THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
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2,469 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Tournaments  | Story | 9/16/2021

19th WWBA Kernels ready to deliver

Photo: David Lally (Perfect Game)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – From the very beginning of what has now become a remarkable 19-year run, the Perfect Game WWBA Kernels Foundation Championship has served as a launching pad for competitive programs primarily from a core of four centrally located states.

The landing zone was on Jupiter (OK, in Jupiter, Fla.) at the PG WWBA World Championship, where teams and programs are given the opportunity to elevate their profile and their prominence at the premier amateur baseball scouting event in the world.



The PG WWBA Kernels Championship serves as a qualifying event for the prestigious PG WWBA World Championship held annually in Jupiter, Fla., during early October. The team that wins the Kernels championship receives a paid invitation to the blockbuster Jupiter event, scheduled this year for Oct. 7-11 at the Roger Dean Complex, the MLB Spring Training home of the Cardinals and Marlins.

Twelve organizations laid claim to the first 18 Kernels championship trophies with the Wisconsin-based Reds Midwest Scout Team winning three in 2009, ’11 and ’14, and Wisconsin’s Hitters Baseball capturing a pair in 2009 and 2015.

But as good as those programs continue to be, their accomplishments at the WWBA Kernels are no match to the recent success enjoyed by the Illinois-based Cangelosi Sparks organization, whose teams have taken home titles each of the last four years (2017-20). And, not surprisingly, they’re back looking for that fifth ring this weekend.

The 19th annual PG WWBA Kernels Foundation Championship begins its four-day run on Friday, when 82 teams will be competing for the crown. The majority of the games will be played at the Prospect Meadows Sports Complex in Marion, Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium and Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids; Independence (Iowa) High School will also host games.

The 82 entrants will gather in Eastern Iowa having arrived from nine states, most from the core-four of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and South Dakota will have highly competitive representatives in attendance, and any one of them could rise up and become a serious player in the championship chase which concludes on Monday.

And there is another intriguing addition to this year’s field of teams, one that promises to inject a Pacific Island flavor to the otherwise all-Midwestern menu. What looks to be a very talented Hawaii Elite 2G squad out of Honolulu will bring its style of play to the Iowa cornfields for all to see, in an effort to earn that coveted Jupiter bid.

There are several highly respected organizations with multiple teams in the field, including the home-state Iowa Select program with eight entrants. The Cangelosi Sparks have six teams in tow, and Canes Illinois and the GRB Rays (Wisconsin) have four each.

The real center of power looks to sit with what is now called the Reds Scout Team, based in Cincinnati. Andy Stack and Greg Reinhard have assembled a roster on which nearly every player is ranked as at least a top-500 with 18 committed to NCAA D-I schools.

Headliners on that roster from the 2022 class include PG All-American outfielder Tommy Specht (also rostered with Iowa Select 2022 Obermueller), a Kentucky commit ranked No. 41 overall; right-hander David Lally (No. 82, Notre Dame); right-hander Brayden Risedorph (No. 152, Parkland College); corner-infielder Luke Adams (No. 161, Michigan State) and left-hander Noah Samol (No. 195, Georgia Tech).

The Reds Scout Team boasts some pretty elite talent from the class of 2023, as well, including right-hander Zander Mueth (No. 9, Ole Miss), catcher Ryan Bakes (No. 69, South Carolina) and right-hander Cole Selvig (No. 86, Texas); Mueth is also rostered with the GBA Upperclass team.

The Cangelosi Sparks 2022 Black appear, on paper anyway, to be the most likely of the six Cangelosi entrants to extend the program’s WWBA Kernels championship winning streak to five years.

Armed with a roster of mostly top 500-level 2022s (2021 RHP Caden Leonard, t-500 Kent State is also rostered) the Sparks 2022 Black are built to contend. PG All-American Noah Schultz (No. 9, Vanderbilt) is the real attention-grabber, along with outfielder/right-hander Jack Lausch (No. 96, Notre Dame) and right-hander/infielder Julius Sanchez (No. 102, Illinois).

There are literally dozens of other teams at the PG WWBA Kernels Foundation Championship that will look to make some hay during what is forecast to be pretty darn hot with high temps approaching 90 over the four days spanning the final weekend in the summer of 2021. They all have rosters built around top-500 and top-1,000 prospects, and they shouldn’t be discounted at any time.

One of those teams is the aforementioned Hawaii Elite 2G, which brings seven prospects with D-I commitments: infielder Aiva Arquette (No. 464, Cal Poly); right-hander/outfielder Parker Grant (t-500, Cal State Northridge); middle-infielder Elijah Ickes (t-500, Hawaii); left-hander Kaena Kiakona (t-500, Rice); outfielder/left-hander Keoni Painter (t-1000, BYU); catcher/first baseman Beau Sylvester (t-500, Washington) and right-hander Zacary Tenn (t-500, Washington).

And there you go. It really does promise to be a special weekend, with so many talented players dotting all 82 rosters. For instance, you don't dare overlook the Iowa Select 2022 Obermueller squad with top 500-level 2022 Iowa commits Gable Mitchell, Reese Moore, Cade Obermueller, Drew Proskovec, Aaron Savary and Kellen Strohmeyer along for the ride.

Pick a card, any card, the dealer might say, and settle-in as the hands continue to be dealt over the next four days. One of these 82 teams will be headed to Jupiter in early October with its entry fee both paid and well-earned, and that’s always an exciting development. Doesn't really matter if you’re from Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota or Wisconsin. Or, for that matter, from Hawaii.


Tournaments | Story | 6/11/2026

PG East WWBA to Get Underway

Kinley Kitchens
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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...
College | Story | 6/11/2026

Collegiate Freshman All-Americans

Vincent Cervino
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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...
Tournaments | Championship | 6/11/2026

Team Elite Takes Another PG Elite

Kinley Kitchens
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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...
Tournaments | Story | 6/11/2026

SE Summer Showdown Preview

Will Dembo
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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....
Tournaments | Story | 6/11/2026

Midwest Elite Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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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...
Tournaments | Story | 6/10/2026

Top Prospects Set to Shine at Florida WS

Alyssa Golden
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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...
College | Story | 6/10/2026

Collegiate All-Americans

Vincent Cervino
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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...
Tournaments | Story | 6/10/2026

PG All Prospects World Series Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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‘27 SS Caleb Hodge (KY) is your #ProspectsWS 17/18U MVP 🏆 ⭐️ 5 G | .692 BA | 11 R | 12 RBI | 5 XBH | 4 BB | 0 K A dominant weekend at the plate. Congrats to @KYPlatinum859 on the championship! 🏅 pic.twitter.com/1atWJAL3nm — Perfect Game Ohio Valley (@PG_OhioValley) June 7, 2026 Caleb Hodge (2027, Burlington, Ky.) posted absurd numbers on his way to winning MVP, leading the tournament in batting average (.692), runs (11), RBI (12), doubles (5) and OPS (1.881), all while playing an impressive shortstop. Hodge's swing is built around exceptional barrel lag, keeping the knob pointed toward the catcher deep into the load before snapping the barrel through the zone as the front foot lands. The result is effortless bat speed and consistent impact, with the ball jumping off the barrel. Even with the late acceleration, he stays remarkably connected throughout, allowing the bat speed...
High School | General | 6/10/2026

Ohio Valley High School Notebook

Jordan Gates
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‘26 RHP Jack Ryan (@StXBall) w/ an absolute masterclass in the region semis. CG/Shutout, 4 BB & 9 Ks & a No Hitter ‼️ FB worked 89-92, flashed a 93 1x. Velo held in the later innings 88-90. SL was plus @ 81-82 (2400+)/tight, while CH flipped in the low 80s, bottom of the zone.… pic.twitter.com/pdYaEqHmx5 — Perfect Game Ohio Valley (@PG_OhioValley) June 3, 2026 Jack Ryan, 2026, RHP, St. Xavier (OH) JR is finishing his senior campaign off in high fashion. Ryan threw a no-hitter in the Region Semifinals and now the bombers find themselves in the D1 State Final Four. The Boston College commit has taken home numerous awards this season, including conference & city player of the year in Cincinnati, OH. One last award left and that is to will the bombers to a state championship. Ryan has impressed all year and with one week to go, he is leaving it all on the field...
College | Rankings | 6/10/2026

Final DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update

Nick Herfordt
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NCAA DII Final Preseason NCAA  State Record 1 2 Tampa Spartans FL 51-9 2 West Chester Golden Rams PA 48-12 3 1 Texas Tyler Patriots TX 50-14 4 3 Catawba Indians NC 49-14 5 8 Point Loma Sea Lions CA 50-13 6 11 Colorado Mesa Mavericks CO 53-7 7 19 Francis Marion Patriots SC 46-14 8 7 North Greenville Trailblazers SC 49-12 9 13 Pittsburg State Gorillas KS 45-11 10 12 Central Missouri Mules MO 40-17 11 20 Augustana Vikings SD 45-16 12 West Florida Argos FL 43-16 13 14 Young Harris Mountain Lions GA 41-18 14 16 Angelo State Rams TX 42-19 15 10 Grand Valley State Lakers MI 48-10 16 Millersville Marauders PA 39-18 17 Rollins Tars FL 36-16 18 9 Seton Hill Griffins PA 42-12 19 21 Wingate Bulldogs NC 40-19 20 15 Lenoir-Rhyne Bears NC 37-13-1 21 4 Belmont Abbey Crusaders NC 38-16 22 6 East Stroudsburg Warriors PA 37-16 23 Bentley Falcons MA 44-17 24 North Georgia Nighthawks GA 42-16 25 UIndy...
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