CEDAR
RAPIDS, IA (May 23, 2012) – Perfect Game will kick off its summer
tournament schedule in Fort Myers, Florida on Friday, May 25th.
One hundred and fifty of the region’s top travel baseball teams
will gather to compete in the Fourth Annual 16U and 18U WWBA Memorial
Day Classics. The bulk of the teams competing in the tournament will
be from the state of Florida, with a few teams will be traveling in
from neighboring states. The tournament will span four days and
consist of more than 300 games.
“The
tournaments are a great opportunity for kids to be seen by colleges
and major league scouts. It also gives the colleges and scouts a
great opportunity to see some of the area’s top talent in one
place,” Perfect Game’s National BCS Tournament Director, Ben
Ford, said of the game.
To
date, major league teams have drafted sixty-three (including five 1st round picks) alumni of the 18U tournament and over six hundred alumni
have committed to play baseball at the college level.
North
Fort Myers native Daniel Vogelbach of Bishop Verot High School
attended multiple Perfect Game events, including the 2009 and 2010
Memorial Day Classics, before being drafted in 2011 by the Chicago
Cubs.
The
state of Florida has been well represented in past Memorial Day
Classics. The Tampa Bay Warriors were last year’s 18U tournament
champions. The Carrolwood Gators won the 16U tournament.
Last
year’s 18u Championship game featured several top prospects
including a top pitching matchup between Lance McCullers and Walker
Weickel. McCullers, the No. 1 ranked 2012 in the state of FL set a
tournament record with a 96 mph fastball in the game. He and his
Tampa Bay Warriors beat Weickel, the No. 2 ranked 2012 in FL, and the
Orlando Scorpions to take home the title.
This
year eighty teams have registered for the 18U tournament. Teams to
watch include FTB of Kissimmee, Fla., Cannons Baseball of Cape Coral,
Fla., the Upstate Mavericks of Lyman, S.C., the Dirtbags of Sedalia,
N.C., the Orlando Scorpions of Altamonte Springs, Fla., and Chet
Lemon’s Juice of Mt. Dora, Fla.
This
year several top prospects are scheduled to play, including Avery
Romero of St. Augustine, Fla. Romero has been ranked 42 overall for
the draft class of 2012. Romero will be playing for the Tampa Bay
Warriors.
FTB
teams have several top prospects on their rosters this year.
Shortstop Oscar Mercado, ranked 1st in the state of
Florida and 3rd nationally for the draft class of 2013,
will be playing for FTB Pride. Mercado has committed to play at
Florida State.
Kyle
Marsh will be playing for FTB Chandler 17U. Marsh is the 4th ranked player in the state of Florida for the class of 2014 and is
ranked 12th nationally. He has committed to the UCF.
The
Orlando Scorpions 17U Purple’s roster has several players to watch.
John Sternagel is ranked 3rd in the state of Florida and
20th nationally for the class of 2013. He has committed to
play at UCF. Carson Sands and Tate Blackman are both highly ranked in
the class of 2014. Sands is ranked 5th in the state and
14th overall. Blackman is ranked 9th in the
state and 31st nationally.
The
16U tourney will feature the Florida Flash (coached by former major
league pitcher Tom “Flash” Gordon). Other teams to watch in the
16U tournament include Chet Lemon’s Juice of Mt. Dora, Fla., FTB of
Kissimmee, Fla., the Orlando Scorpions from Altamonte Springs, Fla.,
Upstate Mavericks from Lyman, S.C. and the Florida Burn from
Sarasota, Fla .
Nicholas
Gordon will be playing for his father on the Florida Flash. Gordon is
the top ranked player in the state of Florida for the class of 2014
and is ranked 14th nationally. The Florida Flash will
also feature Tyrone Perry. Perry is ranked 31st in the
state.
Dalton
Guthie will be playing for the Florida Burn Orange. Guthrie’s
father, former major league pitcher Mark Guthrie will be coaching the
team. Guthrie is ranked 12th in Florida and has already
committed to the University of Florida.
The
Orlando Baseball Academy 2014 will be playing Florida’s 13th ranked player in the class of 2013, Christian Arroyo. He has
committed to play at Florida.
Games
will be held at various sites around southwestern Florida. The 5-plex
(former Red Sox spring training facility), the Charlotte County
Complex (Rays), the Lee County Complex (Twins), Cape Coral Complex,
Terry Park Ballfield, and several area high schools.
The
16U quarter-and semifinals will be hosted at the 5-plex. The 18U
quarter- and semifinals will take place at JetBlue Park, the new Red
Sox Spring Training facility. JetBlue Park will host both
championship games on Monday, May 28th. The 16U
championship game will take place at 4:30 PM and the 18U championship
game will begin at 2:00 PM.
For more information about the two tournaments, click here for the 16U and here for the 18U.