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Tournaments  | Story | 1/14/2025

MLK Weekend Brings Lots of Baseball

Hannah Jo Groves
The first holiday weekend of 2025 brings teams from all around the country to both the east and west coasts for the 2025 East and West MLK Championships.

East

Looking back a year ago, 2024’s 14U champion in the east was Sports Academy Puerto Rico, who won 6-0 against SBA Florida National 14U with help from top-100 talent like catcher Dariel Carrion.



This year, 21 teams from five different states will congregate in Fort Myers, Florida to contend for this year’s title.

At the top of the list of names to watch is the No. 1 14-year-old in the country, Tre’ Lawrence from Summerville, South Carolina. In 2024, Lawrence had a .436 batting average, hit 7 home runs, contributed 72 runners batted in and racked up 44 stolen bases. The three-time Select Fest Player will be playing with ZT Southeast this weekend, alongside No. 8 Carter Nash, No. 29 Xavier Rodriguez and No. 73 Kannon Derry. Their first game will be at South Fort Myers High School against CBU South Florida on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Another big name coming into this weekend is 13U Select Fest Player Alex Bello from Orlando, Florida. In 2024, Bello’s batting average sat at .468 with 66 runners batted in, 35 stolen bases and a home run. Currently ranked as No. 18 in the country, the 14-year-old will take the field with Orlando Baseball Academy (Base Eleven) 14U - with their first matchup coming against the South Florida Blue Jays on Saturday at 2:45 p.m. on Field 1 at North Fort Myers Community Park.

Two teams in the 14U division come in with a top-100 national ranking - the first out of Cooper City, Florida - No. 25 PLO White. The team’s record currently stands at an impressive 17-4 - and includes No. 35-ranked Ivan Carballo from Wesley Chapel, Florida. PLO White’s first game of the tournament will come Saturday morning at 10:15 a.m. on Field 3 at the Cape Coral Sports Complex against the FL Prospects.

SBA National Select is the other nationally ranked 14U team in the east - sitting in the No. 78 spot. With their current record standing at 9-4, they’ll look to add more wins to the column starting Friday at 8:00 p.m. on Field 1 at Buckingham Community Park against MN Blizzard Elite Blue.

Turning to the 15U division, the No. 50-ranked Florida National 15U team will try to keep their hot streak going coming off their 2024 PG 15U East Winter Classic win. They’ll have help from the No. 11 player in the country, Maksim Neshov. The switch-hitter from Canton, Michigan played in his first Select Fest last year - boasting a .513 batting average, racking up 53 runners batted in, hitting 2 home runs and stealing 44 bases on the year. Neshov and his talented teammates will get their first game in on Saturday at 8 a.m. against the Rawlings Tigers 15U National Team on Field 1 at the Cape Coral Sports Complex.

Also ranked in the top-100 nationally is JR7 Baseball out of Saint Cloud, Florida. With a record of 16-3, this team has 29 all-tournament players - two of which won MVPitcher awards in 2024. After falling in the semifinals at the PG 15U East Winter Classic, this team will be ready to give it all they’ve got for a championship title. That run will begin for them at 2:45 p.m. on Saturday against SBA Puerto Rico on Field 4 at 5-Plex.

One more team to keep an eye out for in the 15U division in the east - Puerto Rico National 15U. Boasting top-100 talent with catchers No. 31-ranked Julian Martinez, No. 39-ranked Dariel Carrion and third baseman No. 40-ranked Anthony Huaranga, this team has a lot of potential and very well could take the title - maybe even upsetting a couple teams along the way. They’ll first take the field on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. against Next Level Scout Team 2028 on Field 2 at 5-Plex.

Puerto Rico is also represented in the 16U division for the east, alongside 19 other teams from 7 different states.

One of the most prestigious squads hails from St. Louis, Michigan - the Motor City Hit Dogs Hammond. Amongst many ranked players on the squad is the No. 2 player for the Class of 2028 - Carter Shouse. Shouse, from Middletown, Ohio, very suddenly caught people’s attention in March of 2024. Soon after, he made his first Select Fest and has been on a tear ever since. Shouse plays with high energy on both sides of the ball and will likely contribute to his team’s success this weekend - with their first game happening on Friday night at 8 p.m. against Sunshine State Elite Academy at Cypress Lake High School.

With an honorable mention, the FB Braves 16U National from Fairfield, New Jersey will also be in Fort Myers looking to improve on their 8-3 record. After a loss in the championship match at the 16U Mid-Atlantic Fall Classic in Staten Island, New York, they’ll be hungry for a title in the new year - and will start that chase at 8 a.m. Saturday on Field 3 against Team Elite 16U.

Finally, in the 18U division for the East, 25 teams will duke it out in the Florida sun - including teams from Quebec, Pennsylvania and, again, Puerto Rico.

Playing for the No. 77-ranked DRD DI Bat Puerto Rico team is the No. 35-ranked Gustavo Melendez. The Wake Forest commit is a 5’9 infielder with surprising power and quick reflexes. Adding his talent to an already stacked team makes this squad near the top of the list to monitor - with their first game on Friday at 3:30 p.m. against Reds Academy Florida 2026 on the Brett Field at Terry Park Sports Complex.

That will prove to be a tough game for both teams, as Reds Academy Florida is ranked as No. 36 nationally with a record of 7-2. The Reds lost by one run in the championship game of the 2024 PG 18U Florida Fall National tournament - and will definitely be out for redemption.

Lastly, one more stacked team to watch - the Florida Blue Jays Scout Team. There’s no shortage of high-power, electric and elite talent on this Weston, Florida-based team - as many players are committed to play at the collegiate level in schools around the state. Their first game will be at 8 p.m. on Friday evening against Langan Baseball on Brett Field at Terry Park Sports Complex.


West

Over on the west side, the Arizona Athletic Grounds will see 24 teams from 5 different states take the fields on the 17th for the 14U division.

Outfielder Evan Thompson from Gilbert, Arizona is coming in hot after an amazing 2024. With a .468 batting average, 98 runners batted in, 11 home runs and 41 stolen bases on the year, he secured the No. 5 spot in the national ranking. Thompson and the No. 98 nationally ranked AZ643 Baseball squad will face ITZ Matadors 14U at 9:30 on Friday on Field 2 at Gene Autry Complex.

The highest-ranking team coming into the west’s championship is Knights Elite Black National - sitting at the No. 55 spot. With an astounding record of 23-8-1, this team is on everyone’s radar - turning heads despite the lack of ranked players on the roster. After falling short in the championship game of the 2024 14U Fall West World Series, there’ll be extra motivation to execute a championship run. Their first match-up will come against the Pima Pilots at 9:30 a.m. on Field 3 at the Gene Autry Complex.

Back in 2024, TBT Ballers Texas 15U National took the West MLK Championship in a 9-0 victory over The Yard with help from center fielder Anderson Lambert, third baseman Malcolm Blaqman and right-handed pitcher Corbin McDaniel. Now, 30 talented 15U teams will fight for the 2025 title.

The biggest name coming to play in this division is a right-handed pitcher named Russell Nelson - the No. 9-ranked player for the class of 2029. Last year, Nelson struck out 90 batters in 68.2 innings pitched. At the time this article is being written, Nelson is listed as playing for two teams coming into the weekend - AZ Aztecs 15U and USA Scout National - Black. Regardless of which team he plays on, the two-time Select Fest player will be a menace on the mound.

Also coming in with a legacy of strength is Baum Bat NW 2028 from Vancouver, Washington. Combined with the efforts of lefty Sam Smith and catcher Joseph Bense, three-time Select Fest player Cameron Hockett from Spokane, Washington will add to the fun. Hockett, the No. 15 for the class of 2029, had a .439 batting average, racked up 83 RBI and 5 home runs in 2024. Hockett and his formidable teammates will have their first game at 11:30 a.m. on Friday on Field 1 at the Red Mountain BB Complex versus Soldier Spects National 2028.

Coincidentally, the Baum Bat NW 2026 Squad took home the 2024 17U West MLK Championship in 2024 after an 11-3 win over the Sticks Baseball 17U National Team. Shortstop Will Goodman, designated hitter Brody Meyer and first baseman Ryker Ruelas each contributed to the dominant victory.

This year, 32 different teams from Honolulu, Hawaii all the way to Washington, D.C. will fight for the 17U title.

Coming off a successful trip to Fort Myers, Florida for the 2024 WWBA Sophomore World Championship, the No. 24-ranked Trosky National 2027 team will be taking on Oklahoma Fuel 2027 at 12 p.m. on Friday on Field 1 at Indian School Park. With many ranked players on the roster, including No. 82-ranked Maxwell Stewart and Arizona State commit Ty Hemenway, this team will be an intimidating opponent.

Not far behind them in the rankings is No. 32 - RoughRiders National 2026 - who currently have a 19-3 record. This team packs a lot of power and versatility mixed with experience and IQ. Tennessee commit Cody Boshell from St. Johns, Florida ranked No. 81 nationally and is the No. 3 first baseman in the country. He and his team will look to do some damage starting at 5 p.m. on Field 1 at Indian School Park against NorCal 2026 Cardinal.

Finally, looking on to the 18U division, last year’s champion in the west was another Baum Bat NW team that took the 6-2 win over Sticks Baseball Brewster/White Sox Scout Team. Centerfielder Henry Mhoon and right-handed pitcher Rowin O'Connor each contributed to the win on both sides of the ball.

This year, 34 teams will try for the same outcome - including a Baum Bat NW Upperclass team that features top-100 talent like right-handed pitcher and LSU commit River Hamilton along with shortstop and Michigan commit Bruin Agbayani. They’ll start their attempt continue their organization’s success starting on Friday at 9 a.m. versus the Peninsula Mets 18U Hamilton on Field 8 at the Arizona Athletic Grounds.

Also coming in strong is the Trosky/Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team 2025. At the top of the names to look for is No. 2-ranked Xavier Neyens, a physical left-handed stick from Mount Vernon, Washington who is committed to Oregon State and was a 2024 All-American Classic Player. Alongside him will be Vanderbilt commit Slater de Brun, who was also a 2024 All-American Classic Player. Their action starts at 4:30 p.m. on Friday against Prospect United Premier on Field 7 at the Arizona Athletic Grounds.
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