THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,402 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,402 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Tournaments  | Story | 6/24/2019

Gamers carry spirit of St. Louis

Photo: Cade Hohl (Perfect Game)

MARIETTA, Ga.- St. Louis is a city that loves its baseball. And in the midst of the Cardinals and Busch Stadium lies another Missouri baseball institution: Gamers Baseball. Serving young players from across the Midwest since 2007, Gamers has emerged on the national scale as an elite travel ball organization. This week they have taken their talents to Georgia to compete in the WWBA 17u Elite Round Robin.

On Monday, the Gamers 17u opened their tournament schedule with a 9-0 mercy rule victory over Titans Baseball. The Gamers bring a seasoned group that has high expectations for not just the WWBA Round Robin, but the WWBA National championship, which kicks off play on Friday.

“Most of our team has been together for the past five years,” said coach Matt Whiteside. “We aren’t one of those teams that goes out and tries to recruit the next best guy. We practice and train a lot together, and so the hope is that we create good baseball players that can do well down here.”

“We’re here to win,” said shortstop Cade Hohl, who Perfect Game ranks the 405th overall player in the high school class of 2020. “We want to do well in the Round Robin and then win our pool in the WWBA National Championship. That is what we’ve been thinking about all year.”

They certainly got off to a good start on Monday. The Gamers were spurred by a seven run fourth inning, and were led at the dish by Ty Stauss. The Southeast Missouri State commit went 1-for-2 with three RBIs. His double in the fourth inning broke the game open. Devin Ward went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Kyle Miller went 2-for-2 and added a run scored to further bolster the offensive output.

It was a staff day on the mound, as head coach Whiteside is using the next few days to keep his arms fresh in preparation for the National Championship later this week. But the Gamers rolled out quality pitchers nonetheless. Ian Lohse was particularly impressive, as the lefty ran his fastball up to 86 mph in an easy 1-2-3 fifth inning. Gamers pitchers allowed just two hits in the game.

Hohl was thrilled with the hot start, and sees the team’s growing success at Perfect Game tournaments as a manifestation of the hard work the team has been putting in for years back home in St. Louis.

“I’ve known most these guys for four or five years so we are a really tight knit bunch,” he said. It’s really cool how we’ve grown up in the game and now we’re playing at these really big tournaments.”

Gamers coaches are able to impart unique wisdom that they have picked up from playing the game at its pinnacle. 17u coach Matt Whiteside had an 11-year pitching career in the major leagues, including stints with the Rangers, Athletics, and Braves. Another instructor, Scott Cooper, was a two-time American League all star during his seven year MLB career. The players are appreciative to be taught by the best.

“They really develop us,” said Hohl. “We have the nicest facilities in St. Louis and we’re always practicing. A lot of the coaches have big league experience, so they know what they’re talking about. It’s nice to have them around all the time.”

The Gamers have a history of sending kids to top baseball schools around the country, and have multiple former players in professional baseball. While there are sure to be many who pledge to a college in the next couple weeks, for the moment, Ty Stauss is the only committed player on the Gamers roster. He attributes a lot of his success to the opportunities the program has provided him.

“I’ve been with Gamers for seven years,” said Stauss. “My older brother played here before me. In that time, I’ve learned what it means to play hard-nosed baseball. I’ve learned about the little nuances of the game and also polished my mechanics. But in the end, they’ve just taught me how to play like an animal.”

Spoken like a true cold weather baseball player, Stauss was quick to note that none of the summer success would be possible without a proper indoor facility back home.

“It gets cold in St. Louis, so obviously we don’t always have the opportunity to go outside,” said Stauss. “But Gamers has a beautiful facility. That gives us a chance to get our work in every day. “

It is not all about winning for the Gamers. A fully funded college baseball program only has 11.7 scholarships for an entire team. But if you have the grades, you can parlay an academic scholarship to go along with an athletic scholarship. Understanding this, the Gamers prioritize schoolwork over baseball, and even have a wall of fame in their facility for players who have over a 3.25 GPA. Coaches are so invested in the boys’ overall success that they have been known to make a player do his homework while the rest of the team practices. And this policy works, as the program reports that 90 percent of its players move on to college baseball.

“The goal is to teach these kids how to play baseball,” said Whiteside. “But also how to become successful men for later in life.”

The current 17u group has plenty of role models to look up to, including their own coaches. But Whiteside was especially proud of Peter Fairbanks, a former Gamer who just recently was called up by the Texas Rangers. Fairbanks’s career has been anything but smooth sailing, but his unwavering tenacity in chasing his dreams is just what the St. Louis based club is all about.

“Peter Fairbanks has had two Tommy John surgeries, but now he’s touching 100 mph,” said Whiteside. “In high school, he played basketball as well. In the morning, he would do his weight training and then in the afternoon he would have basketball and then baseball after. But he was also a 32 ACT guy. His time management skills and work ethic were off the charts. And now to see him reap the rewards of that is awesome to see.

"I tell my kids all the time that this is who we want to be.” 




Tournaments | Story | 10/19/2026

PG Draft: Jupiter Draft Movers

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
The WWBA World Championship remains one of the premier events on the draft calendar as all 30 major league organizations descend on Jupiter to evaluate some of the top talent in amateur baseball. The event serves as a pivotal checkpoint in the scouting process, giving established prospects an opportunity to further elevate their stock while lesser-known names have a chance to put themselves on the radar of various organizations. This year was no exception, as several players made strong impressions and positioned themselves for increased attention heading into the spring. With that being said, let’s dive into a few draft risers and sleepers who stood out in Jupiter. Calum Andersen (‘27,CAN) had his A stuff working today running the FB to 96 mph with a devastating horizontal SL at 85 mph that can break bats. Mixed in a late breaking 12/6 curveball at 78 mph that induces weak...
Draft | Prospect Scouting Reports | 10/15/2026

Beyond the Board: C/UTL Gavin Kelly

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Beyond the Board: SS Dylan Seward As the 2027 draft cycle moves through the fall and into the offseason, we kick off a new series called Beyond The Board. With each installment, we will provide an in-depth scouting report for some of the top players in the class, breaking down their tools, strengths, question marks, and overall projection. This week we are diving in West Virginia’s Gavin Kelly. The Mountaineer backstop posted a .382/.477/.725 slash line with 19 home runs, 44 extra-base hits, and helped lead WVU to Omaha in ‘26. Let’s dive in.  Player: Gavin Kelly  Position: C/UTL B/T: R/R Height: 6-foot-0 Weight: 175-pounds School: West Virginia Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pen. Physical Description: 6-0/175. Lean, athletic build. Sneaky strength throughout. Frame has room to fill out and get stronger.    Slo-mo look at the HR by Gavin Kelly (@WVUBaseball)....
Tournaments | Story | 10/15/2026

Big Offense Propels TBT/FTB to Title

Hannah Jo Groves
Article Image
Big Offense Wins TBT/FTB Phillies Scout WWBA Freshman Title Runs scoring in every inning led to the TBT/FTB Phillies Scout Team taking home the 2026 PG WWBA Freshman World Championship - winning over Canes National 15U 10-5. It had been a long week in West Palm Beach for the freshmen coming in from around the country to go up against the best of the best. While they had gotten to play on the backfields during the whole tournament, the players who made it to the championship game got to play it in the CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches Stadium. TBT/FTB showed their defensive strength right away - executing quickly to retire each of the first three batters. With the bats in their hands, they also showed speed to deliver - with Luca Briggs batting Trey Vandergriff in for the first run of the game and Kingston George quickly plating Briggs with a double in the next at-bat. In the first at-bat of...
Tournaments | Story | 10/14/2026

Beast of the East Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
‘31 Ryan Spann (GA) obliterates this ball for a solo HR 💣. Ball jumps off barrel & shows the juice and & PS impact. 3x @PGSelectFest alum. #BeastOfTheEast @PG_Georgia https://t.co/TgVGPfDRYc — Perfect Game Youth (@PGYouthBB) October 10, 2026 Ryan Spann (2031, Warner Robins, Ga.) took home MVP honors after a standout weekend and finishing as the number one player on the top performers list. The top player from Georgia and number two player in the country led all performers in home runs (2) and tallied 7 RBIs on his way to a .400 average. The overall profile on Spann is super advanced for the age with electric offensive upside and one of if not the prettiest swing in the class. This will be a fun follow for years to come and I am all in. Carlo Rivero (2031, Apopka, Fla.) checks in as the number one overall player in the class and it’s easy to see why at...
Press Release | Press Release | 10/14/2026

Perfect Game Extends Turtlebox Deal

Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH TURTLEBOX AS OFFICIAL BLUETOOTH SPEAKER AND AUDIO PROVIDER   Sanford, Florida (Wednesday, October 14, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that Turtlebox has extended its partnership as the Official Bluetooth Speaker and Audio Provider of Perfect Game. The relationship, which began in 2023, expands to include original content, player recognition and a larger presence at Perfect Game's marquee events. At the center of the extension is "Turtlebox Cage Sessions," a new series produced and distributed by Perfect Game across all its social media platforms. The 12 short-form episodes will feature...
Tournaments | Story | 10/13/2026

East Cobb/Padres Explode Late for Jupiter Win

Hannah Jo Groves
Article Image
East Cobb/SD Padres ST Explode Late for WWBA Worlds Win A hard-fought, crazy ending resulted in the East Cobb/SD Padres scout team coming back and winning the 2026 PG WWBA World Championship over the SBA/Marlins Scout Team 2028. The score was 8-7 after the championship was won with a walk-off balk. After going against some of the most talented, highly-ranked players in the country for the past couple days, it was finally time for the championship game at Roger Dean Complex Stadium in Jupiter, FL. The WWBA World Championship, or, as it’s more commonly and lovingly referred to as, “Jupiter,” has become a favorite for all who have been part of its iconic, golf-cart infested, electric atmosphere. This championship game was sure to entertain. The first two innings were scoreless for both teams as they got settled. Both defenses were making plays - SBA/Marlins executed a...
Tournaments | Story | 10/12/2026

WWBA Freshman Scout Notes: Day 4

Marcus Thomas
Article Image
WWBA Freshman Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 James Watson (2030, Canton, Ga.) showed the two-way upside to start bracket play for East Cobb Astros 15u. On the mound the right-handed pitcher went three innings and with three strikeouts and spread five hits and two walks for three runs. Watson works from a hybrid windup from the middle-of-the-rubber into a small heel-turn and an around-the-belt leg lift before using drop-and-drive back leg mechanics into a longer, in-line stride down the mound. Showed some feel to get extension down the mound. The hands separate into a moderate arm action before accelerating through from an over-the-top arm angle. The fastball ran up to 86 with arm-side run and life. Paired it with a curveball with 11-5 shape and solid two-plane break. Mixed in a change-up in the upper- 70s with some vertical depth. Competed at the top of the zone well. Athletic...
Tournaments | Story | 10/12/2026

WWBA World Champ. Scout Notes: Day 4

AJ Denny
Article Image
WWBA World Championship Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 ‘27 Mark Susa (WI) picked up 3 Ks thru 2 inn of work. 4SFB topped at 90 mph early on; 2S lived 85-86 w/ good run & sink down in the zone. Spun a 2600 rpm SLV w/ sharp traits (clip). Got up to 7’1” of extension. 6’4/200lb frame w/ more to come. #IUBase #WWBAWorlds @PG_WiscMinn https://t.co/uXfjVSSSZF — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) October 11, 2026 Mark Susa (2027, Hudson, Wisc.) put together a quality outing on Sunday, striking out three batters over 2.1 innings of work. The 6-foot-4 200-pound left-hander ran his fastball up to 90 mph, pairing it with a two-seamer that lived in the 85-86 mph range with heavy sink and arm-side run. He also showed great feel for spinning and locating his slurvy breaking ball, which read spin up to 2600 rpm. Susa utilizes his length to his advantage, creating...
Tournaments | Story | 10/11/2026

WWBA World Champ. Scout Notes: Day 3

Kyler Peterson
Article Image
WWBA World Championship Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 ‘28 Alan Zimmerman (FL) racked up 5 Ks w/ just 1 H allowed thru 3 shutout frames. Lived 89-90 T91 w/ lots of life thru the zone & some ASR. Dropped in a 12/6 breaker for Ks (clip). Projectable 6’3” mold. #Uncommitted @PG_Uncommitted #WWBAWorlds @Florida_PG https://t.co/KTDFpGK49y — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) October 10, 2026 Alan Zimmerman (2028, Winter Garden, Fla.) was dominant in his start on Saturday, collecting five strikeouts through three shutout innings while allowing just one hit. The uncommitted 6-foot-3 right-hander showed out in front of a lot of scouts, running his fastball up to 91 mph. The heater plays up with lots of life through the zone and short arm-side run. Zimmerman sat comfortably in the 88-90 mph range, pairing his fastball with a late-acting 12/6 curveball that was landed...
Tournaments | Story | 10/11/2026

WWBA Freshman Scout Notes: Day 3

Jheremy Brown
Article Image
WWBA Freshman Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 Carson Garzaniti (2029, Jupiter, Fla.) showed the barrel feel all game for West Boynton Cobras. The right-handed hitter starts from a spread stance with his weight shifted forward and in-line feet with a high handset and an even back elbow, utilizes a heel lift weight transfer trigger. Creates some separation in the back shoulder and uncoils the lower half with a short, direct hand path and extension out front from a slightly uphill bat plane. Good bat speed in the swing with some feel to impact. The catcher has shown the barrel accuracy all event with three hits, including a double and triple, to drive in four RBI and has come around to score five runs. Lean, athletic 5-foot-11, 170-pound frame with feel to generate power working ground up from the back leg. Exciting player that has been swinging a hot stick through pool play.  ...
Loading more articles...