THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,596 MLB PLAYERS | 16,395 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,596 MLB PLAYERS | 16,395 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Tournaments  | Story | 9/23/2020

WWBA Soph World invades Ft. Myers

Photo: Cam Collier (Perfect Game)

FORT MYERS, Fla. – It’s cliché, to be sure, but here it goes anyway: “Let the games begin!”

This city on Florida’s Southwest Gulf Coast becomes the epicenter of the amateur baseball world beginning on Thursday, Sept. 24 with the start of play at the 3rd annual Perfect Game WWBA Sophomore World Championship.



This PG national champion event welcomes 104 teams from across the country – including squads from as far west as California and Colorado – and will be contested on fields in Fort Myers and Cape Coral. They include the jetBlue Park Player Development Complex, the Lee County Player Development 5-Plex and the Terry Park Complex in Fort Myers.

The WWBA Sophomore World Championship is the first of four PG WWBA national championships that Southwest Florida counties will host over the next three weeks.

The 197-team WWBA Underclass World Championship is slated for Oct. 1-5 at fields in Lee and Sarasota counties on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The blockbuster 96-team WWBA World Championship, relocated from Jupiter, Fla., will be played Oct. 8-12 on fields in Fort Myers; the 88-team WWBA Freshman World championship will also be contested Oct. 8-12 and played on fields in Lee and Sarasota counties.

The prominent and rapidly expanding 5 Star National organization has eight teams that are based in Georgia, Florida and North Carolina at the WWBA Soph World this weekend; it will have a couple dozen more at the next three WWBA Worlds moving forward.

5 Star National 16u Burress won last year’s Sophomore World Championship – Florida-based Elite Squad teams won in 2017 and 2018 – and 5 Star teams have a history of winning PG BCS National Championships played on Lee County fields over the last several years.

“Obviously, with the success that we’ve had in Fort Myers, it’s always good to get back there,” program founder/owner/coach Andy Burress told PG on Wednesday. “We’ve just always had a lot of success there across the board as a program; I think our guys kind of enjoy the trip.”

The 5 Star 16U White team may find a lot of ways to enjoy this weekend based on the terrific 2023s that populate its roster. Seven of the prospects are ranked in the top-39 nationally, and eight rostered players have already committed to prominent SEC and ACC college programs.

5 Star 16U White’s top prospect list is headed by third baseman/righthander Cam Collier (No. 2, Louisville), righthander/corner-infielder James Hays (No. 13, Georgia), outfielder Drew Burress (No. 14, uncommitted), and catcher/corner-infielder Riley Jackson (No. 16, Florida State).

Catcher/outfielder Brady Neal (No. 26, LSU), shortstop/third baseman Stone Russell (No. 34, Florida) and righthander/infielder Connor Crisp (No. 39, Georgia) can also be difference makers for the team; Collier, Burress, Jackson and Neal were all at the 2019 PG 14u Select Baseball Festival.

“With my son (Drew) being on the team and him having a huge role in putting that team together, it’s just a really close-knit group of guys,” Andy Burress said. “Obviously, they’re really good players and everybody can see that but what people don’t see is just how good of friends they are; a lot of the families are super close.”

5 Star 16U White will be challenged, of course, by dozens of teams that also come in boasting rosters filled with elite prospects.

The Florida-based Top Tier Roos American 2023 feature the talents of third baseman Aidan Miller (No. 3, uncommitted), middle-infielder Cade Kurland (No. 14, Florida), middle-infielder Steven Milam (No. 29, LSU), catcher/outfielder Colton Wombles (No. 33, Auburn); those four also performed at the 2019 PG 14u Select Fest.

The Georgia-based Team Elite 2023 Scout Team enjoys the services of catcher/outfielder Zion Rose (No. 11, Louisville), outfielder Justin Best (No. 25, Florida State) and five other 2023s ranked between Nos. 60 and 165. Rose was at the 2019 PG 13u Select Baseball Festival and at the PG 14u Select Fest a couple of weeks ago in Oklahoma City.

Novato, Calif.-based Meta National 23 has headed east looking to flex its West Coast muscles. Five Meta National 23’s from the 2023 class are ranked in the top-350 nationally including outfielder Owen Egan (No. 19, UCLA), catcher Raffaele Velazquez (No. 23, Arizona State) and shortstop Kai Caranto (No. 68, uncommitted).

Egan was at the 2019 PG 14u Select Fest and Velazquez, like Team Elite’s Rose, was at the 13u Select Fest in 2019 and the 14u Festival this year.

Other highly ranked 2023s in attendance include Dirtbags Signature outfielder TayShaun Walton (No. 5, Miami), Power Baseball 2023 shortstop Braden Holcomb (No. 9, Vanderbilt),  South Charlotte Panthers outfielder Walker Jenkins (#10 North Carolina), Texas Twelve Maroon 2023 lefthander Jakob Schulz (No. 32, uncommitted), Meta Prime 2023 first baseman Nolan Stevens (No. 37, uncommitted) and National Scout Team 2023 outfielder AJ Gracia (No. 41, Duke).

The top 2024s in attendance include Eagles Baseball third baseman Anthony Tralongo (No. 17), 5 Star 15U White righthander Bailey Thorne (No. 40), catcher Brooks Wright (No. 41, Tennessee) and outfielder Camdon Frier (No. 61), and Canes American-Scott catcher Joshua Agriesti.

“I think for us and for everybody in general this is kind of the end of a hectic, to say the least, summer,” Burress said. “We’ve got several groups this week and several groups next week, and for us the excitement (comes with) being in Fort Myers where the weather is nice this time of year. …

“But the biggest thing is being able to go and kind of finish up the last two or three weeks in one place; that’s the most exciting part of it.”


Tournaments | Championship | 8/12/2026

Pokers Rally to Capture 16U BCS Title

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
Pokers Rally to Capture 16U BCS Title A hot afternoon at JetBlue Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida ended in a 9-1 victory for the Original Florida Pokers 2028 National, defeating SBA Bolts Florida 2028 National on Monday to capture the 16U BCS National Championship. A pitchers’ duel kept the game scoreless through four innings before the Pokers broke it open with a five-run fifth inning. The title marked the Pokers’ second 16U BCS Championship, adding to the championship they won in 2022. Despite a slow start to the summer, the Pokers found their stride at the right time. “We struggled a lot early in the summer, but the past few tournaments we really started turning it on,” Pokers head coach Will McCrimon said. “I’m just so proud of these kids.” Max Maynes started the game on the mound for the Pokers. The left-hander allowed three hits and two walks...
All American Game | Story | 8/16/2026

Romero Slams His Way to Classic MVP

Jim Salisbury
Article Image
PHILADELPHIA – Sunday’s DICK’s Perfect Game All-American Classic was a pitching-dominated affair until the bottom of the eighth inning when the rain started to fall at Citizens Bank Park and Koa Romero stepped to the plate and did his best impression of Kyle Schwarber. Romero wears No. 12, just like Schwarber. He bats left-handed, just like Schwarber. He’s got big power, just like Schwarber. And at 5-10 and a rock-solid 225 pounds, he’s even built like Schwarber. Needless to say, Schwarber is Romero’s favorite player. So, it was all kind of storybook when Romero belted a grand slam to dead center to cap off the scoring in the West team’s 8-3 win over the East club in the 24th annual Classic. “This is a dream come true,” said Romero, who was named MVP of the game. “It’s amazing to be able to put a ball like that out of a...
All American Game | Story | 8/15/2026

A Philly Dream for Steingall

Jim Salisbury
Article Image
PHILADELPHIA – Carson Steingall had been to Citizens Bank Park many times over the years. After all, he hails from Nazareth, Pa., about 90 minutes up the road from the home of the Philadelphia Phillies and he counts himself as a big fan of the team. Zack Wheeler is his favorite. Steingall realized a dream when he pitched from the same mound that Wheeler does in Perfect Game’s fourth annual All-Star Game for rising sophomores and juniors on Friday. The dream got even better when Steingall, a 16-year-old right-hander, was named Most Valuable Pitcher after striking out the side in the third inning of the National team’s 6-1 victory over the American team. “It’s just an honor to be here,” Steingall said after receiving his trophy. “This event is the best of the best. It’s really cool to win something like this.” Steingall, who’ll...
Showcase | Story | 8/13/2026

PG Honors Pat Gillick With Philly Showcase

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Perfect Game to honor Pat Gillick in new Philadelphia Showcase  By Maya Heyman Perfect Game is bringing its elite showcase experience to Philadelphia’s FDR Park for the inaugural Philly Stars/Pat Gillick Showcase this weekend, honoring one of the greatest executives in MLB history in the city where he constructed his final of three World Series winners. The event will take place on Sunday, the same day as the DICK’S All-American Classic, taking place just across the street at Citizens Bank Park.  The showcase will allow Philadelphia-area players to gain exposure and will also honor Gillick, who has been a tremendous influence in both professional and amateur baseball.   Jered Goodwin, Vice President of Scouting Operations for Perfect Game, said the idea came naturally.  “Going to Philly made a lot of sense to honor Pat Gillick, who's been a...
General | General | 8/13/2026

PG All-Star Game Heads to Philly

Jheremy Brown
Article Image
For the fourth time since its inception in 2023, two rosters comprised of the best rising juniors (and a handful of rising sophomores) will step out onto the field Friday afternoon, kicking off the All-American weekend. While the Perfect Game All-American Classic is slated for a 1:35 first pitch at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, 36 future hopefuls of the Classic will go up against one another in an American vs National clash at 11 AM Eastern, Friday morning.  With 36 players from across the country descending on Philadelphia, there will be plenty of familiar names in attendance as 24 of the 36 played in at least one PG Select Festival and all 36 attended either the he Sophomore National, Junior National, or the PG Underclass All-American Games this summer. Leading the charge are a pair of No. 1s in 2028 dynamic talent Dexter McCleon Jr and 2029 Macgraw VanWormer, a do-it-all...
Draft | Story | 8/11/2026

Realistic Expectations of a 1:1 Pick

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Over the 2026 draft cycle, UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky was the projected No. 1 pick throughout the entire cycle. White Sox fans began #RochWatch and were already talking about when he will make it to Chicago. Now that he has been selected, Cholowsky has immediately become a Top-10 prospect in all of baseball. There is no denying the hype, and the pressure, for Chowlosky to get to the big leagues and produce at a high level.  But how realistic is that? Let’s take a look back at past 1:1 selections and see what you can expect from a No. 1 overall selection.  For this exercise, we’ll look at No. 1 overall picks from the bonus pool era, excluding Eli Willits from 2025 since this is his first full year of pro ball. That gives us 13 players selected from 2012 through 2024.  Almost All Become Big Leaguers The first thing that stands out is how successful No. 1 picks...
Press Release | Press Release | 8/11/2026

Perfect Game & Goat'd Come Together

Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME AND GOAT'D PARTNER TO BRING PREMIUM PROTECTIVE GEAR TO THE NATION'S TOP AMATEUR BASEBALL PLAYERS   Sanford, Florida (Tuesday, August 11, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced a new partnership with Goat'd, a premium protective gear brand focused on developing innovative products for athletes. The partnership will bring Goat'd's premium protective equipment to some of the nation's top amateur baseball players and families across Perfect Game's premier national events. The partnership will debut at several of Perfect Game's marquee events, including the 13U Select Fest, 14U Select Fest, Perfect Game All-Star Game and...
General | General | 8/8/2026

12U Game Time: 8/9/2026 1PM Eastern

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Sunday August 9th, 2026 1:00PM Eastern DICK'S Sporting Goods Park at East Cobb West vs. East Follow and watch the game
General | General | 8/8/2026

11U Game Time: 8/8/2026 Noon Eastern

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Saturday August 8th, 2026 12:00PM Eastern DICK'S Sporting Goods Park at East Cobb West vs. East Follow and watch the game
Draft | Story | 8/7/2026

2026 MLB Draft Team Reports: NL West

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
2026 MLB Draft Team Report Cards: AL West With the 2026 MLB Draft officially in the books, it’s time to evaluate how each team performed. Every draft class was graded using the standard 20-80 scouting scale with risk factor assigned. While these grades won’t be proven right or wrong for years, they reflect the overall talent, value, and upside each organization added to its system. NL West Arizona Diamondbacks  Grade: 50 Risk: High Notable Selections: C Ryder Helfrick (1st rd) | RHP Blake Bryant (CB-A rd) | SS Carson Kerce (2nd rd) | OF Brayden Dowd (3rd rd)  Ryder Helfrick (@RazorbackBSB ) different AB; same result. He goes dead central for a solo 💣 this time. Threw a runner out earlier; 1.98 pop. #PGCollege @PG_Draft https://t.co/kW7wraqExJ pic.twitter.com/SARYKxd0oE — PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) February 14, 2026 The Diamondbacks started their...
Loading more articles...