THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,630 MLB PLAYERS | 16,400 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,630 MLB PLAYERS | 16,400 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Tournaments  | Story | 9/2/2021

The Meadows gears for Midwest LDC

Photo: Tommy Specht (Perfect Game)

MARION, Iowa – Once the Prospect Meadows Sports Complex got up and running in earnest during the fall of 2019, the eight-field facility began hosting what is now called the Perfect Game Midwest Labor Day Classic.

The event has grown exponentially over its three-year history, and when the 2021 rendition begins its four-day run on Friday (Sept. 5), 74 teams from eight centrally located states (primarily Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin) will compete for championships in the Upperclass (18u), Underclass (17u), Sophomore (16u) and Freshman (15u) age divisions.



And while this year’s field will be dominated by the presence of 24 teams from the ever-expanding Iowa Select Baseball organization, it’s impossible to look past the entrants from Racine, Wis.-based Midwest powerhouse Hitters Baseball, a championship-level program under the direction of RJ Fergus.

“Every year since [PG] has put this event together we’ve liked to go out to Cedar Rapids with all of our teams and get them on the road – for a lot of guys, for the first time,” Fergus told PG during a telephone conversation this week. “You’ll have the whole organization at Prospect Meadows at the same time which is really good for us.

“The younger guys can see the older guys, the older guys can see the younger guys and it’s kind of like a family affair; we all stay at the same hotel,” he said. “It’s a great way for us to kick off our fall season in a competitive environment.”

The 24-team Upperclass division looks to be especially competitive with the Hitters 2022 Navy and Iowa Select 2022 Obermueller standing out heading into the tournament; they are one of two Hitters teams and one of six Iowa Select teams in the field. There are also numerous teams from the Minnesota-based P2P Millers and the Illinois-based Cangelosi Sparks programs that always promise to be highly competitive.

The Hitters 2022 Navy roster will be nearly intact, led by outfielders Michael Lippe (No. 163-ranked, Louisville commit) and Jonathan Kim (No. 468, Michigan); right-hander Mitch Voit (No. 394, Michigan) and catcher Will Vierling (No. 456, Louisville); eight other 2022 Navy prospects are ranked as top-500s.

The most notable absence will be that of PG All-American shortstop Gavin Kilen (No. 25, Louisville) who is in the Sarasota/Bradenton, Fla., area competing at the USA Baseball 18U National Team Trials.

The Iowa Select Obermueller roster is loaded to the gills with D-I talent right out of Eastern Iowa high schools, including six from Iowa City’s City High School. The most prominent player is 2021 PG All-American outfielder Tommy Specht, the No. 39-ranked national prospect from the class of 2022, a Kentucky commit out of Dubuque.

There are also six top-500 prospects on the roster who have committed to the in-state Iowa Hawkeyes: middle infielder Gable Mitchell, catcher Reese Moore, outfielder Cade Obermueller, left-hander Drew Proskovec, right-hander/third baseman Aaron Savary and infielder/outfielder Kellen Strohmeyer.

Twelve teams will compete for the MW Underclass MWLDC crown including three Iowa Select squads and a Hitters 2023’s team that features outfielder JT Kelenic (No. 235, uncommitted), the younger brother of former PG All-American and current Seattle Mariner Jarred Kelenic.

Catcher Thomas Curry (No. 448, uncommitted), shortstop Alex Alicea (No. 463, Louisville) and top-500s Zachary Olson, Evan Shapiro and TJ Schuyler (Indiana) are also rostered with the Hitters 2023’s. The top-ranked player at the event is outfielder AJ Garcia (No. 190, uncommitted) from Illinois-based Elite Baseball Training Lugo.

PG tournament director Mike Bonwell has also put together a 21-team field for the Sophomore division, including eight more Iowa Select squads, three more from the P2P Millers program and the Hitters 2024’s. Another 17 will compete in the Freshman division, featuring seven more Iowa Select teams, two more P2P Millers’ squads and, yes, the Hitters 2025’s.

The most highly-regarded prospects from the class of 2024 playing in the Sophomore MWLDC are Iowa recruits in shortstop Myles Davis (No. 145) from Marion and right-hander Joey Oakie (No. 180) out of Ankeny; Davis is with the Iowa Select 2024 Remington, Oakie with Iowa Select 2024 Murphy.

Fergus pointed out many of his younger players, the ‘24s and ‘25s, did experience travel ball over the summer so they won’t come in not knowing what to expect. They have taken a good chunk of August off, of course, and with a lot of guys now playing football, the rosters will be thinner.

That means less depth, which in turn means players will be asked to do more over the course of the long holiday weekend. Guys who may not have pitched a lick all summer could find themselves toeing the rubber at Prospect Meadows.

“The biggest thing is to get out and be outside of home and then learn to play a little bit,” Fergus said. “And a lot of it is to support Mike [Bonwell] and his group of PG guys in Iowa. [PG] has been great to us over the years and we’ll continue our support with you guys there...This is the opening weekend to see what you’ve got and now you’re putting it together to go out to win.”

The PG Midwest Labor Day Classic is among the most prominent of the six Labor Day Classics being held this weekend, with the five-class, 63-team WWBA East Labor Day Classic being held in Fort Myers also deserving of a shout-out.

With only a handful of exceptions, the teams at the East LDC are all based in Florida, with a few outliers from Puerto Rico, New Jersey and Connecticut. Other four-day Classics will be held in Sanford, Fla. (East, 10u-13u) and Memphis (Mid-South).


Tournaments | Story | 9/29/2026

WWBA Champ. Pool Preview & Release

Perfect Game Staff
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It's the time of the year again when nearly every golf cart in the United States, or so it feels, flocks to Roger Dean and crowds the backstops, getting one last look at the top players in the country before the spring season. Below our staff breaks down every pool as we are set to release them in 10 minute increments, starting with Pool A and working all the way down to Pool DD. Once again laying claim as the champion of "Jupiter" will be no easy task as every pool game will be a battle just to advance to the bracket where the intensity of each pitch will multiple 10-fold.   Pool A Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location East Cobb/SD Padres ST Underclass Myles Tate 109 2028 Luke Crowder 174 2028 Marietta, GA Lonestar Baseball Club - National - 2027 Braylon Jones 309 2027 Owen Sieve 500 2027 Austin, TX Spects National 2027 Gominsky Charlie Sarsfield 99 2027...
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Hannah Jo Groves
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ZT National Prospects Hold Out to Win 2026 WWBA Sophomore Championship In a game that kept everyone guessing until the very end, the ZT National Prospects won the 2026 WWBA Sophomore Championship over Wow Factor/Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team 8-7. Over the past few days of the tournament, the usually cruel southwest Florida weather had been unusually kind - but the warmth of the sun had still taken energy out of both championship teams. They had finished hard-fought semifinal matches before walking from the backfields of JetBlue Park to the big-league stadium. Enzi-Yaw Otieku threw the first pitch for ZT National at 11:43 a.m. - and this highly anticipated championship match-up was underway. The first three outs came quickly for the ZT National Prospects with their defensive chemistry and strength on display right away. ZT’s head coach, Carlos Avila, expressed his happiness with his...
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WWBA Sophomore Scout Notes: Day 4

Perfect Game Staff
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WWBA Sophomore Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 Lukas Klipper (2029, Clearwater, Fla.) was electric at the plate, collecting six hits, highlighted by a monstrous home run off the batter's eye in his second game. High-level left-handed hitter with a really easy swing and functional actions. Klipper lived on the barrel throughout the game and showed off his run-producing ability in huge situations.  Lane Ayars (2029, Mount Juliet, TN) got the starting nod in round two and did not disappoint. The 6’4” left-handed pitcher tossed three scoreless innings, striking out four and allowing zero hits. Fastball up to 90 mph with some heavy arm-side run, with a slider that consistently was in the zone. Also collected two hits at the plate, showcasing a very simple approach.  Frankie Pagano (2029, Waukee, IA) was electric in relief, tossing three scoreless innings while...
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WWBA Sophomore Scout Notes: Day 3

Perfect Game Staff
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WWBA Sophomore Scout Notes: Day 2

Perfect Game Staff
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WWBA Sophomore Scout Notes: Day 1 Rhys Jones (2029, Mc Lean, Va.) was absolutely dominant on the bump to start off day 2 hanging an impressive 10 strikeouts in 5 innings. Running the heater up to 84 with arm side run and the breaking ball got swings and misses. The strike percentage stayed right over 55%, and he carried a no hitter into the 6th. Easy arm action with a high 3/4 slot and controls the move down the rubber.  Jevan McMenamy (2029, Fargo, N.D.) was all around solid today tallying two hits, an rbi, and a walk. In the box he works to the middle of the field in the approach and can elevate to all fields. Coils deep into the back hip and works through contact with strength. Quick feet around the bases and the barrel is fast.  Khian Escalana (2029, Ankeny, Iowa) was a heavy producer in this one collecting three hits, two of those being doubles. Also drove in three RBIs...
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Windy City Fall Classic Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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‘28 LHP AJ Minderman (IL) works 5 stellar innings to finish what he started. He punched out 7 and was efficient in the zone. FB 75-78 CH 70-71 SL 69-71. Used Offspeed pitches as a weapon and in all counts. #WCFClassic pic.twitter.com/fpeRs3AK7k — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) September 21, 2026 AJ Minderman (2028, Geneva, Ill.) a 6-foot-1, 140-pound left-handed pitcher worked all five innings of his game on Sunday in impressive fashion. He punched out seven opposing hitters and allowed no runs. He showed great composure with runners aboard, stranding anyone who reached. He worked out of the stretch with a big leg kick and did a nice job of working downhill on the mound. The fastball was 75-78 mph and he used it heavily to the glove side. He kept the fastball down early and set hitters down by throwing it at the top of the zone. His changeup (70-71 mph) was used as his...
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WWBA Sophomore Scout Notes: Day 1

Perfect Game Staff
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'29 CIF Benjamin Mills (FL) absolutely loses this baseball across the street for a loud HR (101 EV/424'). Huge juice w/ ball explodes coming off. #WWBAWorlds @Florida_PG @PSTeams_ pic.twitter.com/0WUgIqyr6t — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) September 25, 2026 Benjamin Mills (2029, Miramar, Fl.) showed off some extremely impressive juice in the 8 PM match. The corner infielder blasted an absolute no-doubter out to left field, exploding off of the barrel and soaring deep into the night sky. The ball came off with a 101 MPH exit velocity and traveled 424 feet, bouncing across the street. Mills is built extra strong and physical, creating easy strength. The impact upside is significant and it should be fun to track how the power continues to develop. '29 SS Todd Dulaney (IL) crushes this ball off the LF fence for a loud 2B (93 EV). Simple parts & the impact comes easy....
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South Jupiter Qualifier Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Joshua Digulio (2027, Mont Belvieu, Texas) was a breakout performer for Texas Brigade 2027 - Gafford. Went 10-18 with a pair of doubles and a home run, while plating nine runs. Also showed some serious flashes defensively behind the plate. Physical frame with plenty of bat speed. Flatter bat path with a pull-side approach, geared towards backspinning with authority. Athletic backstop with tons of offensive upside. Dylan Buck (2027, Friendswood, Texas) put on a show for Up Top Prospects. Drove in 11 runs while going 5-11 with a pair of triples and a multi home run game on Saturday. Loose actions with a strong lower half. Adjusts well and generates plenty of torque as he works uphill. Serious power upside on display this weekend with more in that physical frame. Clyde Votaw (2027, Texas City, Texas) had a quality outing on the bump for Up Top Prospects. The Angelina College commit threw a...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 9/23/2026

PG Softball Twin Cities Elite Scouting Showcase

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2026 PG Softball Twin Cities Elite Scouting Showcase September 19th, 2026 Ashley Mears BLAINE, MN- Rain may have shortened the weekend but it didn’t shorten the competition. The tournament was STACKED with some of the top teams from South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. The 16u division came down to Midwest Speed 16U Nat’l Chell taking home the trophy and shutting out a tough MN Sting National-Makela team. The 18U division came down to Midwest Speed 18u Nat’l Koltes loaded team out slugging Mission 18u National. 16U Taitum Kostecka (2028 Princeton, MN) of Midwest Speed 16U Nat’l Chell was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive year. Kostecka is a speedy left-handed power hitter who is one of the toughest outs around, as she did not strike out a single time throughout the weekend. Starting in an open stance, she uses a...
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Southeast Jupiter Qualifier Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Justin Mills (’27, Braselton, Ga.)- the 6-foot, 190-pound right-handed pitcher tossed a 6-inning complete game shutout for Dingers Scout in a 7-0 win over ECB Astros 18U Navy. The uncommitted Jackson County High School product struck out 12 batters and only walked one while controlling the zone at a 61% strike rate. Mills ran his fastball with arm side run up to 89 mph and consistently worked ahead in counts to stifle the Astros Navy lineup. He coupled it with a tight slider that showed late depth in the mid-70s to record eight swings-and-misses on the offering. A brilliant effort from Mills as he worked east and west while reading swings and avoiding barrels.   Brayden Barrett (’27, Canton, Ga.)- the 6-foot-1, 190-pound right-handed pitcher struck out six batters over 3 and 1/3 innings of relief for ECB Astros 18U Navy to get the win over Dirtbags Southeast. The...
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