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Tournaments  | Story | 7/8/2020

Georgia Bombers Focusing on Mental Aspect

Brett Greenberg
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – After not performing how they would have liked in the 15U WWBA National Championship, the Georgia Bombers 15U Coleman team has regrouped and has been playing great team ball of late. They are currently 2-0 in pool play with a final game tomorrow morning in the 15U Perfect Game Southeast World Series. This team might not have a list of D-1 commitments, but they are a team filled with players who are willing to learn about the game and how to play the right way, something the coaching staff preaches. 

The Bombers are led by Brent Coleman and Aaron Alvarez. Alvarez is the founder of the Georgia Bombers organization and also the owner of Grand Slams Sports Center in Alpharetta, Georgia. Coach Alvarez has been around the game a long time and has seen it all from 10U up to 18U. He says coaching 15U is very rewarding and is where he sees players begin to mature into young men who are dedicated to the game of baseball.  



“15U is a great year to watch guys separate themselves and have a defining year,” said Coach Alvarez. “It is easy to coach when I have players who are willing to learn and want to get better to prepare themselves for the next level.”

There can be some difficulties when coaching 15U as well. From a physical standpoint, 15-year-old kids are all different heights and weights, which causes some teams to miss out on players. Coach Alvarez says, “it’s tough because some kids might not hit their growth spurt, so we miss out on them and then 6 months later, they have grown a foot and gained muscle.” As far as the coaching side, he says the philosophy does not change. The teaching aspect never changes because players will eventually grow, and it is what they have previously learned that will help them be more successful once their bodies fill out. 

“It ultimately does not matter what your height and weight is,” said Coach Alvarez. “If you know the game and can play it the right way, you will have a spot on the field somewhere.”

This team was affected greatly by the Coronavirus pandemic and quarantine which limited their practice time immensely. This Bombers squad was only able to practice one time on a field before competing in their first tournament. Coach Alvarez and the rest of the coaches in the Georgia Bombers organization adapted quickly to Georgia governor, Brian Kemp’s stay-at-home laws and were able to come up with a strength and conditioning program for their players as well as hold zoom meetings every Saturday to discuss the game. Pitchers were also able to work on their mechanics during the weekdays at Grand Slam Sports Center. 

“It was extremely tough for us,” said Coach Alvarez. “We knew that as soon as we got the green light to play, we would be on the field the next day.”

Coach Alvarez also mentioned that there was some difficulty keeping pitchers’ arms in shape as well as getting the hitters quality at-bats. The players were not able to compete in a high school season or see live pitching for a couple months. 

The Bombers are now in their fifth tournament of the year and their bats and arms are where they need to be. The coaches want to see each player improving upon an aspect of their game every day and also want to see the players improving upon situational hitting and actually being able to play the game. When asked what he meant by, “actually being able to play the game,” Coach Alvarez said most of the kids can throw the ball around the field but only few actually understand the game in its entirety. He says one of his goals is to get his players to understand each situation that presents itself in any particular game. 

Learning about the game of baseball is very similar to learning about life and how to go about your business any given day. Coach Alvarez acknowledged that a lot of the lessons he is instilling in his players are applicable to the real world and it is not just about baseball. 

“It’s crazy how much this game relates to life in all aspects,” said Coach Alvarez. “Just like you have to compete for a spot on the field, you will have to compete for a job.”

Coach Alvarez also said he is very big on being aware of what his players are putting on social media. He says social media can either help you or hurt you and he is trying to teach his players to be smart about it.  

“Even just liking a tweet with the wrong context can hurt you and could turn a coach away from recruiting you,” said Coach Alvarez.

This team has two players who have been playing together since they were young. Luke McNeillie and Evan O’Neill have been playing together since their 7U Alpharetta Eagles days at Wills Park. They are both 2023 grads and two of the players named by Coach Alvarez when asked to name a few kids to look out for in the coming years. McNeillie currently attends Milton High School while O’Neill attends Blessed Trinity Catholic High. When asked to give their favorite memory on or off the field, both talked about their walk-off victory in Panama City back in 10U. 

“The walk off was crazy because we were not supposed to beat that team.” – Evan O’Neill

“We celebrated at the pool that night and our coaches bought us fake champagne, which was a memorable moment.” – Luke McNeillie 

Both also offered some insight about how they feel about being on the same team for so long. McNeillie said it is cool to be with the same guy for so long because they have built lifelong friendships and memories, while O’Neill enjoys looking back to where the two started to where they are now. 

McNeillie and O’Neill were sure to thank Grand Slam Sports Center for their success because they have been going there for hitting and pitching lessons since they were seven years old. O’Neill has been getting hitting lessons from Coach Alvarez, while McNeillie thanked his pitching coach, Johnny Magliozzi, for his jump in velocity. McNeillie says he is focusing on the mental aspect of pitching and being able to make adjustments. He also says he has been working on using his legs to create more velocity as well as making sure that he gets the right spin on his breaking ball. As for O’Neill, he says the mental side is huge point of emphasis for him as well as perfecting his cutter, something he recently learned that has been working effectively so far. 

Both offered some advice to those younger players: 
McNeillie: “Have fun and be coachable, it is simple.”
O’Neill: “You play to have fun, but also try to get better every day.”

When asked to name a few guys who are going to break out, Coach Alvarez also named Alex Urias, Schley Gordy, Jackson Alford, and Kyle Henley.

Alex Urias: “He’s just a pure hitter who can really swing the bat and someone who really understands the game, who we can put anywhere in the field. 
Schley Gordy: “He’s leading the team in hits and shows good patience at the plate and is always seeming to barrel up the ball perfectly.”
Jackson Alford/Kyle Henley: “These are two who are fast and athletic and have begun to understand the game. With their athleticism, they will be D-1 players.” 

Coach Alvarez looks to lead his team to another victory in their final pool play game tomorrow morning before heading to bracket play for a chance to win a championship. The Georgia Bombers seem to be putting it all together in the final month of the summer season. 
 
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Tournaments | Story | 10/8/2026

Midwest Fall Championship Scout Notes
Perfect Game Staff
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Midwest Fall Championship    ‘29 LHP Jake Bzdusek (IL) Works 5.1 very strong innings from a low arm angle. Has a FB with sink in the mid 70s and T78. Has a nice E/W SL 67-68 (2nd,4th video). Struck out 7 and was efficient in the zone w/ 62% strikes. #WWBAMW @AthletesHQ2 https://t.co/th4O6pgHBs — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) October 3, 2026 Jake Bzdusek (2029, Huntley, Ill.) a left-handed pitcher works from a very low arm angle creating lots of deception to throw off hitters. The fastball was in the mid 70s, topping 78mph with good action. His slider had lots of east/west action, creating tons of swing and miss. Bzdusek pitched 5.1 innings while striking out seven, helping him earn the win. He threw efficiently, landing 62% of his pitches for strikes. He also got it done on the offensive side of the ball this weekend as well. He racked up six hits in as many...
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Tournaments | Story | 10/8/2026

2026 WWBA World Championship Preview

Hannah Jo Groves
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2026 WWBA World Championship Preview It’s that much-anticipated time of year again for some of the country’s most promising players to gather in Jupiter, FL for the tournament that everyone will be talking about until next year when we do it all again. This year, 120 teams from 23 different states, Canada and Puerto Rico have been divided into 30 pools. The action gets rolling at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, October 7 at the Roger Dean Complex - the spring training home of the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins. The top-ranked player coming into the event in the 2027 class is All-American classic player Kinon Bastian. No. 7 in his class, the Florida commit boasts a .417 batting average in the calendar year. Our scouts have referred to him as the “highest level athlete with both speed and strength, big juice in the bat.” Bastian will be playing with FTB Phillies 2027....
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Press Release | Press Release | 10/8/2026

Perfect Game Launches "PG Moms"

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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 LAUNCHES “PG MOMS”, A NEW CONTENT AND PARTNERSHIP PLATFORM CELEBRATING THE MOTHERS BEHIND THE GAME   Sanford, Florida (Thursday, October 8, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced the launch of PG Moms, a new social media-driven initiative celebrating the mothers who play an essential role in the travel baseball journey. The new content platform will allow moms who are well-versed in the youth baseball space to share their lessons, insights and tips in authentic ways with fellow moms across the country. The platform will debut this week from Perfect Game’s annual WWBA World Championship event in Jupiter,...
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General | General | 10/8/2026

Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 67

Ron Wolforth
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Rethinking Baseball Warm-Ups: A Call for Innovation  Let’s kick the old warm-up tradition to the curb, shall we? Baseball has a reputation for being a sport rooted deeply in its customs, and while some traditions are worthy of preservation, one that needs a refreshing overhaul is the standard warm-up routine. Picture this: an hour before the game, players jog a lap, gather to stretch in a circle, and then stand around playing catch. Does that really prepare anyone adequately for the mental and physical demands of pitching? In my view, it falls woefully short, and I’ll explain why. The typical warm-up approach - running a lap, static stretching, and simply tossing a ball back and forth - doesn’t even scratch the surface of what’s necessary for optimal performance. This process often leaves pitchers feeling only 75% prepared, and that’s just not good...
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Press Release | Press Release | 10/7/2026

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Perfect Game Staff
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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 TO DEBUT NEW FLAGSHIP SHOW PG CENTRAL DURING WWBA CHAMPIONSHIP IN JUPITER   Jupiter, Florida (Wednesday, October 7, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced the debut of PG Central, a new live, on-location show designed to serve as a key destination for the latest news, features and analysis from across the travel baseball landscape. The inaugural episodes will spotlight’s Perfect Game’s 2027 event schedule with guests from across the professional and youth baseball ecosystems. PG Central is powered by ZT Athletics. PG Central will make its debut today at 7:00 pm ET as part of Perfect Game’s annual WWBA...
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Jheremy Brown
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Joshua Churchill (‘31 TX) just demolishes this ball to deep right for a 2-run double. Easy low tension juice from smooth well connected lefty swing. #BestOfTheWest @Texas_PG https://t.co/MnT0lIaGRd — Perfect Game Youth (@PGYouthBB) September 27, 2026 Joshua Churchill (2031, Kingwood, Texas) had a real strong showing on both sides of the ball throughout the weekend and helped lead his team to a big championship win. Churchill finished the weekend going 5-10 with a pair of extra base hits and came up clutch in big run scoring moments. It’s a pretty physical frame for the age and showed a smooth lefty swing that works gap to gap well. He can impact the baseball well and power certainly projects in this profile. Off the bump, Churchill hurled 6.1 dominant frames and ran the fastball up to 80 while landing the breaker at will. Strong 2-way ability really showed and Churchill...
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Tournaments | Story | 10/6/2026

PG Draft: Jupiter Preview

Ryan Miller
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Jupiter has long been one of the best opportunities for draft eligible players to make an impression and this year’s field should be no different. With an elite collection of prospects all competing on the same fields, the event provides a valuable opportunity for players to establish themselves against some of the best competition in the class. This week’s WWBA World Championship could be a pivotal week for several prospects looking to make an impression and elevate their draft stock. Ahead of the event, the draft team each highlighted a sleeper prospect (someone who is currently not ranked in our board) to watch, as well as a current member of our Top-100 who could make a significant move up the rankings. Keep an eye on these names throughout the week as they look to make an impact and force their way up the board on our next update.  Top-100 Risers Jake Ivey...
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Tournaments | Story | 10/6/2026

15u & 18u Best of the West Scout Notes

Tyler Henninger
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Derek Graham (‘27. CO) was absolutely DOMINANT. 10 K over 4 hitless innings, 10 K. FB sat 86-89 (T90) with life. SL at 70-73 paired well. Kept hitters guessing. #WreckEm commit #BestOfTheWest https://t.co/eoo6k9VoG8 — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) October 3, 2026 Derek Graham (2027, Colorado Springs. Colo.) took the hill on day one and was masterful. The left-hander did not allow a hit over four innings, while striking out 10 total hitters. The Texas Tech commit showcased an overpowering fastball. The offering worked up to 90 mph with life at the top of the zone. A slider at 70-73 mph paired well off of it. Graham kept hitters guessing throughout, allowing him to quickly get outs and avoid barrels.  Brixton Barraza (2030, Murrieta, Calif.) took home MVP honors after a ridiculous showing at the plate. The young infielder posted five multi-hit games, going...
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Tournaments | Story | 10/8/2026

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Perfect Game Staff
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WWBA World Championship Pool Preview & Release Bragging rights are on the line here at Perfect Game as the staff takes a shot at predicting who they think will be the one hoisting the cup at the end of the event.  USA Prime National/Detroit Tigers Scout Team The Tigers Scout Team brings an outstanding roster to Jupiter on both sides of the ball. The lineup has high profile names from top to bottom, including Deuce Jenkins and Graham Keen. On the mound, the staff is anchored by LSU commit Samir Mohammed, with a large group of quality options to fill the remaining innings. -Ryan Miller Franklin Scout Team/BTD- 2027 I chose Franklin Scout Team/BTD- 2027 to go all the way because of the elite talent and depth that this team possesses. With 29 Top-500 players, multiple PG All-Americans, and 17 arms that have reached 90+ mph, they have the firepower on both sides of the ball to get...
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Perfect Game Staff
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