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| 2,586 MLB PLAYERS | 16,394 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,586 MLB PLAYERS | 16,394 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Tournaments  | Story | 5/21/2012

West Memorial Day Tourney Preview

Photo: Camelback Ranch
PHOENIX, AZ-- The 2012 summer travelball season kicks off in Ft. Myers, FL and Phoenix, AZ with the WWBA East & West Memorial Day Classics. The east event has run since 2009, while the western edition in Arizona gets set to kick off its second run.

With the high school season wrapped up in Arizona, and over for most of the players in California (save for the teams who have made it deep into the playoffs), the summer season opens with these two highly competitive regional events. In the short history of the east Memorial Day Classic, the event has already produced five first round draft picks, with several more likely to join the ranks this June. The West Memorial Day figures to produce similar results thanks to the proximity to arguably the most talent rich hotbeds in the country; Southern California.

Tournament rosters include several players that have already made a name for themselves with the scouting community on a national level, with several more set to do the same this weekend. Perfect Game will provide a post-tournament top prospect list with scouting reports at the conclusion of the tournament next week.

Be sure to follow the tournament live online with real-time boxscores via GameChanger, daily scout blogs (insider subscription required) and on twitter at @TGold_PG for real time scouting information.


2012 18U WWBA West Memorial Day Classic

Pre-tourney favorite:  Arizona Diamondbacks Elite Scout Team
On paper the squad put together by the Arizona Diamondbacks scouting department looks like a heavy favorite. Their pitching staff features a couple of very interesting underclassmen in 6-foot-7 2013 RHP Sean Rackoski (Hamilton HS) and projectable 2014 RHP Ryan Castellani. 2013 MIF Riley Unroe (Desert Ridge HS) could be a high pick in the 2013 draft thanks to his impressive switch hitting ability and quick athleticism. Unroe will team with Pepperdine commit Jamie Westbrook (Basha HS) for a highly talented double play combination.

But as is often the case with the WWBA World Championship tournament in Jupiter, we find that scout teams tend to underachieve as their goal is to showcase their players to scouts and get them reps against quality competition, rather than emphasizing winning in the short term. Whether or not they take home the hardware, the Dbacks will be fun to watch.

Dark Horse:  Nogales Roadrunners
The Roadrunners don't always get as much attention from scouts as they should. This is largely due to the fact that the team that is based out of Nogales, a town that straddles the US-Mexico border recruits talented players from Mexico. This area is something of an in-between location for scouting departments, as southern Arizona where most of the Roadrunners players hail from are the responsibility of the four corners area scouts, while the players from Mexico fall under the International scouting department's responsibilities.

This team took third place at the 2012 MLK Championship in January in spite of featuring a lineup that consists primarily of underclassmen. While the age difference is a disadvantage, the Roadrunners feature a lot of talent and have played together enough to overcome the age disadvantage.

All-Star Baseball Academy 18u also looks strong on paper, but the defending champs don't really fit the description of a darkhorse.

Marquee Matchup:    AZ Dbacks Elite Scout Team vs So Cal Elite, Friday May 25, 7:30 PM, Goodyear Complex
The favorite on paper sends their top two pitching prospects (Rackoski, Castellani) to the hill to split up the large task of trying to shut down the strong So Cal Elite lineup.


2012 16U WWBA West Memorial Day Classic
Pre-tourney favorite:  Tucson Ballerz
The Ballerz made some noise at the 2012 PG MLK Championship in January, earning the No. 1 seed in the tournament before being upset in the semifinals. 2014 C Lazaro Nunez (Tucson, AZ) was a huge part of that success for the Ballerz, hitting .455 with 5 Runs and 6 RBIs in their four game run, and he will be counted on again this weekend to play a major role both at the plate and behind it defensively.

Dark Horse:  Playa Vista Orioles
The Orioles from Southern California drew a tough pool, landing with the Arizona Prowlers, one of the stronger teams in Arizona, especially at the younger ages. The Prowlers dominated at PG tournaments in the Phoenix area last season, suggesting that the Orioles will be fighting an uphill battle. But the roster composed of players who just finished their season of playing against the highest level of high school baseball in the nation in Southern California should be well prepared.

Marquee Matchup:    AZ Prowlers vs Playa Vista Orioles, Sunday May 27, 1:00 PM, Goodyear Complex
The final game of pool play is likely to have playoff implications, and the matchup of what appear to be two of the top teams in the field (both of whom could make a case as the Pre-tourney favorite) has the potential to be the most exciting game of pool play in the 16u division.


2012 14U WWBA West Memorial Day Classic
Pre-tourney favorite:  SoCal National Travel Team
The job that Scott Luke and his coaches have done over the past decade of finding and assembling highly talented rosters year in and year out is very impressive. Typically SoCal NTT has a very national flavor, drawing together players from all over the country, but this weekend the roster will be built primarily upon players from Southern California.

Dark Horse:  So Cal Bombers
The Bombers have an especially young roster, comprised of 2016 and a few 2017 grads. Without a single player who has begun his high school career the Bombers appear to be at a disadvantage on paper. But their talent level gives them a chance to surprise.


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Angel Cervantes | RHP | UCLA | Chatham Anglers  Angel Cervantes has lived up to the hype since arriving at UCLA after turning down a second-round selection (50th overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2025 MLB Draft. Following a strong freshman campaign that helped power the Bruins to the No. 1 ranking in the country for much of the season, Cervantes has taken another step forward this summer, emerging as arguably the Cape Cod League's top arm. Through 23.2 innings with the Chatham Anglers, he owns a 1.14 ERA with 24 strikeouts and just five walks. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound right-hander attacks hitters with a polished five-pitch mix featuring a low-90s fastball, an 86-88 mph cutter, a low-80s slider and changeup, and a 78-80 mph curveball. He pounds the strike zone, sequences his arsenal with advanced feel, and consistently keeps hitters off balance, giving him the profile of a...
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Jay Vossler
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Kai Anderson (2028, Missouri City, Texas) continued his breakout stretch over the past couple of weeks with 2028 South Texas Sliders 16U Pierce. Compiled a 7-15 week with two doubles, a triple, and two home runs, driving in nine runs. Parlayed that into winning Tournament MVP. Physical presence in the box that is starting to tap into a ton of juice offensively. Tight rotation on an uphill plane with loose actions in the barrel. Doing all of this with very little swing and miss while holding it down in center field. One of the louder stretches of the summer. Trent Costales (2028, San Antonio, Texas) was excellent this week for Texas Angels 2028 Libson. Went 4-11 with two doubles and a home run. Was one of the best run creators in the tournament, driving in ten. Extremely physical frame, projecting as a big time power bat. Coils the hips effectively and creates an uphill plane to maximize...
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Michael Albee
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I have a soft spot for the under the radar high school preps that go in the 11th-20th rounds and sign. It’s not only a nice story, but it’s a show of faith from an organization in their area scout who put the time in, scouted the player and got a feel for the makeup on a guy that wasn’t a consensus “dude”. 2023 was my first year going out to high school games for Perfect Game in Georgia, so I wanted to go back and highlight the late round guys from the ‘23 class that were popped and signed to pursue their dreams of becoming a professional baseball player right away. Here’s a review of those four players from what they were in high school, and where they are at currently in their careers.  Andrew Dunford (‘23 GA) throwing some gas, up to 95 & sitting 92-93 with heavy life (clip), shown comfort going to big sweeping SL; big...
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Kinley Kitchens
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For Excel Blue Wave, the summer was never about being perfect. It was about getting better. After a season filled with challenges, growth, and plenty of learning along the way, Excel Blue Wave put everything together when it mattered most, defeating SBG Sox Prime, Al 9-3 to capture the 2026 14U Perfect Game Hoover Classic championship. For Excel Blue Wave Coach Forrest Heacock, watching the group celebrate with a championship trophy was especially meaningful because of everything it took to get there.  “It hasn’t been the easiest summer, and have battled a lot,” Coach Heacock said. “The kids have improved so much over the summer, and that is really what it’s all about at this age. It’s really just about improving at this age, and to see them be able to put it together, and just really compete together and play as a team, I couldn’t be...
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Kinley Kitchens
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Excel Blue Wave National wasn’t leaving Hoover empty-handed.  At least, that was the message head coach Wes Henderson gave his team.  After a summer filled with strong performances but without a tournament title to show for them, Excel Blue Wave National entered the 2026 15U Perfect Game Hoover Classic with one more opportunity to finish the season the way they wanted.  This time, they left no doubt.  Excel Blue Wave National defeated East Coast Sox 2029 Victus, 12-0 in the championship game, combining a balanced offensive attack with a strong performance on the mound to secure their first tournament title of the summer.  “It’s been a special group,” Coach Henderson said. “They fought really hard, and they played really well this summer, and this is the first championship that we’ve been able to bring home. We typically...
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Kinley Kitchens
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After a long summer of baseball, Excel Blue Wave National had one final opportunity to end it the way every team hopes to.  Together, having fun, and as champions. Excel Blue Wave National closed their summer with a 13-9 victory over Excel Blue Wave American – Morrison to capture the 2026 16U Perfect Game Hoover Classic championship. In a game that required contributions throughout the lineup and seven innings of competition, the Excel Blue Wave National relied on the same qualities and approach that had carried the group all summer. With talent, perseverance and a chemistry built far beyond the baseball field, they were unstoppable.  For head coach Brennan McCullough, there couldn’t have been a much better way for his players to finish their final weekend together .  “It’s great,” Coach McCullough said. “We’ve had a long...
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16u West WS Scout Notes: Days 3-4

Quinton Hall
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16u West World Series Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Jason Lizotte (‘28 | NV) Smooth LHH, hunts pitches down in the zone he can rip to the middle & PS w/ a downhill & direct path. Some strength in the hands w/ feel for the barrel #PGWS pic.twitter.com/kbK5Ayvhd7 — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) July 27, 2026 Jason Lizotte (2028 | Las Vegas, NV) The 5-foot-9, 145-pound left-handed hitter and outfielder was a spark plug all weekend for MTBA Dawgs 2028, finishing with seven hits, eight runs scored, one double, one triple, four RBI, three stolen bases, and four walks without a strikeout. Lizotte refused to give away an at-bat, consistently working hitter’s counts before spraying line drives all over the field. The left-handed swing stays short and direct with plenty of feel for the barrel, and once he reached base, he immediately put pressure on the defense with...
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