THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,596 MLB PLAYERS | 16,395 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,596 MLB PLAYERS | 16,395 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story | 6/2/2019

East Cobb Astros march into semis

Cory Van Dyke
Photo: Brad Grenkoski (Perfect Game)

MARIETTA, Ga. – At the 2019 18U Perfect Game-East Cobb Invitational, it’s the East Cobb Astros party as both the 17u Orange and Navy teams are dancing into the semifinals to comprise half of the remaining field.

On Sunday afternoon, the East Cobb Astros 17u Orange team found themselves matched up with the No. 1 seed Team Georgia 17u National squad in the quarterfinals. Andrew Bennett, a Samford pledge, got the offense rolling with a two-out RBI single in the top of the first.

Team Georgia then struck for the next three runs to grab a 3-1 lead in the third, carrying that lead all the way until the sixth inning. In the top of the sixth, the offense that was quelled since the first inning came to life.

“I think the biggest thing is we were patient and we were able to execute on offense there,” coach Matthew Crownover said. “Early on we took off some at bats. I think later on in the game we kind of focused in and got in good counts. We put some good swings on the ball.”

After back-to-back walks to begin the inning, Ben Arnett connected on an RBI single to right field, his third hit of the game. Bennett followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the game, and Knox Preston ripped the go-ahead infield single to give East Cobb Astros 17u Orange the 4-3 advantage. 

“I had faced the new pitcher before,” Preston said. “He approached me kind of the same way with two curveballs. I saw how he set up the at bat before. Just saw him start me off with a curveball, so I was able to get some good wood on it beat it out.”

Joseph Eichelberger saw his day on the mound come to a close after he allowed a lead-off single in the bottom of the sixth. The righthanded hurler tossed five innings allowing six hits, three runs, and two walks with three strikeouts. It was a performance that inspired confidence for Eichelberger as he’s been working himself back from injury.

“He’s coming off an injury from high school, and we’ve been trying to be patient with him to make sure he’s healthy when he comes back,” Crownover said. “JoJo really threw the ball well as the game went on. He got stronger.”

Needing the last six outs, Preston was called on to do the job. And getting those six outs was exactly what Preston did. He didn’t allow a hit or walk over the final two innings, ending the game with a strikeout to advance East Cobb Astros 17u Orange in the tournament.

“The last strikeout there was definitely relief,” Preston said. “Coming into it with a guy on base, from being a catcher, like I said just trying to fill up the zone and eliminate walks. Let my guys do the defending because you can’t defend a walk. Walks usually lead to a run.”

For Preston, a Lipscomb commit, it wasn’t a role that he usually undertakes, as he typically plays catcher. However, it was still mission accomplished when the final pitch went whizzing into the catcher’s glove.

“He’s an innings eater as he likes to say,” Crownover said. “He threw the ball well. By trade he’s more of a catcher than a pitcher, but he knows where the ball is going. He understands how to put the ball where he wants to, and it goes to show that it’s not all about velocity.”

The late inning comeback for the Astros Orange team was indicative of the camaraderie that the team has developed. In the sixth inning, everything came together and allowed the team to survive and advance into Monday.

“We have a lot of determination on our team,” Arnett said. “I give all the credit to my teammates. We all play together, play through each other, and we all believe in each other.”

Just about a half hour later, the East Cobbs Astros 17u Navy squad took the field against Nelson Baseball School in another quarterfinals matchup. 

From start to finish it was a pitcher’s duel between the Astros’ Will Sanders and Nelson Baseball School’s Caswell Smith. Brad Grenkoski provided the only offensive fireworks on the fifth pitch of the game when he smacked a solo shot over the left field wall.

“Just trying to hit the ball out in front and seeing fastball,” Grenkoski said. “I know I try not to catch anything deep. If I hit the ball in front I know it’s going to go a good ways. 

“It’s just more be on time. That’s all you’re thinking about. I’m not thinking about anything else.”

It was Caswell’s only mistake, as the College of Charleston commit threw six innings of one-run ball, allowing six hits, two walks, and striking out four batters.

Grenkoski’s bomb was the only run support that Sanders, a South Carolina commit, needed as he fired a complete game shutout, going all seven innings, while surrendering three hits, one walk, and six strikeouts in just 80 pitches.

“The main thing I focused on was first pitch fastball and getting ahead with that,” Sanders said. “As I went on in the game, I kind of mixed it up a little bit with curveball, changeup, splitter as first pitch.”

Sanders certainly kept the Nelson Baseball School hitters off balance with his array of pitches including the fastball that touched 91 mph and the curveball and changeup that both got better as the game progressed. He worked efficiently and even instituted a little hesitation twitch in his delivery at times to throw off the timing of the batter at the dish.

“The biggest thing for a hitter is rhythm, so I can try to mess that up as much as I can,” Sanders said. “It felt good today, so you just kind of hope that it keeps going through the summer.” 

In a game with very few baserunners, Nelson Baseball Club had a chance in the bottom of the seventh when William Oliver Kelley led off with a base hit. After he advanced to second with one out, Sanders delivered his best piece of deception all day and showcased his intellect on the mound, using an inside move to pick off Oliver Kelley at second base.

“I actually played against that kid in high school,” Sanders said. “I felt like I was doing one look and then go a lot, so I felt like I should do a little pick off move and see if he fell for it, and it worked.”

Sanders induced a groundout to end the game and sent the East Cobb Astros 17u Navy team marching into Monday’s semifinals. On separate sides of the bracket, those in the program are hoping for an all East Cobb Astros championship, but 643 DP Cougars 16U Sterling and TPL National stand in the way.

“East Cobb is a hotbed of talent and everybody wants to be part of it to play for them,” Crownover said. “I think it’s one of those things where it’s playing up to a standard. These guys really have so far played up to a standard. Can’t be more proud in how they played today.”
Give us your feedback
Tournaments | Championship | 8/12/2026

Pokers Rally to Capture 16U BCS Title
Alyssa Golden
Article Image
Pokers Rally to Capture 16U BCS Title A hot afternoon at JetBlue Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida ended in a 9-1 victory for the Original Florida Pokers 2028 National, defeating SBA Bolts Florida 2028 National on Monday to capture the 16U BCS National Championship. A pitchers’ duel kept the game scoreless through four innings before the Pokers broke it open with a five-run fifth inning. The title marked the Pokers’ second 16U BCS Championship, adding to the championship they won in 2022. Despite a slow start to the summer, the Pokers found their stride at the right time. “We struggled a lot early in the summer, but the past few tournaments we really started turning it on,” Pokers head coach Will McCrimon said. “I’m just so proud of these kids.” Max Maynes started the game on the mound for the Pokers. The left-hander allowed three hits and two walks...
Read More
All American Game | Story | 8/16/2026

Romero Slams His Way to Classic MVP

Jim Salisbury
Article Image
PHILADELPHIA – Sunday’s DICK’s Perfect Game All-American Classic was a pitching-dominated affair until the bottom of the eighth inning when the rain started to fall at Citizens Bank Park and Koa Romero stepped to the plate and did his best impression of Kyle Schwarber. Romero wears No. 12, just like Schwarber. He bats left-handed, just like Schwarber. He’s got big power, just like Schwarber. And at 5-10 and a rock-solid 225 pounds, he’s even built like Schwarber. Needless to say, Schwarber is Romero’s favorite player. So, it was all kind of storybook when Romero belted a grand slam to dead center to cap off the scoring in the West team’s 8-3 win over the East club in the 24th annual Classic. “This is a dream come true,” said Romero, who was named MVP of the game. “It’s amazing to be able to put a ball like that out of a...
Read More
All American Game | Story | 8/15/2026

A Philly Dream for Steingall

Jim Salisbury
Article Image
PHILADELPHIA – Carson Steingall had been to Citizens Bank Park many times over the years. After all, he hails from Nazareth, Pa., about 90 minutes up the road from the home of the Philadelphia Phillies and he counts himself as a big fan of the team. Zack Wheeler is his favorite. Steingall realized a dream when he pitched from the same mound that Wheeler does in Perfect Game’s fourth annual All-Star Game for rising sophomores and juniors on Friday. The dream got even better when Steingall, a 16-year-old right-hander, was named Most Valuable Pitcher after striking out the side in the third inning of the National team’s 6-1 victory over the American team. “It’s just an honor to be here,” Steingall said after receiving his trophy. “This event is the best of the best. It’s really cool to win something like this.” Steingall, who’ll...
Read More
Showcase | Story | 8/13/2026

PG Honors Pat Gillick With Philly Showcase

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Perfect Game to honor Pat Gillick in new Philadelphia Showcase  By Maya Heyman Perfect Game is bringing its elite showcase experience to Philadelphia’s FDR Park for the inaugural Philly Stars/Pat Gillick Showcase this weekend, honoring one of the greatest executives in MLB history in the city where he constructed his final of three World Series winners. The event will take place on Sunday, the same day as the DICK’S All-American Classic, taking place just across the street at Citizens Bank Park.  The showcase will allow Philadelphia-area players to gain exposure and will also honor Gillick, who has been a tremendous influence in both professional and amateur baseball.   Jered Goodwin, Vice President of Scouting Operations for Perfect Game, said the idea came naturally.  “Going to Philly made a lot of sense to honor Pat Gillick, who's been a...
Read More
General | General | 8/13/2026

PG All-Star Game Heads to Philly

Jheremy Brown
Article Image
For the fourth time since its inception in 2023, two rosters comprised of the best rising juniors (and a handful of rising sophomores) will step out onto the field Friday afternoon, kicking off the All-American weekend. While the Perfect Game All-American Classic is slated for a 1:35 first pitch at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, 36 future hopefuls of the Classic will go up against one another in an American vs National clash at 11 AM Eastern, Friday morning.  With 36 players from across the country descending on Philadelphia, there will be plenty of familiar names in attendance as 24 of the 36 played in at least one PG Select Festival and all 36 attended either the he Sophomore National, Junior National, or the PG Underclass All-American Games this summer. Leading the charge are a pair of No. 1s in 2028 dynamic talent Dexter McCleon Jr and 2029 Macgraw VanWormer, a do-it-all...
Read More
Draft | Story | 8/11/2026

Realistic Expectations of a 1:1 Pick

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Over the 2026 draft cycle, UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky was the projected No. 1 pick throughout the entire cycle. White Sox fans began #RochWatch and were already talking about when he will make it to Chicago. Now that he has been selected, Cholowsky has immediately become a Top-10 prospect in all of baseball. There is no denying the hype, and the pressure, for Chowlosky to get to the big leagues and produce at a high level.  But how realistic is that? Let’s take a look back at past 1:1 selections and see what you can expect from a No. 1 overall selection.  For this exercise, we’ll look at No. 1 overall picks from the bonus pool era, excluding Eli Willits from 2025 since this is his first full year of pro ball. That gives us 13 players selected from 2012 through 2024.  Almost All Become Big Leaguers The first thing that stands out is how successful No. 1 picks...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 8/11/2026

Perfect Game & Goat'd Come Together

Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME AND GOAT'D PARTNER TO BRING PREMIUM PROTECTIVE GEAR TO THE NATION'S TOP AMATEUR BASEBALL PLAYERS   Sanford, Florida (Tuesday, August 11, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced a new partnership with Goat'd, a premium protective gear brand focused on developing innovative products for athletes. The partnership will bring Goat'd's premium protective equipment to some of the nation's top amateur baseball players and families across Perfect Game's premier national events. The partnership will debut at several of Perfect Game's marquee events, including the 13U Select Fest, 14U Select Fest, Perfect Game All-Star Game and...
Read More
General | General | 8/8/2026

12U Game Time: 8/9/2026 1PM Eastern

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Sunday August 9th, 2026 1:00PM Eastern DICK'S Sporting Goods Park at East Cobb West vs. East Follow and watch the game
Read More
General | General | 8/8/2026

11U Game Time: 8/8/2026 Noon Eastern

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Saturday August 8th, 2026 12:00PM Eastern DICK'S Sporting Goods Park at East Cobb West vs. East Follow and watch the game
Read More
Draft | Story | 8/7/2026

2026 MLB Draft Team Reports: NL West

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
2026 MLB Draft Team Report Cards: AL West With the 2026 MLB Draft officially in the books, it’s time to evaluate how each team performed. Every draft class was graded using the standard 20-80 scouting scale with risk factor assigned. While these grades won’t be proven right or wrong for years, they reflect the overall talent, value, and upside each organization added to its system. NL West Arizona Diamondbacks  Grade: 50 Risk: High Notable Selections: C Ryder Helfrick (1st rd) | RHP Blake Bryant (CB-A rd) | SS Carson Kerce (2nd rd) | OF Brayden Dowd (3rd rd)  Ryder Helfrick (@RazorbackBSB ) different AB; same result. He goes dead central for a solo 💣 this time. Threw a runner out earlier; 1.98 pop. #PGCollege @PG_Draft https://t.co/kW7wraqExJ pic.twitter.com/SARYKxd0oE — PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) February 14, 2026 The Diamondbacks started their...
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.