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2,491 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
PG Select Baseball Festival  | General | 8/17/2024

11u & 12u Select Festival Recap

Photo: 11u & 12u Select Festival Teams (Perfect Game)
The top 11 & 12U eligible players from across North America descended on the historic East Cobb Baseball Complex this past weekend for this year’s rendition of the 2024 Perfect Game Select Baseball Festival. 28 of the best comprised the 11U version, while 36 of the very best made up the 12U iteration as they culminated their summer seasons and gave us a glimpse into the next generation of youth amateur baseball.

The weekend was filled with fun filled activities including practices, home run derby’s and plenty of fun in our player's lounge area where both age groups got to engage in ping pong tournaments and play against each other in various video games like MLB The Show. They also got plenty of chances to learn from former Major Leaguers Tom “Flash” Gordon, Ryan Klesko and Charles Johnson throughout the weekend, as all three were members of our coaching staff for the young athletes. Perfect Game celebrated each of the player's accomplishments in being named to his prestigious event by hosting an awards banquet for each age group.



Not to be lost amongst all the exciting moments, both on-and-off the field, was the fundraising efforts by both the 11 & 12U participants. Each of the players put their best foot forward to try and raise funds for the Elite Development Academy based out of Tampa, Florida. The Elite Development Academy (EDA) is a transformative initiative addressing economic and racial disparities in baseball. Founded by the Fox Foundation and the HBCU, Dillard University, EDA brings together mentors, nonprofits, scouts, and coaches to enhance athletic skills and provide academic support and mentorship to young players from underserved communities. The program includes robust player onboarding, personalized guidance, and assistance with scholarships and federal grant applications, fostering athletic and academic excellence.

The amazing efforts of each participant in both the 11 & 12U games allowed for a little over $23,000 to be raised to help underserved players that go through the Elite Development Academy. Jordan Acosta of the 11U East team raised an astounding $3,585, while Easton Metzelaars helped the cause by raising $2,570. Leyland Henry led the 12U contingent, as he raised a little over $2,000 towards the fundraising efforts. Bryan Johnson Jr. was the second top fundraiser for the 12U participants, as he raised $1975.

Now let’s get to the games as the 11U squads got things rolling on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. The West squad took home a 7-5 victory in a back-and-forth affair that got started with the blazing fastball of our National Pitcher of the Year Carlo Rivero, as he notched two punch outs in a scoreless top of the first. It was his bat that got the West team on the board first as the left-handed hitting Arizona native stayed on a fastball from East starter Jack Mattingly and drove it out to left-centerfield. The West extended their lead in the bottom of the second thanks to a run scoring double by Mylo Leyja, which was followed up by RBI singles off the bats of Joshua Park and Ruben Elias. The East came roaring back in the top of the third inning, as they scored five to take the lead, capped off by a three-run opposite field bomb off the bat of Carlos Marrero. A couple of walks and wild pitches helped the East squad during that inning.

The scoring would halt until the bottom of the fifth, where the West team tied things at five as Ruben Elias notched his second RBI single of the game, while Kristian Valadez would strike out the side in the top of the sixth to keep things knotted at five after working around a one out walk. A one out walk by Hudson Bills would be followed by a Gabriel Gutierrez double down the left field line to give the West squad a 6-5 lead. They would add an insurance run on another double by 11U Home Run Derby Champion Brayden Worthen as he lifted one towards the left field line that fell in-front of the left field. 11U National Player of the Year Ethan Palacios would work around a two-out double from Jace Winston to punch out two and secure the victory for the West. Ruben Elias took home MVP honors by going 2-for-2 with three runs batted in.

11U Game MVP: Ruben Elias

11U Home Run Derby Champion: Brayden Worthen
 
11U Award Winners: Ethan PalaciosWaylon HarrisCarlo Rivero

The 12U iteration gave us a glimpse into the future stars of amateur baseball, as there were seven arms who toed the rubber and touched 80-plus mph and an outstanding twelve out of sixteen that touched at least 78 mph. The game itself came with plenty of action as the teams amassed twelve hits including three homers. Our National Pitcher of the Year Calvin Madenspacher started things off on the mound for the East squad as he continued to show exactly why he was the recipient of the award by punching out three in his inning of work. Tyler Early opposed him for the West and took home his own honors as our National Player of the Year. The West would strike first in the top of the second, as they scored a pair due to a few walks and an RBI ground out by Creed Peoples. The East would answer back on the shoulders of James Watson as he scorched a three-run homer to right-centerfield to give his team the lead. The East would extend their lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a quartet of walks as they continued to put together good at-bats against a talented West pitching staff. A pair of walks, an error and a couple wild pitches would allow the West to knot things at four heading into the bottom of the fifth. Eventual MVP Raymond Minaya took matters into his hands in the bottom half of the inning as the left-handed hitting New York native launched a two-run homer to dead center field. The East squad would extend their lead further in the sixth thanks to an RBI double off the bat of Cohen Ward and another two-run bomb from Maykel Jimenez. They would plate three runs in the seventh extend their lead to 8 as Watson, a Georgia native, secured the victory in his home state with a punchout to end another talent laden Perfect Game 12U Select Baseball Festival.

12U Game MVP: Raymond Minaya

12U Home Run Derby Champion: Kingston George

 
12U Award Winners: Tyler EarlyCalvin MadenspacherJesse Soberal Jr



PG Select Baseball Festival | General | 4/21/2026

Select Festival Dates/Locations Announced

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    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923  www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    PERFECT GAME ANNOUNCES DATES AND VENUES FOR   2026 SLATE OF SELECT FESTIVALS    Sanford, Florida (Tuesday, April 21, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced dates and venues for its 2026 Select Festivals, a premiere series of invitation-only events showcasing many of the nation’s top young prospects at the 11U, 12U, 13U and 14U levels.    The Select Festivals provide elite players with a unique opportunity to compete alongside and against the best talent in their age group while experiencing a...
Tournaments | Story | 7/2/2026

Freedom Classic Opens Holiday Weekend

Alyssa Golden
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More than 30 teams from the 14U-18U age divisions will head to Fort Myers, Florida this Fourth of July weekend for the seventh annual Perfect Game Freedom Classic. The tournament, running July 3-6, features several nationally ranked prospects from across the country as teams look to compete for a championship. Headlining the field are twin brothers Derek and Ryan Yormark of Merrick, New York. Right-handed pitcher Derek Yormack is the No. 51-ranked player in the class of 2027, the No. 1 player in New York and the No. 5-ranked right-handed pitcher in the country. First baseman Ryan Yormark comes in just behind his twin brother as the No. 3 overall player in New York, the No. 5 first baseman in the nation and the No. 90-ranked player nationally. Both brothers are committed to Vanderbilt. Derek Yormark has established himself as one of the top two-way prospects in the 2027 class. He has run...
Tournaments | Story | 7/2/2026

14u West World Series Scout Notes

Quinton Hall
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Asher Contreras (2030 | Las Vegas, NV) The 5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitter and outfielder was one of the most dangerous hitters in the tournament for Wow Factor Nv 2030, stuffing the stat sheet while displaying an impressive combination of power and speed. He finished the weekend with 9 hits, including two doubles and a home run, while driving in seven runs and scoring five more. He also swiped three bases and worked three walks, consistently putting pressure on opposing defenses while showing feel for the zone with just one strikeout all weekend. His ability to hit for extra bases while also creating offense on the bases made him one of the most impactful offensive performers at the event.    Braylen Silva (‘30 | NV) RBI 2B for GBG Vegas 14u Red. Direct path, quick trigger, & barrel feel. Solid 2-hole stick creating offense all day #14UWestWS...
High School | General | 7/1/2026

PG High School All-Americans

Tyler Russo
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High School Top 50: Final Update With the High School season all wrapped up, today we take a look at our First, Second and Third Team All-Americans from around the country. Below you'll find three teams with stats that seem otherworldly from players who'll likely hear their names called in the coming week's MLB Draft. Within the "Notable Stats" section you'll see the individual award winners as well. First Team All-American Pos.  Name Class School State Commitment Notable Stats C Cole Prosek 2026 Magnolia Heights MS Ole Miss .595 BA, 18 HR, 79 RBI 1B Will Adams 2026 Hoover AL LSU .489, 13 HR, 52 RBI IF James Tronstein 2026 Harvard-Westlake CA Vanderbilt .531, 10 HR, 29 RBI, 21 XBH IF Grady Emerson 2026 Fort Worth Christian TX Texas .508, 8 HR, 56 RBI, 34/35 SB, National POY IF Jacob Lombard 2026 Gulliver Schools FL Miami .477, 10 HR, 52 R, 42 H, 14 SB OF Martin Shelar 2026 Marist GA...
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

16u Elite Scout Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
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16u Elite Scout Notes: Days 1-2  ‘28 AJ Bonnette (TX) with 7 Ks thru 4 IP thus far, living 89-91 w/ heavy traits. Filling up all four quads & attacking hitters early in counts. Mixing a slurvy breaker & turning the CHG over well. @PG_Uncommitted #NatElite @Texas_PG pic.twitter.com/oz2XXoKHvt — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 30, 2026 Aj Bonnette (2028, Keller, Texas) showed out on both sides of the ball at the National Elite Championship, but really stood out on the mound Tuesday. He toed the rubber in round two of the playoffs, proceeding to toss six innings with eight punchouts and zero earned runs allowed. The 6-foot southpaw filled up all four quadrants of the strike zone, attacking hitters early and often with his fastball. The heater lived in the 88-91 mph range with heavy traits, often setting up his slurvy breaking ball. Bonnette showed good feel...
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

Performance Baseball Rolls On

Kinley Kitchens
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Championship teams often reveal themselves when the game isn’t going their way. Performance Baseball 2028/Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team did exactly that. Trailing Florida Burn 2028 Scout through four innings, the Brewers refused to panic. Instead, they relied on timely hitting, consistent pitching, and an unselfish approach at the plate, rallying a five-run fifth inning before pulling away for a 9-5 victory to clinch their spot in the semifinals. The comeback was fueled by contributions throughout the lineup. Six different players drove in runs, including two RBIs each from Aiden Capobianco and Cameron Massey, while Matthew Heredia, Parker Weston, Ethan Smith, and Aj Bonnette each added an RBI of their own. On the mound, Derek Wenzel set the tone with 3.2 solid innings before Ethan Smith shut the door in relief, helping preserve the comeback victory. Although the Brewers have had a...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/1/2026

JK Select Hawaii Tackles 14u West WS

Emily Hicks
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JK Select Hawaii capped off an impressive tournament run by defeating GBG Vegas 14u Red14-4 in the championship game on Sunday at Goodyear Ballpark, claiming the 14u West World Series title. From the opening pitch, JK Select controlled the pace of the game. The offense jumped out early, scoring 6 runs in the 1st inning after timely hits from MVP Sean Shindo and Kade Manarpaac. The early lead gave the pitching staff confidence as they worked efficiently through the opposing lineup. “I've worked hard to get better at my game for the past few months; it means a lot that I did well and performed in a tournament like this” said Shindo. Starting pitcher Maddox Prones turned in a strong performance, allowing 3 runs while striking out 5 batters over 3 innings. The defense backed the effort with great plays in the middle infield, preventing GBG Vegas from building momentum....
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

"Wow" Swings Catch Eyes at 16u Elite

Kinley Kitchens
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On the second day of the 2026 Perfect Game National Elite Championship, one swing turned heads across the ballpark. The next one brought everyone to a stop. With Wow Factor Nation 16U trailing midway through its matchup against Sandlot Scout Team 2028, Micheal O'Connor launched a solo home run to spark the offense. Just one batter later, Aaron Frink stepped into the box and sent another ball over the fence, delivering back-to-back home runs that quickly became one of the most talked about moments of the tournament’s opening days. Parents gathered along the nets, players from previous games stopped to watch, and college scouts turned their attention toward the action as the two towering swings energized the crowd and brought new life to the game. Although Wow Factor Nation ultimately lost 5-3 after a hard-fought performance, the back-to-back home runs served as a reminder of the...
Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

Stacked Runs the Table at 17u WWBA

Will Dembo
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Following a jam-packed week of entertainment at the 17u WWBA Championships, the top nationally ranked program, USA Prime 17u National/Detroit Tigers Scout Team, faced off against Stacked Baseball 17u (No. 80 nationally) in the highly anticipated championship matchup as both teams looked to earn one of the most prestigious titles in all of travel baseball. Each talented squad entered the finale undefeated, but Stacked Baseball continued their dominance throughout the tournament, defeating the Detroit Tigers Scout Team 10-2 in mercy rule fashion to become national champions behind explosive bats and impressive pitching. Stacked Baseball was the overwhelming top team throughout the week as the WWBA Champions outscored opponents by an absurd 117-12 during their 11-0 run. “We got some talented kids, but we played against a little bit of Goliath over there,” Stacked Head Coach Mike...
Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 7

Perfect Game Staff
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17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4  Day 5 | Day 6 Shea Corona (2027, Brooklyn, N.Y.) showcased some loud stuff out of the bullpen for MLB Breakthrough Series 2027. The New York native and primary shortstop topped out at 93 with the fastball, sitting comfortable in the 90-92 range. Corona paired it with a sharp and tight slider at 81-83, staying on the same plane until late. The pitch plays well already and the delivery is very athletic. The uncommitted right-hander went three scoreless and was in the zone plenty, striking out two while not allowing a walk. '27 SS Moises Gudino (FL) continues to stay red hot, working a long AB & cracking an oppo 2B on the 8th pitch. Really seeing ing well. #WWBA @Florida_PG https://t.co/OjNJ8Bmzao pic.twitter.com/WoDDp35EI1 — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 30, 2026 Moises Gudino (2027, Tampa, Fla.)...
Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

Texas Twelve Firing On Full Cylinders

Kinley Kitchens
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Every team hopes to start a tournament with momentum, but few make a statement quite like Texas Twelve Maroon 2028. Matched up against defending champion Excel Blue Wave National to kick off their debut in the 2026 Perfect Game National Elite Championship, Texas Twelve Maroon delivered a complete team performance, earning a hard-fought 3-2 victory and immediately establishing themselves as one of the top teams to watch this week. The win showcased the balance that has made Texas Twelve Maroon a powerful team. Strong pitching, timely hitting, and steady defense all played a role as the team held off one of the tournament’s premier programs. Right-hander Ty Antley turned in an outstanding performance on the mound, throwing a complete game while allowing only five hits and two walks over seven innings. The High Follow prospect worked consistently between 85-89 mph and mixed in a sharp...
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