THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,490 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,490 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Tournaments  | Story | 7/19/2019

Canes take 15u WWBA crown

Photo: Canes National 15u (Perfect Game)

EMERSON, Ga.- The Canes have done it again. Just two weeks ago, Jeff Petty’s boys took home the WWBA 17u National Championship. On Friday, Canes National 15u left no doubt who the best team was, as they closed out their dominant run in the WWBA 15u National Championship with a 12-2 win over Five Star National Dobbs.

Just how impressive were they? Well, the Canes went 12-0, but more strikingly outscored their opponents 113-8. Their closest game was a 7-2 decision against the Louisiana Knights 15u Gray back in pool play.

They hadn’t been challenged, but it seemed like that was going to change in the championship. Five Star had just steamrolled an excellent Keystone War Eagles team, 10-2. Riding the bats of Cole Mathis and Gage Harrelson, it looked like the team from Warner Robbins, Ga. could be the ones to dethrone the mighty Canes.

Scoring was quiet through two innings as starting pitchers Lane Essary and Matthew Matthijs traded scoreless frames. Five Star took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on a fielder’s choice, and the momentum was certainly in their favor. But that all changed with one swing of the bat. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the third, Nathan Fink got a hanging 3-2 curveball and smashed it into the left center gap for a triple.

It was the spark the Canes needed, and they never looked back. A six run third inning was followed by another six runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by an inside the park home run from Cole Young.

“Once it got over his head I was definitely thinking about a triple,” Young said of his homer. “I saw my coach waving me home and I was like ‘Alright, let’s do this.’”

When the onslaught had finally ended, the Canes were crowned champions after a 12-2 mercy rule victory.

“All this hard work pays off,” said Young, who was also named tournament MVP. “Being able to play with all these great players was a privilege.”

From the very first pitch of the week, Young asserted himself as the top talent in attendance. He carries himself like a pro, and his numbers back it up. He hit .607 with three doubles, two triples, three home runs, and 15 RBIs. He added 16 runs, and had OBP of .711.

“Cole battled some adversity earlier this summer,” said coach John Batchelor. “He got sick and missed about a month after the high school season. But he fought through the adjustments, got his timing back, and has really started clicking at the right time. But he’s also a great teammate. Duke got a good one.”

While the lineup averaged nine runs per game, the pitching staff did their part in posting a team ERA of .66. Leading the way were Tristan Smith (12.2 IP, 1.11), Gage Ziehl (6 IP, 0.00), Wyatt Evans (8 IP, 0.00), and Kaden Varela (8 IP, 0.00.)

Yet no one was as impressive on the hill as Evan Siary. The Inman, Sc. native worked nine shutout innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out 11. He went right at hitters with his upper 80s fastball, but credits his teammates for much of his success this week.

“It felt great to perform like this on the biggest stage,” Siary said. “But we have the best defense in the country, so that makes it easier to pitch.”

“Evan is a dude,” said Batchelor. “I saw him pitch in the fall, and since then I knew he was going to be something special. He’s been lights out all summer long, and has continued to get better and better. He’s a strike thrower. He’s so projectable, too. I’m really looking forward to following him in his future.”

The Canes made it look easy, but nothing is ever as it seems. Batchelor said he was pleased with the way his 15 year olds handled the trials and tribulations that faced them.

“We battled some adversity earlier in the week with some stuff off the field,” he said. “But I’m proud of the way these guys came back. We talk a lot about being selfless. We preach it from the top of organization all the way down. It doesn’t matter where you hit in the lineup and it doesn’t matter where you play in the field. We want guys that are all about the team, and that’s what we had.”

The Canes already have 10 players committed to colleges, including Nathan Fink (Virginia), Adam (AJ) Shepard (Indiana), James Trientos (UNC), and Gage Ziehl (Miami.) There are sure to be many more, as the likes of Siary, Lamar King, and David Mershon remain on the board.

Batchelor was optimistic about this week because he knew what he had. Sure, they added a few pieces along the way, but the core of this 2019 15u National Championship team also won the WWBA 14u National Championship last year.

“We had most of this group at last year’s 14u WWBA,” he said. “We had an opportunity to win that. It’s just a super talented roster. So I knew we had a good chance coming into the tournament.”

The WWBA National Championship season has come to a close, but it was another banner year for the Canes organization. 17u and 15u claimed titles, while the 14u was the runner up in Hoover.

“Dan Gitzen and Jeff Petty have done a really good job of building this thing,” Batchelor said. “We get kids to buy into what we’re doing. We tell them the exposure will come if you continue to play selfless baseball. Perfect Game provides a great opportunity for these boys to be seen by college coaches. We say everything takes care of itself if you just focus on the game in between the white lines. We’re really proud of the way these boys have performed.” 


2019 15u WWBA National Championship runner-up: 5 Star National 15u Dobbs



2019 15u WWBA National Championship MVP: Cole Young



2019 15u WWBA National Championship MV-Pitcher: Evan Siary






Tournaments | Story | 7/2/2026

Freedom Classic Opens Holiday Weekend

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
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...
High School | General | 7/1/2026

PG High School All-Americans

Tyler Russo
Article Image
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
Article Image
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
Article Image
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
Article Image
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
Article Image
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
Article Image
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
Article Image
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
Article Image
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...
Tournaments | Championship | 6/30/2026

Flames Capture 18U BCS Title

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
Flames Natty used timely hitting and a dominant start from Beau Collier to defeat NLB American 7-3 and capture the 18U BCS National Championship on Monday at Lee Health Sports Complex. Despite being assembled just hours before the tournament began, the Flames quickly developed chemistry throughout the tournament. “This team was put together 12 hours before this tournament, and they went on a crazy run,” head coach Adam Vasquez said. “These kids know each other locally, but they don’t play together. For them to come together last minute like that, it’s crazy. I’m proud of them for that.” The game opened as a pitchers’ duel, with David Acevedo recording the lone hit through the first two innings. NLB American starter Hayden Graham kept the Flames in check early, allowing just one hit while striking out one over 2.0 innings. The right-hander...
Loading more articles...