WWBA 17U TOURNAMENT NOTES

--  2003 WWBA 17U National Championship MVP Eddie Prasch (Milton HS, GA), the shortstop for the champion East Cobb Braves team, was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 3^rd round of the 2004 draft.  RHP Brad Bergeson of NorCal, the Most Valuable Pitcher, was selected in the 4^th round.  Both players have signed and begun their professional careers.

--  The East Cobb Braves return another strong team as they look to repeat.  AFLAC All-Americans C Jonathan Egan (Cross Creek HS, GA) and SS P.J. Phillips (Redan HS, GA) lead the offense, while top pitchers include RHP Tyler Musselwhite (Gainesville HS, GA), RHP Jonathan Ban (Walton HS, GA), LHP Nick Desilvio (Etowah HS, GA), LHP Geoff Vandel (Shaw HS, GA) and LHP Brett Wiggins (Cross Creek HS, GA).

 --  The 2003 runners up, Nor Cal 17U, also are fielding a strong team that features three AFLAC All-Americans in 3B/1B Brett Wallace (Justin-Siena HS, CA), RHP Jeff Lyman (Monte Vista HS, CA) and OF Diallo Fon (Las Lomas HS, CA).  1B/LHP David Cooper (Tokay HS, CA) is one of the top two-way talents in the tournament, while IF James Darnell (San Ramon Valley HS, CA) and RHP Tyson Ross (Bishop O’Dowd HS, CA) are also top prospects.

--  For sheer physical talent, the Perfect Game USA team, comprised of players from around the country who were not on tournament teams, along with two top free agents RHP’s from the Dominican Republic, is the class of the field.  “All-Star” teams frequently don’t excel at big team events, though, when they face teams that play and travel together all summer and fall.  The PG USA team has four AFLAC All-Americans in C Ralph Henriquez (Key West HS, FL), OF Kent Matthes (Edgewater HS, FL), 1B Ike Davis (Chaparral HS, AZ) and RHP-SS Zach Putnam (Pioneer HS, MI), plus one of the deepest pitching staffs ever put together for a national event.  14 of the 19 player roster have hit 90 mph this summer off the mound.

--  Davis (son of former ML pitcher Ron Davis), Phillips (brother of Indians IF Brandon Phillips) and Henriquez (son of Marlins minor league instructor Ralph Henriquez) are just three of many players with professional baseball family connections.  Some others include:

SS Casey Coleman, Cape Coral HS, FL (son/grandson of former ML pitchers Joe Coleman Jr. and Joe Coleman)

OF Jordan Danks, Round Rock HS, TX  (brother of Rangers LHP John Danks)

LHP Michael Heard, Montgomery HS, TX (cousin of Rangers C Scott Heard)

RHP Jake Rasner, Wooster HS, NV (cousin of Expos RHP Darrell Rasner)

SS Justin Upton, Hickory HS, VA (brother of Devil Rays SS B.J. Upton)

LHP John Wiedenbauer, Seabreeze HS, FL (son of former ML outfielder and longtime Astros scout/coach Tom Wiedenbauer)

--  Other AFLAC All-Americans in addition to those listed above include OF Jordan Danks (Austin Baseball Club, Round Rock HS, TX), OF David DiNatale (ABD Bulldogs, Kings Academy, FL), RHP Shane Funk (Florida Hitmen, Arnold HS, FL), C Preston Paramore (Dallas Tigers, Allen HS, TX), RHP Buster Posey (Savannah Chain, Lee County HS, GA), SS Justin Upton (All Star Baseball Academy, Hickory HS, VA).

--  Players from 26 different states,