THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,491 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,491 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story | 7/25/2006

Youth Baseball at it’s Best… And at it’s Worst

WWBA National Championship

By Eddie Williams

I was expecting to have a great time watching some high level baseball. A front row seat to see all the action. PG, BCS, WWBA, etc. the tournaments have different names, but they have much in common. Here is what I witnessed first hand.

It?€™s been an exciting month of tournaments for Perfect Game and over 500 teams who played in those tournaments. The number of quality teams and outstanding prospects who participated is astounding. Nearly every scheduled game during the month was played. Nearly all the Champions have been crowned. Well over 1,000 games have been played in Georgia alone. Adjusting from the rain and heat in Florida and Georgia to the record breaking heat wave in Southern California the games went on fairly close to the original schedule. The many highlights were tempered with some definite negative moments. Parents and coaches come in many packages?€? Some very nice and classy people?€? some that can make life miserable for everyone around them. It was amazing to watch young players completely under control while fans and coaches went ballistic and acted like three year olds. Is this teaching by example?

For the most part all seemed to go well up until the last couple days of the 16 year old championship. The past weekend was one that will be remembered forever by this writer. I actually had a ringside seat of all the action and it involved five tournaments going on at the same time from California to Florida. Listening to the PG people on their cell phones putting out fires from coast to coast, watching the computers being filled with data from the endless number of games. I heard the umpire scheduling problems and the field issues and the PG scouts reporting from each field and game. Seeing the BaseballWebTV crew filming and editing each day and the thousands of photographs being taken. Being with the staff, constantly with their eyes on the national weather radar and answering hundreds of emails and phone calls while continually updating the website with current information. The communication and coordination involved seemed mind boggling. Even the discussions with tech people back in the main office in Iowa provided proof that this was far from an easy day at the park.

Then I witnessed an endless amount of compliments, coming from coaches and parents, toward what Perfect Game, the WWBA and the BCS was doing for the kids and for baseball. Not as many, but much more out of control were the many complaints and requests, some reasonable, most not. All this going on daily from very early in the morning to late in the evening. I spent less than two weeks watching and taking notes. I couldn?€™t imagine doing this for a whole month. And they tell me last summer, because of the record rainfall, was much tougher.

PG President Jerry Ford claimed, ?€?Our major interest is finding talented players and to that end, the month of July was extremely successful. PGCrosschecker has volumes of info to report to the scouting community. Rick Stephenson has a ton of video footage for BaseballWebTV. Our scouts have seen hundreds of top prospects in several different age groups.?€? Ford went on to say, ?€?We?€™ve done enough of these big events to understand there will always be problems of one type or another. It ain?€™t easy! We (PG Staff Members) made a few mistakes as always. We do try to learn by those mistakes, but we will never satisfy everyone, Perfect Game is not perfect. People take their baseball real serious at this level.?€?

With the number of tournaments and the unbelievable amount of games?€? being perfect or satisfying everyone involved, does seem impossible. The one thing that does stand out though?€? the players seem to go about their business no matter what is going on around them.

Yesterday at the West WWBA in Hemet, CA there was an umpire go down from the heat. The Paramedics came and told the PG officials to call off the rest of the day due to the dangerous heat. Perfect Game did! The final decision involved PG people in Georgia, Iowa and California. The temperature out there reached well above 110 degrees. Officials were extremely worried about the umpire who was evacuated to the nearest hospital. There were even thoughts that he might not make it! The PG people in California were in panic mode. Then after that scare they needed to listen to fans complain about calling the games off for the day. On Sunday we received the great news that the umpire was going to be alright after spending the night in the hospital. The PG people I was with in Georgia were genuinely elated with the news. In fact, it seemed that the good news coming from California was more important than anything going on in Georgia.

At about the same time the umpire went down in Southern California, the East WWBA 16&U in Marietta, Georgia, where we were, was hit by heavy rain. The grounds crew decided the fields were unplayable for the rest of the night. This left 16 teams to play on Sunday. WWBA tournaments are scheduled so only 4 teams are left to play on the Championship day. If 8 teams remain on Sunday the schedule still works because the two teams playing the Championship game would play 3 games on the final day. Of course, there are times when it is absolutely necessary for a team to play 4 games in a day, but I was told PG officials try to avoid that whenever possible.

Due to scheduling conflicts and travel arrangements it?€™s sometimes impossible for all teams to stay an extra day to finish the tournament. Knowing this, the PG Staff running the tournament called and talked to all 16 coaches of the teams left in the tournament on Saturday night. Coaches were told that if at all possible the Championship game would be scheduled for Monday. I was in the hotel room listening to the conversations with the 16 coaches.

The Sunday schedule was posted without a Championship game on the schedule. All appeared fine going into Sunday?€™s games. The day was full of the normal arguments, blowouts and nail biters leaving the pre-tournament favorite East Cobb Astros and the surprising Brentwood A?€™s from Tennessee as the last survivors qualifying for the Championship game. After the two winners were determined all hell broke loose! Irate fans wanted to know why the two teams were not playing the championship game that night. Accusations flew from catering to the home team to outright cheating. Parents were yelling at PG staff members using language not suitable for printing here. I watched this unfold in total amazement because these parents did not seem to know what was taking place. Things turned ugly as out of control parents looked ready to attack.

This all requires some serious thought. Obviously fans only see things in the way it might affect their team or themselves. All should realize that the easiest solution to this situation, for the PG people, would have been to have the two teams play their 4th game of the day. I know because I was around when the decision was made. Surely people must know that very few PG employees live in Georgia and they also had travel plans that needed to be rearranged and that was done. Surely people should know that after a month of running tournaments in Georgia, it?€™s doubtful they wanted to stay in a hotel an extra day let alone the extra expense. I?€™m sure no one stopped to think that adding another day at the ball park was not all that attractive to the PG workers. Who in their right mind after over 1,000 games would decide to add an extra day to play one game?

People should also know that PG spent the money to lodge the team and were even willing to make sure everyone got home safely even if PG had to cover the expense. Does anyone believe this sounds like PG is interested in cheating anyone. I was there, not once was any single team mentioned while making this decision. There were a few PG officials who argued in favor of ending the tournament on Sunday even though teams would play four games. After a lengthy discussion it was decided to play the Championship game on Monday. The entire discussion was about the best interest of the players rather than any of the teams. No mention was ever made about who might actually be in the Championship game or win the tournament. I feel certain these people (PG) could have cared less who won the tournament. One important point that seemed to carry a lot of weight in the final decision was when the home office said the insurance liability carrier had cautioned against playing any more than three games in a day.

The irrational accusations of favoring the East Cobb team also needs to be addressed. How does this favor the East Cobb Team any more than the team they play? Let?€™s look at the facts. East Cobb had played 3 games, but only 12 innings on Sunday. They (East Cobb) would have been the fresher of the two teams, by far, if the Championship were played on Sunday. Besides, the decision to play the championship game on Monday was made when 16 teams remained in the tournament. There was no real way of knowing who the final two teams would be at that time.

No matter what happens in Championship game, the Brentwood A?€™s have made their mark. They have several very talented prospects including an ?€?08 pitcher who topped out at 94 mph during the tournament. Everyone knows about the East Cobb players, but there will be some new names from Tennessee on all the prospect charts.

NOTE: East Cobb won the Championship game 2 to 1.

Hey, who was it that once said ?€?It?€™s only a game?€?? I enjoyed the baseball very much until things turned ugly. This was my first experience of seeing a tournament at this level. I?€™ve heard the stories before and now I can believe them. I?€™ve certainly gained a lot of respect for those people who run these big events. It could be best described as a severe form of punishment! On a positive note, the level of play was a big eye opener!
Give us your feedback
Tournaments | Story | 7/2/2026

Freedom Classic Opens Holiday Weekend
Alyssa Golden
Article Image
More than 30 teams from the 14U-18U age divisions will head to Fort Myers, Florida this Fourth of July weekend for the seventh annual Perfect Game Freedom Classic. The tournament, running July 3-6, features several nationally ranked prospects from across the country as teams look to compete for a championship. Headlining the field are twin brothers Derek and Ryan Yormark of Merrick, New York. Right-handed pitcher Derek Yormack is the No. 51-ranked player in the class of 2027, the No. 1 player in New York and the No. 5-ranked right-handed pitcher in the country. First baseman Ryan Yormark comes in just behind his twin brother as the No. 3 overall player in New York, the No. 5 first baseman in the nation and the No. 90-ranked player nationally. Both brothers are committed to Vanderbilt. Derek Yormark has established himself as one of the top two-way prospects in the 2027 class. He has run...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/2/2026

14u West World Series Scout Notes

Quinton Hall
Article Image
Asher Contreras (2030 | Las Vegas, NV) The 5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitter and outfielder was one of the most dangerous hitters in the tournament for Wow Factor Nv 2030, stuffing the stat sheet while displaying an impressive combination of power and speed. He finished the weekend with 9 hits, including two doubles and a home run, while driving in seven runs and scoring five more. He also swiped three bases and worked three walks, consistently putting pressure on opposing defenses while showing feel for the zone with just one strikeout all weekend. His ability to hit for extra bases while also creating offense on the bases made him one of the most impactful offensive performers at the event.    Braylen Silva (‘30 | NV) RBI 2B for GBG Vegas 14u Red. Direct path, quick trigger, & barrel feel. Solid 2-hole stick creating offense all day #14UWestWS...
Read More
High School | General | 7/1/2026

PG High School All-Americans

Tyler Russo
Article Image
High School Top 50: Final Update With the High School season all wrapped up, today we take a look at our First, Second and Third Team All-Americans from around the country. Below you'll find three teams with stats that seem otherworldly from players who'll likely hear their names called in the coming week's MLB Draft. Within the "Notable Stats" section you'll see the individual award winners as well. First Team All-American Pos.  Name Class School State Commitment Notable Stats C Cole Prosek 2026 Magnolia Heights MS Ole Miss .595 BA, 18 HR, 79 RBI 1B Will Adams 2026 Hoover AL LSU .489, 13 HR, 52 RBI IF James Tronstein 2026 Harvard-Westlake CA Vanderbilt .531, 10 HR, 29 RBI, 21 XBH IF Grady Emerson 2026 Fort Worth Christian TX Texas .508, 8 HR, 56 RBI, 34/35 SB, National POY IF Jacob Lombard 2026 Gulliver Schools FL Miami .477, 10 HR, 52 R, 42 H, 14 SB OF Martin Shelar 2026 Marist GA...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

16u Elite Scout Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
16u Elite Scout Notes: Days 1-2  ‘28 AJ Bonnette (TX) with 7 Ks thru 4 IP thus far, living 89-91 w/ heavy traits. Filling up all four quads & attacking hitters early in counts. Mixing a slurvy breaker & turning the CHG over well. @PG_Uncommitted #NatElite @Texas_PG pic.twitter.com/oz2XXoKHvt — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 30, 2026 Aj Bonnette (2028, Keller, Texas) showed out on both sides of the ball at the National Elite Championship, but really stood out on the mound Tuesday. He toed the rubber in round two of the playoffs, proceeding to toss six innings with eight punchouts and zero earned runs allowed. The 6-foot southpaw filled up all four quadrants of the strike zone, attacking hitters early and often with his fastball. The heater lived in the 88-91 mph range with heavy traits, often setting up his slurvy breaking ball. Bonnette showed good feel...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

Performance Baseball Rolls On

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
Championship teams often reveal themselves when the game isn’t going their way. Performance Baseball 2028/Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team did exactly that. Trailing Florida Burn 2028 Scout through four innings, the Brewers refused to panic. Instead, they relied on timely hitting, consistent pitching, and an unselfish approach at the plate, rallying a five-run fifth inning before pulling away for a 9-5 victory to clinch their spot in the semifinals. The comeback was fueled by contributions throughout the lineup. Six different players drove in runs, including two RBIs each from Aiden Capobianco and Cameron Massey, while Matthew Heredia, Parker Weston, Ethan Smith, and Aj Bonnette each added an RBI of their own. On the mound, Derek Wenzel set the tone with 3.2 solid innings before Ethan Smith shut the door in relief, helping preserve the comeback victory. Although the Brewers have had a...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 7/1/2026

JK Select Hawaii Tackles 14u West WS

Emily Hicks
Article Image
JK Select Hawaii capped off an impressive tournament run by defeating GBG Vegas 14u Red14-4 in the championship game on Sunday at Goodyear Ballpark, claiming the 14u West World Series title. From the opening pitch, JK Select controlled the pace of the game. The offense jumped out early, scoring 6 runs in the 1st inning after timely hits from MVP Sean Shindo and Kade Manarpaac. The early lead gave the pitching staff confidence as they worked efficiently through the opposing lineup. “I've worked hard to get better at my game for the past few months; it means a lot that I did well and performed in a tournament like this” said Shindo. Starting pitcher Maddox Prones turned in a strong performance, allowing 3 runs while striking out 5 batters over 3 innings. The defense backed the effort with great plays in the middle infield, preventing GBG Vegas from building momentum....
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

"Wow" Swings Catch Eyes at 16u Elite

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
On the second day of the 2026 Perfect Game National Elite Championship, one swing turned heads across the ballpark. The next one brought everyone to a stop. With Wow Factor Nation 16U trailing midway through its matchup against Sandlot Scout Team 2028, Micheal O'Connor launched a solo home run to spark the offense. Just one batter later, Aaron Frink stepped into the box and sent another ball over the fence, delivering back-to-back home runs that quickly became one of the most talked about moments of the tournament’s opening days. Parents gathered along the nets, players from previous games stopped to watch, and college scouts turned their attention toward the action as the two towering swings energized the crowd and brought new life to the game. Although Wow Factor Nation ultimately lost 5-3 after a hard-fought performance, the back-to-back home runs served as a reminder of the...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

Stacked Runs the Table at 17u WWBA

Will Dembo
Article Image
Following a jam-packed week of entertainment at the 17u WWBA Championships, the top nationally ranked program, USA Prime 17u National/Detroit Tigers Scout Team, faced off against Stacked Baseball 17u (No. 80 nationally) in the highly anticipated championship matchup as both teams looked to earn one of the most prestigious titles in all of travel baseball. Each talented squad entered the finale undefeated, but Stacked Baseball continued their dominance throughout the tournament, defeating the Detroit Tigers Scout Team 10-2 in mercy rule fashion to become national champions behind explosive bats and impressive pitching. Stacked Baseball was the overwhelming top team throughout the week as the WWBA Champions outscored opponents by an absurd 117-12 during their 11-0 run. “We got some talented kids, but we played against a little bit of Goliath over there,” Stacked Head Coach Mike...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 7

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4  Day 5 | Day 6 Shea Corona (2027, Brooklyn, N.Y.) showcased some loud stuff out of the bullpen for MLB Breakthrough Series 2027. The New York native and primary shortstop topped out at 93 with the fastball, sitting comfortable in the 90-92 range. Corona paired it with a sharp and tight slider at 81-83, staying on the same plane until late. The pitch plays well already and the delivery is very athletic. The uncommitted right-hander went three scoreless and was in the zone plenty, striking out two while not allowing a walk. '27 SS Moises Gudino (FL) continues to stay red hot, working a long AB & cracking an oppo 2B on the 8th pitch. Really seeing ing well. #WWBA @Florida_PG https://t.co/OjNJ8Bmzao pic.twitter.com/WoDDp35EI1 — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 30, 2026 Moises Gudino (2027, Tampa, Fla.)...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

Texas Twelve Firing On Full Cylinders

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
Every team hopes to start a tournament with momentum, but few make a statement quite like Texas Twelve Maroon 2028. Matched up against defending champion Excel Blue Wave National to kick off their debut in the 2026 Perfect Game National Elite Championship, Texas Twelve Maroon delivered a complete team performance, earning a hard-fought 3-2 victory and immediately establishing themselves as one of the top teams to watch this week. The win showcased the balance that has made Texas Twelve Maroon a powerful team. Strong pitching, timely hitting, and steady defense all played a role as the team held off one of the tournament’s premier programs. Right-hander Ty Antley turned in an outstanding performance on the mound, throwing a complete game while allowing only five hits and two walks over seven innings. The High Follow prospect worked consistently between 85-89 mph and mixed in a sharp...
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2026 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.