon
#105 Dirtbags 17s
17u Teams Ranked:
#3 Dirtbags All Blacks
East Coast Sox
Notable Tournament Performances: 1st 16u WWBA National Championship (East Coast Sox Diamond), 2nd 15u WWBA National Championship (EC Sox Prime Snopek).
The East Coast Sox enjoyed a very successful in 2016 highlighted by their extremely competitive play during the WWBA National Championships. The East Coast Sox Diamond team rode a hot playoff run to win the 16u WWBA National Championship in part due to the contributions from J.T. Ginn and tournament MVP Ben Van Cleve. EC Sox Prime Snopek finished as runner-up in the 15u WWBA National Championship and was one of the top teams in their age division throughout the entire year. Hayden Dunhurst and Christopher Willis made up a strong middle of the order for the Sox and they were near the top of almost every tournament they participated in.
14u Teams Ranked:
#17 EC Sox Elite
15u Teams Ranked:
#5 EC Sox Prime Snopek
#32 East Coast Sox Select
#62 East Coast Sox Elite
16u Teams Ranked:
#2 East Coast Sox Diamond
#72 East Coast Sox Select
17u Teams Ranked:
#49 East Coast Sox Select
#131 East Coast Sox Elite
18u Teams Ranked:
#24 East Coast Sox
East Cobb Baseball
Notable Tournament Performances: 1st 16u WWBA Memorial Day at Lakepoint (East Cobb Colt .45s), 1st 18u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational (East Cobb Astros), 1st 18u WWBA National Championship (East Cobb Astros), 1st 16u PG/EvoShield Classic (East Cobb Colt .45s), 1st 16u Super25 National Championship (East Cobb Astros).
East Cobb Baseball, the program that started it all, put together another quality year on the travel ball circuit and it showed with a number of tournament victories. The 18u WWBA National Championship pitted the top two teams in the 18u rankings, East Cobb Astros and East Cobb Yankees, against each other in the championship game. Led by tournament MVP Sam Praytor and MV-Pitcher Joe Lancellotti, the Astros finished the tournament 10-0 with a 2-0 win over the Yankees in the final. The 17u Astros closed out the year with a couple of runner-up finishes in the WWBA National Qualifier and Southeast Qualifier #1 and played deep into the playoffs in the 17u WWBA National Championship. Cody Greenhill and Judson Ward each played big roles in their team’s success. East Cobb also had success in the 16u age group as well as the East Cobb Astros won the 16u Super25 National Championship and made the playoffs at the WWBA Underclass World Championship. The 15u East Cobb Astros made the playoffs at the WWBA World Championship. The East Cobb Colt .45s 16u proved to be one of the more consistent teams over the course of the year. With Perfect Game regulars such as Nolan Tressler, Noah Ledford and Davis Sharpe, the Colt .45s were able to capture the 16u PG/EvoShield Classic and the WWBA Memorial Day at LakePoint.
12u Teams Ranked:
#3 East Cobb Astros
#9 East Cobb Colt .45s
13u Teams Ranked:
#6 East Cobb Astros
#22 East Cobb Colt .45s
#49 East Cobb Bombers
14u Teams Ranked:
#23 East Cobb Astros
#78 East Cobb Black Knights
#96 East Cobb Colt .45s
15u Teams Ranked:
#4 East Cobb Astros
#6 East Cobb Colt .45s
#61 East Cobb Yankees
16u Teams Ranked:
#7 East Cobb Astros
#11 East Cobb Colt .45s
#149 East Cobb ATEC
#156 East Cobb Black Knights
17u Teams Ranked:
#16 East Cobb Astros
#62 East Cobb Yankees
#143 East Cobb Colt .45s
#158 East Cobb Yankees
#191 East Cobb Patriots
18u Teams Ranked:
#1 East Cobb Astros
#2 East Cobb Yankees
#40 East Cobb Colt .45s
Elite Squad
Notable Tournament Wins: 1st 14u PG World Series (Elite Squad Prime), Playoffs WWBA World Championship (Elite Squad Prime).
Elite Squad is another organization that is dominant in the younger age groups but is balanced throughout the updated travel team rankings. With top 5 teams in two age groups (Elite Squad Prime No. 4 in 13u and Elite Squad Prime No. 2 in 14u) their 14u Elite Squad Prime team was able to come away with the 14u PG World Series title. Led by a pair of Florida commits in Jordan Carrion and Timothy Manning, the team performed excellently in the playoffs allowing just one run in three playoff games. The 17u Elite Squad Prime team is loaded with talent and made it to the playoffs at the WWBA World Championship. Two of the big bats for Elite Squad are Perfect Game All-Americans Mark Vientos and Alejandro Toral, along with shortstop Jeter Downs, all of whom are immensely talented and have helped this organization come in near the top of the travel team rankings.
13u Teams Ranked:
#4 Elite Squad Prime
#35 Elite Squad South
#39 Elite Squad North
14u Teams Ranked:
#2 Elite Squad Prime
#95 Elite Squad Black
15u Teams Ranked:
#16 Elite Squad
#46 Elite Squad South Prime
16u Teams Ranked:
#62 Elite Squad South Prime
#124 Elite Squad Prime
#132 Elite Squad South
17u Teams Ranked:
#29 Elite Squad Prime
#45 Elite Squad South Prime
#178 Elite Squad North Prime
EvoShield Canes
Notable Tournament Wins: 13u Super25 National Championship (EvoShield Canes), 3rd WWBA Underclass World Championship (EvoShield Canes), 3rd WWBA Freshman World Championship (EvoShield Canes), 2nd round playoffs WWBA World Championship (EvoShield Canes).
Although the Canes did not win many tournaments this year they finished near the top four in many. Notable performances include a runner-up finish at the WWBA Underclass World Championship, a third-place place finish at the 17u PG World Series and WWBA Freshman World Championship and a deep playoff run at the WWBA World Championship. A staple of the organization is their ability to get their players to the next level and an excellent example of that is their 17u PG World Series roster. Out of 24 players on the roster, only one player was not committed and all the commits were to major D-I schools. The Canes were winners of the past three WWBA World Championships and this team came close to making it a four-peat. Perfect Game All-American Jordon “Jo” Adell led the way for the talented squad that also saw strong performances from Samuel Carlson, Hagen Danner and Christopher McMahon.
12u Teams Ranked:
#7 Evoshield Canes Schuldt
13u Teams Ranked:
#9 EvoShield Canes
14u Teams Ranked:
#14 EvoShield Canes
15u Teams Ranked:
#21 EvoShield Canes Coastal
#25 EvoShield Canes Black
#64 EvoShield Canes South
#73 EvoShield Canes Central
#94 EvoShield Canes North
16u Teams Ranked:
#5 EvoShield Canes
#122 EvoShield Canes South
17u Teams Ranked:
#6 EvoShield Canes
#97 EvoShield Canes Prospects
#112 EvoShield Canes Northeast
Florida Burn
Notable Tournament Performances: 1st 18u WWBA Memorial Day East (Florida Burn Platinum), 2nd 15u BCS Finals (Florida Burn Platinum).
Another keynote Florida program, the Florida Burn have once again had a very successful travel ball season. Their headlining Florida Burn Platinum team competed well in the 17u age group and had a number of star-caliber players on their team. Perfect Game All-American Brady McConnell, Jordan Butler and Colton Gordon-Zimring, who won MV-Pitcher for the 18u WWBA Memorial Day East, are all impressive players with big futures ahead of them. The 15u BCS runner-up Florida Burn Platinum team was also loaded with talent. With two lefthanders, Carson Palmquist and Nolan Hudi, leading the way, the pitching staff and defense only allowed 15 runs over nine games.
13u Teams Ranked:
#42 Florida Burn
14u Teams Ranked:
#29 Florida Burn Platinum
15u Teams Ranked:
#9 Florida Burn Platinum
16u Teams Ranked:
#48 Florida Burn Platinum South
#50 Florida Burn Platinum
#162 Florida Burn Platinum North
17u Teams Ranked:
#12 Florida Burn Platinum
#183 Florida Burn
FTB
Notable Tournament Performances: 1st 17u WWBA National Championship (FTB Tucci), 1st WWBA 14u Memorial Day at Lakepoint (FTB Select).
FTB turned in another strong season for their program and was well-represented throughout all age groups. They finished the year with three teams ranked in the top 10 (FTB Select No. 4 in 14u, FTB55 Elite No. 4 in 16u, FTB Tucci/Webgemz No. 9 in 16u, FTB Tucci No. 2 in 17u) and had some key tournament victories. Led by PG All-Americans Logan Allen and Conner Uselton, who came home with tournament MVP honors, FTB went 12-0 over the course of the tournament en route to the championship. In the 14u age group, FTB Select captured a win in the WWBA Memorial Day at LakePoint and a runner-up finish in the WWBA Freshman World Championship. Led by a strong young core of Anthony Shaver, Connor Morgan and Josh Allen, FTB looks poised to compete at the 15u level next season.
14u Teams Ranked:
#4 FTB Select
#51 FTB 14u Nelly
15u Teams Ranked:
#63 FTB Kudagra
#84 FTB Mizuno
16u Teams Ranked:
#4 FTB55 Elite
#9 FTB Tucci/Wengemz
#79 FTB Max Bats
#100 FTB Rockets
17u Teams Ranked:
#2 FTB Tucci
#40 FTB Mizuno
#56 FTB Rockets
18u Teams Ranked:
#12 FTB Platinum
GBG
Notable Tournament Performances: Round of 8 WWBA World Championship (GBG Marucci), 2nd PG-Evoshield Freshman National Championship (GBG Inland Empire).
Another California-based organization cracked the list after having a multitude of teams ranked including two teams at the 14u and 17u level that impressed in the fall. GBG Inland Empire finished runner-up in the Freshman PG/EvoShield National Championship. Led by 2016 14u PG Select Baseball Festival infielder Jordan Andrade the team remained undefeated until the championship game. Shortstop Daylen Reyes also led GBG Marucci Navy to a third-place finish in the same tournament. The 17u GBG Marucci squad had a strong performance in Jupiter this year. With Daniel Cabrera and Gabriel Ponce being the statistical leaders in hitting and pitching, respectively, GBG made it to the quarterfinals where they succumbed to the Midland Redskins.
14u Teams Ranked:
#13 GBG Inland Empire
#19 GBG Marucci Navy
15u Teams Ranked:
#43 GBG Inland Empire
16u Teams Ranked:
#18 GBG Marucci Navy
#29 GBG Renegades
17u Teams Ranked:
#14 GBG Marucci
Georgia Jackets
Notable Tournament Performances: Quarterfinals WWBA Freshman World Championship (Georgia Jackets), 2nd 18u WWBA Memorial Day at Lakepoint (Georgia Jackets).
The Jackets remained one of the top organizations in the state of Georgia with impressive performances from teams across different age groups. One of the more talented 14u teams over the course of the year was the Jackets squad that advanced to the quarterfinals of the WWBA Freshman World Championship. 2016 14u PG Select Baseball Festival participants Josh Shuler and Travis Hamrick were two of the big names from this team even though Shuler missed time during the tournament with an injury. The Jackets 17u squad was very comepetitive throughout the season and ended with two runner-up finishes at the 18u WWBA Memorial Day at LakePoint and 17u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational. Owen Lovell, MVP of the 17u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational, and Tucker Bradley, MV-Pitcher of the 18u WWBA Memorial Day at LakePoint, were two of the primary contributors.
14u Teams Ranked:
#17 Georgia Jackets
#83 Georgia Jackets National
15u Teams Ranked:
#7 Georgia Jackets National
#52 Georgia Jackets
17u Teams Ranked:
#31 Georgia Jackets
Knights Baseball
Notable Tournament Performances: Round of 16 17u WWBA National Championship (Knights Baseball Platinum), 3rd 16u WWBA National Championship (Knights Baseball Platinum).
The Tennessee-based travel program had representation throughout the age groups with their headlining Knights Baseball Platinum teams. Finishing in the final 16 of teams in the 17u WWBA National Championship, Knights Baseball Platinum’s only loss came in a close game to the eventual champion FTB Tucci. Davion Downey, J.T. Weber and Noah Farmer were some of the top performers from that tournament. Their 16u team finished third in the 16u WWBA National Championship and had a team stocked full of talented players. Kaden Dreier and Christian Macleod led the team in hitting and pitching, respectively.
14u Teams Ranked:
#39 Knights Baseball Platinum
15u Teams Ranked:
#88 Knights Baseball Platinum
16u Teams Ranked:
#15 Knights Baseball Platinum
17u Teams Ranked:
#34 Knights Baseball Platinum
18u Teams Ranked:
#39 Knights Baseball Platinum
Orlando Scorpions
Notable Tournament Performances: 1st 17u BCS Finals (Orlando Scorpions Black), Round of 16 WWBA Underclass World Championship (16u Scorpions Prime), 3rd 17u BCS Finals (Scorpions Prime).
One of the top level organizations in the state of Florida, the Scorpions put together another impressive season among all age groups. With at least two teams ranked in each age group, their two 17u teams collected the most accolades. The Orlando Scorpions Black came away with the tournament championship and co-MVP Cameron Meehan put together a quality tournament to lead the team. The Scorpions Prime team that finished third had a number of highly-talented players that contributed over the course of the summer. Jack Leftwich, Raymond Gil and Perfect Game All-American Tim Elko were some of the notable players on the team and helped place their team near the top of the rankings.
13u Teams Ranked:
#14 Scorpions South Prime
#21 West Coast Scorpions Tampa
#25 Orlando Scorpions
14u Teams Ranked:
#48 Orlando Scorpions
#50 Scorpions South
#106 Orlando Scorpions West
15u Teams Ranked:
#8 Scorpions Prime
#55 Scorpions North
16u Teams Ranked:
#31 Scorpions Prime
#63 Scorpions South
#174 Scorpions South Purple
17u Teams Ranked:
#8 Orlando Scorpions Black
#13 Scorpions Prime
#79 Scorpions South Prime
#169 Orlando Scorpions Purple
#179 Scorpions West
Team Elite
Notable Tournament Performances: 1st 13u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational (Team Elite Prospects), 1st 16u Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational (Team Elite Prime), 1st 18u BCS Finals (Team Elite 17’s Prime).
Another year of elite production from this organization shows that Team Elite is one of the most consistent in the sport. Arguably Team Elite’s most impressive showing was from their Prime team during their runner-up campaign at the WWBA World Championship. Pat DeMarco and co-Most Valuable Pitcher Ethan Hankins led the team at the plate and on the mound, respectively. With an extremely successful season behind them, Team Elite looks to the future as their trio of 2018 stars have high expectations. All Vanderbilt commits, Hankins (No. 5) joins Kumar Rocker (1) and Will Banfield (6) to give the program three players in the top 10 of the 2018 national player rankings and will make them one of the favorites to be near the top of every tournament they play in in 2017.
12u Teams Ranked:
#19 Team Elite Futures
13u Teams Ranked:
#8 Team Elite Prospects
#45 Team Elite South
14u Teams Ranked:
#18 Team Elite Prime
#28 Team Elite Prospects
#60 Team Elite South East
#62 Team Elite Futures
15u Teams Ranked:
#18 Team Elite Prime
#68 Team Elite Nation
#71 Team Elite West
16u Teams Ranked:
#10 Team Elite Prime
#61 Team Elite Premier
#110 Team Elite West
#131 Team Elite South Huff
#138 Team Elite South Goodwin
#164 Team Elite Florida
17u Teams Ranked:
#4 Team Elite Prime
#44 Team Elite Nation
#73 Team Elite South
#182 Team Elite Premier
18u Teams Ranked:
#8 Team Elite Prime
#10 Team Elite South
#13 Team Elite 18s
Tri State Arsenal
Notable Tournament Performances: Round of 8 WWBA World Championship (Tri State Arsenal Prime), Playoffs WWBA Underclass World Championship (Tri State Arsenal Prime).
One of the premier organizations in the northeast completed the impressive feat of having a team in each age group in the top 50. Their highest ranked team was the 2018 Prime team which made it to the second round of the playoffs at the WWBA Underclass World Championship. Max Dineen and Chris Gerard both had strong performances that helped propel them into the playoffs. One of the final eight teams in the WWBA World Championship, Tri State Arsenal Prime had a strong collection of hitting and pitching from Charles Mack, Brad Dobzanski and Perfect Game All-American Cash Case. Tri State Arsenal is well positioned in every age group and remain one of the most competitive organizations in travel ball.
13u Teams Ranked:
#47 Tri State Arsenal Prime
14u Teams Ranked:
#37 Tri State Arsenal Prime
15u Teams Ranked:
#17 Tri State Arsenal Prime
16u Teams Ranked:
#16 Tri State Arsenal Prime
17u Teams Ranked:
#18 Tri State Arsenal Prime