THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,497 MLB PLAYERS | 15,833 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,497 MLB PLAYERS | 15,833 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Leagues  | Story | 3/14/2018

IA Select, Hitters ready to spar

Jeff Dahn
Photo: Perfect Game

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – 2017 Perfect Game All-American Jarred Kelenic from Waukesha, Wis., will be there, as will his PG All-American Classic West squad teammate, Levi Usher from Fairfax, Iowa.

And they won’t be alone. Kelenic and Usher will be surrounded by many of the other top prospects from Iowa and Wisconsin when they meet on playing fields in the two states on six of the next seven Sundays. Just as importantly, perhaps, it is expected they’ll be joined by pro scouts from every one of the 30 major league teams, each one taking notes with his eye on the 2018 MLB June Amateur Draft.

A collaborative effort by Perfect Game’s Steve James and Hitters Baseball’s RJ Fergus resulted in a scheduled weekly dream matchup between the two organizations’ top upperclass teams, Iowa Select Black 2018 and Hitters Baseball 2018. The first meeting takes place this Sunday, March 18, in Runnells, Iowa.

“This is going to be a great opportunity for these guys,” Fergus said. “If they go out there with the idea of wanting to win these games every Sunday, then there are going to be some great games with some great competition.”

James is the director of the PG Iowa Spring and Fall Leagues and the director of the Iowa PGBA, who also oversees the Iowa Select teams program. Fergus is the owner of Hitters Baseball Training Academy in Caledonia, Wis., and has fielded nationally competitive Hitters Baseball travel ball teams for nearly two decades; he also runs the Hitters High School League during the spring.

Both men see these powerhouse contests as nothing but a win-win for the elite prospects involved, most of whom (all the Iowans) are at high schools that don’t offer a spring baseball season. These games are ideal for pro scouts who want to see the players perform under the most competitive of circumstances, and the guys they will be evaluating are among the best of the best. A quick sampling:

The Hitters Baseball 2018 roster features 12 prospects who have either signed with or committed to NCAA Division I programs, including Kelenic, a Louisville signee. A left-handed hitting outfielder, Kelenic is slotted at No. 5 in the PG national class of 2018 prospect rankings and is projected as a first-round selection in the upcoming MLB Draft.

Other top 2018s on the Hitters roster include corner-infielder Alex Bineless (No. 179, Louisville) and right-hander/first baseman Max Alba (No. 247, North Carolina); middle-infielder Xavier Watson (No. 442, Illinois) is the top 2019 and 2020 third baseman/right-hander AJ Vukovich (No. 25, Louisville) and 2021 catcher Ian Moller (No. 11, Louisiana State) are also rostered. Ironically, Moller – an alumnus of the 2017 PG 14u Select Baseball Festival – is from Dubuque, Iowa.

The Iowa Select Black roster features six prospects that have either signed with or committed to D-I schools, including five 2018s: right-hander Connor Van Scoyoc (No. 228, Arizona State), right-hander Clayton Nettleton (No. 246, Iowa), middle-infielder Brayden Frazier (No. 482, Iowa) right-hander Nic McCay (top-500, South Dakota State) and right-hander Will Christoffersen (top-500, Michigan State). 2020 catcher Calvin Harris has committed to Mississippi.

Iowa Select does feature 14 2018 prospects that have signed with either junior colleges or smaller four-year schools. That number includes the outfielder Usher (No. 84, Kirkwood CC) and the right-hander Tyler Lewis (No. 356, Indian Hills CC); it’s been reported that Lewis recently had his fastball top-out at 95 mph. 2019 outfielder Josh Fitzgerald is ranked No. 405 nationally and is uncommitted.

So, here’s how this plan to have these two teams face-off a half-dozen times this spring came together, at least in the proverbial nutshell.

The top Iowa draft and college prospects have played together on the Iowa Select Black team during the fall for several years now. The setup was different during the PG Spring League season, when the top guys were split up and put on two or three separate teams in an effort to make each team more competitive.

Having experienced what it’s like to play together and duke it out with some of the country’s top travel ball teams in September and October, the Select Black players expressed an interest in somehow replicating that in the spring.

James had discussions with Fergus to see if something could be worked out and last spring they decided to play games on two weekends, one at a venue in Iowa and the other at one in Wisconsin.

Those two weekends proved to be successful, so the two men met again, put the pen to the pad, so to speak, and took the arrangement a step further. This spring, it was decided, they would pit their top upperclass and underclass squads against one another for seven consecutive weekends (the two top underclass teams will play on Saturdays; no upperclass game will be played on Easter Sunday, April 1).

It promises to be a high school-aged baseball bonanza, both for the Iowa and Wisconsin prep draft prospects who will be given the opportunity to compete at the highest level possible, but also for the nation’s scouting community.

There will not be a better high school game played in the Midwest all week – regardless of the day of the week – and since it’s played on a Sunday, the game will have the national stage to itself.

“With their league and our league, we’d both get some pro scouts to come out on Sundays for the games, but combined, we’re going to get everyone there at one time,” James said. “… Going about it this way, there’s going to be a much larger draw on a week-in, week-out basis. We’re combining the two groups and it’s just going to be insane.”

The two teams’ opener on Sunday should prove that out. James was able to secure the turf field at Southeast Polk High School in Runnells, which sits roughly 10 miles east of Des Moines in central Iowa.

The Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area is about 150 miles southwest of Runnells and will be hosting two heavily scouted college/juco matchups this weekend: Wichita State is at Creighton in Omaha for games Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and North Iowa Area CC is at PG No. 22-ranked Iowa Western CC in Council Bluffs for double-headers on Saturday and Sunday.

“(The scouts) will be able to make that two-hour trip over to Southeast Polk,” James noted. “There’s going to be some crosscheckers there right out of the gate.”

Hitters will throw the right-handers Nathan Rintz (top-500, Arkansas), Sean O’Brien (t-1000, St. Louis) and Elliot Elm; Select Black counters with McCray, left-hander Austin Krob (t-1000, Kirkwood CC) and right-hander Hogan McIntosh (HF, Waubonsee CC).

And so it will continue, with the last game scheduled to be played on Sunday, May 6. There are indoor facilities in both Cedar Rapids and Caledonia, so if any weather issues arise, the teams will be moved indoors to play simulated games. Also, many of the fields available in both states feature artificial turf, which helps mitigate many of the weather woes.
Give us your feedback
Leagues | Story | 4/28/2026

Iowa Spring League Notebook: Week 5
Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Dawson Weller (2027, Ottumwa, IA) showcased his two-way potential with a strong performance this weekend. On the mound, worked two clean innings while striking out 3 consistently living in the zone and getting ahead with first-pitch strikes. Showed the ability to control tempo and attack hitters throughout the outing. At the plate made a big impact in the same game, collecting two doubles and a home run. Displays quick hands through the zone with the ability to connect on an uphill path and generate carry off the barrel. A well-rounded showing that highlighted impact on both sides of the ball. Will Frederiksen (2026, Bettendorf, IA) had a loud weekend at the plate, launching 2 home runs and showing real impact with the bat. Generates plenty of juice in the swing with a simple, controlled load that allows him to stay on time. The swing works clean through the zone and produces strong...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/12/2026

14u BCS Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Austin Way (2030, Yulee, FL) was 2-3 in game four, driving in a run and scoring once himself. Picked it well defensively at shortstop but really showed out in the box today. Works the barrel path to the middle of the field and whips the barrel through the zone. The RHH creates lift in the turn, and the ball jumps off the bat hot.  Sutton Walling (2029, Ponte Vedra, FL) is an athletic 5’11/160lb infielder who gets it done on both sides of the ball. Dominated at the plate right behind his teammate Way in the batting order going 3-3 with two doubles. He does a really good job with the barrel accuracy and works through contact with heavy hands. Lots of project-ability in the profile and is having a sneaky great week at the plate. Banks Kennedy (2030, Arcadia, FL) received it well behind the dish and was the leading force in this one driving in three rbis. He ended up going 2-3...
Read More
Draft | Story | 7/12/2026

2026 MLB Draft: Best Available

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
2026 MLB Draft: Best Available for Day Two  A total of 135 players heard their name called on Saturday. As always, signability, bonus pool strategy, and organizational preferences play a major role in how the board unfolds. With that being said, we saw a majority of the top half off the board get selected, but there are a number of players ranked inside our Top 150 that remain available. From high-upside prep talent to polished college performers, these are the top names still available according to our Final Top 500 Draft Board.  Top Prep Bats Available (with Top-500 Board Rankings) 38. Archer Horn, SS/RHP, St. Ignatius College Prep (CA) 58. Blake Bowen, OF, JSerra Catholic (CA) 64. James Tronstein, SS/OF, Harvard-Westlake (CA) 66. Noah Wilson, OF, McCallie School (TN) 71. Cole Koeninger, SS/RHP, Keller (TX) 77. Sean Dunlap, C, Crown Point (IN) 82. Alex Weingartner, OF//RHP,...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/11/2026

17U National Elite Heads to Hoover

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
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...
Read More
Draft | Story | 7/12/2026

2026 MLB Draft: Day One Recap

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Storylines Heavy College Run Early We came into the day knowing that there were a lot of talented college players at the top of the board, more specifically college bats. That came to light very early in the day, as we saw just two prep players selected within the first ten picks. The college preference lasted throughout most of the entire first round. Nearly 75% of the first 40 selections were college players. It is clear teams want players at the top of the draft that can quickly get through the system and help the big league club as soon as possible. Underslot Strategy Throughout this cycle, we knew that once you get past the first handful of picks the difference in value you were getting for let say pick ten was not that difference compared to pick 30. Because there was a large collection of players that are relatively close in value, teams were looking to get creative. We saw this...
Read More
Draft | Mock Draft | 7/11/2026

Final 2026 MLB Mock Draft

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
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...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/10/2026

Ohio Valley Regional Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
‘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...
Read More
College | Story | 7/10/2026

Cape Cod Notebook No. 1

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
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...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/10/2026

16u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 4

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
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...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/10/2026

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

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
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...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/10/2026

Windy City Invite & Open Scout Notes: Part 2

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
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...
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.