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Tournaments  | Story | 10/7/2022

Top Tier 5 Star Grabs Control of Pool R

Photo: Aidan Miller (Perfect Game)
JUPITER, Fla. – It isn’t always pretty at the WWBA World Championship, and the Top Tier/5 Star joint venture team will tell you that so far, it hasn’t been for them.

But after a 3-0 victory over a Richmond Braves 18u Platinum squad that up to this point was leading the pool, here they are, right in the thick of things and now possessing a clear path to the playoff bracket.



After a 4-4 tie on opening day in Jupiter against Hawaii Elite 2G, Top Tier 5 Star Roos Mafia came into its matchup against the Richmond Braves needing a win, both to get in the win column themselves and to keep the Braves from notching their second pool play victory.

On top of that, a shutout victory when runs allowed is high up on the tiebreaker scenario was crucial.

“We needed this,” coach Jeremy Neyra said after the game. “We needed it to advance. Hopefully we can win the pool and get past that tie we had yesterday.”

If this Top Tier/5 Star joint roster does make the bracket, it’s a team that no one will want to face. It’s loaded with a number of Perfect Game All-Americans and PG National participants.

Ariel Antigua, the No. 108 overall prospect in the 2023 class, led off for the team today. He was followed by Drew Burress, the No. 24 overall prospect in the class, and then Aidan Miller, the No. 7 overall prospect. Burress and Miller were both in Phoenix this summer as PG All-Americans, and there are five total All-Americans on the roster.

AJ Ewing hit fourth, he’s a top-75 overall prospect in the class. Wesley Mendes, one of the top two-way prospects in the class and ranked as the No. 8 left-handed pitching prospect, hit sixth. Riley Jackson hit eighth and was the extra-hitter, while Landen Maroudis, another two-way star, hit ninth. Each prospect mentioned was at the PG National Showcase in July.

The talent is there to make a deep run, certainly. The timing hasn’t been yet, but that’s something Neyra sees coming.

“[We need] timely hits,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of baserunners, but we haven’t put up a lot of runs this tournament. We’ve had some opportunities. Hopefully we’re saving them for later.”

This is a team put together specifically to try to make a deep run into the playoffs here. Both Top Tier and 5 Star have had their fair share of success on their own, and the partnership makes their lineup extremely long and tough to work through.

It was apparent against the Richmond Braves, who ran out several talented pitchers who had good stuff working. The approach at the plate for Top Tier/5 Star was relentless, though, working seven walks, which resulted in the first run of the game when Mendes took ball four to start the inning and later came around to score on an RBI groundout to first base off the bat of Jackson.

Grinding out at-bats is a good start, and the hits will start to back those up. And then, watch out. This team has all the firepower necessary to play into Monday, with plenty of pitching left in the tank to do it.

Maroudis hasn’t thrown yet, and neither has Liam Peterson, the No. 4 righty in the class. With Lance Williams scheduled to pitch the final pool play game against Banditos Scout Team, it seems like they are being saved for bracket play. Anderson Nance threw only 12 pitches in today’s contest, so he has bullets left moving forward.

That depth is a luxury in Jupiter.

“We thought the best chance to make a deep run in this tournament was combining forces and see what happens,” Neyra said. “It’s been a good experience so far.”


Tournaments | Story | 7/17/2026

South Champ. & South Elite Scout Notes

Geoff Billock
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Peyton Alvarez (2029, New Braunfels, Texas) put on a display for Marucci Elite TX Ramirez. Went 4-8 with two doubles. Worked strong at bats, drawing a total of six walks. Lot of deep counts, putting stress on opposing arms. Also swiped a staggering seven bases over the span of five games. Repeatable right-handed stroke with hands that work quickly through the zone. Was an absolute force at the top of the order all weekend. Jack Simms (2028, Cypress, Texas) put together a strong showing for Texas Brigade 2028 - Konarik. Went 3-9 with a double, a home run, and five runs batted in. Showed some quick hands, working through an uphill plane, playing well to the pullside. Frame has plenty more in the tank, impact should continue to develop as he fills out. Riley Thompson (2029, Leander, Texas) had another loud weekend for Test Black. 5-9 at the plate with three doubles and no strikeouts. Super...
Tournaments | Story | 7/17/2026

BCS Midwest Championship Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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’29 INF Aarion Gould (IL) drives this ball deep to CF for a triple. Simple setup w/ a controlled load. Keeps the barrel in the zone w/ good extension through contact. Big day at the plate going 2-for-3 with 4 RBI. #BCSMW @WhitesoxAce pic.twitter.com/QL9jPCTAv8 — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) July 12, 2026 Aarion Gould (2029, Chicago, Ill.) earned Tournament MVP honors after helping lead Chicago White Sox ACE 2029 to the BCS Midwest Championship. The right-handed infielder displayed a direct swing path with quality barrel accuracy, using the middle of the field approach. Present strength was evident, producing two doubles, one triple, while hitting .444 (8-for-18) with seven RBI, three stolen bases and a 1.277 OPS. Gould also contributed on the mound, tossing 6.0 scoreless innings while allowing three hits and striking out six.   ’29 RHP Xavier Alvarez (IL)...
Tournaments | Story | 7/17/2026

WWBA Midwest Regional Champ. Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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’28 OF Caleb Wilson (IN) drives this fastball into the RCF gap for a double. Quick hands and bat-to-ball skills on display. Good game at the plate. Finished 2-for-3 with an RBI. #WWBAMW @TopTierBaseball @PG_OhioValley pic.twitter.com/IC5dmPojcz — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) July 13, 2026 Caleb Wilson (2028, Crown Point, Ind.) helped lead Top Tier Americans 2028 to the 16U WWBA Regional Championship and delivered one of the tournament's top offensive performances. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound left-handed outfielder displayed good plate discipline, a quick bat and barreled balls to all parts of the field. Plus speed also added another dimension to Wilson's game on the base paths, consistently putting pressure on opposing defenses. The Tournament MVP saw the ball extremely well, hitting .667 (14-for-21) with two triples, six RBI, four stolen bases and a 1.588 OPS. Brennen...
Tournaments | Story | 7/16/2026

Top Talent On Display at 17u BCS

Alyssa Golden
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The 21st annual 17U BCS National Championship brings together some of the nation’s top programs and elite 2027 prospects to Fort Myers, Florida, from July 17-21. With dozens of Division I commits and nationally ranked prospects set to compete, here are some of the players expected to make the biggest impact throughout the weekend. For Florida Burn 2027 Scout, which is currently ranked #5 nationally Florida Burn will be No. 107-ranked outfielder RJ Shields and No. 129-ranked third baseman Braedon Mackay. One of the premier two-way prospects in the tournament, Shields, brings one of the strongest arms in the field. The Venice, Florida native has run his fastball up to 95 mph while also showcasing a 98 mph throwing arm from the outfield, making him a weapon on both sides of the ball. On the mound this season, the Mississippi State commit has struck out 29 batters in 15.1 innings,...
Tournaments | Story | 7/15/2026

WWBA Arrives in Arizona

Emily Hicks
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After another week of summer baseball, Perfect Game action returns to Surprise Stadium as teams prepare for another exciting week of competition at the WWBA Championship. From July 14-18, some of the top programs in travel baseball will take the field looking to compete for a championship and showcase their talent against high-level competition.  The tournament will feature both the 15U and 16U divisions, bringing together talented teams and rising prospects from across the West and beyond. With several days of pool play and championship bracket action, teams will have the opportunity to test themselves against strong opponents while competing on one of the biggest stages of the summer.  Surprise Stadium will provide the setting for a week filled with competitive matchups, standout performances, and prospects looking to make an impact. From dominant pitching performances to...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/15/2026

East Cobb Go Undefeated, Takes 14U BCS

Alyssa Golden
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East Cobb Goes Undefeated, Takes 14U BCS Twenty years after winning the inaugural 14U BCS National Championship in 2006, the East Cobb Astros once again stood atop the tournament, defeating the Original Florida Pokers 7-4 at JetBlue Park. A hot, sunny afternoon set the stage for a tightly contested match between the Original Florida Pokers 2030 and East Cobb Astros 14U Orange. Although the Pokers had a two-run lead with just three innings to go, East Cobb showed their team had no quit as they pulled away with a 7-4 victory. The teams battled through a highly contested tournament field of over sixty teams from across the country, with the Pokers coming in 8-1 and East Cobb entering 8-0 in tournament play. Cohen Carter started on the mound for East Cobb, allowing seven hits and no walks while striking out three batters over four innings. His fastball sat 71-75 mph. Silas Anstett opened the...
Tournaments | Story | 7/15/2026

Stars Marucci '27 Loaded and Poised

Kinley Kitchens
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Expectations naturally follow one of the nation’s top ranked teams. For Stars Marucci 2027, those expectations have only grown as the summer season has progressed.  Ranked No. 16 nationally and featuring a roster loaded with Division I commits and nationally ranked prospects, Stars Marucci 2027 entered the 2026 Perfect Game 17U National Elite Championship as one of the top teams to watch.  Through the opening two days of the tournament, they have shown why they are a team to watch, opening the week with back-to-back victories over SBA Tucci 2027 (6-1) and FC Twins Scout (5-2) to build early momentum heading into the later rounds.  The talent on the roster is undeniable.  Virginia Tech commits Chase Colangelo, Yogi Colangelo, and Teagan Leach, Maryland commit Jerome Fortier, and Youngstown State commit Sam Capuano headline a group filled with college bound...
Tournaments | Story | 7/15/2026

Mine Wood Bat World Series Notes

Jordan Gates
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‘28 OF/LHP Carson Tabler (OH) Rips one deep into the pull side gap for an inside-the-park HR. Athletic in the box w/ a projectable frame. Utilizes a toe tap on a fluid stroke w/ good bat speed. Good runner in stride + efficient around the bases. #MineWS @Carson_T7 @PFFlyers2028 pic.twitter.com/IVfICPg4qV — Perfect Game Ohio Valley (@PG_OhioValley) July 10, 2026 Carson Tabler (2028, Cincinnati, Ohio) Tabler was probably the most pleasant surprise when it comes to names from this weekend. A rather unknown for me and my staff going into the event, Tabler managed to cement himself by event’s end. It’s a true two-way projection at this stage, while he has the size in the 6-foot-3 long and loose frame, the strength will continue to add on to the 175-pound stature. While he only had two extra-base hits (triple, home run), the bat-to-ball skills were the calling card, and...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/14/2026

SBA Bolts National Raise Trophy at 16u

Will Dembo
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After an action-packed week at the 16u WWBA Championships, the tournament came down to two of the nation’s top teams battling for one of travel baseball’s most prestigious titles. No. 5 ranked SBA Bolts National faced No. 60 Alpha Prime 2028 after both teams reached the championship undefeated, but the SBA Bolts were the sole team to exit without a loss, defeating Alpha Prime 10-2 in mercy rule fashion and capture the national title behind dominant pitching and explosive offensive performances. The SBA Bolts were perfect throughout their week, running the table and going 11-0 while outscoring their opponents by an impressive margin of 108-25. “It was awesome,” SBA Head Coach Travis Thompson said on the mercy rule victory. “It just kind of culminated our week. It's been a long week. I can't even remember our first game, which felt like three weeks ago. The...
Tournaments | Story | 7/14/2026

Coastal Region Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Ridge Whitfield (2029, Charlotte, NC) stands at 6-foot, 158 pounds with an athletic build that should allow him to maintain his mobility and quick-twitch actions as he continues to develop. He bats and throws left-handed. Whitfield locates his fastball to both sides of the plate, mixes his pitches effectively, and keeps hitters off balance. He competes on every pitch and doesn’t back down in big situations. Whitfield threw 5.1 innings, allowing three hits, one earned run, and no walks while striking out three on 75 pitches (58% strikes). He attacked the zone with a fastball that sat 73 mph and topped out at 78 mph, mixing in a 67 mph breaking ball and a 68-70 mph changeup to keep hitters off balance. Sam Jobe (2029, Charlotte, NC) stands at 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, with a lean, athletic frame and plenty of projection. He bats and throws right-handed. Jobe shows good feel for the...
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