THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,479 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,479 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Tournaments  | Championship | 7/18/2020

Canes National Take Home WWBA Crown

Photo: Canes National 16u (Perfect Game)
MARIETTA, Ga. – The week-long event with over 280 teams participating came to a close Friday afternoon with the Canes National 16U taking home the championship trophy. The Canes finished the week with a 10-0-1 record while beating a pesky Dirtbags 16U Tap Out team in the final game of the tournament, 7-3.

The Canes were powered behind their stellar pitching staff and timely hitting all week. They completed pool play undefeated scoring 40 runs while giving up only three. The Canes were tested in their second bracket play game, coming from behind to beat the Tri-State Arsenal 2022 Scout Team. Down to their last out, David Mershon hit a long ball which should have been a stand-up triple, but his aggressive base running turned it into an inside the park home run to tie the game. Coach Hucks says his team rallied behind Mershon’s aggressive base running all week and attributes a lot of their success to him.



In their third bracket game, the Canes were tested with a talented East Cobb Astros Texas Orange squad, a team who has Dylan Lesko, Jared Jones and others. Pitchers Evan Siary, Tristan Smith and Andrew Dutkanych IV worked to keep the talented bats of the Astros quiet and came out with a 4-3 victory. The quarterfinal and semifinal stage of bracket play presented no challenges for the Canes, winning 5-1 and 8-0. Nathan Fink led the charge over Team Elite in the semifinal posting three RBIs. The win over Team Elite propelled them to the championship game against the Dirtbags 16U Tap Out.

After giving up a lead-off walk to start the game, starting pitcher for the Canes, Kassius Thomas was able to get the next three batters out. The bottom of the first saw the Canes hitters jump on the Dirtbags pitchers. Cole Young singled to start off the inning but was thrown out on a fielder’s choice after Paxton Kling hit a groundball to the shortstop. Kling then stole second and came around to score after a Xavier Isaac double. After a walk and a stolen base, Nathan Fink continued his week-long tear with a two-run double. Thanks to heads up base running, Roman Anthony came around to score making it 4-0 after the first.

The Dirtbags answered back with a run of their own in the top of the second inning, as Andrew Walton walked and then scored after Hayden Friese doubled making it 4-1 after 1 ½ innings.

The top of the third welcomed new Canes pitcher, Bradley Gagen, who sat the Dirtbag hitters down in order. The same can be said for Gagen’s fourth inning. The bottom of the fourth is where the Canes extended their lead and put the nail in the coffin on their opponent. Lamar King began the bottom half with a single, which was followed by a walk and another single by Cole Young, scoring King. The Canes showed great situational hitting in their next two at-bats with both David Mershon and Paxton Kling being able to hit groundballs to score the runner from third extending their lead 7-1.

In the fifth, Tap Out showed some fight scoring another run to cut their deficit down to five. Starting right fielder, Nathan Fink was able to throw out a runner at home trying to score from second base to get the third out of the inning and avoid potentially more damage. The Canes bats quieted down after their fourth inning and did not score any more runs. The Dirtbags scored one more run in the bottom of the sixth when Kaden Varela Payne was called from the Canes’ bullpen.

The bottom of the seventh presented the Dirtbags with a golden opportunity to tie the game up and force extra innings. The Dirtbags had bases loaded with two outs before a new pitcher, Ashton Smith, came in for the Canes to shut the door on their title hopes. Smith struck out the Dirtbags batter for the final out of the WWBA National Championship game.

The Canes coaches and players began their celebration with a dogpile in front of the pitcher’s mound. The trophies were then given out and the MVP and MVPitcher of the entire tournament were awarded to two Canes’ players.

Cole Young, a Duke commit, was awarded tournament MVP while posting a .462 batting average with four doubles, six RBIs, seven runs scored, three stolen bases, and one home run.

“The pitchers kept us in every game,” said Young. “It makes it so much easier to hit when I know that our pitchers are so dominant.”

Jackson Ferris, a NC State commit, was awarded MVpitcher with nine innings of work while striking out 12 posting a 0.00 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP.

“This is pretty special for me because I did not play in this tournament last year,” said Ferris. “There was a lot of trash talk coming our way, so it is a good feeling to shut those players up and be champions.”

Coach Brian Hucks had this to say about his team shortly after their championship victory:

“I am so proud of these players, man. It is just so special to be a part of such a great group of guys who want to win and do not give up. We did not have an easy road to get here facing Tri-State, the Astros and Team Elite, so we are so excited for the players. David Mershon’s base running against Tri-State down to our last out propelled us to this championship victory.”

The Canes will be headed to Sanford, Florida in two weeks to participate in the Perfect Game 16U World Series and look to carry their great week of baseball into that tournament.

The 17U WWBA National Championship has begun and will be continued throughout the week with over 200 teams participating in this year’s event. The top amateur baseball in the country is being played at East Cobb this week with bracket play of the 17U WWBA beginning Wednesday, July 22nd. Stay tuned for another excited week of Perfect Game baseball.

Tournaments | Story | 6/19/2026

14u WWBA Returns to Hoover

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
One of the most anticipated events on the summer travel baseball calendar returns this week as the 2026 Perfect Game 14U WWBA National Championship gets underway in Hoover and the surrounding Birmingham area. Now in its 19th year, the tournament has established itself as the premier event for 14U players across the country, annually attracting some of the top young talent in amateur baseball. This year’s championship will feature 129 teams competing for a national title, continuing a tradition that has seen organizations such as East Cobb Astros, Team Elite, USA Prime, SBA Bolts National, and defending champion ZT National Prospects take home the trophy. As always, the field is loaded with elite prospects, many of whom are already becoming familiar names within the Perfect Game community. Starting off strong with Christopher Cabrera, the No. 1 overall player and No. 1 third baseman...
Tournaments | Story | 6/19/2026

Road to the 2026 17U BCS Title

Emily Hicks
Article Image
This weekend, 11 teams will take the field for the 2026 17U BCS Challenge, a three-day event that brings together programs from across the country for a full slate of pool play and bracket action. With games beginning Friday and a champion crowned Sunday, the format leaves little room for slow starts, making every inning important from the opening pitch. The field features a mix of established programs and rising teams. With so many evenly matched rosters, there’s not much separation heading into the weekend, which puts importance on pitching depth, defensive consistency, and timely hitting. Pool play will quickly determine seeding, and even one loss can shift a team’s path heading into bracket play. One of the teams expected to be in the mix is Hawaii Elite 2G 17U National, a group that is 6-3 overall and ranked as “Honorable Mention” on the Perfect Games...
Draft | Rankings | 6/19/2026

PG Draft: Top 500 Update

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Rk. Name Lvl Pos. B-T School Hometown State Commitment 1 Roch Cholowsky C SS R-R UCLA Chandler AZ 2 Grady Emerson H SS L-R Fort Worth Christian Argyle TX Texas 3 Vahn Lackey C C R-R Georgia Tech Suwanee GA 4 Jackson Flora C RHP R-R UC Santa Barbara Pleasanton CA 5 Jacob Lombard H SS R-R Gulliver Schools Miami FL Miami 6 Eric Booth Jr. H OF L-L Oak Grove Bassfield MS Vanderbilt 7 Drew Burress C OF R-R Georgia Tech Perry GA 8 Ryder Helfrick C C R-R Arkansas Discovery Bay CA 9 AJ Gracia C OF L-L Virginia Monroe NJ 10 Chris Hacopian C SS R-R Texas A&M Potomac MD 11 Gio Rojas H LHP L-R Marjory Stoneman Douglas Coral Springs FL Miami 12 Tyler Bell* C SS S-R Kentucky Frankfort IL 13 Cameron Flukey C RHP R-R Coastal Carolina Egg Harbor Township NJ 14 Ace Reese C 3B L-R Mississippi State Canton TX 15 Justin Lebron C SS R-R Alabama Miramar FL 16 Derek Curiel* C OF L-R LSU West Covina CA 17...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 6/18/2026

PG Softball Stars Over Florida Showcase 14U Division

Erica Beach
Article Image
PG Stars Over Florida Showcase Clearwater, FL June 13-14, 2026   CLEARWATER, FLORIDA- Perfect Game Softball made its official debut in the state of Florida this past weekend at Eddie C. Moore sports complex. The weather was perfect, and the atmosphere was right for some great softball. We had many college coaches of all levels attend and our National Scouting Director was on hand to evaluate and highlight the athletes. We are excited for future events and the ability to promote and highlight the great athletes in the southeast! Below we highlight the 14U division where we had teams representing three states.     14U Division   Zoey Salas (2030, RHP/1B Windsor, CO) of the Colorado Angels 14U Breed was a standout player all weekend. She was a strong two-way player who proved to be a consistent force on both sides of the ball. Offensively, this left-handed hitter starts...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 6/18/2026

PG Aggieland Showcase

Article Image
PG Aggieland Showcase College Station, Texas June 13-14, 2026 Scouts: Brynn Baca & Karlie Milburn COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS- Perfect Game Softball was excited to return to College Station for the second annual Aggieland Showcase last weekend.. Some great competition was seen over the three age groups. We had two scouts on site to evaluate and highlight some of the athletes who caught their eyes. Thank you to all teams and players who competed so hard! Below we highlight those athletes who impressed our scouts. 18U Division Elizabeth Posada- Elizabeth Posada is a 2028 two-way player from Houston, Texas, competing for Aztecs Premier who brings an intriguing combination of offensive upside and athletic versatility. At the plate, Posada recently went 4-for-8 on the weekend, continuing to show consistency and offensive awareness. She sets up with a slightly open, wide stance and does a...
Tournaments | Story | 6/18/2026

Big Talent on Display at City of Palms

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
The fifth annual PG City of Palms Championship is set to take place in Fort Myers, Florida, from June 19-22, featuring teams from the 15U-18U age divisions. The four-day event will showcase some of the top talent in the state, including several nationally ranked prospects who have already made their presence felt this summer season. Before tournament play begins, here’s a look at some of the highest-ranked players expected to compete this weekend. Leading the group is catcher Nico Ayars in the 16U division. Ayars enters the weekend as the No. 135 player nationally, the No. 3 catcher in Florida and the No. 20 catcher in the country. Through 22 games this summer with Turn 2 Garcia, the right-handed hitter owns a .887 OPS while batting .306 with a .438 OBP and a .449 SLG. Ayars has collected 15 hits while driving in 12 runs and scoring 13 times. Ayars’ teammate, right-handed...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 6/17/2026

Perfect Game Softball Route 66 Summer Showcase

Dave Durbala
Article Image
SPRINGFIELD, IL - Perfect Game Softball Route 66 Summer Showcase, June 13-14, 2026. Twenty-Seven teams, representing the 14u and High School Divisions, arrived at the newly opened all turfed Scheels Sports Park at Legacy Pointe, for the opportunity to showcase their talent in a five game guarantee format. As with anytime we bring a group of players together for competition, there will be those players that rise to the challenge and turn in performances that earn them a place on our Top Performers list.  Below are some of the players, from both divisions, that were recognized as top performers. 14U Division Kinley Abrams (2030 Bloomington, IL) is a RHH for Texas Glory IL-2030 (Wyatt). Setting up in a slightly wide parallel stance, into her back leg, Abrams gains separation with a  push back to transfer weight, and then utilizes a small stride to launch her swing. Abrams works a...
Juco | Story | 6/18/2026

PG JUCO Awards & Final Top 25

Blaine Peterson
Article Image
Pitcher of the Year: Nathan Leffel - RHP - Fresno City College 2026 Stat Line: 89.1 IP | 12-1 | 1.91 ERA | .83 WHIP | 118 K An outstanding individual pitching season in California JUCO baseball this spring. A model of consistency on the mound making starts in January through May for Fresno City. Worked over 89 innings on the mound and made 14 starts where he threw at least 5 innings. Ranked in the top 5 of California JUCO in wins, ERA and strikeouts. And one of the only pitchers in all of JUCO to reach the benchmarks of 10+ wins (12), a sub 2.00 ERA (1.91 ERA) and 100 strikeouts (118 K). A consistent and dominant presence on the mound for a team that went 40-5 this past spring. Congratulations to Nathan Leffel, 2026 Perfect Game JUCO Pitcher of the Year. Ryan Bradford | FR | OF@JCCCBaseball Everything I have from this spring starting with HR’s 31 & 32 today. This is...
Tournaments | Story | 6/18/2026

150 Teams Set to Battle at SE Select

Will Dembo
Article Image
As summer travel season continues to ramp up, more than 150 teams from 13-17u from all over the nation will meet in East Cobb as they look to showcase their talents and compete for a trophy in the PG Southeast Select Championship. The tournament will kick off with pool play on Thursday, June 18th, and champions will be crowned following bracket play on Monday, June 22nd. The 13u division will host 23 teams from four different states in the major style tournament. The East Cobb Astros and Ninth Inning Royals will share the spotlight as the only nationally ranked teams in the field as the Astros enter the weekend as the No. 45 ranked squad and Ninth Inning falls at the No. 31 spot. 14u will also play as a major tournament for the weekend and contains 31 teams looking to compete for a trophy. Although there are currently no nationally recognized teams in the pool, PFA Regional will be a...
Tournaments | Story | 6/17/2026

UBC Midwest Scout Notes

Blaine Peterson
Article Image
Braydon McMillen (2029, Downers Grove, IL) an athletic MIF with a top of the order skill set at the plate. Reached base in all 5 games played at UBC this week. Including a 3 hit game in bracket play. Shows a balanced and compact swing at the plate with quick wrists and the ability to get the barrel to the baseball regularly. A quick first step defensively with clean glove actions and a quick release from the shortstop position. Made several athletic plays defensively this past week. Lot of promising impact traits and a real skill set to build on.  Paris Head | IF/OF/RHP | 2029 | IL@WhitesoxAce FB: 86-90 | CB: 73-75 SL: 77-79 | CH: 78-82 One of the best pitching performances of the tournament so far. High level athlete with an advanced pitch mix for the age. #UBC @PG_Scouting | @WhitesoxAce https://t.co/V3leWaCBSM pic.twitter.com/EDBvjpgI3p — Perfect Game Illinois...
Loading more articles...