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PG Select Baseball Festival  | General | 8/17/2024

11u & 12u Select Festival Recap

John McAdams
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 Palacios, Waylon Harris, Carlo 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 Early, Calvin Madenspacher, Jesse Soberal Jr
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PG Select Baseball Festival | General | 12/26/2025

2025 Year in Review: PGAAC, ASG, Festivals
Jheremy Brown
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All-Star Game Continues To Thrive We’re only a couple of years into having the PG All-Star Game around, an underclass event attached to the All-American weekend, this year played in Petco two days before the Classic. The talent that is a part of it continues to grow to significant levels, and this year was a mix of young guys and some newer names that left lasting impressions. The two hardest throwing guys in the game were the only 2028s in attendance, Striker Pence and Dexter McCleon Jr who both were upper-90s as guys who just started their sophomore year, while the loudest moment of the day came when Kinon Bastian obliterated a pitch into the top deck of the famous Western Supply building in left field, something that we’ll remember for a long time. Extra Swings In The All-American Derby One of the best events every All-American weekend is getting to see these guys with...
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Perfect Game Softball March Madness

Ashley Mears
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High School | General | 3/5/2026

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Steve Fiorindo
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Full BP & pregame I/O from ‘26 SS Keon Johnson. Whippy hands and lifted to the middle of the field throughout the rounds, athletic mover on the dirt & enough arm strength to stick on the left side. #4 in @PG_Georgia & #50 on the @PG_Draft Board. #PGHS @FPDVikingSports https://t.co/vYvReQKTVh pic.twitter.com/BksHJtA09X — Cam McElwaney (@CamMcElwaneyPG) February 20, 2026 Keon Johnson, SS, First Presbyterian Day Johnson has long been near the top of the 2026 rankings and it all culminated in being a PG All-American last August. He heads into the spring as one of the names to know in the upcoming MLB Draft and is drawing crowds to his high school in Macon. It’s a well-built 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame with good actions up the middle. The defensive acumen has continued to improve over the last few years and now looks comfortable at shortstop and even projects there...
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College | Rankings | 3/4/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: March 4

Nick Herfordt
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Juco | Rankings | 3/4/2026

JUCO Top 25: March 4

Troy Sutherland
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High School | Rankings | 3/3/2026

High School Top 50 Update: March 3

Tyler Russo
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Press Release | Press Release | 3/3/2026

PG & RaceTrac Expand Partnership

Perfect Game Staff
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College | Story | 3/3/2026

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Craig Cozart
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High School | General | 3/2/2026

HS Showdown Scout Notes: Days 2-3

Vincent Cervino
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College | Rankings | 3/2/2026

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Vincent Cervino
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High School | General | 2/27/2026

HS Showdown Scout Notes: Day 1

Tyler Russo
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High School Showdown Event Page | High School Showdown Preview ‘27 1B Frank Thomas (FL) goes liftoff once again for 2nd HR, again in the L on L. Leveraging w/ such easy juice. #PGShowdown @IMGABaseball @Florida_PG https://t.co/BgWiDyMiMo pic.twitter.com/IC6sdAkhmT — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) February 26, 2026 Frank Thomas III (2027, Sarasota, Fl.) was all over a breaking ball in the first inning of an IMG Academy offensive explosion, making it back-to-back-to-back homers to start the game. He did not turn back from there, homering on two more occasions. The ball explodes off the barrel with low effort strength and he showed the ability to manipulate the barrel to lift with authority. Thomas III is built strong and physical and he is just beginning to tap into that huge power upside. He showed no issues handling left on left matchups, with his first two homers coming...
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