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2,572 MLB PLAYERS | 16,330 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Tournaments  | Story | 7/16/2020

Florida Burn Scorch the Competition

Photo: Florida Burn (Perfect Game)
The Florida Burn once again find themselves atop the mountain at an elite level 17U tournament as they captured the championship of the inaugural Ultimate Baseball Championship powered by Baseball America and Perfect Game. Eight of the most elite travel ball teams in the country came together in Hoover, Alabama to compete and see who was the best as the Florida Burn downed Team Elite Scout Team by a final score of 5-1.

The Burn have longed earned their reputation as giant killers, using fundamental baseball, timely hitting, and hard-nosed, tough ball players to upset some of the national contenders at big events. The paradigm has shifted as the Burn stand themselves as a giant now among the travel ball world as they’re back-to-back WWBA World Champions in Jupiter and now captured one of the crown jewels of the summer circuit en route to competing in Atlanta in the WWBA 17U National Championship starting this weekend.



“This is the first week that we became a team in terms of chemistry,” said Florida Burn third baseman Tommy White. “We all came together this weekend and prayed every day before the game and really bonded as a team. Carrying into Atlanta it should help us go further than expected because we have that bond now.”

The winning result wasn’t always so sure for the Burn as Team Elite starting pitcher Carter Holton, who went on to earn MV-Pitcher honors, was simply masterful. Holton worked 90-94 mph with his fastball and showed a full four-pitch arsenal as he held the Burn to only one hit through five shutout innings while striking out nine hitters.

Things shifted for the Burn in the top of the sixth inning where they had the top of the lineup up with a one-run deficit and a chance to come back and start fresh against a new arm. Michael Robertson worked a six-pitch walk, then White singled, and the cleanup man Tayden Hall moved the runners over to make it second and third with two away.

Team Elite then intentionally walked Satchell Norman to set up the force when Aidan Corn hit a 3-2 dribbler right past the pitcher’s mound that was in no man’s land to bring home the tying run. The go-ahead run was right behind as the runners were off with a full count and White was hustling and scored to take the lead.

The next hitter, Jake Mummau, smacked a line drive single up the middle to bring home two more runs and extend the lead to 4-1 as Mummau was thrown out trying to extend the single to second base. The Burn added another run in the top of the seventh before closing out the win in the bottom of the seventh.


Parker Fenton was terrific in relief, limiting a potent offense to no runs over the course of 3.1 innings pitched. Fenton worked his low 80's fastball and late breaking curveball past hitters as he punched out four hitters in the process.

Co-Founder and General Manager Mark Guthrie credited the team’s coaching staff and the quality of the tournament on the whole. Playing against elite competition is the biggest barometer of success and talent and the Florida Burn certainly passed that test with flying colors over the course of the event.

“Brenden Curcio and Toby Hall did a great job pulling all the right punches in this one and our kids are very resilient and that’s what you have to be,” said Guthrie. “Every player in this tournament was a quality college baseball player, a lot of professional baseball players going forward. It’s just a blessing to be able to compete against players like this and teams like this and everyone who’s on the same page in trying to promote amateur baseball. It’s an honor for us, it fell our way this year, and in the years to come we hope we can keep competing at this level.”

Carter Holton of Team Elite was named the MV-Pitcher of the event. The Vanderbilt commit was fantastic over two games where he totaled eight shutout innings with fifteen strikeouts and only three hits allowed. White was named the MVP of the event for the Florida Burn. The North Carolina State commit hit a robust .500 this weekend with three doubles and was a force in the middle of the lineup all weekend.

“My first game I had a big stride and struck out a couple times so after the game I told myself, ‘I have to change up something,’” said White. “So I ended up shortening my stride and found fastballs early or breaking balls to put the bat on the ball.”

Both teams now head to Atlanta to compete in the 17U WWBA National Championship. The inaugural Ultimate Baseball Championship powered by Baseball America and Perfect Game was filled to the brim with elite talent and nearly all of that will be present during the scouting industry’s crown jewel of the summer that kicks off in Atlanta this Friday.


Tournaments | Story | 7/15/2026

WWBA Arrives in Arizona

Emily Hicks
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After another week of summer baseball, Perfect Game action returns to Surprise Stadium as teams prepare for another exciting week of competition at the WWBA Championship. From July 14-18, some of the top programs in travel baseball will take the field looking to compete for a championship and showcase their talent against high-level competition.  The tournament will feature both the 15U and 16U divisions, bringing together talented teams and rising prospects from across the West and beyond. With several days of pool play and championship bracket action, teams will have the opportunity to test themselves against strong opponents while competing on one of the biggest stages of the summer.  Surprise Stadium will provide the setting for a week filled with competitive matchups, standout performances, and prospects looking to make an impact. From dominant pitching performances to...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/15/2026

East Cobb Go Undefeated, Takes 14U BCS

Alyssa Golden
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East Cobb Goes Undefeated, Takes 14U BCS Twenty years after winning the inaugural 14U BCS National Championship in 2006, the East Cobb Astros once again stood atop the tournament, defeating the Original Florida Pokers 7-4 at JetBlue Park. A hot, sunny afternoon set the stage for a tightly contested match between the Original Florida Pokers 2030 and East Cobb Astros 14U Orange. Although the Pokers had a two-run lead with just three innings to go, East Cobb showed their team had no quit as they pulled away with a 7-4 victory. The teams battled through a highly contested tournament field of over sixty teams from across the country, with the Pokers coming in 8-1 and East Cobb entering 8-0 in tournament play. Cohen Carter started on the mound for East Cobb, allowing seven hits and no walks while striking out three batters over four innings. His fastball sat 71-75 mph. Silas Anstett opened the...
Tournaments | Story | 7/15/2026

Stars Marucci '27 Loaded and Poised

Kinley Kitchens
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Expectations naturally follow one of the nation’s top ranked teams. For Stars Marucci 2027, those expectations have only grown as the summer season has progressed.  Ranked No. 16 nationally and featuring a roster loaded with Division I commits and nationally ranked prospects, Stars Marucci 2027 entered the 2026 Perfect Game 17U National Elite Championship as one of the top teams to watch.  Through the opening two days of the tournament, they have shown why they are a team to watch, opening the week with back-to-back victories over SBA Tucci 2027 (6-1) and FC Twins Scout (5-2) to build early momentum heading into the later rounds.  The talent on the roster is undeniable.  Virginia Tech commits Chase Colangelo, Yogi Colangelo, and Teagan Leach, Maryland commit Jerome Fortier, and Youngstown State commit Sam Capuano headline a group filled with college bound...
Tournaments | Story | 7/15/2026

Mine Wood Bat World Series Notes

Jordan Gates
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‘28 OF/LHP Carson Tabler (OH) Rips one deep into the pull side gap for an inside-the-park HR. Athletic in the box w/ a projectable frame. Utilizes a toe tap on a fluid stroke w/ good bat speed. Good runner in stride + efficient around the bases. #MineWS @Carson_T7 @PFFlyers2028 pic.twitter.com/IVfICPg4qV — Perfect Game Ohio Valley (@PG_OhioValley) July 10, 2026 Carson Tabler (2028, Cincinnati, Ohio) Tabler was probably the most pleasant surprise when it comes to names from this weekend. A rather unknown for me and my staff going into the event, Tabler managed to cement himself by event’s end. It’s a true two-way projection at this stage, while he has the size in the 6-foot-3 long and loose frame, the strength will continue to add on to the 175-pound stature. While he only had two extra-base hits (triple, home run), the bat-to-ball skills were the calling card, and...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/14/2026

SBA Bolts National Raise Trophy at 16u

Will Dembo
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After an action-packed week at the 16u WWBA Championships, the tournament came down to two of the nation’s top teams battling for one of travel baseball’s most prestigious titles. No. 5 ranked SBA Bolts National faced No. 60 Alpha Prime 2028 after both teams reached the championship undefeated, but the SBA Bolts were the sole team to exit without a loss, defeating Alpha Prime 10-2 in mercy rule fashion and capture the national title behind dominant pitching and explosive offensive performances. The SBA Bolts were perfect throughout their week, running the table and going 11-0 while outscoring their opponents by an impressive margin of 108-25. “It was awesome,” SBA Head Coach Travis Thompson said on the mercy rule victory. “It just kind of culminated our week. It's been a long week. I can't even remember our first game, which felt like three weeks ago. The...
Tournaments | Story | 7/14/2026

Coastal Region Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Ridge Whitfield (2029, Charlotte, NC) stands at 6-foot, 158 pounds with an athletic build that should allow him to maintain his mobility and quick-twitch actions as he continues to develop. He bats and throws left-handed. Whitfield locates his fastball to both sides of the plate, mixes his pitches effectively, and keeps hitters off balance. He competes on every pitch and doesn’t back down in big situations. Whitfield threw 5.1 innings, allowing three hits, one earned run, and no walks while striking out three on 75 pitches (58% strikes). He attacked the zone with a fastball that sat 73 mph and topped out at 78 mph, mixing in a 67 mph breaking ball and a 68-70 mph changeup to keep hitters off balance. Sam Jobe (2029, Charlotte, NC) stands at 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, with a lean, athletic frame and plenty of projection. He bats and throws right-handed. Jobe shows good feel for the...
Tournaments | Story | 7/14/2026

14u & 17u West Scout Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
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14u & 17u WWBA West Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Adryan Zaragoza (‘30 | CA) turns on this one, sending it down RF line for a 2B. Finished 2-for-3 w/ 2RBI, 2R, BB. PS approach, bat speed, raw strength #WWBAWest @California_PG pic.twitter.com/V6Ctus4CX1 — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) July 13, 2026 Adryan Zaragoza (2030, Lake Elsinore, CA) The 5-foot-9, 150-pound left-handed hitter and infielder had a great weekend for ZT Select Prospects, finishing with five hits, eight runs scored, one double, one triple, six RBI, one stolen base, and two walks during the 14U WWBA West National Championships. Zaragoza consistently ignited the offense from the top of the lineup, with a disciplined approach and the ability to create scoring opportunities. He can drive the baseball into the gaps while producing in big situations, combining quality contact with aggressive baserunning....
Tournaments | Story | 7/14/2026

14u BCS Scout Note Recap

Perfect Game Staff
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Jake Karpell (2030, Holmdel, NJ) got on the barrel a couple times in game five and totaled three rbis. Started his production with a single then later on hammered a heater down the right field and flew around the bases for a three run inside the park home run. Keeps the hands inside at contact really well and got the head around on the homer. Runs well and can hit it around the yard in the approach.  Luke Sauer (2030 C, FL)  put his hit tool on display with a well-struck double, continuing to show why he is regarded as one of the top catchers in the class. Owns a big frame with present physicality and does a good job keeping the hands connected throughout the swing. The barrel works efficiently through the zone and there is a solid offensive foundation present. Currently ranked as the No. 66 catcher nationally.  Gavin Politz (2030 OF, FL) continued a strong tournament...
Tournaments | Story | 7/14/2026

15u World Series Scout Notes: Days 1-3

Perfect Game Staff
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Connor Ashley (‘29, FL) has struck out six over six no hit innings thus far. Got the FB up to 87 w/ feel for a sharp two-plane slider. #PGWS @Florida_PG pic.twitter.com/M7mEmTH8pk — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 12, 2026 Connor Ashley (’29, Minneola, FL) was stellar on Sunday, striking out seven in a seven inning no hitter. He operates from a medium-to-large right-handed frame with length, room to fill, and lower half strength. Ashley works exclusively from the stretch, starting at the belt before working into a higher compact leg lift, firing down the mound via a long arm action. He releases from a high three-quarters slot, with the fastball jumping from the hand up to 87. Ashley mixed in a sharp 11-5 breaking ball with depth and late bite, a true swing-and-miss offering.  Matthew Hernandez (’29, Miami Lakes, FL) has posted strong numbers on both...
College | Story | 7/14/2026

Coppy's Corner: July 14 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: Carter White – Falmouth Commodores  Talk about making a great first impression! White introduced himself in a very loud and boisterous way this past week by going 9-17 (.529 AVG) with 6 RBI...
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