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2,576 MLB PLAYERS | 16,376 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
College  | Story | 6/10/2020

There’s nothing quite like it…

Photo: (Vanderbilt Athletics)
This is the week that we should be headed to Omaha. Clearly there are bigger fish to fry right now, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to being a little bit sad to miss the College World Series. Instead of getting stuck in that disappointment though, I recommend that we begin our look forward to the 2021 CWS.  

So this begs the question, what are we looking forward to anyways? What makes this event something that all of us in College Baseball hold in such high esteem? Well, let’s talk about that.



For starters, College Baseball is unique in that our World Series includes eight teams. And while only one team will leave with a national championship, all of the teams who end their season in Omaha have accomplished something truly special. So I look forward to celebrating eight different programs and the journeys that led them here.  

The people of Nebraska deserve mention as well. They take tremendous pride in the CWS. It’s as if the entire city of Omaha shuts down during the two weeks of this event. Try to picture the passion of World Cup Soccer combined with the genuine friendliness of Nebraskans. It is something to behold. The bottom line is this: our Nebraskan friends are tremendous hosts and I can’t wait to see them again.

The concourse of TD Ameritrade Park has a buzz. It is the sound of a State Fair.  Or maybe a high school football game on a Friday night.  There are families everywhere. Kids are bopping around with their friends. You’ll also run into a bunch of guys on a buddies’ trip. I often see elderly couples as well. It’s Americana at its best. I’m looking forward to getting back on that concourse. That buzz encourages my soul.

There are countless great restaurants in Omaha but The Drover is my favorite.  The steaks are phenomenal and the salad bar is in a class of its own.  The ambience is historic and timeless.  And full disclosure, The Drover is on the comeback trail after enduring a fire in December of 2018.  I’m excited to support that business in its return.  Hoping that a great entity can return to its previous glory just feels right.  

While we’re on food, it would be if we failed to mention the world famous (my words) Zesto’s milkshakes. These milkshakes are a tradition that were walking distance from Rosenblatt and now are walking distance from TD Ameritrade Park. I cannot confirm that these delicacies are Keto-friendly but I can guarantee that on a hot summer day, a Vanilla Milkshake from Zesto’s will put a smile on your face.  

My wife Jenny and I have a tradition regarding the CWS: every year we purchase several t-shirts in the Omaha Baseball Village. This tented area houses a seemingly infinite number of vendors. The swag is diverse and it is good. Team Rooney is on that. Our annual purchases are budgeted and they are not to be rushed. We scout the merchandise over several days and our motto is “Browse Like A Champion Today”. We have never been disappointed. You can be certain that a high volume t-shirt purchase is locked in to the 2021 budget.  

The bar at The Omaha Hilton is another staple. Once the night game ends each day, that lobby bar becomes a College Baseball reunion. It is right across the street from TD Ameritrade Park and it is a place of great joy and laughter. You never know who you will bump into but there are no titles or pretenses in that bar. It’s really just a bunch of College Baseball fans coming to together to celebrate our sport. I cherish those good times.  

The College World Series is typically my longest trip of the year: ten days. That is a long time to be away from home.  And yet the trip flies by. It is a blur of fun and work and laughter and memories. Each June, when I look down and see an Omaha Boarding Pass on my phone, a feeling of giddiness overwhelms me. And when I head home, a feeling of gratitude comes over me. This trip is a privilege and that is never lost on yours truly.  

So I suppose that another year is in the books. Just writing that stirs my excitement for next year. Omaha never gets old and she always delivers. There’s no place I’d rather be next June.   
 

College | Story | 7/21/2026

Coppy's Corner: July 21 Summer Edition

John Coppolella
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The amateur players in the Cape Cod Baseball League are the future stars of the 2027 MLB Draft. The league runs from June 13th through August 2nd. Games are played at historic stadiums in Old New England towns. It’s beautiful and charming. Hollywood even made a movie about the Cape Cod League ~25 years ago called Summer Catch. It scored an 8% (!) on Rotten Tomatoes, but, on the plus side, it featured 2001 Jessica Biel in a starring role.  It was so much fun writing Coppy’s Column this spring. My hope is to highlight a pitcher and position player each week from the Cape. And, who knows, maybe somewhere out there Jessica Biel is reading it.    Player of the Week: Coen Niclai – Wareham Gatemen  The Internet tells me that 12 MLB players have come from Alaska, 10 of whom were from Anchorage, and the best of which is Curt Schilling. Niclai, who is also...
All American Game | Story | 7/22/2026

PGAAC Roster Reveal

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  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME ANNOUNCES TEAM ROSTERS FOR 2026 DICK'S ALL-AMERICAN CLASSIC AT CITIZENS BANK PARK   The rosters span 20 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and Canada, with California leading the way Jersey City's Finnian O'Loughlin gives the host region a player in the spotlight Field includes sons of Hall of Famer Frank Thomas & MLB All-Star Brad Hawpe   Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Wednesday, July 22, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced the Team East and Team West rosters for the 2026 DICK'S All-American Classic, set for Sunday, August 16 at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies. The 60-player field represents the top...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/22/2026

Florida Burn Cruise to 17U BCS Crown

Alyssa Golden
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Ranked fifth nationally entering the tournament, Florida Burn 2027 Scout left no doubt who the best team was at the 17U BCS National Championship. Burn finished a perfect 9-0 tournament, earning an 11-1 semifinal victory before defeating No. 86-ranked Original Florida Pokers 2027 National, 9-1, Tuesday afternoon at JetBlue Park. Burn seized control early and never looked back in a game that ended after the fifth inning per Perfect Game’s mercy rule. Burn carried its explosive offense into the championship game as Braedon Mackay launched a two-run home run in the first inning, giving his team an early 2-0 lead. Mackay’s home run sparked a five-run opening inning, setting the tone for the rest of the afternoon. The Florida commit later earned tournament MVP honors after helping lead Burn to an unbeaten championship run. “I was just trying to get something started,”...
PG Select Baseball Festival | General | 7/21/2026

13u Select Festival Roster Reveal

Jheremy Brown
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With the completion of the 2026 13u National Showcase, an event that featured some of the best talent the age group has to offer, 42 players came out with the label of "Festivaler" as they received a phone call shortly after the event concluded. Moving back to the University of Tennessee after a two year stay at the University of Virginia, Ole Rocky Top will see a mixed bag of returners; three-timers, new faces and a couple who bridged the gap from the 11u game into the 13u iteration.  Of the 42 players, 9 players call Florida their home base which is the most of any state while Texas (8), California (7) and Georgia (5) are all close behind nearly three-quarters of the players selected. In total 17 different states are represented, from Hawaii to Arkansas, Washington to Maryland and everywhere in between.  Quick roster breakdown: Three-time Select Festival: 13 players ...
Tournaments | Story | 7/21/2026

15u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 4

Perfect Game Staff
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15u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 Mason Conner (2029, Palestine, Texas) was a force in the middle-of-the-order for Gold Culture. The right-handed hitter starts from a medium stance with in-line feet and a low handset with a low back elbow, utilizes a negative leg lift stride. Strides through and uncoils the lower half well and creates separation in the back shoulder. Solid hand speed with a flat bat plane and feel to leverage and lift. Impacts the ball well with feel to impact and drive. The shortstop showed the power upside belting a two-run homer over the fence in left field and added a two-RBI knock later in the game. Medium 6-foot, 175-pound frame that was consistently on the barrel and showed a good approach at the plate working two walks. Lennon Dunn (2029, Mansfield, Texas) competed and showed the upside on the mound for Stix 2029 Scout. The right-handed pitcher...
Tournaments | Story | 7/21/2026

16U BCS Rolls into Fort Myers

Alyssa Golden
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The 21st annual 16U BCS National Championship returns to Fort Myers, Florida from July 23-27, bringing together many of the nation’s top 2028 graduates. The tournament features 44 teams, including six nationally ranked clubs, competing for a national title across five days of high-level competition. Year after year, the event has served as a proving ground for elite talent. Defending champion Showtime Select National 16U returns after capturing last year’s championship, while a talented field from across the country will look to add its name to the event’s prestigious history. One of the premier prospects in the field, shortstop Gabriel Coupet enters as the highest-ranked player in attendance, checking in at No. 49 overall in the Class of 2028 and No. 8 player in Florida. The Boynton Beach, Fla., native has established himself as one of the country’s most talented...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/20/2026

FTB National Completes Elite Run

Kinley Kitchens
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Championships are never won in a single game. For FTB National 2027, this one has been in the making for years. An 8-0 victory over Team Elite 17U Scout capped off an unforgettable week at the 2026 Perfect Game 17U National Elite Championship, but according to those inside the dugout, the championship was a product of friendships formed long before the tournament ever began. FTB took their first national elite win in team history, giving one of the nation’s top 2027 teams an elite ending to their 17U summer. “This is a homegrown group,” head coach Will Haynie said. “This team has been together for the last four or five years, and I think a lot of them have been together since the Little League World Series when they were 12. It’s been fun, and a nice little cap off to their 17U summer, especially after winning a big event like this.” That chemistry...
Tournaments | Story | 7/20/2026

16u World Series Scout Notes: Days 3-4

Perfect Game Staff
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16u World Series Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Lucas Sullivan (2027, Winder, GA) absolutely shoved in the first round of the playoffs. He racked up a total of 13 strikeouts across his seven inning, complete game shutout performance. Sullivan worked three pitches for strikes with lots of comfort and only allowed two hits. Ran the fastball up to 86 and he got lots of swing and miss on the 11-5 curveball. Mixes speeds well and was electric to watch. Landon King (2028, San Mateo, CA) was just one of the best players on the field the first two rounds of the playoffs. Totaled four hits, two of those were for extra bases and scored three times. Has lightning quick hands in the left-handed batter's box and produced loud contact constantly. Top of the class barrel skills with twitch in the turn.  Jacob Piles (2028, Cape Coral, FL) is hitting an astounding .615 with a pair of doubles in the...
Tournaments | Story | 7/20/2026

15u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 3

Perfect Game Staff
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15u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 ‘29 RHP Bryson Auten (NJ) comes out throwing absolute flames to get out of a jam. Sitting 92-94 & does it with ease. Comes out of the hand well & challenging hitters with the FB. #WWBA @PGMidAtlantic pic.twitter.com/Tf18Rdk4mx — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 19, 2026 Bryson Auten (2029, Flemington, N.J.) came in out of the bullpen in a brutal spot and recorded back-to-back strikeouts to get out of it. He would then register another pair of strikeouts in his second inning of work, ending the game going 1 2/3 innings with four strikeouts. The fastball was electric, working at 92-94 and does it super easy, coming out of the hand great. Command was excellent in this outing as well, throwing 70% strikes. It’s a power type arm with advanced arm talent for the age and any time you see 92-94 at a 15u event, it’s notable...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/20/2026

Legion Captures 16u WWBA West

Emily Hicks
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After five days of competitive baseball, Legion Baseball emerged as champions at the Perfect Game WWBA Championship, completing an impressive tournament run with a victory over ‘28 San DIego Ghost 10-3 in the championship game at Surprise Stadium.  The tournament brought together talented programs from across the West and beyond, with teams competing in the 15U and 16U divisions. Throughout the week, players showcased their skills in front of coaches, teammates, and families while battling through pool play and the championship bracket for the opportunity to hoist the trophy.  From the opening day of competition, Legion established itself as one of the tournament's top contenders. The club relied on hitting, quality pitching, and consistent defense to navigate a challenging field and earn its place in the championship game.  In the title matchup, Legion received key...
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