The 22nd annual Dick’s Sporting Goods Perfect Game All-American Classic was yet another success. The top 60 high school players in the entire country ventured to Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, in downtown Phoenix to commence another star-studded event.
It was a jam-packed weekend from top to bottom filled with lots of hardware and thrilling moments. Below is a review of the premiere event.
High End Talent Driven By a Cause
It is the best of the best for a reason, and 2024 didn’t disappoint. The 22 states in total were represented well in this one, and it was especially prevalent in the state of California. It is a west coast heavy class, and California led the way with a stunning 18 All-American representatives. On top of the buzz and acclaim, PG’s All-Americans helped raise hundreds of thousands toward philanthropic causes for children in need. This year, the main beneficiary was the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
2026s Make Eye Opening Appearance
Before the seniors stepped foot on the field, it was the rising juniors of the highly touted 2026 class who made an early appearance as All-Americans. The top 26s in the country had explosive rounds of batting practice, with a handful even leaving the yard. They went head-to-head in an East Vs. West scrimmage, where a number of arms simply stole the show. It is hard not to mention Wilson Andersen and Bo Halloway who both peaked into the upper-90s and were simply dominant on the hill.
Hartshorn Takes Home Thrilling Derby
The 2025 All-Americans eventually made its presence known in the power department in an annual home run derby that was one for the ages. It ended in a thrilling swing off between two California sluggers in Gavin Fien and Josiah Hartshorn. The pair went tit-for-tat in the finals and forced things into overtime via swing off. Hartshorn just got the best of Fien with four towering home runs in the final before being bombarded by his fellow All-American teammates. It capped-off a thrilling event full of loud noises.
East Storms Back in Thrilling All-American Game
Broadcasted on PGTV, the East took home the All-American game win with a thrilling 8-7 walk-off in the ninth inning to cap a major comeback. Georgia’s own Dax Kilby won MVP honors with a loud 2-for-3 showing and a loud double. Flames were thrown in the game too and that is an understatement. Five pitchers threw 97-plus in the game with the help of Seth Hernandez, Miguel Sime, Brett Crossland, Landon Harmon and Kruz Schoolcraft. It was simply an explosive showing on both sides of the ball as the top amateur baseball talent in the entire country went head-to-head on a big league field that may become all too familiar for many in attendance.
Cunningham Wins Jackie Robinson Award
To shine light on some hardware, Kayson Cunningham won the prestigious Perfect Game Jackie Robinson Player of the Year Award highlighting prestigious character and performance both on and off the field. The San Antonio, Texas product resembles many of those characteristics in how he approaches the game and how he holds himself accountable in every single facet. He was stellar once again on the PG circuit, which has long been the case. The Jackie Robinson award was just one of many prestigious awards, acknowledgements and honors presented to the 60 PG All-Americans in attendance.
Looking Ahead to 2025
Overall, it was yet another great PG All-American weekend in 2024. There are bigger sights ahead for 2025 to kick off the 23rd annual event as we focus on the 2026 graduate class. The 2024 event was one for the ages.
11 & 12U Perfect Game Select Baseball Festival Take Over East Cobb (Event IDs: 92836, 92835)
The Top 11 & 12U eligible players from across North America descended on the historic East Cobb Baseball Complex 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 that gives a glimpse into the bright future of America’s pastime.
The weekend was filled with fun-filled activities including practices, home run derby’s and plenty of fun in our players lounge area. Where both age groups got to engage in ping pong tournaments and play against each other in various video games like 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 players 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.
The amazing efforts of each participant in both the 11 & 12U games allowed for a little over 23,000 dollars to be raised to help underserved players that go through the Elite Development Academy.
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 punchouts in a scoreless top-of-the first. It was his bat that got the West team on-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 Rueben 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 Rueben 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 nodded 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. Rueben Elias took home MVP honors by going 2-for-2 with three runs batted in.
11U Game MVP
11U Home Run Derby Champion
11U Award Winners
The 12U iteration gave us a glimpse into the future stars of amateur baseball, as there were seven arms that toed the rubber that touched 80-plus miles per hour and an outstanding twelve out of sixteen that touched at-least 78 miles per hour. 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 nod 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 Georgia native James Watson secured the victory with a punchout to end another talent laden Perfect Game 12U Select Baseball Festival.
12U Game MVP
12U Home Run Derby Champion
12U Award Winners
-John McAdams
For the first time in the history of the 13u Select Festival, the game was held in a state other than Oklahoma or Tennessee, as the University of Virginia played host to 38 of the top 13u players this past August for the 6th annual 13u Perfect Game Select Festival. Of those 38 players, composed of 2028s and 2029s, 15 different states were represented and it was both Texas and Arizona leading the way with 4 selections apiece.
Started back in 2016, the alum of the 13u Festival have already begun making their marks on the pro ranks as 8 players (Raffaele Velazquez, Slade Caldwell, Konnor Griffin, Cam Caminiti, Theo Gillen, Chase Mobley, Ty Southisene and Erik Parker) have already heard their names called in the MLB Draft, the first 5 of whom went in the first round. And if you include international signings like top prospect Ethan Salas, Jose Perdomo and Luis Ayden Almeyda, amongst others, the collective signing bonus is north of $35,000,000.
And while the number of draftees is currently at 8, you can expect that to climb given that this year's crop didn't disappoint during their time at Davenport Park. In what was easily the highest scoring game in the event's history, it was the West squad who pulled out the huge win by plating 21 (!!) runs over the 7 inning affair, ultimately taking the game by a final score of 21-11 though they only had one more hit than the East.
Over a relatively quiet first two frames, the offenses erupted for run totals that didn't properly display in the inning scoring column up on the scoreboard as the West put up 10 in the top of the third before the East immediately punched back and plated 11 of their own to regain an improbable lead. After zeroes in the 4th the West went 5-2-4 in the final 3 innings of work to take the lead and never look back, scoring their 21 runs on 11 hits, 8 of which came off the bats of Nateo Victorio, Evan Thompson, Louis Lappe and Nathan Malone as they all picked up a pair apiece.
Over on the East, 5 of their 10 hits came courtesy of Easton O'Quinn (2) and Jason Marll Jr., who led the game with 3 hits and tied for the lead with 3 RBI, forcing his way into the MVP conversation despite his team coming out on the losing end.
The MVP was eventually awarded to Victorio who barreled a loud double to the pull side gap for one of his two hits, reached based safely in all three at-bats, swiped a bag, scored two runs and also drove in a pair while showing off the arm from behind the plate as well. The pregame festivities saw O'Quinn take home the Home Run Derby title on the heels of being named the 13u National Player of the Year the night prior at the Awards Banquet, though if we were tracking the furthest home runs of the weekend, few could match what Trent O'Malley and Tre' Lawrence were able to produce with their right-handed swings.
Despite the final lines, the pitching had its moments where the arms were in complete control, showing electric stuff, especially given that they were just 13 years old. Lefty Greyson Bell was as good as we had ever seen him, dotting mid-80 heaters (up to 87 mph) to either side with feel for his secondaries though he wasn't the only one bringing the heat. Alex Bello, Russell Nelson, Noah Vrzal, Knox Myers (up to 89 mph) Jaden Freeze, O'Malley and Adam Kramer were all up to at least 85 mph during their time on the bump.
Shortly after the Festival wrapped up and the players returned home, we released our initial Class of 2029 rankings and though some things have since shifted, the future is extremely bright for this group of players and we know they'll be doing everything to ensure they get the call for the 2025 14u Select Festival.
-Jheremy Brown
To say that the 14U Select Festival game itself was a whirlwind this year would be much an understatement as we battled weather throughout, but in the end we finished 9 innings of showcasing the best young talent in the country and were able to crown a dramatic winner. The weekend as a whole was outstanding as players descended from around the country to Fort Myers over the span of 4 days. From showcase awards on opening night to visiting the Golisano’s Children Hospital, as players fundraised thousands of dollars for the hospital itself, to the awards banquet where we crowned individuals for year-long accomplishments and the game where the East team came out on top, it’s hard to put into words what it means to be a part of it all.
Their talents on the field showed in practice and the game, but also in the home run derby where a 13-year-old phenom from the Dominican Republic by the name of Angel Montas hit 2 balls out over the bullpen in the span of just 3 swings to win it, a ridiculous feat if you have ever stepped foot in JetBlue Stadium. In the game, we witnessed multiple pitchers in the low-90s as 14-year-olds, as well as a multitude of others in the upper-80s, and also saw out first 2 home runs in game at JetBlue Stadium, coming from Blake Ragsdale, whose was a go-ahead grand slam, and Zach Estrada. Ragsdale’s shot won him MVP honors as East was able to hold on behind a strong inning from National Player of the Year Aiden Kearney.
-Tyler Russo