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PG Select Baseball Festival | General | 9/1/2024

Family First for Kearney at Festival

Hannah Jo Groves

Photo: Aiden Kearney (Perfect Game)

Strolling around the backfields of the Boston Red Sox spring training facility, 15-year-old Aiden Kearney takes in the scene and reflects on his experiences with the PG Select Festival.

“This year, there’s a lot more people,” Kearney said, glancing at his teammates representing the East in the dugout. “And we’re playing at a big league complex. Most of our dreams, hopefully, are to play here one day.”

Though Kearney got the invite to the 13U Select Fest last year, his 2023 season looked very different from his 2024 season.

“I think I had zero PG [home runs] last year…”

This season, he crushed 12 home runs.

“It honestly makes me feel great… 12 this year - and most of them were in the big tournaments, so they felt great - running the bases 12 times… Last year, I was able to make Select Fest, but then this year, I think it’s been a big jump - going to the gym every morning with my dad and my brother, pitching lessons and hitting daily - it just really helped me out this year.”

With a batting average of .425 on the 2024 season, his slugging percentage is at .774 as he’s put up 96 RBIs in the 95 games he’s played. Video game numbers like those are certain to garner attention and that exact thing happened Saturday night at the awards banquet as he was named the 2024 14u National Player of the Year.

Representing the East in the 2024 PG Select Festival, Kearney went 1-2 with a stolen base and 2 runs scored. He also got the save on the mound - using 22 pitches in 1 shutout inning. His fastball topped out at 86 mph while his changeup stayed in the low 80s and his slider in the low 70s.

“I’ve been going to a pitching coach. He’s helped me a lot - big jumps - and not just velo, because that’s gonna come as you grow - but working on my command and mechanics so you don’t get hurt.”

The eyes on Kearney due to his recent success have not deterred him nor made him nervous.

“I really like it. It’s something to play for. There’s playing for fun, but the goal is, obviously, one day, to play at the next level. So it’s great to have them watching me so young.”

As Aiden reflects, a colorfully-dressed nine-year-old girl races up to him and offers him a box of Sour Patch Kids. She’s one of Aiden’s siblings who’s here along with his grandparents, his aunt and uncle and his parents. Aiden shares how he likes to spend time with his family boating and golfing - and how he feels about having them here for the festival.

“It’s great because [my family] is the biggest reason that we’re here. Without them, we couldn’t make it to any of the tournaments. Having them here to watch is great.”

However, just playing at the Select Fest isn’t the only part of the event on Kearney’s mind - as the team visited Golisano Children’s Hospital in Fort Myers the first day of the festival.

“That was a great experience being able to give back to the community that we raised money for. It shows how fortunate we are.”

PERFECTGAME.TV

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From East Teammates to HS Teammates
Both Isaias Torres and Aiden Kearney were teammates on the East during the 14u Select Festival and will be again come high school as both are attending Hagerty in Orlando, Florida.

NYC = New York Catchers
Though they play on three different travel-ball teams, the trio of catchers representing the East in the 2024 14U PG Select Festival all hail from New York. However, their journeys into this event are all very unique and personal to them.

Different Perspective In Year 2 for Vargas
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“I was very motivated to make PG Select Fest ever since I made it last year,” Brunson shares. “The experience here is awesome. You get surrounded by all these good people and all these people that will help you in the near future.”

PERFECTGAME.TV