THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,576 MLB PLAYERS | 16,376 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,576 MLB PLAYERS | 16,376 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
College  | Story | 6/2/2011

Preview: Atlanta Regional

You can follow college baseball managing editor Kendall Rogers on Twitter @KendallRogersPG and can join the Perfect Game College Baseball Facebook page. Fans also can subscribe here to receive the college baseball ultimate ticket.

Like the college baseball content we provide at Perfect Game? If so, get the ultimate college baseball experience by subscribing to the College Baseball Ticket for just $7 monthly or $60 annually ($24 yearly savings). If you're interested in subscribing to the CBT, Click Here.


REGIONAL COVERAGE: SCHEDULE/RESULTS | REGIONAL BREAKDOWN | PAIRINGS MESSAGE BOARDS


The Road to Omaha has begun and 64 teams around the country are vying for the eight lucrative spots in the first College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb.

As part of our extensive NCAA postseason coverage, we take an in-depth look at each of the 16 NCAA Regionals.

THE TEAMS
Team Conference Record Berth Last NCAA appearance
1. Georgia Tech ACC 40-19 At-large 2010
2. Southern Mississippi Conference USA 39-17 At-large 2010
3. Mississippi State SEC 34-23 At-large 2007
4. Austin Peay Ohio Valley 33-22 Auto bid 2007
THE BREAKDOWN
The favorite: Georgia Tech
1. Georgia Tech

2. Southern Miss

3. Mississippi St.

4. Austin Peay
The Yellow Jackets might have a sketchy past when it comes to taking care of business in the NCAA postseason, but they'd have to play a bad brand of baseball this weekend to not win the Atlanta Regional. The Jackets enter the weekend with a solid, but young, offensive lineup that's hitting .304. Freshman Kyle Wren continues to spearhead the lineup with a .352 batting average and .420 on-base percentage, while five other key hitters are batting over .300 and fellow freshman Daniel Palka, despite just a .283 average, has slugged 10 home runs and knocked in 47 runs. While the offense is in good shape, the pitching staff also is in very solid shape with Mark Pope, Jed Bradley and Buck Farmer leading the way. Pope has had an amazing year for the Yellow Jackets, while Farmer is a rising star and Bradley is the prospect that can get hot and dominate at any time. The Jackets also have a productive bullpen with Luke Bard leading the way with eight saves and a 2.98 ERA in 45 1/3 innings.
The dark-horse contender: Southern Mississippi
It's very unfortunate the Golden Eagles won't enter the weekend with a couple of their big guns in the weekend rotation in Geoffrey Thomas and Jonathan Thompson. However, the Eagles still have a bonafide ace in senior pitcher Todd McInnis, who is 8-2 with a 2.61 ERA in 89 2/3 innings. He also has struck out 81 and walked 31 and teams are hitting .254 against him. The question with this team is who steps up as a starter behind McInnis? If that question can be answered this weekend, the Golden Eagles will be more successful than expected. Offensively, USM has a potent offense with a .302 average. Tyler Koelling, Marc Bourgeois and Adam Doleac each are hitting over .335 this season, while B.A. Vollmuth, despite his .303 average, has slugged 12 home runs and 48 RBIs. The Golden Eagles have the ability to drive opposing pitchers crazy.
Best hitter: 3B Jarrod Parks, Mississippi State
The Bulldogs probably lack the consistency needed to win this NCAA Regional, but have the premier hitter in the tournament in Parks. Parks is having a fabulous campaign for Cohen's Bulldogs, hitting a team-high .383 with 13 doubles, three triples, three home runs and 36 RBIs. But most impressive about Parks is the fact he has a .532 slugging percentage and an almost higher OBP of .530. The Bulldogs desperately need Parks and Nick Vickerson to have productive weekends at the plate.
Best pitcher: RHP Mark Pope, Georgia Tech
Sure, top prospect and talented left-handed pitcher Jed Bradley has gotten most of the headlines this season. But ask anyone and they'll tell you Pope, the right-hander that tops out at 91 mph, is the Jackets' best starting pitcher. He has started 15 games this season and has a 1.77 ERA in 112 innings. He also has struck out 88 and walked 23 while teams are hitting him at a .218 clip. The Jackets have shown a lot of trust in Pope this season and are slated to start him in the tourney opener against Austin Peay.
Best prospect: LHP Jed Bradley, Georgia Tech
Bradley has all the tools a big league would ever want. He has a power fastball with good stuff and has a good-sized body, which is good for durability at the next level. We saw Bradley against Virginia earlier this season, where he was 92-94 mph with his fastball, 81-83 with his changeup and 77-78 with the curve. Bradley, though, has been inconsistent at times this season and has a 3.59 ERA in 90 1/3 innings. He also has struck out 102 and walked 30 while teams are hitting him at a .237 clip. Bradley is incredible when he wants to be. You can view our scouting video of Bradley, here.
The buzz
Though he wasn't discussed earlier in the preview, the Yellow Jackets have a good one in offensive cog Matt Skole. The talented veteran has had a fantastic career and is continuing to produce this season. He's hitting .348 with nine home runs and 57 RBIs. He's also slugging .538 and has a solid .442 OBP. Also worth noting, on the mound, the Yellow Jackets have a solid fourth option in Matt Grimes should they enter the loser's bracket at any point or get forced to another title game on Monday. Grimes, a highly touted freshman, has a 4.30 ERA in 67 innings and teams are hitting him at a .254 clip ... We've talked about how important Southern Miss ace pitcher Todd McInnis and the rest of the starting rotation is to the team's success this weekend, but equally important is the arm of reliever Collin Cargill. The talented veteran has had an amazing career with the Golden Eagles, and this season he has recorded eight saves in 24 appearances and has a 1.05 ERA in 43 innings. He also is limiting teams to a .216 batting average ... Mississippi State will go the way of its starting pitching this weekend. The Bulldogs have some talented arms in the bullpen, such as Caleb Reed (1.48) and Taylor Stark (3.12). However, the starting rotation is iffy at times. The Bulldogs don't have a single starting pitcher with an ERA below four. More consistency is needed from Nick Routt, Chris Stratton and others this weekend or the Bulldogs will have a quick trip to Atlanta ... Austin Peay once again has a solid club with coach Gary McClure leading the way. And though the Governors lack high quality pitching with an ERA of 5.27, they possess several strong bats. Jordan Hawkins leads the team with a .361 average, while four others have batting averages over .300. Keep close tabs on hard-hitting first baseman John Hogan. He's hitting .317 with 11 doubles, a triple, 13 home runs and 62 RBIs.


Kendall Rogers is the college baseball editor for Perfect Game USA and has covered the sport for over 10 seasons. He can be reached at kendall@perfectgame.org


College | Story | 7/21/2026

Coppy's Corner: July 21 Summer Edition

John Coppolella
Article Image
The amateur players in the Cape Cod Baseball League are the future stars of the 2027 MLB Draft. The league runs from June 13th through August 2nd. Games are played at historic stadiums in Old New England towns. It’s beautiful and charming. Hollywood even made a movie about the Cape Cod League ~25 years ago called Summer Catch. It scored an 8% (!) on Rotten Tomatoes, but, on the plus side, it featured 2001 Jessica Biel in a starring role.  It was so much fun writing Coppy’s Column this spring. My hope is to highlight a pitcher and position player each week from the Cape. And, who knows, maybe somewhere out there Jessica Biel is reading it.    Player of the Week: Coen Niclai – Wareham Gatemen  The Internet tells me that 12 MLB players have come from Alaska, 10 of whom were from Anchorage, and the best of which is Curt Schilling. Niclai, who is also...
PG Select Baseball Festival | General | 7/21/2026

13u Select Festival Roster Reveal

Jheremy Brown
Article Image
With the completion of the 2026 13u National Showcase, an event that featured some of the best talent the age group has to offer, 42 players came out with the label of "Festivaler" as they received a phone call shortly after the event concluded. Moving back to the University of Tennessee after a two year stay at the University of Virginia, Ole Rocky Top will see a mixed bag of returners; three-timers, new faces and a couple who bridged the gap from the 11u game into the 13u iteration.  Of the 42 players, 9 players call Florida their home base which is the most of any state while Texas (8), California (7) and Georgia (5) are all close behind nearly three-quarters of the players selected. In total 17 different states are represented, from Hawaii to Arkansas, Washington to Maryland and everywhere in between.  Quick roster breakdown: Three-time Select Festival: 13 players ...
Tournaments | Story | 7/21/2026

16U BCS Rolls into Fort Myers

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
The 21st annual 16U BCS National Championship returns to Fort Myers, Florida from July 23-27, bringing together many of the nation’s top 2028 graduates. The tournament features 44 teams, including six nationally ranked clubs, competing for a national title across five days of high-level competition. Year after year, the event has served as a proving ground for elite talent. Defending champion Showtime Select National 16U returns after capturing last year’s championship, while a talented field from across the country will look to add its name to the event’s prestigious history. One of the premier prospects in the field, shortstop Gabriel Coupet enters as the highest-ranked player in attendance, checking in at No. 49 overall in the Class of 2028 and No. 8 player in Florida. The Boynton Beach, Fla., native has established himself as one of the country’s most talented...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/20/2026

FTB National Completes Elite Run

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
Championships are never won in a single game. For FTB National 2027, this one has been in the making for years. An 8-0 victory over Team Elite 17U Scout capped off an unforgettable week at the 2026 Perfect Game 17U National Elite Championship, but according to those inside the dugout, the championship was a product of friendships formed long before the tournament ever began. FTB took their first national elite win in team history, giving one of the nation’s top 2027 teams an elite ending to their 17U summer. “This is a homegrown group,” head coach Will Haynie said. “This team has been together for the last four or five years, and I think a lot of them have been together since the Little League World Series when they were 12. It’s been fun, and a nice little cap off to their 17U summer, especially after winning a big event like this.” That chemistry...
Tournaments | Story | 7/20/2026

16u World Series Scout Notes: Days 3-4

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
16u World Series Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Lucas Sullivan (2027, Winder, GA) absolutely shoved in the first round of the playoffs. He racked up a total of 13 strikeouts across his seven inning, complete game shutout performance. Sullivan worked three pitches for strikes with lots of comfort and only allowed two hits. Ran the fastball up to 86 and he got lots of swing and miss on the 11-5 curveball. Mixes speeds well and was electric to watch. Landon King (2028, San Mateo, CA) was just one of the best players on the field the first two rounds of the playoffs. Totaled four hits, two of those were for extra bases and scored three times. Has lightning quick hands in the left-handed batter's box and produced loud contact constantly. Top of the class barrel skills with twitch in the turn.  Jacob Piles (2028, Cape Coral, FL) is hitting an astounding .615 with a pair of doubles in the...
Tournaments | Story | 7/20/2026

15u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 3

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
15u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 ‘29 RHP Bryson Auten (NJ) comes out throwing absolute flames to get out of a jam. Sitting 92-94 & does it with ease. Comes out of the hand well & challenging hitters with the FB. #WWBA @PGMidAtlantic pic.twitter.com/Tf18Rdk4mx — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 19, 2026 Bryson Auten (2029, Flemington, N.J.) came in out of the bullpen in a brutal spot and recorded back-to-back strikeouts to get out of it. He would then register another pair of strikeouts in his second inning of work, ending the game going 1 2/3 innings with four strikeouts. The fastball was electric, working at 92-94 and does it super easy, coming out of the hand great. Command was excellent in this outing as well, throwing 70% strikes. It’s a power type arm with advanced arm talent for the age and any time you see 92-94 at a 15u event, it’s notable...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/20/2026

Legion Captures 16u WWBA West

Emily Hicks
Article Image
After five days of competitive baseball, Legion Baseball emerged as champions at the Perfect Game WWBA Championship, completing an impressive tournament run with a victory over ‘28 San DIego Ghost 10-3 in the championship game at Surprise Stadium.  The tournament brought together talented programs from across the West and beyond, with teams competing in the 15U and 16U divisions. Throughout the week, players showcased their skills in front of coaches, teammates, and families while battling through pool play and the championship bracket for the opportunity to hoist the trophy.  From the opening day of competition, Legion established itself as one of the tournament's top contenders. The club relied on hitting, quality pitching, and consistent defense to navigate a challenging field and earn its place in the championship game.  In the title matchup, Legion received key...
Draft | Story | 7/20/2026

2026 MLB Draft: Roster Challenge

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
With the 2026 MLB Draft complete, our own draft team put together a fun exercise. Using a snake style draft format, we each had to build a roster using players selected in the 2026 MLB Draft. There was one catch. Each team could select only one player from each of the first 10 rounds, plus one player from Rounds 11-20. You did not have to go in order of each round, meaning you could jump between rounds and pick which players you thought had the most value. Each team installed a different strategy, balancing between star power, positional value, and depth. You tell us, which team do you think has the most talent? Team Albee C: Vahn Lackey, Georgia Tech (1st rd) 1B: Will Adams, Hoover HS (11th rd) MIF: Cole Prosek, Magnolia Heights HS (2nd rd) MIF: Eric Guevara, Auburn (7th rd) 3B: Robert Omidi, Fieldhouse Pirates (8th rd) OF: Kevin Roberts Jr, Jackson Prep HS (4th rd) OF: Alex...
Press Release | Press Release | 7/20/2026

LGND Becomes Official Glove of PG

Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME PARTNERS WITH MLB SUPERSTAR MOOKIE BETTS, NAMING LGND OFFICIAL GLOVE OF PERFECT GAME   Partnership Officially Kicks Off with LGND Block Party on July 27 in Fullerton, California   Los Angeles, California (Monday, July 20, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced a landmark partnership with Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star and 6-time Gold Glove Award winner Mookie Betts, naming recently-announced LGND Glove the Official Glove of Perfect Game. The collaboration establishes a first-of-its-kind relationship between baseball’s most influential amateur ecosystem and an active MLB superstar at the height of his career. The...
Tournaments | Story | 7/19/2026

17u WWBA North Champ. Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Ty Teske (2027, Merrill, WI) worked a complete-game seven-inning shutout while striking out 12 and never allowed the game to speed up on him. The fastball sat 79-81 and touched 83, consistently working to both sides of the plate and getting him into favorable counts. Repeats the delivery exceptionally well and maintained command throughout all seven innings. Mixed in a 69-71 curveball with depth that he showed confidence landing for strikes early or using to finish at-bats. Did an excellent job changing eye levels and preventing hitters from sitting on one pitch.   Landon Sanderson (2027, Lake Crystal, MN) attacked hitters with an 85-87 fastball that reached 89 and showed quality arm-side movement through the zone. The ball comes out with some jump and continued to play throughout the outing. Stayed on the attack from the first inning, consistently getting ahead and forcing...
Loading more articles...