THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,453 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,453 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story | 9/11/2019

Sandlot Ready To Take On Phoenix

Blake Dowson
Photo: Sandlot Baseball (Sandlot)
Sandlot baseball rolled into Georgia under the radar for the 2019 16u WWBA National Championship back in early July.

The crew based entirely out of Arizona had a long trip over to Atlanta, and pulls its talent from just one state – albeit one with a nice talent pool generally. People form their opinions on which teams stand a shot at winning those enormous tournaments each summer.

The feeling among the Sandlot crew was that not many people in Georgia believed in them to get it done. That didn’t really matter, head coach Bryan Rice said, because the right people believed.

“Our kids do [believe]. Nobody outside of our organization really does,” Rice said. “They really didn’t give us much of a chance. Our guys just go out and compete and throw strikes and it’s pretty fun to watch. We went in there and our main goal was to try to get into the playoffs because we knew how many top-tier teams would be there…Once we got in, we knew we had our pitching set up and we could make a run.”

Sandlot knifed through pool play with a perfect 7-0 record, outscoring its opponents 47-15 in that stretch. Three wins in bracket play advanced Sandlot all the way to the semifinals of the WWBA National Championship, where they eventually lost a one-run ball game to the eventual champions, Team Elite.

Tanner Smith, a catcher with the Sandlot team and an Oregon State commit, knew the team would fly under the radar a bit when they showed up in Georgia.

He said it was just fun to go over there and show everyone from around the country how he and his teammates play ball. It might not be flashy, but the wins speak for themselves.

“The Georgia tournament was one of the craziest tournaments of my life. It was the most fun tournament of my life,” Smith said. “I had so much fun with the guys. We went pretty deep and were successful and got to where we wanted to be…Our mindset was to just go in there and play how we play. Hard-nosed, blue-collar. Go out and have fun and win games.”

Sandlot wasn’t necessarily built to be a giant in the travel ball – at least not at first.

Pat Murphy, who was the head coach at Arizona State from 1994-2009 and is now the bench coach for the Milwaukee Brewers, started Sandlot in his backyard (hence the name). He built a field in his yard, and would have college guys come over and work out alongside his son, Kai, who is now a freshman playing at Oregon State.

The workouts eventually turned into a team, which eventually split into a couple teams, and here we are.

Murphy eventually handed the reigns over to Rob Gorrell, who is still the director of Sandlot. That’s how Rice got involved with coaching the 2021 group; he and Gorrell have coached high school baseball together in the past and continue to do so today.

In fact, a big emphasis is placed on each one of the player’s high school program. They don’t all play for the same high school – Sandlot brings together players from across the state of Arizona – but Rice said it’s important to heed to each player’s school program.

“We really don’t practice too much, because we want the kids to be with their high school programs, do everything their high school programs want them to do,” Rice said. “And we’ve got kids from all [Arizona] so it’s hard…A lot of these kids play against each other, so we kind of put this thing together two years ago.”

Rice said the most enjoyment he gets out of coaching is seeing his guys move on. Whether that’s to college ball or not, the next step in their lives is exciting for him.

But as far as the 18 guys he has on the 2021 team, he made it pretty clear there are 18 college ball players.

“We have five guys committed right now, but I honestly believe that every one of these kids is going to play college baseball,” he said. “Out of the 18 kids that we have, they’re all going to get an opportunity somewhere.

“The pleasure of seeing the kids move on, whether it’s a college kid or a pro kid, it’s all the same to me. You see the kids working hard, and there’s nothing better than seeing the kid get an opportunity to go on and play. Being able to follow along and talk to them, I talk to my kids on a regular basis, is awesome. My main goal is to help them in any way I can.”

The list of players to come out of the Sandlot program is already an impressive one.

Nolan Gorman and Matthew Liberatore are both alums of the program, and they were both first round draft picks in 2018. Jonathan Ornelas was right behind them in the third round.

Smith said it’s special to represent Sandlot as the next in line to produce at the next level, after guys like Gorman and Liberatore.

“It feels amazing, with all the past talent they’ve had and all the past success they’ve had,” Smith said. “It’s been a pleasure playing with these guys, and being able to show that I’m one of the next guys to come out of this program is surreal to think about.”

The five committed players that Rice mentioned are just the first five. There will be plenty more. But already it’s an impressive list — Smith to Oregon State, Wes Kath and Barrett Skaugrud to Arizona State, Ryan Campos to Arizona, and Braydon Rogers to Cal State Fullerton.

Rice knew the kind of guys he wanted to play for Sandlot. High-character, high-motor guys. Those same guys are now committing to big-time college programs and winning a lot of games on the travel circuit.

They won 10 games in Georgia, and now they are set up for another run this fall.

Sandlot will be playing in the PG Fall Upperclass National Championship Protected by G-Form this weekend in Phoenix, right in their own backyard.

Rice said they will take the same mentality into this weekend as they did to Georgia. Play hard and let the rest take care of itself.

“Our main motto with our kids is go out and compete,” Rice said. “We don’t really care who we’re facing. But there are some really good teams in this tournament. I know our kids will compete, I’m not sure how we’ll do wins and losses-wise. But that’s really not the most important thing anyway. It’s a matter of going out and competing.”
Give us your feedback
Tournaments | Story | 5/28/2026

14u Windy City Classic Scout Notes
Donovan May
Article Image
’30 Kingston Dumes (IN) barrels a line drive up the middle. Strong, physical athlete with bat speed. Does a nice job staying in the lower half with quick hands through contact. PG High Follow. #ILMemorial @PG_OhioValley pic.twitter.com/LfQ6T9WqZn — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) May 23, 2026 Kingston Dumes (2030, Indianapolis, Ind.) put together a solid performance for Filthy Ellis this past Memorial Day weekend. The physical 6-foot-3, 225-pound right-handed prospect displayed present bat speed with strength in the swing, finishing with a .500 average across three games while collecting three hits and driving in two runs. He also showed intriguing upside on the mound, running his fastball up to 79 mph while mixing in a slider and changeup. Currently a PG High Follow and the No. 2-ranked player in Indiana, Dumes remains one of the more projectable long-term profiles in...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 5/28/2026

BCS Qualifier Event Preview

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
The sixth annual Perfect Game BCS Qualifier will bring nearly 60 teams from across the region to Fort Myers, Florida from May 29-June 1 as programs battle for championship titles and coveted bids to the BCS National Championship tournament.   Shortstop Jayden Portes will be the highest-ranked player in attendance. Ranked No. 45 nationally, Portes enters the event as one of the premier young prospects to watch and will look to continue building on an already impressive resume. The Fort Myers native will compete in his hometown in the 14U division as a member of CBU North Nation Alpha. At 5-foot-8, 145 pounds, Portes is the No. 1 ranked shortstop in Florida and the No. 7 player overall in the state.   Portes brings an impressive blend of athleticism and offensive ability, highlighted by an 86 mph exit velocity and 78 mph infield velocity. This season, he has posted a...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 5/28/2026

Hoover Invitational Set to Kick Off

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
The 4th annual Hoover Invitational is set to bring another loaded weekend of travel baseball to Hoover, Alabama, as more than 120 teams from across the Southeast will compete from May 28 through June 1. With talent spread across all four age divisions, the event continues to establish itself as one of the premier early-summer tournaments in the region. The tournament will feature 22 teams in the 14U division, 36 teams in 15U, 34 teams in 16U, and 28 teams in 17U play. Several nationally ranked prospects and highly competitive organizations are expected to make noise throughout the weekend, with many players already drawing significant attention on the recruiting and showcase circuits. The 14U division enters its second year as part of the event and will feature several intriguing young prospects. Birmingham Stars infielder Caden Kappler headlines the group as the No. 110 ranked player...
Read More
High School | General | 5/28/2026

Ohio Valley High School Notebook

Jordan Gates
Article Image
‘27 LHP Max Phillips (@TrinityHSBBall) settled in after a busy 1st frame. FB lived 87-89/90 & flashed 91 (3x) during his 4 innings. Sweeper @ 76-79 ~2400 rpm was a constant & flipped for Ks. CH (82-84) missed a lot of bats. Immense two-way upside for the top ranked player in the… pic.twitter.com/Vly2ebwxTU — Perfect Game Ohio Valley (@PG_OhioValley) May 15, 2026 Max Phillips, 2027, LHP/OF, Trinity (KY) checks in as the number one player in the Kentucky class in the most recent update. It’s easy to see why as he has arguably the highest ceiling in the class, both on the mound and as a bat. In my look, a few backs, Phillips got the start on the mound during his team’s last regular season game. The Wake Forest commit in four innings, saw his FB up to 91 a handful of times, while living 87-89 for the majority. The changeup sat in the low 80s while he...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 5/28/2026

PG SE Elite Championship Preview

Will Dembo
Article Image
More than 100 of the Southeast’s top teams across the 13u-18u age groups will travel to East Cobb this weekend with hopes of showcasing their talents and competing for a championship in the PG Southeast Elite Championship. This premier event will get underway on Thursday, April 28th with each division battling through bracket play before eventually crowning a champion on Monday, June 1st. 13u will host 17 teams including two nationally ranked squads in a silver and gold bracket setting for the major draw. Amongst the notable clubs are the East Cobb Astros who enter the weekend ranked No. 8 in the country as well as the West Boca Panthers White (No. 53) who will be traveling from Boca Raton, Florida in hopes of winning their second Perfect Game tournament in a row. The 14u division is loaded with talented rosters as seven of the 28 teams are in the top 100 rankings for their age,...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 5/28/2026

TG DBacks Take Home SE Memorial Title

Will Dembo
Article Image
As summer baseball got underway, East Cobb Baseball welcomed some of the top 16u teams in the nation for the highly anticipated annual PG Southeast Memorial Day Classic. TG DBacks 16u National exited the weekend victorious, going 6-1 en route to defeating ECB Astros 16u Navy in the championship game by a final score of 9-3 to open their summer with a statement win. “It was just a team effort,” DBacks head coach Scott Collett said. “We needed all 16/17, guys to contribute. You know, we shift the guys around, playing different positions they normally don't do in high school, so it was just a great team effort. Everybody did their job at the right moment in the right game. So, kudos to those kids who just competed all weekend, going from a 10 seed, barely making bracket, to running and making it all the way to the championship and dominating.” The DBacks came out of...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 5/27/2026

East Memorial Day Scout Notes: Days 3-4

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
East Memorial Day Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Trigg Listerman (28, Tampa, FL) had a great showing on the mound Sunday, throwing 4 inning while allowing only 2 hits and no earned runs. Listerman is a quick, athletic righty arm with a fastball that ran up to 90 with some run to it and a sharp breaking ball with sharp, late break to it. Kept hitters guessing at the plate all game and struck out 7 batters. Brody Root (28, Saint James City, FL) had a good start on the mound in the first round of the playoffs, throwing 5 innings allowing only 3 runs and sitting 6 batters down on strikes. pounded the zone with the fastball that ran up to 86 and complimented it nicely with a late breaking slider with tight spin to it. Drives hard down the mound and has an explosive, quick arm. Hayden Pelegrin (27, Miami, FL) had a great day at the plate today going 2-2 with 2 doubles and bringing in 2 RBIs. Smooth...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 5/27/2026

Southeast Memorial Day Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
‘27 SS Malachi Butler doesn’t miss a stitch of this one, hitting it out to the PS for a 2-run HR. Profile littered with tools & performs at an elite level. @GTBaseball commit. #SEMemorialDay https://t.co/WOCXkOZmiL pic.twitter.com/lSHadfcfKZ — Perfect Game Georgia (@PG_Georgia) May 22, 2026 Georgia Tech commit Malachi Butler (2027, Powder Springs, Ga.) hasn’t missed a beat since the summer began, putting up gaudy numbers through the first two tournaments. A week ago, he hit .500 while taking home MVP honors, well he almost replicated those numbers over the weekend, hitting .412 across six games with three doubles and a homer. He showed elite strike zone awareness throughout, finishing with six walks to zero strikeouts and the impact has ticked up in a big way. Butler recently took over the top spot in the state and it’s easy to see why. He checks a ton...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 5/27/2026

USA Prime Claims 17U Title in Thriller

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
USA Prime Tampa Scout 2027 edged VSA Scout 17U 4-3 Monday afternoon, using strong defense and a walk-off RBI from Bryce Flemming to secure the title. A light breeze helped cool down an otherwise warm afternoon at JetBlue Park during the championship game. USA Prime jumped out to an early lead, scoring two runs in the first inning to apply early pressure on VSA. VSA responded behind relief pitcher Finlee Crowder, who settled the game down after entering in the second inning and helped keep his team within reach as the game turned into a back-and-forth battle. VSA eventually battled back to tie the game at 3-3, but several momentum-shifting defensive plays from USA Prime catcher Marcello Fraccola helped preserve the tie throughout the middle innings. “I feel like a huge motivator on the team,” Fraccola said. “The catcher is a big position on the field. You have to make...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 5/27/2026

West Memorial Day Scout Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
West Memorial Day Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Hawk Licari (‘27,AZ) lambastes this one to the LCF gap for a triple. Finished the day 1-for-3 with an RBI. This kid can swing it. He’s a legit @PG_Uncommitted 2WP and the #1 ranked LHP in the state. Get in to see this one. #MDWest pic.twitter.com/9gKjZdkcLq — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) May 23, 2026 Hawk Licari, LHP/1B, Scottsdale, AZ. Canes West National (2027) Licari is a high-upside uncommitted 2027 who can really swing it from the left side. The combination of hit tool, athleticism, and left-handed pitching projection makes him a priority follow for college programs. Continued strength gains and refinement on the mound will only elevate his stock. Colin Murphy (‘27,CA) Stands 6’1/190 and shows athletic actions and promising offensive traits. Stays inside this one and shoots it to the back side for a...
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.