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Tournaments  | Championship | 9/30/2025

Canes Stay Hot, Win WWBA Sophomore

Photo: Canes National (Perfect Game)
Canes National 16U took the shut-out, run-rule victory over SBA Bolts National 2028, going up 8 runs in six innings. 

It was balmy in JetBlue Park’s stadium as players, coaches, parents and friends packed in to watch the culmination of an action-packed tournament. 

The Canes were able to get 4 runs across in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on walks and errors to plate as many as possible.



With two outs and the bases loaded, Graham Virag blasted a single to center to bring another two runs in - making the score 5-0 to really spring the Canes ahead. This was Virag’s first tournament with this already established Canes team.

“I was a little nervous, but once I settled in, I just simplified it and swung as hard as I could and found a barrel,” Virag said.

Robert Mascia plated an additional run on a line drive to right field to make the score 6-0 at the end of the first.

The next few innings, SBA attempted to get on the board, but the Canes defense was lights-out - turning double plays and making it look easy. 

On the mound for the Canes was right-hander Nolan Slaymaker. Through 4 innings of work, he struck out 4 batters using a fastball that sat in the high-80s range, but topped out at 91 and also mixing in a mid-70s slider and changeup.

“I was trying to just do whatever I could to help my team out. Just fill up the zone, get outs as quick as possible,” Slaymaker said. 

The SBA defense showed its strength in the middle innings, not allowing any runs.

However, in the bottom of the fifth, the Canes finally brought in a run off a fielder’s choice.

Then, in the sixth, with one on and two outs, Isaias Torres called “game” as he lined one to right field, bringing Grant Arnold in as the game’s final run.

“It was 3-0, and Coach gave me the green light,” Torres laughed. “I was ready for a fastball, found it and hit it well. It felt great. [It’s been a] long tournament. Our team played well. Our team played hard. We’re all exhausted out here.”

The fatigue was understandable, as the players were on the field in the heat of the day. Though everyone was glad for no weather delays, there was only occasional cloud cover to shield everyone from the beating sun. 

“I actually brought a big ice bucket for the team,” Virag said. “We’d stick our hands in it, put it on our heads, put our heads in it. It actually kept us in the game - cooled us down.”

Arnold, who crossed the plate as his team’s tournament-winning run, also won MVP for the event, with 9 hits, 6 stolen bases, 2 home runs, and 13 runners batted in. 

“In the beginning of the week, it was just hitting a lot of fastballs,” Arnold said, explaining what led up to him winning the award. “But towards the end of the week, it was just taking a lot of pitches and getting on base a lot.”

As to who has helped him improve recently, Arnold gave credit to two individuals specifically:

“I’d say definitely my dad. He’s always helped me with everything. Then, I’d say my hitting coach Leo, because I’ve been working with him a lot.”

However, it didn’t seem like the MVP award was the most memorable part for Arnold. When asked what would stick with him, he said:

“Definitely the championship. That’s the most important part for me. I just love winning. Losing makes me angry…it feels like we’ve been waiting for this one for a while.”

The team’s encouraging, fun dynamic was easy to feel throughout the tournament - especially as they showered each other with any ice, gatorade, or water they could find after their win. 

Their head coach, Brian Hucks, commended the boys’ strong sense of unity.

“We’ve got players from all over the country and to see how close they are and how much they pull for each other - it’s really something special,” Hucks said. “The Canes culture, I think, is what separates us from everybody else. And these guys love one another and they pull for one another.”

“I’ll remember how the dugout was a blast,” Torres smiled. “Everyone was hyped and everyone had good chemistry.”

“All these boys, I just met them,” Virag said. “It feels like I’ve known them forever. It’s a lot of fun being with these guys and it makes the game easier for me.”

“We all have this inside joke,” Slaymaker smiled. “It’s really funny. I’m not going to talk about it, but we just have a great time in here.”

Beyond the fun memories in the Canes’ dugout, Hucks said this win meant a lot to him and the program.

“SBA is an incredible program and they’ve got so many good players,” Hucks said. “But we feel like we deserve to be the best team in the country. We’ve been close so many times, and I’m just glad they finally found a way to get it done.”
 

Tournaments | Story | 8/7/2026

Tournament of Champion Notes: Part 2

Perfect Game Staff
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Tournament of Champions Scout Notes: Part 1 ‘27 LHP Jaylan Hortenbury (KY) @JHortenbury X @PG_Uncommitted FB 85-89/ touched 90. Arm-side life w/ some ride. SL in mid 70s (depth). CH showed as a weapon in the upper 7s. Some sweep to BB in low 7s. Athletic w/ two-way capabilities as well. #TOC šŸ‘€ @USAPrimeScout27 pic.twitter.com/vyj1Tb9nBN — Jordan Gates (@JGatesPG) July 30, 2026 Jaylan Hortenbury (2027, New Castle, Ky.) Hortenbury was probably one of my personal favorites, as this was my first time seeing it in action. It’s an athletic two-way profile that has a chance to do both at the next level. But what stood out to me, was his potential on the mound. The left-handed pitcher moves very well and is comfortable there. Has the mound presence Supplemented with a free-flowing and loose arm from a higher ¾ slot, he pounded the zone in his lone appearance. He went...
General | General | 8/8/2026

12U Game Time: 8/9/2026 1PM Eastern

Perfect Game Staff
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Sunday August 9th, 2026 1:00PM Eastern DICK'S Sporting Goods Park at East Cobb West vs. East Follow and watch the game
General | General | 8/8/2026

11U Game Time: 8/8/2026 Noon Eastern

Perfect Game Staff
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Saturday August 8th, 2026 12:00PM Eastern DICK'S Sporting Goods Park at East Cobb West vs. East Follow and watch the game
Draft | Story | 8/7/2026

2026 MLB Draft Team Reports: NL West

Tyler Henninger
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2026 MLB Draft Team Report Cards: AL West With the 2026 MLB Draft officially in the books, it’s time to evaluate how each team performed. Every draft class was graded using the standard 20-80 scouting scale with risk factor assigned. While these grades won’t be proven right or wrong for years, they reflect the overall talent, value, and upside each organization added to its system. NL West Arizona Diamondbacks  Grade: 50 Risk: High Notable Selections: C Ryder Helfrick (1st rd) | RHP Blake Bryant (CB-A rd) | SS Carson Kerce (2nd rd) | OF Brayden Dowd (3rd rd)  Ryder Helfrick (@RazorbackBSB ) different AB; same result. He goes dead central for a solo šŸ’£ this time. Threw a runner out earlier; 1.98 pop. #PGCollege @PG_Draft https://t.co/kW7wraqExJ pic.twitter.com/SARYKxd0oE — PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) February 14, 2026 The Diamondbacks started their...
College | Story | 8/7/2026

Cape Cod League Notebook: August 7

Perfect Game Staff
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RHP Jason Flores (@BaseballUGA) Showed some electric stuff, up to 98 several times CT, SL, CH to round out the arsenal in his 5IP 9K performance. @HarwichMariners So./‘27 elig pic.twitter.com/p2nTvkFnWh — PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) August 5, 2026 Jason Flores | RHP | University of Georgia | Harwich Mariners  Flores heads to Georgia this fall looking to reestablish himself as one of the premier arms in the 2027 draft class after showing significant promise during his freshman season at Texas. Flores posted a 2.78 ERA over 32.1 innings as a freshman before a limited sophomore campaign in which he logged just 12 innings. The stuff was on full display this summer, highlighted by a dominant five-inning, nine-strikeout playoff performance in which he touched 98 mph five different times. His fastball averaged nearly 96 mph throughout his time on the Cape, pairing the...
Tournaments | Championship | 8/6/2026

643 DP Last Team Standing at East WS

Will Dembo
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Following a dominant week at the 17u PG East World Series, No. 34 ranked 643 DP Cougars 17u capped off an impressive tournament run by defeating No. 2 ranked East Cobb Astros 17u, 3-2, in the championship game to claim the title. The Cougars earned the tournament's No. 1 overall seed after outscoring opponents by an absurd 59-6 throughout the week before completing their championship run with a hard-fought victory in the finale. “Always feels great to finish the year playing your best ball, especially when going up against strong competition,” 643 Head Coach Danny Pralgo said. “We did so many of the little things right: on the mound with location, clean on defense, bunting, 2 strike approach leading to long at bats, getting hit-by-pitches, and we had so many good outs offensively that led to moving a runner or scoring a runner. And when those things all come together in...
Press Release | Press Release | 8/6/2026

PG Extends Partnership With Yeti

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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 EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH YETI   Sanford, Florida (Thursday, August 6, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced an extension of its existing partnership with YETI, the premium outdoor gear brand and the Official Cooler and Drinkware Provider of Perfect Game Baseball and Softball. The partnership between Perfect Game and YETI began in 2021.   The expanded partnership will bring YETI’s products and brand to Perfect Game athletes, families and fans through a variety of activations across Perfect Game’s events and digital platforms. YETI will have a prominent presence both on-site and online, including exposure...
Tournaments | Story | 8/6/2026

Tournament of Champions Notes: Part 1

Perfect Game Staff
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‘27 RHP/SS Carson Hailey (KY) Dominant 5.1 IP + 14 K’sā€¼ļø 2 ER on 3 H + 1BB. 69% strikes. FB lived 88-89 T92 w/ ASR + maintained velo. SL 77-80 w/ late sharp break. Throws downhill w/ good extension. Pitches tunnel well out of 3/4 slot. #TOC @carsonhailey_8 @2027TTKY @JGatesPG pic.twitter.com/UoL7newgi6 — Perfect Game Ohio Valley (@PG_OhioValley) July 29, 2026 Carson Hailey (2027, Louisville, Ky..) turned in a dominant outing, striking out 14 across 5.1 innings while allowing two earned runs on three hits and one walk. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound right-hander owns an athletic frame and worked with a controlled tempo on the mound. Hailey used a big leg kick and long stride with an easy lower half, creating downhill action and good extension toward the plate. He finished through his pitches well and maintained his velocity deep into the outing. The fastball lived at 88-89 mph...
Tournaments | Story | 8/6/2026

East Coast Pro All Prospect Teams

Troy Sutherland
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1st Team C: Quincy Pratt (‘27 MS)-Max EV: 92- Put together a strong showing with multiple knocks; exits of 92/88/88. In-game pops right around 2 flat, 2.01 on a caught stealing and a 1.97. Swing plays and still a bunch of room to add muscle mass. Trending really nicely. 1B: Teagan Leach (‘27 VA)-60-yard: 7.02 Max EV: 105-On the barrel throughout ECP. Everything comes off hard and doesn't whiff much for a power led profile. 101 F8, 99 double left on left with a 4.72 turn, 105 double through the gap, and a 96 exit knock to his credit. Certified hitter that has plus strength now. IF: Isaiah Snavely (‘27 IN)-60-yard:6.71 Max EV: 96-Early attendance for the draft cycle rocket ship is always appreciated and Snavely is on it. 96/366 shot on a breaking ball to go with an 89 exit double and his other couple of hits on the week. 4.26 down the line and a 4.47 turn. Should stick in...
Tournaments | Championship | 8/6/2026

Canes Walk Off In Florida Elite Champ.

Alyssa Golden
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A tightly contested battle between Canes Florida 2029 and Florida Flames 16u capped the 16U Florida Elite Championship, with the Canes earning a 6-5 walk-off win on Monday at JetBlue Park Stadium. “It means a lot to this team specifically because this is their first win as a group,” Canes head coach Alec Bettinger said. “We’ve come up short a couple times, so seeing one go through the hoop here is really nice for the boys.” The Canes defense came out hot, led by Cannon Tyler who started on the mound for the Canes. Tyler set the tone from the start, opening the game with a strikeout. He allowed no hits while striking out three over five innings. His fastball sat 77-82 mph. Another strikeout and a pickoff at second base ended the inning. Race McDaniel started on the mound for the Flames. The left-hander pitched six innings, striking out seven batters. The...
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