THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,596 MLB PLAYERS | 16,395 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,596 MLB PLAYERS | 16,395 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Championship | 8/12/2026

Pokers Rally to Capture 16U BCS Title

Alyssa Golden
Pokers Rally to Capture 16U BCS Title
A hot afternoon at JetBlue Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida ended in a 9-1 victory for the Original Florida Pokers 2028 National, defeating SBA Bolts Florida 2028 National on Monday to capture the 16U BCS National Championship.

A pitchers’ duel kept the game scoreless through four innings before the Pokers broke it open with a five-run fifth inning. The title marked the Pokers’ second 16U BCS Championship, adding to the championship they won in 2022.



Despite a slow start to the summer, the Pokers found their stride at the right time.

“We struggled a lot early in the summer, but the past few tournaments we really started turning it on,” Pokers head coach Will McCrimon said. “I’m just so proud of these kids.”

Max Maynes started the game on the mound for the Pokers. The left-hander allowed three hits and two walks while striking out three over four scoreless innings. His fastball sat consistently at 74-78 mph.

SBA leadoff hitter Chase Potter came out hot with a single. Potter, who finished the tournament with 11 runs scored, 14 hits and two home runs, later earned tournament MVP honors.

“My swing just felt really good this tournament,” Potter said. “I was seeing the ball really well and putting a lot of balls in play.”

No. 463-ranked Tristian Tallo started on the mound for SBA, not issuing a single walk and allowing four hits while striking out three over three innings. His fastball sat 79-82 mph throughout his outing.

Matching SBA’s fast start, Pokers leadoff hitter Sean Torres singled to begin the bottom of the first. Torres went 2-for-3 in the game with two runs scored and an RBI.

Tallo quickly stopped that momentum with a strikeout, but Charlie Acierno doubled to bring Torres to third. Acierno went 2-for-3 with one double, one run scored, and an RBI.

The SBA defense didn’t let the Pokers capitalize, however, as a lineout to shortstop ended the inning.

The defensive battle continued, with both teams throwing runners out on the basepaths. The Pokers turned a double play before a groundout to shortstop ended the second inning, allowing the minimum three batters.

Cyrus De Jesus, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI, singled to begin the bottom of the second and Daniel Beltran reached first on a bunt that hugged the third-base line and stayed fair.

Tallo stranded both runners, retiring the next three batters, including another strikeout.

Maynes answered with a strikeout of his own in the third, once again facing the minimum.

Tallo matched him in the bottom half, striking out another batter while retiring the side in order.

Looking to spark the offense, Evan Goodmon opened the fourth with a single and advanced to second on a bunt. However, with two outs, SBA stranded Goodmon at second as the inning ended on a swinging third strike.

With big shoes to fill, Shaun Maradona entered in relief for SBA in the bottom of the fourth.

Maradona came out hot, striking out his first two batters to keep the game scoreless through four innings.

Julian Solomon entered in relief for the Pokers to begin the fifth inning. His fastball sat 80-83 mph. The right-hander pitched 1.2 innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out one batter.

Maradona carried his momentum from the mound right to the plate with a leadoff triple before Camden Hagy drove him home with an RBI single to give SBA a 1-0 lead.

In a game where offense had been hard to come by, the run loomed large.

The deficit quickly woke up the Pokers’ offense, as they then powered through a five-run fifth inning, beginning with a double from Tyler Stertzbach.

“We just went back to fundamental baseball,” coach McCrimon said. “Got a guy on, bunted him over, got a hit and then the hitting was contagious. It just kept going.”

Stertzbach not only succeeded offensively, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored in the championship game, but also earned tournament MVPitcher honors after striking out 11 batters across seven innings during the tournament.

“I was struggling earlier in the tournament, but I figured it out and came through when it mattered most,” Stertzbach said.

He scored on a single from Torres, bringing the game to a 1-1 tie.

Torres advanced to second on a groundout and two walks followed to load the bases for the Pokers for the first time all game.

Then, just when his team needed him most, Nelson Velazquez delivered a two-run single to give the Pokers a 3-1 lead, one they never relinquished.

The offense kept rolling from there, adding two more runs later in the inning when De Jesus lined a two-run single to extend the lead to 5-1.

In the top of the sixth, the Pokers found themselves with the bases loaded and two outs after a single and two walks. Joseph Blosser entered in relief and escaped the jam by striking out the first batter he faced to end the inning.

Stertzbach singled to open the bottom of the sixth, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on an error, bringing the Pokers’ lead to 6-1.

The Pokers continued to add on as Torres, Trey Hodges, Ander Elorriaga and Acierno all singled. Hodges and Acierno each drove in a run.

Hodges later scored on a wild pitch, extending the lead to 8-1 and ending the game via Perfect Game’s mercy rule.

For coach McCrimon, the championship was the product of a group that has played together for years.

“It’s a family,” he said. “A lot of them go to the same high school. They all grew up together, played Little League together. They love playing for each other.”
Give us your feedback
Tournaments | Story | 8/7/2026

Tournament of Champion Notes: Part 2
Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
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 👀 @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...
Read More
All American Game | Story | 8/15/2026

A Philly Dream for Steingall

Jim Salisbury
Article Image
PHILADELPHIA – Carson Steingall had been to Citizens Bank Park many times over the years. After all, he hails from Nazareth, Pa., about 90 minutes up the road from the home of the Philadelphia Phillies and he counts himself as a big fan of the team. Zack Wheeler is his favorite. Steingall realized a dream when he pitched from the same mound that Wheeler does in Perfect Game’s fourth annual All-Star Game for rising sophomores and juniors on Friday. The dream got even better when Steingall, a 16-year-old right-hander, was named Most Valuable Pitcher after striking out the side in the third inning of the National team’s 6-1 victory over the American team. “It’s just an honor to be here,” Steingall said after receiving his trophy. “This event is the best of the best. It’s really cool to win something like this.” Steingall, who’ll...
Read More
Showcase | Story | 8/13/2026

PG Honors Pat Gillick With Philly Showcase

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Perfect Game to honor Pat Gillick in new Philadelphia Showcase  By Maya Heyman Perfect Game is bringing its elite showcase experience to Philadelphia’s FDR Park for the inaugural Philly Stars/Pat Gillick Showcase this weekend, honoring one of the greatest executives in MLB history in the city where he constructed his final of three World Series winners. The event will take place on Sunday, the same day as the DICK’S All-American Classic, taking place just across the street at Citizens Bank Park.  The showcase will allow Philadelphia-area players to gain exposure and will also honor Gillick, who has been a tremendous influence in both professional and amateur baseball.   Jered Goodwin, Vice President of Scouting Operations for Perfect Game, said the idea came naturally.  “Going to Philly made a lot of sense to honor Pat Gillick, who's been a...
Read More
General | General | 8/13/2026

PG All-Star Game Heads to Philly

Jheremy Brown
Article Image
For the fourth time since its inception in 2023, two rosters comprised of the best rising juniors (and a handful of rising sophomores) will step out onto the field Friday afternoon, kicking off the All-American weekend. While the Perfect Game All-American Classic is slated for a 1:35 first pitch at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, 36 future hopefuls of the Classic will go up against one another in an American vs National clash at 11 AM Eastern, Friday morning.  With 36 players from across the country descending on Philadelphia, there will be plenty of familiar names in attendance as 24 of the 36 played in at least one PG Select Festival and all 36 attended either the he Sophomore National, Junior National, or the PG Underclass All-American Games this summer. Leading the charge are a pair of No. 1s in 2028 dynamic talent Dexter McCleon Jr and 2029 Macgraw VanWormer, a do-it-all...
Read More
Draft | Story | 8/11/2026

Realistic Expectations of a 1:1 Pick

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Over the 2026 draft cycle, UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky was the projected No. 1 pick throughout the entire cycle. White Sox fans began #RochWatch and were already talking about when he will make it to Chicago. Now that he has been selected, Cholowsky has immediately become a Top-10 prospect in all of baseball. There is no denying the hype, and the pressure, for Chowlosky to get to the big leagues and produce at a high level.  But how realistic is that? Let’s take a look back at past 1:1 selections and see what you can expect from a No. 1 overall selection.  For this exercise, we’ll look at No. 1 overall picks from the bonus pool era, excluding Eli Willits from 2025 since this is his first full year of pro ball. That gives us 13 players selected from 2012 through 2024.  Almost All Become Big Leaguers The first thing that stands out is how successful No. 1 picks...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 8/11/2026

Perfect Game & Goat'd Come Together

Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME AND GOAT'D PARTNER TO BRING PREMIUM PROTECTIVE GEAR TO THE NATION'S TOP AMATEUR BASEBALL PLAYERS   Sanford, Florida (Tuesday, August 11, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced a new partnership with Goat'd, a premium protective gear brand focused on developing innovative products for athletes. The partnership will bring Goat'd's premium protective equipment to some of the nation's top amateur baseball players and families across Perfect Game's premier national events. The partnership will debut at several of Perfect Game's marquee events, including the 13U Select Fest, 14U Select Fest, Perfect Game All-Star Game and...
Read More
General | General | 8/8/2026

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

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

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

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

2026 MLB Draft Team Reports: NL West

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
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 💣 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...
Read More
College | Story | 8/7/2026

Cape Cod League Notebook: August 7

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
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...
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2026 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.