EMERSON, Ga. – Perfect Game baseball returns to LakePoint this weekend in the form of a three-day tournament which will begin on Friday, September 12thh and conclude on Sunday, September 14thh.
Forty-four teams will compete in this weekend’s WWBA Southeast Qualifier #1 tournament for an automatic paid invitation to the WWBA World Championship, the most scouted amateur baseball tournament in the world, held October 23rdd through the 27thh in Jupiter, Fla. This tournament marks the first ever WWBA World Championship qualifying tournament hosted at Perfect Game Park South at LakePoint. The East Cobb Complex, Kell High School, Pop High School, and Sprayberry High School will also host tournament games.
There will be a ton of talent gathering at the quad at LakePoint this weekend -- 39 players in Perfect Game’s Top 250, to be exact. A couple of organizations bring powerful rosters with them this weekend, with multiple Division-I commits and highly ranked players.
East Cobb Baseball’s roster stands out at first glance, with nine players ranked in the Top 250 of their respective class, and seven of them committed to D-I programs, including six SEC. Shortstop Jalen Miller (2015 No. 41, Clemson) highlights the roster, followed by 1B Thomas Johns (2016 No. 102, Auburn), OF Reggie Pruitt (2015 No. 110, Vanderbilt), RHP Brock Love (2015 No. 118, Alabama), C Cody Roberts (2015 No. 148, uncommitted), LHP Nick Bush (2015 No. 177, LSU), SS Matthew Cole (2016 No. 204, uncommitted), RHP Zac Kristofak (2016 No. 233, Georgia), and C Chase Smartt (2015 No. 250, Troy).
That’s not the only dangerous East Cobb club playing in this weekend’s tournament. The East Cobb Yankees bring with them five players in the Top 250, highlighted by RHP Jonathan Hughes (2015 No. 85, Georgia Tech). Right-handed pitcher Shane Tucker (2015 No. 131, Georgia), C Kyle McCann (2016 No. 138, uncommitted), SS Carter Hall (2015 No. 182, Georgia Tech), and C Tyler Stephenson (2015 No. 220, Georgia Tech) are all highly ranked guys worth keeping a close eye on.
Don’t forget about the East Cobb Astros 16u team, however. They’ve been able to go deep into the playoffs throughout the summer, whether against older competition or not. First baseman Will Benson (2016 No. 42, uncommitted) headlines the roster, along with C Daniel Seres (2016 No. 164, uncommitted), SS Xzavion Curry (2016 No. 218, uncommitted), and 2B/OF James Kirklin III (2016 No. 232, uncommitted).
Team Elite brings a couple of high-powered rosters to LakePoint this weekend. Team Elite 18’s Prime boasts seven players in the Top 250, while Team Elite 17’s Prime carries five Top 250 players.
Team Elite 18’s Prime is paced by 2014 Perfect Game All-American outfielder Jahmai Jones (2015 No. 7, North Carolina), along with LHP Jonathan Gettys (2016 No. 20, uncommitted), RHP Nick Neidert (2015 No. 59, South Carolina), 3B Bryce Denton (2015 No. 77, Vanderbilt), C Michael Curry (2015 No. 135, Georgia), SS Aaron Schunk (2016 No. 171, uncommitted), and SS David Chabut (2015 No. 246, Kennesaw State).
The 17’s team looks to be very competitive this weekend as well. Highlighted by shortstop Cam Shepherd (2016 No. 51, uncommitted), the roster includes twins Austin Wilhite (2016 No. 129, Georgia Tech) and Nick Wilhite (2016 No. 130, Georgia Tech), as well as 1B Cole Zabowski (2016 No. 230, Mississippi) and OF Garrett Hodges (2016 No. 231, Kennesaw State).
The Homeplate Chilidogs Maldonado, who had good runs all summer at LakePoint tournaments, including a couple of championships, will bring a pair of 2014 Perfect Game All-Americans in shortstop Cornelius Randolph (2015 No. 15, Clemson) and right-handed pitcher Tristin English (2015 No. 40, Georgia Tech), as well as talented outfielder Bryant Harris (2015 No. 107, Tennessee).
Other players highlighting this weekend’s action include RHP Alex Speas (2016 No. 38, uncommitted) of the Atlanta Blue Jays, OF Chad Smith (2015 No. 74, Georgia) of Marquis Grissom Baseball, C Caleb Raleigh (2015 No. 130, Clemson) of Mountain Expos Black, 1B Curtis Terry (2015 No. 204, Georgia State) of Tiger USA, LHP Erikson Lanning (2015 No. 228, uncommitted) of the Georgia Jackets 17u, and SS Blake Reese (2015 No. 241, Florida) of MBA Pride Elite.
With so many talented players expected to play in this weekend’s qualifier, the prized automatic bid to Jupiter’s WWBA World Championship is up for grabs and should make for an exciting tournament.