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| 2,491 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,491 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Tournaments  | Story | 7/9/2012

Venom back as Twelve Black

Photo: Perfect Game

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Although Luken Baker has a very youthful face and wears braces on his teeth, there's really nothing else to outwardly suggest he's just 15 years old.

Baker, who hails from Spring, Tex., and will be a sophomore at Oak Ridge High School in the fall, stands 6-feet-4 inches tall and weighs 235 pounds. He towers over most of his other 15-year-old teammates with Twelve Black, a The Woodlands, Tex.-based team here this week for the Perfect Game 15u BCS Finals.

But while Baker's physique may differ from that of most of his teammates, he shares a common mindset: Just win, baby.

"I'm definitely looking forward to it," Baker said Sunday from the Lee County Sports Complex before Twelve Black was set to play Home Plate Chili Dogs-Maldanado in its second game of the tournament."We're going to do whatever it takes to win; that's what I came here for. It's fun being here; close games, break-out games; it's baseball. It's fun being around these other good ballplayers, and it's fun winning, of course."

Twelve Black beat Home Plate Chili Dogs-Maldonado, 4-3, to improve to 2-0 with four more pool games to play over the next three days. The first three pool games are important because their results will help determine the 16th and final playoff qualifier; the other 15 berths are earned by winning second-round pool-play championships.

Twelve Black head coach Dave Miles brought essentially this same group of players down here last year for the 2011 14u BCS Finals as the Texas Venom, and they advanced through the playoffs all the way to the semifinals before being eliminated.

"We're excited to be back with the same team," Miles said. "The pitching looks good and everything looks strong. We expect to get to the end, or somewhere around the end, and from there you have to have a little bit of luck and, hopefully, the pitching falls into place."

Everything kind of fell into place for Twelve Black in the win over the Chili Dogs. Jerry Murillo (2014, Houston) hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh to clinch the win.

Right-handed starter Beau Ridgeway (2015, The Woodlands) gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits with three strikeouts in two innings, but flashed a fastball that sat between 83-86 mph and touched 87. The right-handed Baker was brought in and pitched the next three innings, allowing no runs on just one hit with four strikeouts while also sitting at 83-86 and topping off at 87 with his fastball.

Right-hander Michael Francis (2014, The Woodlands) picked up the win by pitching two perfect innings, striking out three with a fastball that touched 81 mph.

After their first two games, Murillo was 3-for-5 with an RBI and three runs scored; Trey Albaugh (2015, Tomball, Tex.) was 3-for-6 with three doubles, two RBI and three runs; and Collin Garrett (2015, Montgomery, Tex.) was 2-for-6 with  three RBI. Garrett is almost as formidable as Baker physique-wise, standing 6-4 while carrying 220 pounds.

There is a core group of four players who have been playing together since they were 9 years old and most of the team has been together since they were 13-year-olds. The "core four" are Ridgeway, Luken, Murillo and Garrett, with the others filling the holes more than competently.

"They love baseball," Miles said of his group. "We practice hard every week and they don't ever miss (a practice); they also train on their own. We've got good parents, and I think that's a real key. I don't have any parental issues and they'll do whatever it takes for their kids to be successful."

Quite a few of the roster spots are filled with players in the class of 2015 are also teammates at The Woodlands High School. Three others attend Montgomery (Tex.) High School, and in all six high schools in the area are represented.

Miles takes pride in the maturity his young team shows at these Perfect Game national tournaments and how they are able to stay dialed in to the task at hand.

"We focus on playing the game the right way," he said. "There's no special challenges with these guys, maybe because we've been together for so long. Our focus is on trying to teach them how to play small-ball - we don't just have big arms and big bats, we try to teach them to play it right. All the little stuff, we focus on all that."

And the best place to gain that focus is at an event like the 15u BCS Finals.

"They provide exposure to teams you don't every play, and you can see how other parts of the country are playing the game," Miles said. "The pressure's on trying to get to a winner down at the end, and you're playing (against) guys that you've never seen before. It' real good exposure for them."

Miles said he and his "core four" have won five national tournaments since they were 12, but have never won a Perfect Game national championship.

"We were set up good last year but in the semifinals, our bats kind of slowed down," Miles said. "So we're excited to be here again."


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

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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

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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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