THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,490 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,490 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Summer Collegiate  | Story | 5/30/2018

2018 PGCBL Season Preview

Shane Sturtz
Photo: Matt PIerce (Travis Larner)

Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League – PGCBL.com

With 64 teams selected to the NCAA Tournament on Monday, the road to Omaha nearly underway, but it also marks the beginning of something else – the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. Played across Upstate New York, the 13-team wooden bat league is one of the best in the country with top players from all levels of college baseball. The 48-game season begins June 1.

League President Robert Julian credited the talent, coaches, fans, and atmosphere of the PGCBL for being a one-of-a-kind summer league.

“A number of our players ultimately are drafted or signed to professional contracts,” Julian said. “It’s an opportunity for college players to showcase their talent. It’s an opportunity for fans to see a very good quality of baseball in smaller communities. Our baseball is important to keeping baseball as a part of the American culture.”

The PGCBL allows players to focus solely on baseball to craft their skills for the future, which is only intensified by the Perfect Game brand.

“It’s a healthy relationship for both Perfect Game and for us because it puts their brand out there in a league that is well regarded and well respected,” Julian added. “For the players, it gives them a degree of legitimacy as a potentional prospect that they might not get if they were in other leagues.”

This season, the league will be split into three divisions for the first time: the East (Albany, Glens Falls, Oneonta, Saugerties, Amsterdam), the Central (Adirondack, Watertown, Utica, and Mohawk Valley) and the West (Elmira, Jamestown, Newark, and Geneva).

Each team will play 24 home games and 24 road games. The regular season ends July 31 with seven teams advancing to a three-round postseason. The top two teams from each division will advance to the playoffs along with the team with the next best record. From there, the top overall seed will receive a bye with the wild card team playing in a one-game playoff with the two-seed from their same division. The semifinals will be three-game series with matchups based on win percentage, followed by a best-of-three series to decide the championship. The 2018 PGCBL All-Star Game will be July 18 at Historic Dunn Field, home of the Elmira Pioneers, for the third time.

The Watertown Rapids will be playing in their inaugural season, while the Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs will be looking to repeat as PGCBL champions.

Last year, the DiamondDawgs upended perennial powerhouse, the Amsterdam Mohawks, in the divisional finals to eventually win their second championship in three years over the Jamestown Jammers of the West Division. The DiamondDawgs fought back from a 2-0 deficit in the second inning and overcame a 4-4 tie in the third inning to eventually win 8-4 behind a solid bullpen effort.

Russ Olive (UMass Lowell), the 17th-ranked PGCBL prospect, led the DiamondDawgs in batting average (.324), runs scored (38) and hits (55), while totaling a league-leading eight home runs and 42 RBIs. Joe DeSarro (Southern New Hampshire) had a team-leading five wins, while the pitching staff featured three players with sub-2.00 ERAs and three more pitchers with over 40 strikeouts.

As for other teams around the league, the Albany Dutchmen return two 2017 First Team All-PGCBL selections in pitcher Matt Pierce (Siena) and Nick Estrella (Azusa Pacific). Estralla batted .308 with 13 extra-base hits last year while Pierce dominated on the mound going 8-1 with a 1.71 ERA to earn 2017 Pitcher of the Year.

The Dutchmen also could get a huge addition from John Malcolm, a top high school prospect and 2018 Vanderbilt commit. Malcolm, a 2017 Perfect Game All-American, is the best high school prospect from his home state of Michigan. He is ranked among the top 200 draft-eligible prospects and could be a key piece to the Dutchmen roster.

The Amsterdam Mohawks, who have won four championships, will get back soon-to-be D-III All-American Toby Welk, among others, who is hitting a video-game-like .492 with 13 home runs and 57 RBI for Penn State Berks. The Mohawks may also add PG All-American Lenny Torres, Jr., a hard-throwing righthanded pitcher that is a potential first-round pick.

The Glens Falls Dragons will get back starting pitcher James Varela who went 11-1 with a 2.40 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 13 starts for Division II LIU Post. The junior started eight games for the Dragons a year ago, racking up 37 strikeouts in 49 1/3 innings.

Freshman James Ramsey from Kentucky, could be the next pitcher from the SEC to lead the Elmira Pioneers, following in the footsteps of Ole Miss closer Parker Caracci and Kentucky ace Sean Hjelle. In his first year in Lexington, Ramsey lead the team in appearances while striking out 42 batters in 36 innings.


Where are they now?

A handful of recent PGCL alums have shined in the NCAA spotlight during this season. From mashers like NC State’s Brett Kinneman to hard throwers like Ole Miss Rebel, Parker Caracci, this list has multiple players who earned all-conference honors.

Brett Kinneman (Amsterdam 2016), NC State: Kinneman has developed every year he has been at North Carolina State and this year was no different. As a junior, Kinneman blasted a team-leading 17 home runs with an ACC-leading 60 RBI to earn First Team All-ACC honors. In his first year on campus, he was a Freshman All-American and Kinneman’s breakout this year was a key reason for the 10th-ranked Wolfpack earn a No. 1 seed and host the Raleigh Regional.

Sean Hjelle (Elmira 2016), TJ Collett (Amsterdam 2017), and Justin Lewis (Elmira 2015), Kentucky: Hjelle has been Kentucky’s Friday starter this year after being named the SEC Pitcher of the Year a season ago, going 7-5 in 14 starts registering 91 strikeouts in 99 1/3 innings with a 3.44 ERA. The righthander struck out a season-best 13 batters while giving up only one hit in 7 2/3 innings against Oakland (Mich.) on Feb 23. He was just as dominant during his days in the PGCBL where he struck out 42 batters over 44 innings with a 3.06 ERA.

Hitting machine TJ Collett racked 27 hits in 20 games (.375) in the PGCBL last summer for Amsterdam before fracturing his foot. Collett’s sophomore season at Kentucky was cut short due to a hip injury, but he still managed to hit .304 with 10 home runs in 32 games.

Lewis, a 2015 Elmira alum, was a solid third starter for the Wildcats this year, compiling a 7-3 record over 12 starts, while holding hitters to a .232 batting average. As a sophomore, Lewis struck out 91 batters in 72 2/3 innings and is a top 100 MLB Draft prospect. Kentucky finished the season 34-22, and barely missed an NCAA Tournament berth.

Will Holland (Amsterdam 2017), Auburn: Holland has been the top hitter for the Auburn Tigers this year who were an outstanding 29-6 at home this season. The shortstop earned Second-Team All-Conference honors after leading his team in hits (70), on-base percentage (.408), runs (54) and has the second most RBI with 46. Holland only hit .209 in his freshman year with Auburn but turned things around when he tallied 31 hits in 31 games in the PGCBL last summer. No. 19 Auburn won 39 games and will face Northeastern in the Raleigh Regional as the two seed.

Eric Rivera (Amsterdam 2017) and Tyler Frank (Amsterdam 2016), FAU: Rivera has been a staple in the middle of the lineup for the Owls, driving in 46 while hitting .286 with 10 stolen bases. Rivera hit .293 in the PGCBL over 43 games with 17 extra-base hits.

Frank was the primary leadoff hitter for the Owls, leading the team in doubles (19), slugging percentage (.586), walks (51) and on-base percentage (.459). The shortstop earned First Team All-Conference honors and led his team to a runner-up finish at the C-USA Conference Tournament. The Owls are the three seed in the Gainesville regional.

Houston Roth (Elmira 2017) and Parker Caracci (Elmira 2016), Ole Miss: Like his time with the Elmira Pioneers in 2016, Parker Caracci has been mostly untouchable for Ole Miss this season. In a team-leading 25 appearances, Caracci has a 4-2 record with 68 strikeouts and only 10 walks in 43 2/3 innings. Caracci’s 1.85 ERA resulted in 10 saves and Second Team All-SEC recognition.

Roth threw a complete game in the PGCBL last year, while striking out 46 batters in 36 innings pitched. In 13 appearances at Ole Miss, he has a 5-0 record with 65 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings. Third-ranked Ole Miss won the regular season SEC West title, the SEC Conference Tournament and is hosting an NCAA Regional in Oxford.

Matt Gorski (Amsterdam 2017) and Paul Milto (Amsterdam 2016), Indiana: Gorski has led the Hoosiers in nearly every hitting category, while Saturday starter Paul Milto was a force on the mound for Indiana this year. Both Amsterdam alums, Milto only walked nine batters in 44 2/3 innings during the 2016 PGCBL season. He used his pinpoint control to hold batters to a .239 average en route to a 7-2 record in 12 starts for Indiana. Milto was selected to the Big Ten’s All-Second team.

Gorski hit an astounding .363 in 54 games, while racking up 24 extra-base hits, 39 RBI and 19 stolen bases. The do-it-all left fielder was a First Team All-Big Ten selection. Gorski was the hero for the Hoosiers in a Big Ten Tournament elimination game where he clubbed a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game at 5. Indiana won 38 games and is the two seed in the Austin regional.

Luke Reynolds (Newark 2016), Southern Miss: Reynolds, a 2016 PGCBL alum, had quite the year for Southern Miss, becoming the first-ever player to earn Newcomer of the Year and Player of the Year in the same season. Reynolds led his conference in seven offensive categories: batting average (.400), on-base percentage (.562), slugging percentage (.727), total bases (149), runs scored (69), home runs (15) and walks (63). Reynolds led Southern Miss to a 23-6 conference record to win the Conference USA regular season crown as well as the conference tournament over Florida Atlantic. The 14th-ranked Golden Eagles are the two seed in the Fayetteville region.

Griffin Roberts (Amsterdam 2016) and Jake Mueller (Amsterdam 2017), Wake Forest: Mueller was the leader of Wake Forest’s offense, while Roberts was the top pitcher on the Wake Forest staff. Mueller led the team in batting average (.303), hits (69), runs (38), walks (43), on-base percentage (.420) and stolen bases (18).

Roberts was a Second Team All-ACC selection and Wake Forest’s Friday starter. In 14 starts, Roberts registered 130 strikeouts in 96 2/3 innings, while holding opposing hitters to a measly .221 batting average. Roberts earned three ACC Pitcher of the Week honors as Wake Forest won 25 games.

Joe Genord (Amsterdam 2016), South Florida: Genord was a tough out in the PGBL in 2016, hitting .296 in 47 games with seven home runs, 45 RBIs and 30 walks. Genord’s summer success transferred over to NCAA play where he hit .317 in 45 games with a team-leading 15 home runs and 50 RBIs to earn Second Team All-AAC honors. South Florida went 35-20-1 and earned a two seed in Stetson’s Regional.

John Valente (Amsterdam 2017) and Jeff Belge (Amsterdam 2016), St. John’s: Like most of the players on this list, Valente had a dominant season for the Red Storm, claiming the Big East Player of the Year – the first ever player from St. John’s to do so. As the leadoff man for the Red Storm, Valente hit a conference-best .356 with 79 hits, 51 runs scored, 106 total bases and 11 stolen bases. Valente even drove in 40 runs to lead the Red Storm to 15-3 regular-season conference record, a No. 1 seed in the conference tournament, a Big East Tournament Championship and a three seed in Clemson’s NCAA Regional.  

Belge was a key piece to the Red Storm pitching staff, like he was for the Amsterdam Mohawks in 2016. This year for St. John's, Belge appeared in 15 games, striking out 70 batters in 61 innings, while also holding hitters to a .177 batting average. 
Give us your feedback
Summer Collegiate | Story | 9/26/2023

Cape Cod: Best of the Rest
Vincent Cervino
Article Image
Cape Cod Top 100 Prospect List | Cape Cod Top 2025 Prospects * indicates draft eligible sophomore ^ indicates incoming transfer Name Pos. Team School Hometown State Andrew Sundean C Hyannis UCF Lakeland FL Bradke Lohry^ IF Hyannis Tennessee Trinity FL Cam Schuelke^ RHP Hyannis Mississippi State Dorr MI Carter Lovasz RHP Hyannis William & Mary Midlothian VA Colby Shelton*^ IF Falmouth Florida Lithia FL Colin Tuft^ OF Orleans Tulane Vienna VA Daniel Corona^ IF Cotuit Missouri Brooklyn NY Derek Clark^ LHP Orleans West Virginia Petersburg MI Duce Gourson IF Falmouth UCLA San Diego CA Eddie Micheletti OF Orleans George Washington Wilmington DE Enzo Apodada^ OF YD Baylor Scottsdale CA Evan Truitt RHP Orleans Charleston Southern Berlin MD Finnegan Wall RHP YD UC Irvine Hesperia CA Garrett Coe RHP Falmouth Uconn Lakeside CT Ian Petrutz OF Bourne Maryland Mantua NJ Jakob Christian^ 1B YD...
Read More
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
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
Tournaments | Championship | 6/30/2026

Flames Capture 18U BCS Title

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
Flames Natty used timely hitting and a dominant start from Beau Collier to defeat NLB American 7-3 and capture the 18U BCS National Championship on Monday at Lee Health Sports Complex. Despite being assembled just hours before the tournament began, the Flames quickly developed chemistry throughout the tournament. “This team was put together 12 hours before this tournament, and they went on a crazy run,” head coach Adam Vasquez said. “These kids know each other locally, but they don’t play together. For them to come together last minute like that, it’s crazy. I’m proud of them for that.” The game opened as a pitchers’ duel, with David Acevedo recording the lone hit through the first two innings. NLB American starter Hayden Graham kept the Flames in check early, allowing just one hit while striking out one over 2.0 innings. The right-hander...
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.