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Tournaments  | Story  | 10/11/2018

Sophomore World kicks off Friday

Photo: Juhlien Gonzalez (Perfect Game)

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Eighty-four of the top teams from around the country, consisting of many of the top players in the classes of 2021 and 2022 will duke it out over four days of competition at the second annual WWBA Sophomore World Championship. This will include another wave of talented players from the defending champion Elite Squad.

Connor Manning (2021, Coral Springs, Fla.) and FIU commit Juhlien Gonzalez (2021, Southwest Ranches, Fla.) return from the winning Elite Squad team, with Manning hoping to get another chance to showcase his skills on the mound after throwing a five-inning shutout in last year’s championship game. They will be a legitimate contender with five players in the current class of 2021, with Gonzalez checking in at No. 65.



One team to keep an eye on will be Canes National 2021 as they feature two arms that also rank in the Top 100. Righthander and Vanderbilt commit Michael Morales (No. 62, 2021, Enola, Pa.) and southpaw and Florida-bound Philip Abner (No. 70, 2021, Charlotte, N.C.) will be tough for any lineup to handle. Throw in Miami commit Bryant Colon (No. 45, 2021, Greenacres, Fla.), who can change games with his bat.

The top-ranked member of the class of 2021 competing this weekend will be 5 Star National Black 16u’s Jackson Baumeister (No. 23, 2021, Tallahassee, Fla.). Baumeister, a Florida State recruit, is a two-way threat behind the plate who also sports a low-90s fastball. Another coveted prospect that will be down in Southwest Florida is one of the top-ranked players in the class of 2022, Sal Stewart (No. 9, 2022, Miami, Fla.), who will suit up for US Elite 2021 Mid-Atlantic.

Other top-ranked prospects include: Nick Anello (2021, No. 24, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Justin Quintana (2021, No. 25, Miramar, Fla.), Deric Fabian (2021, No. 28, Ocala, Fla.), Keegan Allen (2021, No. 29, Rogers, Ark.), Austin Bode (2021, No. 46, Columbus, Ind.), Alex Ulloa (2021, No. 55, Cutler Bay, Fla.), Gavin Dash (2021, No. 58, Sour Lake, Tex.), Drake Varnado (2021, No. 61, Port Neches, Tex.), Carter Holton (2021, No. 67, Guyton, Ga.), Bryan Loriga (2021, No. 71, Hialeah, Fla.), Bobby Marsh (2021, No. 75, Bellefonte, Pa.), Lucas Torres (2021, No. 76, Cayey, P.R.), Payton Allen (2021, No. 79, Rogers, Ark.), Owen Flynn (2021, No. 99, Windermere, Fla.), Josh Pearson (2022, No. 32, West Monroe, La.), James Triantos (2022, No. 43, McLean, Va.), Brandon Barriera (2022, No. 50, Coconut Creek, Fla.), Rocko Brzesniak (2022, No. 54, Matawan, N.J.) and Alvin Keels (2022, No. 100, Norfolk, Va.).

Estero High School, Terry Park, the Lee County Development Complex, CenturyLink Sports Complex and JetBlue Park will be the locations of the proceedings starting on Friday morning. Twenty-one pools will take the winners of each to set the playoff bracket with the playoffs to begin on Sunday, October 14. The semifinals and championship game will take place on Monday, October 15 at JetBlue Park.