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Tournaments  | Story | 6/19/2021

NEB Comes Back For More at 18u BCS

Sam Warren
Photo: Hunter Carns (Perfect Game)
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- As BCS season gets underway on Florida’s Gulf Coast, 24 teams from across the country began to vie for the coveted 18u BCS National Championship on Friday morning. While this is many squads’ first major tournament together, one team is not only experienced, but has championship history in the BCS.
 
Northeast Baseball National enters this year’s 18u BCS National Championship confident. Not only did they make it to the championship game of last weekend’s Perfect Game 18u National Elite Championship in Hoover, Ala., but they enter the BCS as reigning champions, winning the 18u division in 2020. While many of the players on the championship roster were 2020 graduates and are off in college ball, NEB still retains a few experienced players from last year’s squad. Dakota Stone, one of the players who carries over from last year’s roster, says this year’s team might be even better.
 
“We’ve got a lot of dudes,” Stone said. “We’ve got a lot of hard workers. This team definitely has a lot more power than last year’s team, and we’ve got some big bats that can mash.”
 
Among those “dudes” include Stone himself, the 108th-ranked player in the class of 2022 and a Jacksonville commit, as well as 2021 top-500 players Joey Spence (Notre Dame commit), Logan Maxwell (TCU commit), Jack Cebert (South Florida commit), Orlando Pena (Coastal Carolina commit) and Ty Batusich (Western Kentucky commit). Hunter Carns, the 101st-ranked player in the 2024 class, also joins his older counterparts on the BCS roster. As they entered the tournament, Stone had some words of advice as an experienced champion for the newcomers.
 
“We just have to battle every inning,” Stone said. “It’s hard to stay in the game for these six games and into the semifinals and championship. If we stay locked in, we have a good shot.”
 
To begin their quest to repeat as champions, NEB put on a good showing. Going 2-0 in their first day of pool play, the Hudson, Mass.-based team beat the South Florida Braves, 16-5, in their first game and Gametime Prospects 18u Black, 9-6, in their second. After a successful day on the field, head coach Steven Barnes said his players were completing the tasks at hand.
 
“Our guys are doing what they are supposed to do,” Barnes said. “They are doing what they are capable of. It’s just a matter of consistency and everyone doing their job.”
 
NEB came out hot to start their weekend. After drawing a leadoff walk, Maxwell advanced to third base on a balk and passed ball. Brennan Baker then walked as well, setting up Elijah Dukes with runners on the corners. Dukes rose to the occasion, pulling an RBI single to right field, plating Maxwell and the game’s first run. An errant throw then allowed Baker to score and set up Batusich to drive home Santiago Barcelo with an RBI double. Batusich finished off the scoring in the first, scampering home on a wild pitch and giving NEB a 4-0 lead to begin the game.
 
NEB kept their foot on the gas in the second. After Austin Turja lined a single to center, Maxwell clobbered a homer to deep right-center, extending the NEB lead to six. 
 
Adding one run in the third on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, NEB stayed on the attack in the fourth as Maxwell drove an RBI triple to left field, scoring Turja, who led off with another hit by pitch. Baker returned the favor for Maxwell, plating him with an RBI triple of his own. Dukes then kept the line moving, shooting an RBI double to center to score Baker. After Batusich walked, Dannon Smith drove home Baker with an RBI single. The NEB onslaught continued as Batusich scored on a wild pitch, then Stone plated Smith giving the squad six runs in the inning. By the time the fourth had ended, NEB had mounted a 13-0 lead. Barnes said he was proud of the way his bats performed against the Braves.
 
“We had some timely hitting,” Barnes said. “Some of our guys had huge days at the plate. We just played hard and hit the ball well.”
 
However, NEB pitching struggled to find the zone in the bottom of the inning, allowing the Braves to stage a four-run comeback. NEB quickly answered back in the fifth, as Maxwell lined a leadoff single and Carns poked an RBI double to deep left, scoring Maxwell. After a Dukes single loaded the bases, Barcelo finished the NEB offensive output, slapping a two-RBI single to center. While the Braves got back one run in the inning, Dukes struck out two batters in the fifth to close out the game, finishing off a 16-5 NEB win.
 
Despite their dominant performance in their first game, NEB ran into some struggles in their second against Gametime Prospects 18u Black. After both offenses stayed silent through the third, the Gametime offense exploded in the top of the fourth, posting six runs in the inning. While Gametime’s rally was a punch in the mouth, Barnes never lost confidence in his squad.
 
“We kind of expected a comeback,” Barnes said. “We were barrelling balls the first three innings. They were just going right at them. We knew we were bound to find holes and have a big inning.”
 
The crooked number may have been the inspiration the NEB offense needed, however, as they came alive in the bottom of the inning. Maxwell kicked it off with a leadoff single, and after stealing second, he scored on a misplayed Baker ground ball to third. Then, after Dukes blooped a single over third, Barcelo poked an RBI single into shallow left to score Baker. On the next pitch, Batusich shot an RBI double to deep center, putting him and Barcelo in scoring position. Smith then took advantage, lining a two-RBI double to left. Finally, Owen Boyce strung together another RBI double to complete the rally, tying the game at six and evening the game back up. Stone believes that the early deficit was what his team needed to knock off their complacency at the plate.
 
“We got down 6-0, and we all knew that we had to start picking up things,” Stone said. “Logan Maxwell started with a barrel, and we just kept going on from there.”
 
While both sides quieted in the fifth, the NEB bats clutched up in the sixth. Dukes reached on an error to lead off the inning and was later moved over on a Batusich single to center. After the duo completed a double steal, Smith delivered when it mattered most, smacking a single that scored Dukes, Batusich and himself after some poor Gametime defense. With a newfound three-run lead, Baker struck out two in the seventh and closed down a 9-6 win for NEB. As their offense clicked into gear, Stone says that the team developed a next-man-up mentality.
 
“We just wanted to keep passing the bat and keep the thing going,” Stone said. “We just rallied and rallied and believed in each other. We just kept picking, getting on base no matter what, and that led us to get that win.”
 
As the team’s BCS play furthers down the line, Barnes knows that NEB will have a target on their back for their current and past success. Barnes believes that his team’s name is circled on many schedules, but he knows that that won’t phase his roster or their championship hopes.
 
“Everybody is after us,” Barnes said. “We like that, and we’re looking forward to that. We know we’re the team to beat here and that whoever wants the championship has to come through us.”
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Tournaments | Story | 6/19/2026

14u WWBA Returns to Hoover
Kinley Kitchens
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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...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/19/2026

UBC West Scout Notes: Days 5-7

Perfect Game Staff
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UBC West Scout Notes: Days 1-2 | Days 3-4 Impressive performance on both sides from Cole Migaki, working 5 and striking out 3 w/o allowing a walk for the ND. FB 81-83 T85, BB 73-74 #UBCWest https://t.co/nSIx0UVQY7 pic.twitter.com/t2zXIpPLCO — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) June 16, 2026 Cole Migaki (2029, Vancouver, Wash.) Migaki is a high-end prospect, putting that on display with one of the more consistent performances at the 15u UBC West.  He totaled five hits, drove in four and walked six times to only two strike outs to help lead the Baum Bats to the title.  He has a projectable frame 6-foot-1, 170-pounds with strength throughout.  The right-hander made an appearance on the mound, throwing five-innings and striking out three without allowing a walk.  The fastball was up to 86 with run and coupled it with a sharp breaking ball in the...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/19/2026

Road to the 2026 17U BCS Title

Emily Hicks
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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...
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Draft | Rankings | 6/19/2026

PG Draft: Top 500 Update

Tyler Henninger
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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...
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Softball | Softball Tournament | 6/18/2026

PG Softball Stars Over Florida Showcase 14U Division

Erica Beach
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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...
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Softball | Softball Tournament | 6/18/2026

PG Aggieland Showcase

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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...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/18/2026

Big Talent on Display at City of Palms

Alyssa Golden
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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...
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Softball | Softball Tournament | 6/17/2026

Perfect Game Softball Route 66 Summer Showcase

Dave Durbala
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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...
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Juco | Story | 6/18/2026

PG JUCO Awards & Final Top 25

Blaine Peterson
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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...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/18/2026

150 Teams Set to Battle at SE Select

Will Dembo
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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...
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