THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,491 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,491 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Tournaments  | Story | 4/2/2004

The 2004 Iowa Spring Scout League, plus more staff profiles

THE IOWA SPRING SCOUT LEAGUE Iowa high school baseball is one of the dinosaurs of scholastic sports. While virtually the rest of the country plays their baseball in the spring, high school players in Iowa start their season in late May and play through the summer. The original reason Iowan’s did not play their school baseball in the spring, from what I’ve heard, was to free up the young men to work on the farms after school. Once the planting was done and the fields set, the kids were free to go out and play. While this formula really doesn't apply anymore in today's society, it hasn't changed high school baseball in Iowa. This gave Perfect Game USA the perfect opportunity to step in to set up and form a spring league in Iowa using wood bats, which they did many years ago. This year’s spring league features four teams from Iowa with 18-20 players per roster, plus two teams who travel down from Wisconsin. The season lasts six weekends between March 20 and April 25, with one weekend being predominantly left open for make up games. Teams play 3-4 games per weekend at one of seven different fields, three in Cedar Rapids, two in Newton and one each in Carroll and Adel, so all the players end up with 19-21 games. Games are standard 7-inning games with full umpire crews, statistics, etc. Compare this to Florida, where recent changes in state high school baseball association rules limit schools to 24 game schedules, including in-season tournaments. Close to 100 players in Iowa are already playing 21 games before there high school season even starts! The two big differences between a regular school league season and the Iowa Spring Scout League are these. First, all players use wood bats. Secondly, the Perfect Game staff scouts all games and all league players are invited to attend the Spring Top Prospect Camp in Cedar Rapids May 1 and 2 as part of their registration for the league. The players will then have full bio’s and scouting reports written up on the Perfect Game website for scouts and college recruiters to review. You might say, “What about the weather in Iowa in March and April?” It’s not perfect by any means, but there will be 6 games in Carroll this weekend, where they are predicting sunny sky’s and temperatures in the low 60’s. That’s baseball weather! The Alumni List from past spring league’s is pretty impressive. Here is a partial list of names that should be familiar to most everyone. C Jeff Clement (USC) LHP Nathan Cromer (Marlins) LHP Ryan Danly (NYM) RHP Zach Hammes (Dodgers) RHP Joel Hanrahan (Dodgers) SS Matt Macri (Notre Dame) RHP Darin Naatjes (Phillies) IF Brad Nelson (Brewers) OF Nathan Panther (Indians) RHP Ryan Prahm (Indians) RHP Zach Schreiber (Duke) OF Ryan Sweeney (White Sox) OF Chris Tritle (A’s) RHP Nick Ungs (Marlins) Among the top players in the 2004 spring league are: LHP Danny Bales (Kennedy HS, Cedar Rapids) RHP Mark Bennett (Kennedy HS, Cedar Rapids) 1B-OF Tyler Beranek (Wisconsin) RHP David Conroy (Mt. Vernon HS, Mt. Vernon) IF Brandon Douglas (I-35 HS, St. Charles) IF Brett Douglas (I-35 HS, St. Charles) C-RHP Ben Geelan (Bishop Garrigan HS, Algona) C Brandon Hall (Wisconsin) 3B Michael Harrington (Xavier HS, Cedar Rapids) RHP Jeremy Hellickson (Hoover HS, Des Moines) LHP-OF Nick Nordgren (Jefferson HS, Norway) 1B Ryan Schwiekert (Wisconsin) RHP Travis Sweet (Xavier HS, Cedar Rapids) Continuing last week’s feature, here are some more biographies of Perfect Game USA and World Wood Bat Association personnel. KENTARO YASUTAKE If there was a Perfect Game equivalent of the player who plays nine different positions in nine innings, that person would be Kentaro Yasutake. Kentaro, a Perfect Game full time staff member since 2001, has a job description that defies a job title. On one hand, Kentaro is one of Perfect Game’s lead talent evaluators at most events. Kentaro’s scouting style is understated, as he rarely gets overexcited about a particular player and keeps his comments short and to the point. But as PG Director Jerry Ford says, “When Kentaro expresses a strong opinion, you had better listen because he’s going to be right!” One the other hand, Kentaro is the organization data base whiz and until this spring handled all the Perfect Game computer systems and web sites, despite no formal computer training. Just about everything else that can be done in an office environment, Kentaro has his hands in. A native of Japan, Kentaro came over to the United States to play baseball, first at Lewis and Clark College, then with Big Bend Community College and finally with Emporia State in Kansas. Kentaro also played in the Jay Hawk League during the summers. He was named the Emporia State Male Student Athlete of the Year in 2001 and was recommended to Perfect Game by the Emporia State baseball staff. Kentaro, 27, lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa with his wife, Saori. They swear that the weather in Iowa isn’t too different from where they’re from in Japan. AARON PUFFER Aaron Puffer, 33, is the Perfect Game USA Midwest Regional Director. He organizes events, recommends players and teams for PG Showcases and WWBA tournaments and serves as a Perfect Game scout at selected events. His extensive experience at all levels of baseball makes him one of PG’s most respected talent evaluators. Puffer started his college baseball career at Purdue in 1989 but transfered to Creighton University from 1990 to 1993, where he played for current Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry and with PG National Supervisor Tyson Kimm. Creighton advanced to the College World Series in 1991 and the NCAA Regionals in 1992. Puffer was named first team All-Missouri Valley Conference pitcher as a senior and was drafted by the Anaheim Angels. Puffer pitched in the minor leagues for 2 seasons. Puffer received two bachelor’s degrees from Creighton, one in Exercise Science and one in Occupational Therepy. A business degree might have come in handy, too. Puffer is the founder and general manager of Major League Beginnings, a full service baseball facility located in Lynwood, Illinois. Major League Beginnings is closely affiliated with Perfect Game USA and the team Puffer works with, Top Tier of Chicago, is a regular at WWBA events. If he didn’t already have enough to do, Puffer also acts as a volunteer assistant coach at Glenbard East High School. If you’re interested in learning more about Major League Beginnings, please visit their website at www.majorleaguebeginnings.com/ DAN KENNEDY Dan Kennedy, 35 is the Perfect Game USA ID Camp Director for the state of Connecticut. He’s also the Director of Baseball Operations for the Connecticut Baseball Academy and the head coach of Team Connecticut, the Connecticut Baseball Academy’s elite travel team. Team Connecticut has won five national championships in various affiliations and has won 25 of the 30 Connecticut state championships they’ve entered at different age levels. Kennedy received his American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Century Club Award in 2003 with his 300th career coaching win. He’s been coaching Team Connecticut for 10 years. Kennedy has also coached Perfect Game Showcase teams at the Northeast Regional Showcase in Wareham, MA and the National Underclass Showcase in Fort Myers, FL. Team Connecticut plans on participating in three World Wood Bat Association events in 2004: The 18U National Championship in Marietta, GA, the Underclass Championship in Fort Myers, FL and the World Wood Bat Championship in Jupiter, FL Kennedy was a three time All-State selection as a catcher at Attleboro HS (MA) and went on to catch for the 1988 Community College of Rhode Island team that finished 3rd in the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado. Kennedy played minor league baseball with the Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox organizations. Kennedy an

Tournaments | Story | 7/2/2026

Freedom Classic Opens Holiday Weekend

Alyssa Golden
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More than 30 teams from the 14U-18U age divisions will head to Fort Myers, Florida this Fourth of July weekend for the seventh annual Perfect Game Freedom Classic. The tournament, running July 3-6, features several nationally ranked prospects from across the country as teams look to compete for a championship. Headlining the field are twin brothers Derek and Ryan Yormark of Merrick, New York. Right-handed pitcher Derek Yormack is the No. 51-ranked player in the class of 2027, the No. 1 player in New York and the No. 5-ranked right-handed pitcher in the country. First baseman Ryan Yormark comes in just behind his twin brother as the No. 3 overall player in New York, the No. 5 first baseman in the nation and the No. 90-ranked player nationally. Both brothers are committed to Vanderbilt. Derek Yormark has established himself as one of the top two-way prospects in the 2027 class. He has run...
Tournaments | Story | 7/2/2026

14u West World Series Scout Notes

Quinton Hall
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Asher Contreras (2030 | Las Vegas, NV) The 5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitter and outfielder was one of the most dangerous hitters in the tournament for Wow Factor Nv 2030, stuffing the stat sheet while displaying an impressive combination of power and speed. He finished the weekend with 9 hits, including two doubles and a home run, while driving in seven runs and scoring five more. He also swiped three bases and worked three walks, consistently putting pressure on opposing defenses while showing feel for the zone with just one strikeout all weekend. His ability to hit for extra bases while also creating offense on the bases made him one of the most impactful offensive performers at the event.    Braylen Silva (‘30 | NV) RBI 2B for GBG Vegas 14u Red. Direct path, quick trigger, & barrel feel. Solid 2-hole stick creating offense all day #14UWestWS...
High School | General | 7/1/2026

PG High School All-Americans

Tyler Russo
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High School Top 50: Final Update With the High School season all wrapped up, today we take a look at our First, Second and Third Team All-Americans from around the country. Below you'll find three teams with stats that seem otherworldly from players who'll likely hear their names called in the coming week's MLB Draft. Within the "Notable Stats" section you'll see the individual award winners as well. First Team All-American Pos.  Name Class School State Commitment Notable Stats C Cole Prosek 2026 Magnolia Heights MS Ole Miss .595 BA, 18 HR, 79 RBI 1B Will Adams 2026 Hoover AL LSU .489, 13 HR, 52 RBI IF James Tronstein 2026 Harvard-Westlake CA Vanderbilt .531, 10 HR, 29 RBI, 21 XBH IF Grady Emerson 2026 Fort Worth Christian TX Texas .508, 8 HR, 56 RBI, 34/35 SB, National POY IF Jacob Lombard 2026 Gulliver Schools FL Miami .477, 10 HR, 52 R, 42 H, 14 SB OF Martin Shelar 2026 Marist GA...
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

16u Elite Scout Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
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16u Elite Scout Notes: Days 1-2  ‘28 AJ Bonnette (TX) with 7 Ks thru 4 IP thus far, living 89-91 w/ heavy traits. Filling up all four quads & attacking hitters early in counts. Mixing a slurvy breaker & turning the CHG over well. @PG_Uncommitted #NatElite @Texas_PG pic.twitter.com/oz2XXoKHvt — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 30, 2026 Aj Bonnette (2028, Keller, Texas) showed out on both sides of the ball at the National Elite Championship, but really stood out on the mound Tuesday. He toed the rubber in round two of the playoffs, proceeding to toss six innings with eight punchouts and zero earned runs allowed. The 6-foot southpaw filled up all four quadrants of the strike zone, attacking hitters early and often with his fastball. The heater lived in the 88-91 mph range with heavy traits, often setting up his slurvy breaking ball. Bonnette showed good feel...
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

Performance Baseball Rolls On

Kinley Kitchens
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Championship teams often reveal themselves when the game isn’t going their way. Performance Baseball 2028/Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team did exactly that. Trailing Florida Burn 2028 Scout through four innings, the Brewers refused to panic. Instead, they relied on timely hitting, consistent pitching, and an unselfish approach at the plate, rallying a five-run fifth inning before pulling away for a 9-5 victory to clinch their spot in the semifinals. The comeback was fueled by contributions throughout the lineup. Six different players drove in runs, including two RBIs each from Aiden Capobianco and Cameron Massey, while Matthew Heredia, Parker Weston, Ethan Smith, and Aj Bonnette each added an RBI of their own. On the mound, Derek Wenzel set the tone with 3.2 solid innings before Ethan Smith shut the door in relief, helping preserve the comeback victory. Although the Brewers have had a...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/1/2026

JK Select Hawaii Tackles 14u West WS

Emily Hicks
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JK Select Hawaii capped off an impressive tournament run by defeating GBG Vegas 14u Red14-4 in the championship game on Sunday at Goodyear Ballpark, claiming the 14u West World Series title. From the opening pitch, JK Select controlled the pace of the game. The offense jumped out early, scoring 6 runs in the 1st inning after timely hits from MVP Sean Shindo and Kade Manarpaac. The early lead gave the pitching staff confidence as they worked efficiently through the opposing lineup. “I've worked hard to get better at my game for the past few months; it means a lot that I did well and performed in a tournament like this” said Shindo. Starting pitcher Maddox Prones turned in a strong performance, allowing 3 runs while striking out 5 batters over 3 innings. The defense backed the effort with great plays in the middle infield, preventing GBG Vegas from building momentum....
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

"Wow" Swings Catch Eyes at 16u Elite

Kinley Kitchens
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On the second day of the 2026 Perfect Game National Elite Championship, one swing turned heads across the ballpark. The next one brought everyone to a stop. With Wow Factor Nation 16U trailing midway through its matchup against Sandlot Scout Team 2028, Micheal O'Connor launched a solo home run to spark the offense. Just one batter later, Aaron Frink stepped into the box and sent another ball over the fence, delivering back-to-back home runs that quickly became one of the most talked about moments of the tournament’s opening days. Parents gathered along the nets, players from previous games stopped to watch, and college scouts turned their attention toward the action as the two towering swings energized the crowd and brought new life to the game. Although Wow Factor Nation ultimately lost 5-3 after a hard-fought performance, the back-to-back home runs served as a reminder of the...
Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

Stacked Runs the Table at 17u WWBA

Will Dembo
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Following a jam-packed week of entertainment at the 17u WWBA Championships, the top nationally ranked program, USA Prime 17u National/Detroit Tigers Scout Team, faced off against Stacked Baseball 17u (No. 80 nationally) in the highly anticipated championship matchup as both teams looked to earn one of the most prestigious titles in all of travel baseball. Each talented squad entered the finale undefeated, but Stacked Baseball continued their dominance throughout the tournament, defeating the Detroit Tigers Scout Team 10-2 in mercy rule fashion to become national champions behind explosive bats and impressive pitching. Stacked Baseball was the overwhelming top team throughout the week as the WWBA Champions outscored opponents by an absurd 117-12 during their 11-0 run. “We got some talented kids, but we played against a little bit of Goliath over there,” Stacked Head Coach Mike...
Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 7

Perfect Game Staff
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17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4  Day 5 | Day 6 Shea Corona (2027, Brooklyn, N.Y.) showcased some loud stuff out of the bullpen for MLB Breakthrough Series 2027. The New York native and primary shortstop topped out at 93 with the fastball, sitting comfortable in the 90-92 range. Corona paired it with a sharp and tight slider at 81-83, staying on the same plane until late. The pitch plays well already and the delivery is very athletic. The uncommitted right-hander went three scoreless and was in the zone plenty, striking out two while not allowing a walk. '27 SS Moises Gudino (FL) continues to stay red hot, working a long AB & cracking an oppo 2B on the 8th pitch. Really seeing ing well. #WWBA @Florida_PG https://t.co/OjNJ8Bmzao pic.twitter.com/WoDDp35EI1 — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 30, 2026 Moises Gudino (2027, Tampa, Fla.)...
Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

Texas Twelve Firing On Full Cylinders

Kinley Kitchens
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Every team hopes to start a tournament with momentum, but few make a statement quite like Texas Twelve Maroon 2028. Matched up against defending champion Excel Blue Wave National to kick off their debut in the 2026 Perfect Game National Elite Championship, Texas Twelve Maroon delivered a complete team performance, earning a hard-fought 3-2 victory and immediately establishing themselves as one of the top teams to watch this week. The win showcased the balance that has made Texas Twelve Maroon a powerful team. Strong pitching, timely hitting, and steady defense all played a role as the team held off one of the tournament’s premier programs. Right-hander Ty Antley turned in an outstanding performance on the mound, throwing a complete game while allowing only five hits and two walks over seven innings. The High Follow prospect worked consistently between 85-89 mph and mixed in a sharp...
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