THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,469 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,469 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story | 6/25/2021

Canes make claim at 15u MW Elite

Jeff Dahn
Photo: Jack Brown (Perfect Game)

MARION, Iowa – With the easily recognizable gold block “C” on their caps and the script “Canes” scrawled across their chests, the players on the Canes Midwest team competing this weekend at the Perfect Game WWBA 15u Midwest Elite Championship couldn’t help but exude an air of confidence.

They gathered Friday morning at the Prospect Meadows Sports Complex just north of here ready to live up to the expectations that wearing the “Canes” name brings while also being fully aware of the challenges that lie in store as they take on this strong 36-team field. That name and that logo can serve to represent one big black-and-gold target.



“I feel that way a lot, especially when we get to the games we’re always facing somebody’s best (pitcher),” Canes Midwest 2024 catcher/infielder Hogan Denny told PG on Friday, referencing the target analogy. “But at the end of the day I feel like that if we just play our (game) the target really doesn’t mean much just as long as we play to the best of our ability as a team.”

Denny’s teammate, 2024 catcher/first baseman JT Stiner, shared the same thoughts: “Having that ‘C’ on our hat, it’s just another bullseye,” he told PG. “It will help (get us up) against the better competition and it will make us better in the end.”

The work is just beginning for this 15u team, although the Canes made it look easy in a 15-0, three-inning drubbing of the Rawlings Tigers Quad Cities in their tournament opener. They totaled just six hits (to go with eight walks) in the win, with nationally No. 298-ranked 2024 right-hander/outfielder Jack Brown contributing a pair of singles and scoring twice.

“I’m excited to see what these other teams are (like); it’s been awhile since I’ve played with a travel team,” Brown said. “I’m excited to be playing out here.”

2024 infielder/right-hander Luke Jackson doubled, drove in two runs and scored another, while ’23 infielder/righthander Luke Harmon contributed a single, two RBI and a run; ’23 righty/third-baseman Jobe Smith singled, drove in a run and scored.

The fivesome of Stiner, Noah Coy, Casen Murphy, Josh Ferguson and Tyler Inge went a combined 0-for-5 but got on base often enough to combine for four RBI and eight runs scored.

PG ranks Denny and Smith as top-1,000 prospects in the 2024 class, an age-group that scouts are just starting to put in clearer focus. 2023 infielder Cooper Thompson is ranked as a “high follow” while Inge comes in as a “follow.”

“We have very good camaraderie between all of us; we interact very well,” JT Stiner said. “That chemistry will probably help us in the long term and help us win in the future. … I’m really excited to actually have most of our team back and we’ll be able to compete better now. We’ve just got to lock-in mentally and we’ll be fine.”

Canes Midwest fits comfortably under the expansive umbrella of Fredericksburg, Va.-based Canes Baseball, one of the nation’s most prominent and prestigious travel ball organizations with its flagship Canes National and Canes American programs.

It is one of the organization’s flourishing regional affiliates with this particular 15u entrant based in Westfield, Ind.; its roster is built almost exclusively with Indiana high school players from the class of 2024.

Due to its proximity, the Canes Midwest spend a lot of time playing locally at the Grant Park Sports Campus, a complex in Westfield, Ind., which boasts 26 baseball fields.

“None of us had been here to this facility so we were looking forward to coming over to a new (park),” head coach Rick Stiner, TJ’s dad, told PG on Friday. “Having 26 diamonds right in your backyard you don’t get to get out much to Perfect Game events but we’re actually planning on playing in three Perfect Game events this year. We’re wanting to explore and get out a little more in the Perfect Game world rather than just hanging out in the Indiana world.”

Rick Stiner, who coached the Indiana Bulls 2024 Black to a final-four finish at the 2020 PG 14u World Series, acknowledges there are some solid young prospects on this Canes Midwest team but was quick to add – with a smile – that at this age “prospects are still suspects.”

It is the job of he and his assistant coaches to prepare these young players for the game beyond high school and to that end Stiner has assembled a pretty impressive staff, including three members that played professionally during their careers:

Brandon Inge, an All-Star third baseman for the Detroit Tigers who played all or parts of 13 big-league seasons and is Tyler Inge’s dad. Derek Root spent seven seasons in the minor leagues and Stiner himself was minor-leaguer for two seasons.

“Our job is to prepare them for the next level and teach them how to play the game the right way,” Stiner said. “Hopefully then scouts will see their tools and they’ll also understand that they’re coming from a good organization that has taught them to play the game the right way.”

The annual assessment of a specific travel ball team can be difficult because each year features a different team with a different chemistry and makeup. Stiner did get a good look at this group while playing recently in a non-PG tournament in the Atlanta-area where it went up against several prominent teams from the Southeast.

“These guys seem to be gritty; they have good baseball IQs,” Coach Stiner said. “They play the game the right way but at the same time, I demand that. We do have a lot of talent that colleges are interested in … and the competition here is going to be really good. The facility is great and the competition will be great so it will be a great weekend.”

There are challenges for every coaching staff at these four-day tournaments, especially when it comes to following the MLB Pitch Smart guidelines. For a team like the Canes Midwest 15u which arrived harboring the goal of leaving with the championship, coaches have to almost work backwards from where they want to be: playing in the final game on Monday.

That’s the expectation and as Coach Stiner told PG, one of the team’s sayings is “We’re in it to win it.” To follow through, the coaches need to do a good job of managing both the pitching staff and the every-day lineup just to put these guys in the best position to win – and then win again.

“I want to hit the ball hard and throw strikes when I pitch,” the two-way prospect Brown said of his approach entering the event. “We’re going to try our best to win, play hard and give our effort every single game we play. Hit it hard, make the plays we need to in the field, and no walks.”

That was a message Brown has obviously heard repeatedly from his head coach. Stiner told PG early Friday that regardless of the level at which you’re playing the game, the mantra “walks and errors kill” rings as loud as a Mississippi State’s fan cowbell. “If we can keep our walks and errors down, we’ll bang the ball around the yard; we’ll score some runs,” he said.

The top-1,000 Denny did sound a cautionary tone, however: “We can’t look at a team and take them lightly; it’s just playing every team like it’s the best team in the country. Just taking every game serious and playing to the best of our ability.”

And with that, these kids from Indiana will continue to carry themselves in a way that will make the Canes Baseball organization proud with the hope of maybe one day moving through the ranks to join the powerhouse Canes National and Canes American programs.

The most pressing order of business at the moment is taking home the title at the PG WWBA 15u Midwest Elite Championship so they can fly that Canes banner high over the surrounding Northeast Iowa farm fields.

“I think at this age they definitely understand that it’s an honor to wear this ‘C’ and to be affiliated with one of the best organizations in travel baseball; I think there’s a lot of pride in it,” Coach Stiner said. “There are a lot of guys that traveled a long distance to play on this team (and) if it wasn’t an honor they wouldn’t make that commitment; their parents wouldn’t spend that time and money to do that. So I think they all understand it’s a huge honor to be able to be affiliated with the Canes.”
Give us your feedback
Tournaments | Story | 6/12/2026

AZ All-State Ready to Take Place
Emily Hicks
Article Image
This weekend, eight teams will head to Goodyear Ballpark for the 2026 PG Arizona All-State tournament, setting the stage for what should be an exciting few days of baseball. With teams traveling from across the city, the field will be packed with talent and plenty of championship contenders. Among the teams competing in 16U are AZ Select, Marucci Athletics 2028 Grannis, Overfly 2028, Phoenix Phillies, Team Dinger 2028, T-Rex East Valley, USA Scout Team AZ 16U, and West Coast Ghost AZ 16U. Each team enters the weekend with its own strengths and goals, creating several intriguing storylines to follow throughout pool play and bracket action. One of the biggest teams to watch this weekend will be 10-10, T-Rex East Valley. Whether it's dominant pitching, high-powered offenses, or strong defensive play, T-Rex East Valley has already shown they can compete at a high level this season. A few...
Read More
College | Story | 6/11/2026

Collegiate Freshman All-Americans

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
Collegiate Postseason Awards | Collegiate All Americans First Team Hitters Pos. Name School Class AVG OBP SLG R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB C Alonzo Alvarez Miami FR 0.341 0.439 0.551 40 57 13 2 6 32 3 1B Ethin Bingaman Auburn FR 0.330 0.415 0.581 60 71 9 0 15 50 4 2B Ethan Ball Virginia Tech FR 0.310 0.420 0.660 43 63 18 1 17 52 3 3B Nico Partida Texas A&M FR 0.306 0.408 0.550 45 55 8 0 12 43 4 SS Jett Kenady California FR 0.320 0.350 0.573 36 66 17 1 11 34 1 IF Linkin Garcia Texas Tech FR 0.338 0.387 0.489 53 78 21 1 4 59 1 OF Angel Laya Oregon FR 0.296 0.396 0.538 49 66 10 1 14 47 5 OF Anthony Pack Jr. Texas FR 0.359 0.485 0.597 58 74 16 0 11 52 20 OF Jacob Parker* Mississippi State FR 0.339 0.449 0.732 51 57 10 1 18 62 7 OF Teddy Tokheim Stanford FR 0.352 0.414 0.704 40 70 19 0 17 47 0 UT Drew Grego Nebraska FR 0.326 0.417 0.531 33 57 13 1 7 44 5 DH Enzo Infelise Cincinnati FR 0.374...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/11/2026

PG East WWBA to Get Underway

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
One of the summer’s premier events returns to the Hoover area this week as the 2026 Perfect Game East WWBA Championship gets underway. Now in its seventh year, the event has become a staple on the summer travel baseball calendar, bringing together some of the top organizations and prospects from across the country. A total of 132 teams will compete across three age divisions, including 38 teams in the 15U division, 48 teams in the 16U division, and 46 teams in the 17U division. Past champions include organizations such as Top Gun Team Alabama, EBC, USA Prime Alabama, and defending champion USA Prime Southeast 15U. As always, the tournament field features some of the nation’s top-ranked players. In the 15U division, all eyes will be on Alabama right-hander Tristan Blalock, the No. 23 ranked player nationally in the 2029 class and the top ranked player in Alabama. Blalock...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 6/11/2026

Team Elite Takes Another PG Elite

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
After capturing last year’s championship, Team Elite Scout 14U returned to Hoover looking to prove their success was no fluke. Four days later, they accomplished exactly that. Behind strong pitching, timely hitting, and the confidence that has defined the team throughout the tournament, Team Elite Scout 14U defeated SBA Bolts National 14U to claim the 2026 PG 14U National Elite Championship and secure back-to-back titles. “It’s awesome,” Team Elite Coach Blankenship said. “This is our first event of the year, so it’s good to get it to start with them, and they won it last year, so I know they are excited to do that back-to-back, so it’s pretty awesome.” The championship game showcased many of the same qualities that carried Team Elite through the tournament. Ryan Johnson delivered 4.1 scoreless innings on the mound, allowing just two hits...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/11/2026

Lonestar Finds Success with the Beast

Will Dembo
Article Image
Following an exciting weekend filled with standout performances at the 17u Beast of the East Invitational, Lonestar Baseball Club National capped off its impressive run by earning co-champion honors after the championship game was cut short due to inclement weather with a 6-4 score in their favor. Lonestar's strong start to the summer was fueled by dominant pitching performances and an explosive offensive attack throughout the lineup.  “It was definitely fun to see our boys compete the way they did against solid competition and have the success they did,” Lonestar National head coach Brad Dydalewicz said. “It was a great team effort to start the summer season. This team is a special group of ball players and spectacular young men that play hard and compete their tails off. They enjoy playing together and have a ton of fun on the field. It makes it fun to coach for...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/11/2026

SE Summer Showdown Preview

Will Dembo
Article Image
East Cobb will host some of the top teams from near and far as over 100 different teams spanning the 13-18u age divisions will compete for a championship at the PG Southeast Summer Showdown to help their summer start strong. The highly anticipated premier Perfect Game event will commence with pool play on Thursday, June 11th while champions will be crowned on Monday, July 15th. The 13u Major division will be the youngest age group competing this weekend, but the talent will still be on full display. Doc Baseball American headlines the 11-team tournament, entering the weekend as the top ranked team in the Southeast Region, and the No. 7 team nationally. 14u will play as another major tournament and will feature three nationally ranked teams, including the No. 8 ranked 13u squad, East Cobb Astros 13u, who will compete in an older division for the second time this year. The No. 27 and No....
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/11/2026

Midwest Elite Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Adan Rojas (2027, Streamwood, Ill.) turned in one of the more dominant pitching performances of the weekend, striking out 10 over 5 innings while consistently dictating at-bats. The fastball worked 77–80 mph, topping at 82, and he showed the ability to elevate and miss bats when needed. His slider at 67–70 mph played as a real separator pitch, generating uncomfortable swings and late decisions. Showed strong tempo on the mound and never allowed hitters to settle in rhythm. What stood out most was his ability to maintain attack mode while still showing feel for sequencing.   Cruz Jaramillo (2030, Mount Pleasant, Wisc.) brought consistent energy to the lineup all weekend and was a tough out from start to finish. Finished with 8 hits over the tournament. The swing is compact with a strong intent to impact, and he does a nice job staying on time with his stride. When he...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/10/2026

Top Prospects Set to Shine at Florida WS

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
The Florida World Series returns to Fort Myers this weekend, bringing together teams from across the state for one of Florida’s premier summer events. The four-day tournament will feature competition in the 14U through 18U age divisions as teams battle for a World Series championship. From June 11-14, some of Florida’s top prospects will take the field looking to lead their teams to a title. The 18U division features some of the tournament’s top talent, including five players ranked among the top 500 prospects nationally, three of whom play for Swamp Baseball. Outfielders Nicholas Raber and Austin Schoolcraft along with right-hand pitcher Tyler Reeder will play for Swamp Baseball. Raber is a Fort Myers native and is committed to John Melvin Christian College. He has been one of Swamp’s top offensive contributors this season. The outfielder owns a .873 OPS with...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/11/2026

Organizational Champ. Scout Notes

Quinton Hall
Article Image
Ernesto “AJ” Juarez (‘30 | AZ) Smooth LHH - Handles the bottom part of the zone, grabbing 2 doubles & 2RBI for Desert Ghost National ⚡️#OrgChamp pic.twitter.com/EF1qEET7yH — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) June 5, 2026 Ernesto "AJ" Juarez (2030 | Chandler, AZ) The 6-foot-2, 185-pound left-handed hitter and pitcher put together a strong all-around weekend for Desert Ghost National, consistently producing at the plate while also showing value on the mound. He finished 7-for-13 with four RBI, six runs scored, and multiple extra-base hits, including three doubles, while maintaining steady contact throughout the event. Juarez showed a balanced offensive profile with gap-to-gap production and the ability to drive the baseball in key situations. On the mound, he also contributed innings with a solid left-handed look, attacking hitters and competing with...
Read More
College | Story | 6/10/2026

Collegiate All-Americans

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
Collegiate Postseason Awards First Team Hitters Pos. Name School Class AVG OBP SLG R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB C Vahn Lackey Georgia Tech JR .397 .519 .772 85 87 16 3 20 78 15 1B Tague Davis Louisville SO .355 .443 .848 68 82 10 1 34 98 4 2B Jarren Advincula Georgia Tech JR .434 .503 .629 74 111 16 2 10 66 16 3B Ace Reese Mississippi State JR .336 .432 .721 73 83 23 0 24 74 1 SS Roch Cholowsky UCLA JR .320 .452 .636 73 74 10 0 20 60 1 IF Tyson Leblanc Kansas JR .341 .425 .706 64 87 12 3 25 69 11 OF Drew Burress Georgia Tech JR .358 .473 .657 82 91 22 3 16 60 10 OF Landon Hairston Arizona State SO .400 .509 .860 82 94 20 2 28 81 11 OF Caden Sorrell Texas A&M JR .341 .434 .743 67 77 20 1 23 76 11 UT Quinton Coats Cincinnati SO .339 .430 .738 62 84 13 1 28 79 10 DH Daniel Jackson* Georgia JR .389 .492 .809 86 100 13 1 31 86 29 TWP Evan Dempsey FGCU JR .333 .412 .536 57 79 18 0 10 46 15 First...
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.