THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,483 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,483 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
College  | Story | 6/19/2016

CWS: Baker, Chants come up big

Mike Rooney
Photo: TCU Athletics




Perfect Game College Baseball on SiriusXM

SiriusXM’s Braden Gall and Perfect Game’s Mike Rooney will be in Omaha, Neb., for the first four days of the 2016 College World Series. All of the programs can be accessed by tuning in to SiriusXM College Sports, channel 84.

Here’s the schedule of the programming (all times Central):

Monday, June 20: 11:00 a.m. - 12:40 p.m. and 5:00-5:40 p.m.
Tuesday, June 21: 2:00-3:40 p.m.


CWS Day 1 Recap


Baker’s bomb lifts Frogs

OMAHA, Neb. – TCU defeated Big 12 rival Texas Tech on Sunday in a game that felt like a heavyweight fight between two outstanding champions, and this fight went the full 15 rounds. Each team showed both great heart and wobbly legs as they traded the lead throughout the game. In the end, TCU was the last team standing because of a freshman phenom whose moment was the only thing bigger than his enormous frame.

That blast came from Luken Baker, a 2014 PG All-American who starred not only at the plate but on the mound this year, and has been especially hot during the postseason. His three-run blast gave TCU a 5-3 lead, a lead that fellow freshman and team closer Durbin Feltman would not relinquish in the bottom of the frame.

Jared Janczak and Steven Gingery turned in virtually identical starts, battling into the fifth inning, but not out of it, and then turning a one-run game over to their respective bullpens. Relievers Brian Trieglaff and Hayden Howard recorded nine and 10 outs respectively and their outstanding performances handed a 3-2 game to the back of the bullpens.

It was Hunter Hargrove’s two-out RBI double that had given Texas Tech the 3-2 lead in the bottom of the eighth. The game seemed to be in hand as Tim Tadlock then turned the game over to Super Regional hero Robert Dugger.

Three of the eight runs scored in this game were the direct result of leadoff walks and the one drawn by Austin Wade in the top of the ninth began the TCU rally. In keeping with the fierce competiveness of this contest, Texas Tech seemed to quickly grab the momentum back by way of center fielder Zach Davis’ amazing diving catch that robbed Cam Warner (who followed Wade in the TCU order) of what was certain to be extra bases.

The drama continued as Evan Skoug then turned in the at-bat of the game and his effort culminated with a beautiful line drive single down the left field line. Red Raiders leftfielder Tyler Neslony did an outstanding job running down Skoug’s line drive and his effort seemed likely to have huge ramifications as he prevented Wade from going first to third.

Or so we thought.

Two pitches later Baker became the star of his first career CWS game. Baker, who is a massive 6-foot-4 and 265-pounds, turned on a 1-0 inside fastball and hit a three-run home run to give the Horned Frogs the deciding 5-3 lead.

Baker’s home run provided the most electric moment of the 2016 College World Series to this point and his swing replicated a similar long ball that he hit versus Texas A&M in the Super Regional round. Baker is a dynamic two-way talent but his most impressive attribute may be his baseball IQ. Late in the season, at a time when most freshmen are leaking oil, Baker made the adjustment to take more risks in advantage counts.

TCU head coach Jim Schlossnagle talked about Baker’s progression as a hitter after the game.

“In the fall, he actually didn't hit that many home runs,” Schlossnagle said of his talented freshman. “But he's never really swung at bad pitches. And a guy his size, with his raw power, you've seen that enough in baseball where they pull off the ball, not that he doesn't have holes, but they're susceptible to that breaking ball running away from him or a fastball you can really run in.

“He just never did that. He took his walks. And for a lot of the season he uses the whole field to hit and he wouldn't turn on the ball like we've seen in the last. His maturity as a hitter you've seen just grow throughout the course of the year.”

Baker knew the ball was a home run immediately off the bat.

“Oh yeah, absolutely,” Baker said after the game. “(I) hit it, felt the barrel and saw the trajectory, and yeah I knew it was gone. The only question was if it was fair or foul. You know, there was really no question whether it was. I was fired up, obviously fired up from that, but I was fired up coming into the at bat from Evan (Skoug), that stellar at-bat to get me up there.”

The home run was Baker’s second hit of the game in a 2-for-5 performance, and his 10th bomb of the year and pushed his RBI total to 60 with one swing. Baker, who was named the Perfect Game/Rawlings Player of the Week for his four home run performance during the Big 12 Championship, may only just be getting started.

“Just being more aggressive,” Baker added of his refined approach. “Pulling the trigger on pitches I can hit earlier in counts, instead of getting behind in counts and letting pitchers do whatever they want to me. It's just (about) seeing more pitches, it always helps. Everything coach (Schlossnagle) has taught us and me throughout the whole season, I've just been applying it more lately and it's just been working out.”

For as impressive as Baker’s maturity has been, the development of Feltman, who is also a freshman, in the back end of the bullpen has also been notable. He recorded his ninth save of the year with a clean ninth inning, sitting at 92-93 mph with his fastball to go along with a big-breaking curveball. Both Feltman and Baker are just two small examples of why TCU’s future will continue to be bright, and how they’re receiving some incredibly valuable on-the-job training.

“Enjoy the moment, and be in the moment,” Baker said of his Omaha experience. “Go pitch-by-pitch, and try to win every pitch and every moment that you can and whenever you go out there try to have a good time, but know that we're here to win. We're just not out here to participate, we're here to dominate.”


Beckwith gives Gators fits as Chants win

Former Coastal Carolina golfer Dustin Johnson won the U.S. Open on Sunday and he seemingly set the tone for a Chanticleers kind of day. Gary Gilmore’s baseball Chants have been the darlings of Omaha since their arrival and they wasted no time in announcing their presence with authority against the heavily-favored Florida Gators.

Coastal Carolina collected six extra-base hits (compared to Florida’s one) and they chased Logan Shore after just five innings. Third baseman Zach Remillard had two of those extra-base knocks, and both of the RBI – on an RBI double in the third and an RBI triple in the sixth – in staking his team to a 2-1 lead and eventual victory.

While the Chants’ high-energy offense was getting going, starter Andrew Beckwith kept the Gator hitters off balance with his signature assortment of multiple arm angles. The Florida lineup featured just two lefthanded hitters and that seemed to play right into Beckwith’s strengths.

Head coach Gary Gilmore described Beckwith’s unique approach after the game.

“He was very good,” Gilmore said of the Big South Pitcher of the Year. “And like I said all year long, he’s the best bullpen guy in the country but he keeps proving me wrong that he’s a legit starter. He’s a unique young man to be able to change arm angles and command the baseball the way he does.

“We haven’t had a whole lot of guys over my career – we’ve had some true subby guys – but we haven’t had guys be able to move from traditional slot down below and everywhere in between and throw multiple pitches. He’s a unique guy.”

When all was said and done, Beckwith was the dominant force in this game and he needed just 98 pitches to finish off his seven hit complete game. Beckwith earned his 13th win of the season and he induced an astounding 15 groundball outs.

For Florida, there is plenty of pitching depth to get through the losers’ bracket if this offense can regain its footing. Kevin O’Sullivan used five different arms in this game and even Logan Shore may be available in some role after throwing just 84 pitches on Sunday night. Alex Faedo will get the ball on Tuesday, and even though his Super Regional start was a difficult one, he is a first-round caliber arm who has had an outstanding sophomore year.

Coastal lacks the pitching depth that their cohorts in this bracket possess but that doesn’t matter if you stay in the winners’ bracket. This team has some similarities to the 2012 Arizona team that lacked pitching depth but made up for it with a dynamic and uber-athletic position player group.

With the win it is expected that nine-game Chants winner Alex Cunningham will take on fellow nine-game winner Brian Howard, TCU’s most reliable starter, on Tuesday.

All in all, it was a proud day for those wearing teal.
Give us your feedback
College | Rankings | 6/25/2026

College Top 25: Final Update
Vincent Cervino
Article Image
With a postseason run for the ages, the Oklahoma Sooners (43-23) took home the National Championship and naturally finish the 2026 season as our No. 1 team in the land.  It is the third national title for the Sooners, playing in their 12th CWS and making their fourth championship series appearance.  They add to previous national titles won in 1951 and 1994 and did it by taking the most difficult path of any team in this year’s tournament.  In the NCAA Tournament, Oklahoma took down national seeds, No. 2 Georgia Tech twice, No. 3 Georgia twice, No. 5 UNC twice, No. 7 Alabama and No. 15 Kansas twice.  This was the second time that head coach Skip Johnson has led the Sooners to the CWS Championship Series since 2022 and the first time he has taken home the crown.  The North Carolina Tarheels (54-14) was one win away from their first national title and finish...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/25/2026

17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 2

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 An extended look at '27 LHP Connor Salerno (NC)... #WWBA @PG_Coastal https://t.co/A7OLjivIFW pic.twitter.com/rEA9pMizg8 — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 25, 2026 Connor Salerno (2027, Indian Trail, N.C.) looked his usual self, dominant, in his one inning of work on Wednesday afternoon. The big-bodied southpaw got the ball in a short relief outing and continues to show why he’s ranked as the #1 pitcher in the class. The fastball has explosive life out of the hand and comes out easy, working in the 93-95 range, up to 96 mph once. He rounds out the mix with a firm slider in the mid-80s along with a changeup in the same velo range with arm-side fading action. The Mississippi State commit is a proven strike thrower with premium stuff and is one of the highest follows of the summer for professional scouts. Grant Sperandio (2027, Houston, Tx.) was...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/25/2026

The Winning Edge

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
Gulf Coast Edge has continued to build momentum in championship play this week, advancing behind a combination of timely offense, strong pitching, and contributions throughout the lineup. After grinding out a 4-3 victory over Canes American 14U to open bracket play, Gulf Coast Edge followed with a dominant 13-1 playoff win against Knights Baseball 14U National to secure their spot in the tournament bracket. The team features nationally ranked talent throughout the roster, but its recent success has been fueled by players embracing their roles and finding ways to contribute in key moments. Two players who embody that balance are outfielder Brayden Nims and fellow outfielder Nolan Richardson. Nims has helped lead the charge offensively as Gulf Coast Edge has advanced through the bracket. One of the most highly regarded players in the country, ranked No. 9 overall nationally and the No. 4...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/24/2026

ZT Finding and Maintaining Momementum

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
When the summer season arrives, every team is searching for momentum. For ZT National Prospects, that momentum has come from throughout the lineup. After clinching their spot in bracket play with back-to-back victories, including a 16-0 win over Team Elite Scout 14U Black and an 8-0 victory against Hawaii Elite 2G 14U Black, ZT National Prospects have continued to showcase why they entered the week as one of the premier teams in the tournament. The roster is loaded with talent, including six players ranked among the top 50 players nationally in the 2030 class, but the team’s success has come from much more than individual achievements. In the opening bracket game on Tuesday, nine different players drove in runs as ZT National rolled to a 16-run victory. The balanced offensive attack continued in the playoff game, with six different players recording RBIs in an 8-0 win that helped...
Read More
High School | General | 6/24/2026

No Luck Needed for the Shamrocks

Cam McElwaney
Article Image
The spring has come to a close and with the summer in full swing, it’s time to crown a National Champion for the High School season. The Trinity Shamrocks out of Louisville, Kentucky had an incredible year and finished the season winning back-to-back state titles, more impressively finishing on a 24 game winning streak. The spring was filled with dominant performances from the Shamrocks, led by PG All-American Grayson Willoughby who turned in a dominant effort in the state title game, a game in which they won 12-0. They played a rigorous schedule that saw them go 2-2 at NHSI including a win over St. John Bosco (CA) as well as a win over Tampa Jesuit (FL), both of which would go on to win state titles in powerhouse baseball states. The accolades don’t stop there as they posted six no-hitters across the spring as well as 21 shutout victories, making this one of the more...
Read More
High School | Rankings | 6/24/2026

High School Top 50: Final Update

Tyler Russo
Article Image
With the high school season being in the rearview mirror and the summer circuit firing on all cylinders at this point, we bring to you the Final High School Top 50. The familiar faces still litter the top-50 in this update we get to crown a National Champion in Kentucky’s own Trinity. They rattled off 24 straight wins to claim their second straight state title. The 2026 spring saw the Shamrocks saw them dominate in-state competition as well as beat top level talent from out of state including wins over state champions from California and Florida. It was a tough decision at the top with Trinity (KY), Tomball (TX), and Aledo (TX) all vying for the crown along with a St. John Bosco (CA) team that just made it back-to-back Trinity League titles as well as CIF-Southern titles. Magnolia Heights (MS), Norco (CA), South Walton (FL), Harvard-Westlake (CA), Stoneman Douglas (FL), and Keller...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 6/24/2026

PG & Doubted Athletes Team Up

Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME ANNOUNCES MEDIA RIGHTS PARTNERSHIP WITH DOUBTED ATHLETES   Sanford, Florida (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced a new media rights partnership with Doubted Athletes that will bring select Perfect Game games and events to audiences throughout the year.   Under the agreement, Doubted Athletes will broadcast a slate of select Perfect Game contests from across the organization's national schedule, providing expanded visibility for athletes, teams and events while delivering additional opportunities for fans, college recruiters and professional scouts to follow the next generation of baseball...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/24/2026

17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
‘27 TWP Koa Romero (LA) pumping fuel early in the outing & already has 4 K’s thru 2 IP. Up to 95, mostly 91-93 & comes out easy. Spins it with conviction at 80 (~2800 RPM) & also showing mid-80s CH. Highest level two way talent. #LSU commit #WWBA @PG_DeepSouth pic.twitter.com/QenpvDvFTT — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 23, 2026 Koa Romero (2027, Des Allemands, La.) has just been flat out dominant on the offensive side throughout the summer circuit thus far, already collecting five homers through 12 games. However, on Tuesday he had the two-way ability on full display in a dominant four inning start for the East Coast Sox 2027 Franchise. The 5-foot-10, 225-pound two-way player ran the fastball up to 95 mph and it comes out of the hand easy. He pairs that with a nasty curveball at 80-81 (2800+ RPM) and mixes in a firm changeup to left-handed hitters....
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/24/2026

17u WWBA Invades Georgia

Will Dembo
Article Image
One of the most highly anticipated events of the summer, the PG 17u WWBA National Championships, begins this week as over 380 total teams from across the country travel to Atlanta, Georgia from June 23-29 to compete for one of the most prestigious titles in travel baseball. The 17u division showcases over 60 nationally ranked teams with over 30 states being represented in the draw. With summer travel season being in full swing, all eyes will be on East Cobb Baseball Complex as some of the top talent in the nation will be on full display this week. The overall top ranked 17u squad, USA Prime National/Detroit Tigers Scout Team, will be in the spotlight this week as they look to remain undefeated in their summer and win back-to-back highly touted tournaments at Perfect Game hotspots. The team is made up of an astounding 22 college commits and 4 T10 ranked players for their respective...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/24/2026

18U BCS Championship Preview

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
The 21st annual 18U BCS National Championship returns to Fort Myers this week, bringing together 14 talented programs from across the country, ranging from Ohio and Idaho to several of Florida’s top teams, to compete for one of the summer’s most prestigious titles. Defending champion Reds Florida returns looking to repeat last year’s success, while programs such as VSA Sluggers 18, FBA 2026, Nelson Baseball School and NLB American enter the event with championship aspirations of their own. The five-day event, running Thursday through Monday, will feature several nationally recognized organizations and a talented collection of committed and uncommitted prospects in the mix, promising plenty of high-level competition. Reds Florida will be led by right-handed pitcher Lukas McDowell, who enters as the highest-ranked player in the tournament at No. 285. The 6-foot-9,...
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.