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2,491 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Tournaments  | Story | 10/21/2018

Freshman Final 4 set for battle

Photo: Parker Byrd (Perfect Game)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – After three days of competition, 64 teams have been whittled down to the final four at the WWBA Freshman World Championship in West Palm Beach after a grind of a day of playoff matchups. On one side of the bracket, the South Charlotte Panthers will take on Canes National 2022 while US Elite 15u National will battle 5 Star National Black 15u, with the paths for all four being very different with how they reached Championship Monday.

The Panthers were the team that punched their ticket in the most dramatic fashion. They needed a rally from three runs down in the final three innings of their quarterfinal matchup against Cangelosi Sparks Black to eventually walk off with a 5-4 victory as Braylen Hayes (2022, Sophia, N.C.) scampered home on a 3-2 pitch in the dirt with two outs.

After outscoring their pool play opponents 26-3 to earn the No. 3 overall seed in the playoff bracket, the Panthers made short work of the FTB Rockets with an 8-3 victory in their second round matchup thanks in large part to a 3-for-3, four RBI performance from Xavier Issac (2022, Kernersville, N.C.).

Going into their meeting with the Sparks running on all cylinders, the Panthers committed a critical error on a sacrifice bunt which led to a one-all tie becoming a 4-1 Sparks’ lead entering the fifth inning. The Panthers chipped away with a pair of runs in the fifth to get to within a run, while reliever Nathan Chrismon (2022, China Grove, N.C.) kept his team in the game with two scoreless frames after entering in the fifth.

In the bottom of the sixth Parker Byrd (2022, Laurinburg, N.C.) drove in the game-tying run with a single to center to score Aiden Evans (2022, Cornelius, N.C.) from second to send the game to the seventh even at four.

Chrismon put up another zero in the seventh and the Panthers quickly worked a threat for free as Hayes worked a four-pitch walk to lead off their half of the inning. After a bunt moved him up to second, a walk made it first and third for Evans who used his speed to beat out a potential double-play ball to leave it up to Chrismon. On a 3-2 pitch, a breaking ball bounded away from the Sparks catcher and Hayes slid in safely to send the Panthers to Monday’s semifinal.

They will match up with Canes National 2022, who earned the No. 2 overall seed in the playoff bracket but needed to overcome a stiff test from the No. 7-seed Elite Squad in their quarterfinal matchup. With the game tied at two in the fifth inning, Adam Shepard (2022, Manassas, Va.) gave the Canes the lead for good with an RBI double to left as they finished off a 5-3 victory to remain unbeaten in the tournament.

With three of the top bats throughout the tournament in David Mershon (2022, Taylors, S.C. – 10-for-15, five RBI), Virginia commit Nathan Fink (2022, No. 8, Charlottesville, Va. – 9-for-18, four stolen bases) and Shepard (7-for-12, nine RBI), the Canes will be a formidable lineup for all challengers to contend with on Monday.

On the opposite side of the bracket, US Elite 15u National forged their way to the semifinals with a tense 4-3 victory over Team Elite Prime 15u in a game that went down to the last pitch. After US Elite jumped ahead with a 3-1 lead after the first inning, Team Elite kept the game manageable and mounted a sixth-inning rally trailing 4-2 with their first three batters reaching to load the bases against US Elite starter Jesus Gonzalez (2022, Hialeah, Fla.). Reliever Gavin Woodland (2022, Vailer, Ill.) was called upon to put out the fire and after a strikeout and fielder’s choice allowed Team Elite to close to within 4-3, Woodland got a groundout to shortstop to wrap up US Elite’s semifinal spot.

Gonzalez struck out eight in his five innings of work and offensively Mason Morris (2022, Felton, Del.) went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Morris, Sal Stewart (2022, No. 9, Miami, Fla.) and Drew Wyers (2022, Columbus, N.J.) led US Elite in the tournament with six hits apiece.

Their semifinal opponent is the lone club that needed to come all the way from the first round of the playoffs and win three games on Sunday to have a shot for a championship.

5 Star National Black was up early with an 8 a.m. matchup against Team Elite Nation 15u and broke out the bats to score an 11-2 victory to set up a rematch with Cannons Baseball Academy 2022, who came on top over 5 Star with a 3-1 victory to win Pool J. After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, 5 Star scored two runs in the second and three in the third to take command. Tanner Zallem (2022, Fleming Island, Fla.) launched a two-run home run in the fifth and starter Sullivan Brackin (2022, Jacksonville, Fla.) racked up 11 strikeouts in his complete game victory as 5 Star won 8-2 to set up a quarterfinal matchup with the Top Tier Roos 2022.

5 Star jumped out in front of the Roos early with a four-spot in the first inning as Brackin, Tag Williams (2022, Monticello, Fla.) and Tanner Knowles (2022, Kathleen, Ga.) all produced run-scoring hits.

That gave their starter Hunter Russell (2022, Fleming Island, Fla) a four-run lead to work with before he stepped on the mound. The righthander made that lead stand as he pitched into the sixth inning, striking out seven in his 5 1/3 innings of work.

Zallem, who leads 5 Star with six hits and six RBI for the tournament, had a two-run single for 5 Star as they added three runs in the fifth on their way to sealing their spot in Monday’s semifinals.

Both semifinal matchups begin at 8 a.m., with the championship game to be played at 11 a.m. at the FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beach Stadium.




Tournaments | Story | 7/2/2026

Freedom Classic Opens Holiday Weekend

Alyssa Golden
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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...
Tournaments | Story | 7/2/2026

14u West World Series Scout Notes

Quinton Hall
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Asher Contreras (2030 | Las Vegas, NV) The 5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitter and outfielder was one of the most dangerous hitters in the tournament for Wow Factor Nv 2030, stuffing the stat sheet while displaying an impressive combination of power and speed. He finished the weekend with 9 hits, including two doubles and a home run, while driving in seven runs and scoring five more. He also swiped three bases and worked three walks, consistently putting pressure on opposing defenses while showing feel for the zone with just one strikeout all weekend. His ability to hit for extra bases while also creating offense on the bases made him one of the most impactful offensive performers at the event.    Braylen Silva (‘30 | NV) RBI 2B for GBG Vegas 14u Red. Direct path, quick trigger, & barrel feel. Solid 2-hole stick creating offense all day #14UWestWS...
High School | General | 7/1/2026

PG High School All-Americans

Tyler Russo
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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...
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

16u Elite Scout Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
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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...
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

Performance Baseball Rolls On

Kinley Kitchens
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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...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/1/2026

JK Select Hawaii Tackles 14u West WS

Emily Hicks
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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....
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

"Wow" Swings Catch Eyes at 16u Elite

Kinley Kitchens
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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...
Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

Stacked Runs the Table at 17u WWBA

Will Dembo
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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...
Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 7

Perfect Game Staff
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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.)...
Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

Texas Twelve Firing On Full Cylinders

Kinley Kitchens
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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...
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