THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,402 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,402 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story | 6/26/2021

Energy, emotion lift AZWE Rawlings

Jeff Dahn
Photo: AZWE Rawlings 2023 (Perfect Game)

MARION, Iowa – On a rainy and relatively cool late June morning at the Prospect Meadows Sports Complex Saturday, the infusion of massive amounts of energy, emotion, enthusiasm and excitement brought to the park by a team that calls the Arizona desert its home was an entirely welcome diversion.

Make no mistake, the atmosphere inside both quads at The Meadows was outstanding, as dozens of teams competed at both the Perfect Game WWBA 16u North Championship and the PG WWBA 15u Midwest Elite championship.



It’s just that there was something special about the obvious joy the Gilbert-based AZWE Rawlings 2023 displayed both on the field and in the dugout during a pair of games Saturday at the WWBA 16u North. There was plenty of banter, chatter, words of encouragement and just that general sense of joy they brought to the fore.

It all started with head coach Ryan Lewis, who offered his words from the third-base coaches’ box when his boys were hitting, shouting out proclamations like, “Fire up the engines! Let’s go!” After one play, he turned to an interested observer whom he had just met, smiled ear-to-ear and yelled, “Old school, baby, old school!” To call it refreshing simply doesn’t provide enough oomph! Uplifting or even satisfying might be better adjectives to use.

“We stay loud the whole time; we’re a fired-up baseball team and we know we play dirty,” Lewis told PG on Saturday before offering clarification on that last comment. “At home we play on dirt fields and we wear white jerseys; we have stains all over our white jerseys. You’ll know when you see us at 3 o’clock and we’re three games deep that we’re never going to quit, we’re never going to stop; we’re going to fight you until the … daylight goes out.”

AZWE Rawlings 2023 kept the fight up for as long as was necessary in its two victories Saturday on its way towards a pool championship and a potentially high playoff seed on Sunday. It’s interesting that neither game resembled the other with the exception of the outcome and the guys who were swinging the hot bats.

The Rawlings 2023s needed a five-run fourth to erase a three-run deficit on their way to a 6-4 win over USA Prime Colorado Quarton 2023 out of Centennial – another team that did some traveling to get here.

They scored their six runs on six hits, with Cole Reece stroking a double and driving in three runs. Jacob Gonzalez; Eathen Rush and Bryce Fleming all singled and drove in a run. Four pitchers combined on a six-inning, eight-strikeout five-hitter with righty Austin Graffius striking out three and walking two in a scoreless, albeit tense, sixth inning.

“The win was very good for us; it’s what we came all the way up here for,” Reece told PG before commenting on the team’s change of scenery and the rain that fell most of the morning. “For me it comes pretty easy (to adjust) because I like playing in colder weather as opposed to the heat. But the heat is always good, too.”

The desert dogs didn’t fool around in the second game of the day Saturday afternoon, racing to an 11-0, five-inning win over the Pirates 16u out of Fenton, Mo.

AZWE totaled nine hits in that win with Rush contributing a triple, single, three RBI and two runs scored and Fleming adding a double, single, two RBI and two runs. Reece also singled and doubled, scoring a run, and Buddy King had a single and an RBI.

Brody Klenner, a 2023 right-hander, was very good on the windy afternoon, throwing a five-inning two-hitter while letting his defense do its job behind him – he recorded just one punch-out.

So what was it that brought this team all the way to a PG event in Eastern Iowa in the first place? Perhaps the simplest explanation is that the AZWE Rawlings 2023s just like to hit the road, especially now that travel has opened back up across the country.

They started the 2021 PG season with a mid-January trip to Tomball, Texas, where they competed at the PG Sophomore South MLK Championship. Following that excursion, the Rawlings 2023s then headed even farther east to Palmyra, Pa., to take part in the PG Super25 Central PA Super Qualifier June 4-6.

AZWE’s next trip was here for the WWBA 16u North Championship. From here they’ll eventually make their way to Marietta, Ga., where they’ll perform at the blockbuster WWBA 16u National Championship from July 15-22.

“Weeks before we leave, we’re all excited to come out and play,” top-500 2023 left-hander/first baseman Bradyn Barnes said Saturday. “Even in Georgia, I can’t even wait to go there and hang out with everybody – it’s so fun. You’re with your friends, so what’s not fun about that? You’re visiting someplace new and getting to play some baseball and even check out some (colleges) while you’re at it.”

Coach Lewis acknowledged that the West Coast is filled with more talented teams and top competition than can almost be unimaginable but he wants his players to get the full baseball experience by visiting other regions of country.

Iowa just seemed like a perfect destination in that regard. AZWE Rawlings was originally scheduled to open play here late Friday night but that game was pushed back to Saturday morning. Had they played Friday, they would have been treated to high heat and humidity with intermittent rain showers.

Saturday morning arrived with fairly steady rain showers, some wind and much cooler temperatures, providing the players with a nice little microcosm of typical June weather here amongst the farm fields. You know, sunshine and high humidity levels combined with a wet playing surface where the infields are turf and outfields are natural grass.

“It gives them an opportunity to be looked at by colleges and get evaluated in other parts of the country other than just the West Coast,” Lewis said. “From a West Coast standpoint, it’s a highly competitive environment. So a lot of these guys are going to have a chance at playing at a great school in the Midwest or the East Coast because the West Coast-style of play is well-received in other parts of the country.”

The players, almost exclusively from the class of 2023, come from the southeast corner of the Phoenix’s  Valley of the Sun, with the hometowns of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and San Tan Valley the most prevalent on the roster.

By Lewis’ account, the core of this group has been playing together since they were 9 years old, saying that unless a player does something particularly egregious, he’ll never be cut. A casual observer might look at the team name and just see the four letters A-Z-W-E and correctly assume that the AZ stands for Arizona. The W-E? Well, that’s just what it is: “We” as in us. So the name is pronounced “AZ-WE”.

There’s a little more to the name, though. The program started as a sports foundation called AZ Winning Edge with four men, including Lewis, donating money in an effort to help kids who couldn’t afford to play competitive sports. From there, and with children of their own, they got into coaching.

With the program starting with a group of boys and their families who demonstrated tremendous compatibility, the coaches got busy teaching the game at the highest level possible.

“We spend a lot of time on small-ball,” Lewis said. “Every guy on our team pitches so every guy will get on the mound and give you 80 pitches and seven pitches if you need it. And every guy learns how to play infield and outfield, every guy knows how to bunt and we’ve got four or five guys that can switch-hit.”

There are stipulations that come with membership to this group. The young players are required to do 40 hours of community service every year and to maintain a 3.3 GPA or they’ll be sitting.

They are also asked to take on the obligation known as “giving back” The teenagers help with teams for handicap kids and people with disabilities that comes through camps sponsored by the AZWE program (there is no cost; everything is funded through donations, including the program itself).

“We’re all as close as brothers can be,” Reece said. “We’re way comfortable with each other and we’re able to trust each other on and off the field. We don’t always expect a win but we always expect to do our best and we never give up. … It’s been a great experience (with AZWE); it’s the best team I’ve ever been on.”

This is a squad not lacking for a certain level of star-power, with several of its top guys already being recognized in PG’s class of 2023 prospect rankings.

The most high-profile is the aforementioned Bradyn Barnes, a top-500 left-hander/first baseman who has committed to Arizona State, making him the only rostered prospect with a commitment to date; the outfielder/middle-infielder Eathen Rush is also ranked as a top-500. Ten other players are listed as “High Follow” or “Follow” meaning they’re definitely on the rise in the collective eye of the PG scouting department.

With this group having been together for six or seven years now – and with 13 of the 20 players on the official roster classmates and teammates at Highland High School in Gilbert – the coaches really don’t have to say a whole lot to promote that feeling of brotherhood. The only conversations center on getting after it out on the field.

“We talk about competing; we talk about fighting for each other and playing for each other,” Lewis said. “If you go out on the field and give 110 percent of everything you have and respect the game, things will work out; that’s what we focus on. … It’s the game of baseball and you’ve got to take what it gives you.”

Added Reece: “In the dugout, we’re always being talked to by Coach about the things that we should do. If we make an error on the field we always get talked to, just so we can learn what we can do better.”

Getting back to the travel aspect of this ongoing adventure, Lewis said they never enter the airways without some sort of pre-trip planning. As an example, they start preparing about three days in advance of a trip for the inevitable time zone changes. The players and coaches will start going to bed at night and waking up in the morning much earlier than usual to acclimate their body clocks to what lies ahead.

Lewis also doesn’t worry about these guys being physically taxed by having to adjust to different weather scenarios because they do a lot of conditioning, a lot of running and, in Lewis’ words, a lot of “pushing the envelope” so when they do get in tough spots they won’t miss a beat.

It boils down to a one simple determining factor: These guys want to play ballgames, and if they have to be on a field at 6 a.m. or 10 p.m. or whenever, it just doesn’t matter. Wet ball or dry ball? It just doesn’t matter.

“For us, we’re all about teaching these guys how to make memories,” Lewis said. “So being on the airplane together, being in the hotel together spending time around each other – it’s important to develop that camaraderie, that brotherhood. If you go play college baseball or professional baseball, you know what that looks like versus a disjointed team.”

At the same time, adjustments will need to be made based on circumstances, like those that arose this weekend. These are kids who live in a desert climate and while they may experience a two-to-three week monsoon season in late July/early August, they’re not used to having raindrops falling on their heads.

“I’d would say you definitely have to change for these rainy days,” Barnes said. “Being down there in desert it’s never really rainy and you’re not used to the wet turf and sliding around, and it’s super sweaty. If your hand is damp the ball is harder to grip, especially when you’re pitching, so it’s way different and something you have to get used to.”

The guys with AZWE Rawlings 2023 have adapted well to the Midwest weather conditions, with the hope they won’t have to learn about tornadoes anytime soon. But mostly they’ve brought an extra dose of emotion, energy and excitement to an event that wouldn’t have been lacking in that regard to begin with but certainly welcomed the boost.

As a proud, unapologetic believer in old-school baseball who respects the history of the game perhaps more than anything else, Lewis didn’t hesitate when asked what he hopes his players take away from these experiences. And not only here in Iowa but in all the other spots they put their boots on the ground.

“That baseball is America’s pastime. It doesn’t matter what state you live in; it doesn’t matter where you were born, it’s a birth-rite,” he said. “Every one of these guys are out here playing the game that they love and you need to play the child’s game as long as you can. Don’t take for granted every second that you get to have cleats strapped to your feet. Don’t take it for granted; enjoy every second of it.”
Give us your feedback
Tournaments | Story | 10/27/2026

Beyond the Board: SS Malachi Butler
Tyler Henninger
Article Image
As the 2027 draft cycle moves through the fall and into the offseason, we kick off a new series called Beyond The Board. With each installment, we will provide an in-depth scouting report for some of the top players in the class, breaking down their tools, strengths, question marks, and overall projection. This week we take a look at Georgia prep shortstop Malachi Butler. The Georgia Tech put together an outstanding showing on the circuit this summer and has been a significant riser early in the 2027 cycle.  Player: Malachi Butler Position: SS B/T: L/R Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 190-pounds School: McEachern HS Hometown: Powder Springs, Ga.  Physical Description: 6-2/190. Strong, athletic build. Well-proportioned body. Has strength with room to continue to add more.    High speed BP swing from '27 SS Malachi Butler (GA)... #PGNational @PG_Georgia https://t.co/M9OWUX9rPw...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 10/27/2026

South Fall World Series Scout Notes

Jay Vossler
Article Image
Kason Mead (2029, Spring, Texas) had a great weekend for Premier Baseball Donato 2029. Went 5-9 with a pair of doubles and a home run, driving in five without striking out. Physical frame with a lot more strength on the way. Impressive bat speed that attacks the top of the zone well. Works to all fields consistently and the profile indicates that he’ll be able to build off that with more impact. Lot to like, should be a riser as he goes into his sophomore season. Sterling McCormack (2029, Magnolia, Texas) performed well for Premier Baseball Donato 2029. Reached four times, including a double. Gains ground well on the stride, using his physicality to his advantage as he stays on an uphill plane, geared for slug. Plenty of strength at the point of impact. Landon Hardy (2029, Spring, Texas) had a strong showing for Scorpions Team Easton 2029. Went 4-11 with a double and homer, driving...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 10/27/2026

WWBA Freshman Prospect Recap

Jheremy Brown
Article Image
Stars Being Stars These are some of the more well-known names on the national landscape, playing across several big events in which they performed at the highest of levels. Their showings in West Palm were simply a continuation of what we've almost come to expect at this point from them!  Kolt Hampton (2030, Chandler, AZ) is a left-handed hitting infielder with present barrel speed and twitch in the turn. Turned around an upper 80s heater that plated two runs in the first inning of the quarterfinals and never looked back. Also got it done on the rubber punching out three and topping out at 86. The number one player in Arizona produced all week and took care of business defensively.  Landen Davis (2030, Beaufort, SC) showed up at the dish this event hitting .500 with four doubles and five RBIs. Stays tight in the turn with present strength and the approach plays to all fields....
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 10/24/2026

SBA Takes 14u Title Behind Offense

Jheremy Brown
Article Image
To say there were standouts all over the field for the 14u WWBA World Championship would be an understatement as the matchup of Team Elite 14u Scout and SBA Bolts National 14u saw two of the more loaded rosters going head-to-head with a title on the line. And after weather threw a giant wrench into pool play, both Sunday and Monday were nothing but sunshine and high intensity baseball leading into the final game of the event.  While the game ultimately ended via run rule after five in favor of SBA upon a 9 run inning, it was a tight contest up until that point with Team Elite carrying a 3-2 lead thru four innings.  Team Elite drew first blood as a Ross Logan walk quickly turned into the first run of the game following a well struck single by Cooper Ooten into left field who eventually came around to score following a double steal, scoring before the third out of the inning was...
Read More
Softball | Softball Tournament | 10/22/2026

PG Softball Chesterfield Fall Showcase High School Division

Erica Beach
Article Image
PG Softball Chesterfield Fall Showcase HS Division Oct 17-18, 2026 Chesterfield First Community Athletic Complex CHESTERFIELD, MO — It was a perfect weekend for softball, with 16 teams converging on the Chesterfield First Community Athletic Complex to compete in the High School Division. Teams from Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa were there to battle it out, and there was only one undefeated team in the tournament: the Southeast Iowa All-Stars 16U Gold Flowerbach, who went a stellar 5-0 on the weekend. We were treated to some stellar performances all weekend and below we highlight some of the standout athletes who caught our eyes.  Lucy Turner (2027, Marion, IA) of the Cedar Rapids Reds was a truly dynamic two-way player this past weekend. Offensively, she batted .444 with 5 RBIs and an impressive 6 stolen bases, which led the tournament. She also scored 6 runs for her team and...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 10/22/2026

Wildcatters Reign Supreme at 13u WWBA

Jheremy Brown
Article Image
After both the Best of the West and the Beast of the East wrapped up, a big conglomerate of high end talent and stacked teams descended upon West Palm for both the 13u and the 14u WWBA World Championships. While the weather threw a wrench into the plans early on and some adjustment was needed to ensure the event moved forward, it was nothing but sunshine and competitive baseball throughout Sunday and into the early morning Monday.  Kicking off with the 13u WWBA World Championship, the first thing to point out is the fact this was a wood bat tournament played on 60-90 fields and while the combo was a first for most, you wouldn't know it with their level of play throughout the weekend. In an unsurprising twist and a continuation of their 12u dominance, the 13u championship saw the #2 seeded Goldin Prospects lock horns with the top seeded Houston Wildcatters, aka the champion of the...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 10/22/2026

17u Coastal Fall Invitational

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Dalton Fisher (2028, China Grove, NC) stands at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, with a lean, projectable frame and room to add strength as he develops. Bats and throws right-handed and plays the outfield. Shows a good approach at the plate with quick hands, solid bat speed, and the ability to drive the ball to all fields. Fisher went 2-for-3 with 1 RBI, putting together a great day at the plate. Bradley Edwards (2028, Summerville,SC) Stands at 6-feet-5 225 strong build and the potential to generate considerable power. Bats and throws right handed is a right handed pitcher. Shows good arm strength and the ability to attack hitters while generating swings and misses. Demonstrates a competitive approach on the mound with the ability to challenge hitters in the zone. Recorded 4.2 innings pitched with 10 strikeouts, a 56% strike rate, and a fastball that topped out at 85 mph. Jackson Pierce (2028,...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 10/26/2026

13u & 14u WWBA Prospect Recap

Jheremy Brown
Article Image
Carlo Rivero struck out the side in the final inning to secure a big quarterfinal win. Sat 87-89 & ball explodes out of the hand, CB & CH both dynamic go-to pitches as well. #WWBAWorlds @Florida_PG https://t.co/l8a4f1psyK — Perfect Game Youth (@PGYouthBB) October 19, 2026 2031 SS/RHP Carlo Rivero (Apopka, Fla.) debuted in the rankings as the top player in the country, and he had widened the gap by a good bit after the fall he had, capped off by an unreal showing in West Palm Beach. He hit almost .700 on the event with 7 of his 10 hits going for extra bases, while driving in 13, scoring 13 times himself, walking 8 times and no striking out in a single trip to the plate across 7 games. The blend of bat speed and pure strength, paired with his approach are that of someone who is much more mature, yet he’s doing it all at just 14 ½. He also jumped on the...
Read More
Softball | Softball Tournament | 10/21/2026

PG Softball Chesterfield Fall Showcase 14U Division

Erica Beach
Article Image
2026 PG softball Chesterfield fall showcase 14U Division October 17th to 18th Chesterfield First Community Athletic Complex CHESTERFIELD, MO — It was a highly competitive weekend of softball as six teams battled it out on the field. In the end, the Midland Magic Wooster finished with a flawless 5-0 record, showcasing a dominant tournament performance by allowing only three runs while exploding for 65 runs of their own. Below we highlight some of the weekend’s shining stars. \ Abigail Doolittle (2030 - Edwardsville, Illinois) of Top Gun 2030-IL established herself as one of the tournament's most formidable hitters over five games, posting an astounding .727 batting average. Showcasing elite power and versatility, she racked up three singles, two doubles, two triples, and a home run. Doolittle drove in four runs, scored four times, drew a walk, and added a stolen base....
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 10/21/2026

Windy City Finale Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
‘27 RHP Jaxson Weiss (IL) pitched well in his 5 innings and put up some eye popping strikeout numbers. He punched out 10 and allowed only 2ER. FB T86 early and flashed a BB 72-75. #WCFinale https://t.co/M8GtCUgxyS — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) October 17, 2026 Jaxson Weiss (2027, New Lennox, Ill.) a right-handed pitcher put up big strikeout numbers in his start on Saturday. He worked five innings while punching out ten opposing hitters. The fastball topped out at 86 mph and sat in the 82-85 mph range most of the game. His breaking ball was his primary off-speed, living 72-75 mph. Weiss keeps his body under control throughout his delivery, helping him with his good command on the mound. He uses his lower half well with a nice leg drive and gets his hips through, guiding his backside. He pitched with confidence and stayed ahead of hitters most of the game. Hayden...
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.