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Tournaments  | Championship | 6/2/2026

EC Astros Win Back-And-Forth Thriller

Will Dembo
Photo: East Cobb Astros (Perfect Game)
In a highly anticipated matchup between two of the nation’s top 17u teams, the East Cobb Astros defeated eXposure National 9-8 in a thrilling extra-inning battle to claim the PG Southeast Elite Championship. The Astros completed the weekend undefeated, opening their summer season with a hard-fought, statement victory.

“I mean, it's fun, it's been a grind today,” said Astros Head Coach, Josh Burress. “Been out here a long day, but our guys are competitors, they come out compete, they want to compete and win, so it's just fun to watch them come out here and not quitting playing to the end... so the guys did very well today, and they competed all the way through.”



eXposure began the opening frame by taking the early lead on an error but quickly gave their lead away as the Astros came out of the gates hot, plating six runs in just the first inning. Mason Peek, who got the opening nod for eXposure, struggled to find the zone early, walking a trio of batters to commence the Astros’ rally before trading a run for an out on a fielder’s choice. The Astros were then able to capitalize further on the free bases given out as extra base hits from Astros’ outfielder Carson Bruce and catcher Skyler Lee helped give their pitcher great insurance heading into the following inning.

East Cobb starter, Cole Crawford, surrendered his first earned run of the contest, but was able to limit the damage while holding his team’s lead at four. Despite continued command issues, Peek was then able to get out of a jam in the following inning thanks to a phenomenal throw by eXposure Catcher, Mason Shelton, to keep the Astros off the board.

Fellow right-hander, Cash Fenhagen replaced Crawford in the third and did not allow a run in his first inning of work with the help of an inning-ending double play. Peek then made quick work of the Astros lineup to keep his squad in a four-run deficit with just four more chances to creep back into the contest.

With one out and bases loaded in the fourth inning, the tying run stepped to the plate in the form of first baseman Treyson Derry, who was able to work the count full before lining a base hit into right field, cutting the deficit to just two runs.

The Astros then caught a pivotal break as Fenhagen tagged out a runner trying to steal home off a wild pitch to the backstop before recording the third out two pitches later via strikeout. East Cobb was unable to add to its slim lead in the home half, however, as Peek retired all three Astros in order, marking his third straight scoreless inning following the rough start in the opening inning.

eXposure mounted its biggest threat of the afternoon in the fifth inning as the cleanup hitter Shelton came up to bat with bases loaded and just one out. Shelton delivered with a RBI single and Kayden Pledger was able to plate the tying run while drawing a walk.

The scoring did not end there though, as after an East Cobb pitching change with Takumi Yoshida entering in relief, shortstop Luke Lawson drove in yet another run to give eXposure a 7-6 lead with two outs. Yoshida, who is primarily a catcher, retired the next batter by groundout, doing his job by escaping the bases loaded jam while allowing just one run.

“I was just trying to get a win, try to throw strikes, try to keep my team in there, that’s all I really thought about.” Yoshida said on stepping up to the task despite the unusual pitching situation.

The Astros were able to tie the game back up at seven by taking advantage of a wild pitch with a runner on third base crossing home, and the back-and-forth battle headed into the sixth inning all knotted up.

Yoshida picked up right where he left off, striking out eXposure’s leadoff batter before getting the final two outs of the frame by flyout and sending his team to the home half of the inning while still tied.

It was then eXposure’s turn to send out a catcher to toss a scoreless frame as No. 3 prospect out of Tennessee, William Weber, held the dominant Astros offense to zero runs for the fourth time today.

The middle of eXposure’s order was able to put themselves in a prime position to break the tie as a hit and a walk put runners on first and third with just one out and Shelton at the plate. The Stetson commit was able to launch an off-speed pitch deep enough to score the runner from third on a sacrifice fly and the away team grabbed the lead.

Yoshida struck out the next batter and the Astros would enter the bottom of the 7th inning needing just one run to continue the ballgame.

Weber did not waste time, striking out the first two batters to get his squad just one out away from taking home a championship.

Arkansas commit CJ Wall came up to bat needing to get on base to continue his team’s hopes, and the No. 7 prospect out of Georgia unloaded on a 0-1 fastball, sending it deep into the trees and tying the game once again at 8-8.

“I just didn't want to be the last out,” Wall though as he stepped up to the plate in the crucial situation. “I didn't want to get walked, so I just put the bat on the ball, and it flew.”

Hayes Maginnis was able to keep their momentum going with a double to put the winning run in scoring position, but Weber and eXposure were able to send the game to extra innings after a pop out.

Yoshida was able to keep the score even at eight and gave his offense a chance to walk off the championship in the bottom of the eighth.

The Astros did just that as a leadoff double from speedy Elias Gandy set up a prime opportunity for the offense and Arkansas commit, Bear Calvo, was able to capitalize by sending a bloop single into right field to bring home the game winning run for East Cobb.

“It's great because we're starting this summer pretty hot with the W in the first tournament that we've had, and honestly, just feels good to have that camaraderie and a good chemistry as a team to go post up a W in a big tournament.” Calvo said after delivering the game winning knock to send his team home happy with a victory.
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Tournaments | Story | 7/11/2026

17U National Elite Heads to Hoover
Kinley Kitchens
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Another week, another big tournament makes its way to Hoover.  This week, 104 of the nation’s top 17U teams will make their way to Hoover for the 2026 Perfect Game 17U National Elite Championship.  Featuring nationally ranked teams, Division I commits, and many of the country’s top 2027 players, the tournament promises another week of elite competition as teams battle for one of the biggest championships of the summer.  With many players already committed to some of the nation’s top college programs, every game in Hoover this week offers a glimpse into the future of college baseball.  Now entering its eighth year, the National Elite Championship continues to bring in the nation’s best. Past champions include Team Elite Scout Team, Canes National, USA Prime National, Scorpions/Giants Scout Team, 5 Star Performance National, Knights Knation Scout...
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Draft | Mock Draft | 7/11/2026

Final 2026 MLB Mock Draft

Vincent Cervino
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It's draft day and that means it's time for our final Mock Draft with the 2026 group. 1. Chicago White Sox | Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA It’s between Roch and Grady Emerson at this pick, though there have been heavy rumors of a very late deal potentially with another top 5 pick. This boils down to negotiations and we think that they will get there.  2. Tampa Bay Rays | Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian (Tex.) If Grady isn’t the first pick then he is almost certain to be the second pick. The Rays like to get creative but Emerson is a well worth prospect in his own right.  3.  Minnesota Twins | Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech This is likely the floor for Roch Cholowsky, though the Twins might prefer Lackey to Roch outright. They are thought to be in on the top college players with Emerson a distant third.  4. San Francisco Giants | Jackson Flora, RHP, UC...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/10/2026

Ohio Valley Regional Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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‘28 INF Christian Ramirez (OH) WALKS IT OFF for @CincyDBulls2028 to win the chip! Has shown impressive tools throughout the weekend and in this AB showed the ability to adjust to the offspeed and win the game. #OVElite pic.twitter.com/J3MXJXFnbM — Perfect Game Ohio Valley (@PG_OhioValley) July 5, 2026 Christian Ramirez (2028, Mason, Ohio) helped his team win the championship batting out of the two-hole. Though he didn’t win tournament MVP, Ramirez was my favorite player to watch take a plate appearance. He has an advanced feel for the zone and sees the ball out of the pitcher’s hand quicker than most. Ramirez led the tournament with eight walks, batting .375 with a .583 on-base percentage. Much more than just the approach, the swing is efficient with little wasted movement, creates quality separation, and puts him in an excellent position at contact. With such an...
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College | Story | 7/10/2026

Cape Cod Notebook No. 1

Perfect Game Staff
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Cape Cod League Scouting Notebook  Maverick Rizy | Ole Miss | RHP | Brewster Whitecaps  The towering 6-foot-9, 250-pound right-hander continues to stand out with one of the more unique looks on the Cape, pairing a massive frame with a low three-quarter slot that creates difficult angles for hitters. While his fastball velocity was down from its typical mid-90s range during this look, working mostly 90-92 mph, it still generated plenty of swing-and-miss. He paired the heater with an 81-83 mph gyro slider featuring tight bullet-spin action and mixed in an 85-mph changeup with quality separation. Rizy battled his command early in the outing I saw, before settling in to strike out five over three innings, showing the ability to adjust as the game progressed. Through 12.2 Cape League innings, he has recorded 18 strikeouts, and his combination of size, deception, and projectability...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/10/2026

16u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 4

Perfect Game Staff
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16u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 ‘28 C Nico Ayars (FL) coming off a monster game yesterday & comes up with the biggest swing of this one. A triple right down the LF line to drive in two. Came into today hitting .833 this week. #WWBA @PG_Uncommitted @Florida_PG pic.twitter.com/Hvb7UvtkNi — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 8, 2026 Nico Ayars (2028, Fort Myers, Fla.) has just been on the barrel throughout the week so far, collecting six hits across the first four games of the tournament. That didn’t slow down on day three at Mt. Zion High School as he came up with the biggest swing of the day, hitting a triple down the left field line to drive in a pair. It’s been a standout week so far for Ayars and he’ll be a driving force behind the run through the tourney for CBU 2028 Scout Team Lawson. Rylan Jenkins (2028, Tennille, Ga.) put...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/10/2026

14u & 17u West Scout Notes: Days 1-2

Perfect Game Staff
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Tre Hallberg (‘27, AZ) hammers this out to deep LCF for a 2-run 💣. Continues to stand out at the plate. Power will only continue to develop #WWBAWest @PG_Uncommitted https://t.co/NlWlDygpwg pic.twitter.com/RHrgYXLmwm — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) July 10, 2026 Tre Hallberg (2027, Mesa, Ariz.) was nearly impossible to get out over the first two days of action, going 7-for-9 with a triple and a home run. A balanced right-handed swing stays compact to contact. There is quick hand speed through the zone with feel for the barrel. Hallberg has a strong feel to hit to go with power that continues to develop. The upside is apparent.  William Garcia Falmer (2027, El Dorado Hills, Calif.) collected a pair of mulit-hit games over the course of day one and two, going 5-for-7 with two doubles, a homer, and seven runs driven in. Garcia Falmer features a physical build...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/10/2026

Windy City Invite & Open Scout Notes: Part 2

Perfect Game Staff
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Windy City Invite & Open Scout Notes: Part 1 Braedon Paczocha (2028, Palmyra, Wis.), a 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame catcher for GRB STiKS 16U Black, displayed a quick bat with the ability to do damage. Showed a good feel for the barrel throughout the weekend, hitting .538 (7-for-13) with 3 doubles, 8 RBI, 2 stolen bases, and a 1.376 OPS. Also received well behind the plate with quick, efficient transfers and displayed good instincts.    ’28 1B Brock Hamilton (IL) displays some present strength, driving this ball deep into the LCF gap to leg out a triple. Creates loud contact off the bat and does damage here. #WCInvite @WhitesoxAce pic.twitter.com/6EK81gG9Wi — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) July 5, 2026 Brock Hamilton (2028, Flossmoor, Ill.), one of the top first basemen in Illinois, brings a physical 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame with plenty of present strength...
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Draft | Rankings | 7/10/2026

Final 2026 MLB Draft Board: Top 500

Tyler Henninger
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After months of coverage, evaluations, and discussions, the 2026 MLB Draft is upon us. With that, we present our final Top 500 Draft Board.  The final update features several notable movers, including a handful of late risers who made one final push up the board. While there was movement throughout the board, the top remains unchanged. UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky and Texas prep shortstop Grady Emerson lead the way again, as they have for much of the cycle. With the games complete, reports filed, and the board finalized, the evaluation process is over. Now, we get to sit back and watch the draft unfold. Rk. Name Level Pos. B-T School Hometown State Commitment 1 Roch Cholowsky C SS R-R UCLA Chandler AZ 2 Grady Emerson H SS L-R Fort Worth Christian Argyle TX Texas 3 Vahn Lackey C C R-R Georgia Tech Suwanee GA 4 Jacob Lombard H SS R-R Gulliver Schools Miami FL Miami 5 Jackson Flora C...
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Showcase | Story | 7/9/2026

13U National Kicks Off in Fort Myers

Alyssa Golden
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This Friday through Sunday, many of the nation’s top young prospects from the classes of 2030 and 2031 will head to Fort Myers, Florida, as the 2026 PG 13U National Showcase gets underway at JetBlue Park. The invitation-only event features some of the brightest young stars in the country as they look to make their way onto the national stage. This showcase provides players with an opportunity to compete against elite talent from across the country while also serving as a key evaluation for the 2026 PG 13U Select Baseball Festival. “The 13u National Showcase will be the first showcase for a lot of these guys, but we’ve seen their talents throughout this past fall, spring and the summer circuit, securing their invite to the event,” said Jheremy Brown, Perfect Game’s National Director of 13U & 14U Player Development and Festivals. Among some of the stand...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/9/2026

Windy City Invite & Open Scout Notes: Part 1

Donovan May
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’28 RHP Jack Potsma (IL) went 4.0 IP w/ 4 K, running the FB up to 91 mph. Quick, whippy arm w/ a tall, projectable frame. FB had quality arm-side run, while adding a SL. Good control in the delivery w/ the ability to fill up the zone. FB: 87-91 | SL: 68-73 #WCOpen @RaysIllinois pic.twitter.com/8HfMEeamIC — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) July 6, 2026 Jack Postma (2028, Barrington, Ill.) is a tall, projectable 6-foot-5, 195-pound pitcher with a quick, whippy arm and loose, athletic actions. The GRB Rays 16U Illinois Green right-hander ran his fastball up to 91 mph with heavy arm-side run while filling up the zone and inducing weak contact. Postma complemented the fastball with a slider and mixed in a fading changeup, giving him a quality three-pitch mix to build upon. Over 4.0 innings, Postma struck out 4, allowing 4 hits while throwing 66% strikes.  ’27 RHP...
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