FT MYERS:  Perfect Game USA blasted Westminster Academy 12-0 in the championship game to go undefeated in the 20 team World Tournament.  The tournament was loaded with many of the top teams in the nation and many of the top prospects.  Tournament MVP Jasha Balcom (GA) led off the championship game with a line drive home run over the right field fence at the Boston Red Sox Stadium in Ft. Myers.  Balcom went 12 for 19 with 2 home runs in the tourney.  He also made several outstanding plays in centerfield.  PG USA’s pitching staff led by Senior Michael Rivera (PR) and some of the nation's top underclassmen including Ryan Dixon (FL), Kris Honel (IL) and John Killalea (FL) was perhaps the difference.    Underclassmen Mike Jensen (IA) threw a shutout in the championship game.  Perfect Game USA's roster included five players from Seminole HS in Florida: John Riggelman, TJ Large, Bobby Wilson, Ryan Dixon, and John Killalea.  Seminole will be a team to watch in national polls.

    Perhaps the key game for PG USA was a late Saturday meeting with the Bayside Yankees.  USA scratched out a 5-4 victory in what could have been one of the best games of the tourney.  The Yankees lost a heart breaker despite the great pitching of seniors David Rodriguez who topped out at 91,  Gary Kaible who hit 90 and Junior Tim Layden who consistently pitched at 91-92 for 3 innings.  Junior Kris Honel went 5 innings for USA, he impressed the scouts with his breaking ball, command of the strike zone and especially his live fastball that was clocked in the 90 to 93 range.  Super Junior Ryan Dixon came in to close the game, striking out the last hitter on three pitches; the first pitch 92, second pitch 93, and last pitch 95, game over!

   A great game was played in front of the night owls between PG Iowa and Edwards Sluggers of Miami.  The game started at 12:30 AM Sunday morning.  Edwards won a hard fought battle 5-4.  Once again the pitching stood out especially Iowa starter Joel Hanrahan who was 90 to 94 for five innings.  Hanrahan hit 94 in every inning and thirteen times total.  Iowa which finished fourth in the tournament and was led at the plate by centerfielder Chris Tritle who went 11 for 20 and was 9 for 9 in stolen bases.  Miami's Edward's Sluggers roster contained the most draft prospects of any team in the tournament, led by probable 1st rounder David Espinosa.

PG USA Roster

Most Valuable Player: Jasha Balcom

 Most Valuable Pitcher: Ryan Dixon

 Top Sr. Pitching prospects:
 Joel Hanrahan, Jeremy King

 Top Sr. Position prospects:
 David Espinosa, Chris Tritle

 Gold Glove: Danny Gonzalez
 
 

Final Order of Finish

1. Perfect Game USA
2. Westminster  -- Florida
3. Puerto Rico Raiders
4. Perfect Game Iowa
5. Edwards Sluggers -- Florida
6. Bayside Yankees -- New York
7. Bandits -- Florida
8. Team Ontario -- Canada
9. Perfect Game USA II
10. PG East Coast Prospects
11. So. Tampa Panthers -- Florida
12. Kansas City Monarchs -- Kansas
13. Highlands Co. -- Florida
14. Key West -- Florida
15. Fremd -- Illinois
16. Cypress Lake -- Florida
17. SW Florida Wood I -- Florida
18. Eagles -- Florida
19. Bridgewater Rockies -- New Jersey
20. SW Florida Wood II -- Florida