THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,496 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,496 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
College  | Rankings | 3/17/2021

D-II, NAIA, D-III rankings: March 17

Nick Herfordt
Photo: Derrick Carter (N.C. Wesleyan Athletics)
As an evaluator it always gives a sense of satisfaction (and more accurately, relief) to see the teams that you’ve projected to succeed do well. However, it’s relatively easy to pick which teams are going to be the favorites; simply find clubs that are stacked with potential All-Americans and draft picks or a history of recent success and write their name in as a team to potentially take home the title. When they win it is expected and doesn’t provide for much drama. However, as a fan, it’s much more compelling to watch the teams that didn’t make the initial cut work their way into and up the national rankings and challenge for conference and national titles. 

Along with the rankings this week, a team is featured in each of the small school divisions which is performing better than anticipated. None of the trio were in the Preseason Top 25, but each has made a convincing showing on the diamond to leave little doubt that they should be considered one of the best of the best at this point in the season. While one of the three isn’t much of a surprise, the other two are making their Perfect Game rankings debut, and with the way they are playing, it could be the beginning of a long run of national recognition.



NCAA D-II

Aside from Catawba, who is the perennial favorite, the South Atlantic Conference has annually been a battle royale for supremacy in the competitive conference standings. Each team has its ebbs and flows and earns a national postseason berth for a season or two before a conference-mate usurps them and takes their spot. Three teams have already spent the entirety of the 2021 campaign in the national rankings and three more were on the precipice last week. With Ashland getting removed after a subpar showing, one of the three outliers has made their way into the Perfect Game Top 25 for the first time. Entering the rankings this week at No. 21 are the Carson Newman Eagles.

The Eagles have historically been a tough team to beat with some exceptional individual performers. Most notably is Steve Cishek, who was drafted in the fifth round in 2007 and has spent the past 11 years pitching in the major leagues. Nevertheless, they haven’t quite been able to earn an elite invite to the NCAA postseason since 2008. If they keep playing the way they have the start of this season, that will most certainly change. C-N has an 11-4 record and can claim fours wins over ranked opposition, as they’ve earned victories over Lee, Newberry and Catawba. Last weekend they completed a sweep versus Virginia-Wise with a pair of mercy-rule wins. With their success they enter the Top 25 this week at the No. 21 position. 

The offense is led by Tyler Thompson, who wields one of the top bats in the nation. In 2019 he had 25 multi-hit games to contribute to an incredible .438 batting average, which was nearly 20 points higher than anyone else in the SAC and fourth in the nation. He also added 29 extra-base hits and 15 stolen bases. This season he is leading the Eagles once again with a .431 average. Nevertheless, the Carson-Newman offense is not a one-man band. Every position player who has started at least 10 games this spring is swinging to the tune of a batting average over .300. Their offense doesn’t have a lot of power, but they make up for it in pop and are batting a collective .350. Other notable performers include Henry Jackson, who led the team with a .386 batting average as a freshman last season and Charlie Brown, a senior outfielder who is batting .333 over the past two years.

On the mound the staff’s ERA is admittedly a bit bloated at 5.54, but they are also striking out a batter per inning (123 over 112 IP). Matt Bradley started his career in the bullpen, but has been solid as a starter. Over four years he had struck out 154 batters in 137 2/3 innings. He and Brayden Coe, who has been the team’s top performer this spring with a 2.95 ERA and .197 b/AVG, will be relied upon heavily until some of the other arms step up to support the club. 

The Eagles’ series against Newberry last week was unfortunately postponed and would have been an excellent measuring stick of their potential success for the rest of the season. After hosting Queens this week, C-N finishes the month with four games on the road against ranked opposition, when they face Lee and Wingate. 

Rank Prev School State Record Last Week
1 1 Angelo State Rams TX 11-2 0-0
2 2 Colorado Mesa Mavericks CO 9-1 4-0
3 3 North Greenville Crusaders SC 15-3 3-0
4 4 Tampa Spartans FL 4-1 3-0
5 6 Central Missouri Mules MO 12-4 3-0
6 5 Mount Olive Trojans NC 12-4 2-3
7 9 Columbus St. Cougars GA 9-3 3-1
8 8 Augustana Vikings SD 4-0 0-0
9 11 Catawba Indians NC 12-4 1-0
10 10 Minnesota State Mavericks MN 3-1 1-0
11 12 West Texas A&M Buffs TX 15-3 3-0
12 13 North Georgia Nighthawks GA 13-5 3-0
13 25 Lee Flames TN 14-2 3-0
14 15 Azusa Pacific Cougars CA 6-2 4-1
15 21 UNC Pembroke Braves NC 11-5 3-1
16 16 Texas Tyler Patriots TX 10-5 2-1
17 7 Georgia College Bobcats GA 8-5 0-3
18 22 Wingate Bulldogs NC 10-5 1-0
19 14 Southern Arkansas Muleriders AR 8-5 3-1
20 17 Newberry Wolves SC 9-6 0-1
21 NR Carson Newman Eagles TN 11-4 0-0
22 18 Millersville Marauders PA 3-2 1-2
23 24 Davenport Panters MI 5-5 2-1
24 20 East Stroudsburg Warriors PA 4-3 4-3
25 19 Nova Southeastern Sharks FL 0-3 0-3

Dropped Out: No. 23 Ashland Eagles

NAIA 

Oklahoma Wesleyan has been one of the winningest programs in the NAIA over the past decade and averaged nearly 50 wins from 2014 to 2019.  They had a coaching change following the 2018 season when Matt Parker left to lead Eastern Oklahoma State College, but former OKWU skipper Kirk Kelley, who led the team to the National Christian College Athletic Association title in 2011, was seen as a worthy and welcome return. Nevertheless, the Eagles suffered a series of irregular outcomes last spring when they had an unassuming 14-14 mark before the season was canceled.  

The ills that failed them last spring are far in the rearview this season. OKWU has reemerged as a national title contender to start the season with a 16-3 record with highlights that include a combined 66-9 three-game stomping of Champion Christian to start the season, a double-header sweep of a strong Lyon club and midweek wins over a pair of ranked teams, Friends and Oklahoma City. With the victories, the Eagles have soared from the outskirts of the Perfect Game Top 25 and have moved up to the No. 14 this week.   

The Eagles are consistently one of the top slugging clubs in the land. They were fifth in the NAIA in home runs per game in 2019 and second in 2017, thanks in small part to playing home games with some batter-friendly dimensions. This season they are at it once again and are currently pacing the division with a devilish .666 slugging percentage. They average a pair of home runs per game, have crossed the plate no less than nine times in a game 11 times (all wins) and are hitting .367 as a team. Isaac Wersland, who transferred from fellow NAIA power Lewis-Clark State prior to the 2020 season, is tied for the team lead with seven home runs. Hulking Danny Perez, one of the few standouts remaining from the 2019 edition of the team, shares the home run lead with Wersland. Cody Muncy, who led the team with 12 blasts last spring, is a potential powder-keg for Coach Kelley. While he is hitting a lofty .424, he only has contributed three home runs this spring.

The Eagles are off this week for spring break, but will be tested mightily when they return to action. OKWU has a rematch with No. 20 Friends on March 23 and ends the month with a road trip against rival Oklahoma City. Sandwiched in between those contests they’ll host McPerson, the unofficial last team out of the rankings, who are currently 18-2.

Rank Prev School State Record Last Week
1 1 Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs TN 21-0 4-0
2 2 Southeastern Fire FL 24-1 3-0
3 3 Cumberlands Patriots KY 19-3 4-2
4 4 Faulkner Eagles AL 10-1 0-0
5 6 Vanguard Lions CA 23-3 4-0
6 9 Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies GA 15-6 3-0
7 5 USAO Drovers OK 10-5 1-2
8 10 Central Methodist Eagles MO 16-2 3-0
9 8 Bryan Lions TN 16-7 1-3
10 12 Middle Georgia State Knights GA 17-6 4-0
11 11 Keiser Seahawks FL 20-6 3-2
12 7 LSU Shreveport Pilots LA 7-5 2-2
13 14 Benedictine Mesa Redhawks AZ 14-6 4-1
14 16 Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles OK 16-3 4-1
15 13 St. Thomas Bobcats FL 15-9 3-2
16 15 Oklahoma City Stars OK 12-9 2-3
17 17 Lewis-Clark State Warriors ID 14-2 0-0
18 20 William Carey Crusaders MS 15-2 6-0
19 19 Reinhardt Eagles GA 14-8 3-0
20 23 Friends Falcons KS 15-4 3-0
21 18 Georgetown Tigers KY 14-7 4-3
22 22 Campbellsville Tigers KY 5-5 3-1
23 24 Freed-Hardeman Lions TN 11-8 3-0
24 NR Taylor Trojans IN 19-6 4-0
25 25 Indiana Southeast Grenadiers IN 13-11 4-1

Dropped Out: No. 21 Bellevue Bruins

NCAA D-III 
It would be hard to argue that any team has had a better start to the season than the Battling Bishops of North Carolina Wesleyan. The Bishops have opened with a 11-2 record, which includes notable wins over Randolph-Macon who finished last season as the top-ranked team in the Perfect Game D-III rankings and is currently positioned third, Methodist, a team that went 44-15 over the past two years, Ferrum, a school that hasn’t been great as of late but can always proudly claim Billy Wagner as an alum, and Christopher Newport, a team which won 70 games from 2018 to 2019, last week. The results are a bit surprising, as while the NC Wesleyan was once one of the top D-III teams in the nation - they brought home the national title in 1989 and 1999 - their results have been very good, but not overly great over the past five years as they’ve posted a 102-84 record. 

Undeniably one of the main reasons for the Bishops’ splendid start is transfer Davie Morgan. Morgan was an extremely promising athlete coming out of high school and earned high marks for his quick first step, lateral range and quickness in the infield as well as his timing and consistency at the plate. He started his college career at Barton, but struggled to find his stroke with the Bulldogs and only managed a single hit in 14 at-bats with seven strikeouts. With Wesleyan, Morgan has been the team’s top hitter and is leading the club in most offensive categories. He is batting .400 on in 55 at-bats with five doubles, a pair of triples and four home runs for a .782 slugging percentage. 

“Davie has been a great find for us on and off the field and we are happy for him,” NCWC Head Coach Greg Clifton remarked when asked about his slugging second baseman. 

Also leading the charge is freshman Tyson Bass, who played high school a couple of country miles from campus. As the team’s leadoff hitter, Bass is hitting .366 and his discipline at the plate has already led to 16 walks to amass a .534 on-base percentage. 

Bass isn’t the only freshman making big contributions this spring. The slender CJ DiBenedetto was noted for more of his shortstop prowess when scouted, but his strong, smooth throwing mechanics have made him a monster on the mound. In five starts this season he is limiting opposition to a .189 batting average. He held the William Peace Pacers to four scattered hits last weekend in a complete game win. Daniel Thompson, yet another freshman, has been tyrannical out of the bullpen. In 12 innings he has only allowed seven hits while striking out 23 batters over five appearances.  

NC Wesleyan has a good chance to continue their winning ways as eight of their final nine games this month are to be played at home. 
 
Rank Prev School State Record Last Week
1 1 Webster Gorloks MO 6-1 2-0
2 2 Southern Maine Huskies ME 0-1 0-0
3 3 Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets VA 4-2 3-0
4 4 UW-Whitewater Warhawks WI 0-0 0-0
5 5 Cal Lutheran Kingsmen CA 0-0 0-0
6 6 North Central Cardinals IL 4-1 2-1
7 7 Trinity Tigers TX 9-1 3-1
8 8 Cortland State Red Dragons NY 0-0 0-0
9 15 Shenandoah Hornets VA 5-1 4-0
10 10 Adrian Bulldogs MI 5-3 1-1
12 12 Chapman Panthers CA 0-0 0-0
13 13 Johns Hopkins Blue Jays MD 0-0 0-0
14 14 Salisbury Seagulls MD 2-0 1-0
15 9 Concordia Tornados TX 6-3 2-1
16 16 Washington Bears MO 5-0 2-0
17 17 Kean Cougars NJ 3-1 3-1
18 11 Texas Lutheran Bulldogs TX 6-4 1-2
18 18 UMass-Boston Beacons MA 0-0 0-0
19 19 Rowan Profs NJ 0-0 0-0
20 NR North Carolina Wesleyan Battling Bishops NC 11-2 3-0
21 21 Babson Beavers MA 0-0 0-0
22 22 Heidelberg Student Princes OH 3-1 0-0
24 24 Tufts Jumbos MA 0-0 0-0
25 20 Spalding Eagles KY 6-5 1-3
25 25 Christopher Newport Captains VA 5-3 2-2

Dropped Out: No. 23 Concordia University Chicago Cougars
Give us your feedback
College | Story | 7/7/2026

Coppy's Corner: July 7 Summer Edition
John Coppolella
Article Image
It’s an exciting time for College Baseball. Not only do potential and proposed changes to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) elevate the game, but we are coming off a thrilling College World Series and less than a week away from Major League Baseball’s 2026 Amateur Draft. In the middle of it all is the Cape Cod Baseball League.  The amateur players on the Cape 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...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/7/2026

Two Day Rewind at 15u National Elite

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
Two days into the 2026 Perfect Game 15U National Elite Championship, the storylines are already beginning to take shape. As one of the summer’s premier invite-only events, the tournament annually brings together many of the nation’s top 15U clubs, with 100 elite teams traveling to Hoover in pursuit of a championship. While there is still plenty of baseball left to play, the opening rounds have already produced breakout performances, dominant team victories, and plenty of excitement heading into bracket play. Several nationally recognized organizations entered the week as favorites, including MTBA Dawgs, ranked No. 3 nationally, Wildcatters Baseball at No. 10, and 5 Star Mafia, ranked No. 12. Meanwhile, newer programs like Jason Kidd Select Team have quickly shown they are capable of making noise against the nation’s best. One of the biggest storylines through the first...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/7/2026

15u Elite Scout Notes: Days 1-2

Troy Sutherland
Article Image
Tristan Barton (‘29, TX) has struck out three over three scoreless innings of work, getting a lively FB up to 89. Mixed in a sharp vt CB w/ late bite. Operates from a projectable RH frame w/ length + room to fill. #NatElite @Texas_PG pic.twitter.com/LXfkLOtxdo — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 5, 2026 Tristan Barton (’29, Gunter, TX) turned in a strong start on Sunday, lasting four innings of one run ball, striking out four. Barton operates from a bigger lengthy right-handed frame with considerable room to fill. He starts with a mid-body handset before working to the belt and into a high compact leg lift. Barton fires down via a compact arm action and high three quarters slot. The Texas native got a run/ride fastball up to 89, living in the mid-80s throughout the outing. He mixed in a sharp 12-6 curveball with vertical depth and late bite. Jack Graviss...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/7/2026

16u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1

Jason Phillips
Article Image
Nolan Ash (2028, Ashland, Mo.) showed off the power upside for Natty State 2028. The right-handed hitter starts from a spread stance with in-line feet and a high handset with a high back elbow, utilizes a leg lift stride. Creates separation and uses a direct hand path with a slightly uphill bat plane and some feel to generate lift from the lower half. Quick hands and stays in-sync with a rotational lower half and solid bat speed. Showed the power belting a solo bomb over the left field fence. Long and lean 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame with wiry strength present and more room to fill. The shortstop has a high ceiling and feel for the barrel. Colton Dodds (2028, Columbia, Mo.) showed off the barrel feel and power upside for Natty State 2028. The right-handed hitter starts from a wide base with in-line feet and a high handset with a high back elbow, utilizes a no stride trigger. Direct hands...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/6/2026

16u WWBA Rolls Into Marietta

Will Dembo
Article Image
More than 300 of the nation’s top 16u teams will meet in East Cobb, Georgia this week as the 16u WWBA Championship gets underway. Over 50 ranked teams from across the country will compete for one of the most prestigious titles in travel baseball, drawing scouts and fans from all over. Pool play will commence on Monday, July 6th with the championship game set for July 13th at the storied East Cobb Baseball Complex. Canes National 16u will hold honors of being the top ranked team entering the event as they have earned a No. 2 national ranking following a dominant 17-2-1 start to their season. The highly touted program is home to many of the top ranked prospects from the 2028 class including talented two-way athlete, Grant Arnold (No. 12 overall) who lives in the 90’s from the mound as well as middle infielder, Bryan Mesa (No. 14 overall) who will draw lots of attention this...
Read More
College | Story | 7/6/2026

USA Collegiate National Team: Stars

Craig Cozart
Article Image
Quick Hits  Each year at the end of June and beginning of July, top collegiate baseball talent from around the nation arrives in Cary, NC at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.  Typically, the rosters are filled with top underclass, non-draft-eligible talent but this year, we will see a sprinkling of upper-classmen as the coaches evaluate just under 60 players to get to their final 28 roster spots.  For a total of two weeks, the Stars Squad and the Stripes Squad will compete against outside competition in North Carolina as well as Virginia before finishing their slate with 5-games against each other at the NTC Complex.  Once the final roster has been announced the team will depart for Taiwan to compete in the 2026 World Baseball Championships, July 11-15.    CNT Stars Position Players  Anthony Pack Jr.  FR / OF / University of Texas ...
Read More
Draft | Mock Draft | 7/6/2026

MLB Mock Draft: 4.0

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
MLB Draft: Top 500 Update Pick Team Name Pos. School 1 Chicago White Sox Roch Cholowsky SS UCLA 2 Tampa Bay Rays Grady Emerson SS Fort Worth Christian 3 Minnesota Twins Vahn Lackey C Georgia Tech 4 San Francisco Giants Jacob Lombard SS Gulliver Schools 5 Pittsburgh Pirates Jackson Flora RHP UC Santa Barbara 6 Kansas City Royals Drew Burress OF Georgia Tech 7 Baltimore Orioles Eric Booth Jr. OF Oak Grove 8 Athletics Chris Hacopian SS Texas A&M 9 Atlanta Braves Ryder Helfrick C Arkansas 10 Colorado Rockies Tyler Bell* SS Kentucky 11 Washington Nationals Jared Grindlinger LHP/OF Huntington Beach 12 Los Angeles Angels Cameron Flukey RHP Coastal Carolina 13 St. Louis Cardinals AJ Gracia OF Virginia 14 Miami Marlins Derek Curiel OF LSU 15 Arizona Diamondbacks Gio Rojas LHP Marjory Stoneman Douglas 16 Texas Rangers Liam Peterson RHP Florida 17 Houston Astros Justin Lebron SS Alabama 18...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/5/2026

13u World Series Notes: Days 1-2

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Michael Wedgeworth (2030, Flomaton, AL) had put the two way ability on full display so far this week, dominating from both sides. On the mound Wedgeworth ran the fastball up to 84 (81-83) with ease to the delivery. Broke off a couple nasty curveballs that induced swing and miss, as well as freezing hitters for punch outs. Collected six in his four inning complete game. He also would not be denied at the plate going 3-5 in the first two days with two doubles. Very intriguing young player as the body continues to grow.  Tyler Bellush (2031, Summerville, SC) is a sure handed shortstop for the Canes Nation squad. Swings it from the left side of the plate and the barrel accuracy has really stuck out thus far. 3-4 through the first couple days with a double and two triples, Bellush has also walked twice and collected 3 RBI along the way. Yesterday against USA Prime with the bases loaded,...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/4/2026

16u WWBA North Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Oliver Lindstrom (2028, Green Bay, WI) created some of the loudest offensive moments of the weekend while producing across the board, finishing with six hits, eight RBI, and a home run. The right-handed hitter showed the ability to stay through the baseball and drive it with authority. Creates quality leverage through the lower half while arriving in strong hitting positions early, allowing the barrel to work with intent through the zone. The blend of power, athleticism, and all-fields impact stood out throughout the event.  Dominic Haigh (2028, South Bend, IN) was one of the most productive hitters at the event, collecting 10 hits while consistently creating pressure on opposing defenses. Made life difficult on pitchers with a relentless approach, routinely extending at-bats and forcing them to work deep into counts. The operation remains simple and efficient, featuring an early...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/4/2026

West Region Rankings Risers: Class of 2028

Joey Cohen
Article Image
After a heavy stretch of early summer looks, our scouting staff felt confident rolling out an updated ‘28 national ranking a couple weeks ago. The evaluation window was packed whether it was with our Memorial Day and Summer Kickoff tournaments, UBC action, Sunshine Showcases, and of course the Junior National Showcase which all provided a deep and diverse look at the class against strong competition. Between fresh game evaluations and updated showcase data, we were able to get a clearer picture of where players stand and more importantly how they’ve progressed. Improvements in strength, athleticism, and overall skill were evident across the board giving our staff real conviction when it came time to shuffle the board. With that in mind, I wanted to highlight a handful of west region prospects who made a strong impression on me this summer and earned a well-deserved jump in...
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2026 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.