FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Jupiter, Fla.-based Palm Beach Select 2018 Prime started play at this week’s 17u Perfect Game BCS National Championship on Monday without the services of a top national prospect who has been a key contributor on the team for the past several years now.
But the absence of speedy middle-fielder Xavier Edwards both Monday and Tuesday – especially Tuesday – could be easily excused and accepted by the other players on the PB Select 2018 Prime roster.
At about the same time they were finishing off a 7-3 pool-play victory over Castro Baseball Academy at the Player Development 5-Plex Tuesday morning, Xavier Edwards was in Miami sitting in on the Perfect Game All-American Classic Selection Show, held in conjunction with the MLB All-Star Game Fan Fest.
Hearing his name announced as a member of the East Team roster at this year’s Classic was a special moment for the 17-year-old Edwards, and he was even able to join Selection Show hosts Daron Sutton and David Rawnsley on stage and share his thoughts.
“I’ve watched the game in the past – I’ve had some friends like Tristan McKenzie and Austin Smith play in the game in the past -- and it means a lot to me to be invited,” the Vanderbilt commit and rising senior at North Broward Prep form from Wellington, Fla., told PG’s Sutton and Rawnsley. “My mom and my dad have been a big part of (who I am) – and my sister, as well – and I wouldn’t be here without any of them.”
While his son spoke those words over on Florida’s east coast, Jovon Edwards was here on Florida’s west coast, serving as the head coach for the Palm Beach Select 2018 Prime. Sure, he would have loved to have his son available to insert into the starting lineup Tuesday morning, but sometimes there are other life experiences that shouldn’t be missed and must be enjoyed.
“He’s put in a lot of work and he really loves the game,” the elder Edwards said. “It’s always been about his team performing well and just enjoying competing against the best teams in the country. I’m very proud of him and his accomplishments, for sure.”
Xavier’s PB Select 2018 Prime teammates are proud, as well, and they decided to honor him by winning the first two pool-play games that became official. They opened the tournament on Monday by smacking Titans Baseball ‘17s, 7-1, but their second scheduled game against ChandlerWorld 17u was suspended by weather late Monday night with the scored tied at 2 in the seventh inning (it was to be completed late Tuesday afternoon). So, they began play on Tuesday with the 7-3 win over Castro BA.
The PB Select 2018 Prime are here after finishing 2-2-1 in five pool-play games at the 17u PG WWBA National Championship played in the north Atlanta suburbs. They didn’t advance to the playoffs at that event, but participating in that 390-team, mega-tournament proved to be a good experience for the group.
“I really feel like we can (contend) down here because we’re getting some good pitching right now, and our hitting really started to come through up in Georgia,” Tuesday morning’s starting pitcher Krishna Raj said. “We didn’t do as well in Georgia as we would have liked but I think down here we’re going to do better.”
The Palm Beach Select 2018 Prime played that tournament without Xavier Edwards, as well. He instead played for the nationally prominent Canes 17u, which won the PG national championship tournament with a 9-0-1 record.
The newly minted Perfect Game All-American Edwards went 11-for-28 (.393) with a triple, home run, five RBI and three stolen bases, and posted a .433 on-base percentage. He was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
“We competed well; we could have done a little better,” Jovon Edwards said of the Select Prime. “We were missing a pretty important part of our team, but the kids understand that this is an opportunity for them as well, to play in front of college scouts and coaches, and just go out and compete.
“So, at the end of the day, whether you’ve won or lost, (they should ask) did I get out of the tournament what I was hoping for, and have I performed (well enough) to impress a college coach or recruiter?”
Jovon Edwards has been coaching a lot of the rising seniors on this PB Select Prime roster since they were youngsters, and he learned quickly that his son wasn’t the only prospect on it that possessed next-level talent.
Four of the 2018s that are here are ranked in the top 467 nationally – No. 139 first baseman Angel Tiburcio (Florida International), No. 276 infielder/outfielder Zach Goberville, No. 351 outfielder/third baseman Miguel Lavin and No. 467 right-hander Raj; five other players are ranked as national top-500 prospects including right-hander/outfielder Shelby Frazier (Florida International).
The team has done some winning at Perfect Game tournaments along the way, too. It won both the 2016 16u PG WWBA East Memorial Day Classic and the 2016 16u PG WWBA Florida State Championship last summer, and can always be counted on to put its best foot forward.
“A number of these guys have been here from last summer and even the summer before,” Jovon said. “I think just that togetherness and the chemistry that you have just from competing in so many Perfect Game events and actually having won a few of them, kind of gives us mental toughness that other teams might not have.”
This is a team that Jovon Edwards feels has a legitimate shot at advancing deep into bracket-play at the 15u PG BCS, despite the fact it is dealing with some late-season injuries; most of the teams here probably are, as well. “I’m sure there are a lot of other teams that are prepared (to make deep runs), too, but I like our chances,” he said.
“We just want to come out every day and play (with a lot of energy),” Tiburcio said. “There’s a lot of great competition out here just like there was at the tournament in Georgia. But this is a good group of guys – good chemistry – and it’s just a good group of kids in general.”
“We have a lot of really good team chemistry; all are players work together on and off the field,” Raj added. “A lot of are stayed at the same hotel in Georgia and we’re staying at the same hotel down here; we like to hang out with each other and that helps with our chemistry, as well.”
The PB Select 2018 Prime totaled just four hits in their win Tuesday morning and Danny Hernandez, Jake Simon, Nicholas Perez-Battistini, Cristhian Caro and Trey Taliaferro were all credited with an RBI. Raj and fellow 2018 righty Jack Archer combined on an eight-strikeout, three-hitter, and didn’t allow an earned run.
The wear-and-tear inflicted by a non-stop schedule is starting to be felt more and more as another ballgame concludes, but the Select Prime players did have a chance to return home for a few days between the 17u WWBA and 17u BCS and recharge a little bit.
The biggest challenge Jovon Edwards faces as the team’s head coach is trying to encourage each individual player to perform at a high level this late in the summer when the evaluators and college coaches and members of the national scouting community are in attendance and taking notes.
“I think the kids put pressure on themselves to do something that maybe otherwise they wouldn’t do while the scouts are watching,” he said. “I just try to remind them that this is the same game you’ve been playing for a lot of years. Just because there are some people watching that may influence or impact a future decision, you still have to work hard at it but you still have to have fun doing it.”
Jovon Edwards played college basketball at Alfred (N.Y.) University but was also a pretty fair baseball player, and was selected by the L.A. Dodgers in the fourth-round of what was known as the MLB January Draft-Regular Phase in 1984.
He spent five seasons in the minor leagues playing with the Dodgers, Mariners and Mets organizations – he climbed as high as the Double-A level – before an injury left him unable to continue his career. He took a lot away from the experience, however.
“I’ve been giving back to kids and just really sharing with them some of the nuances of the game,” the head coach said. “For example, guys by the names of Lou Brock and Maury Wills, those were the guys who worked with me on base-stealing and bunting and things when I was with the Dodgers that I’ve passed on to my son, and also to other players on the team.
“I’m really just sharing all the things I’ve learned as a professional and I’m trying to really help kids go after their dreams and aspirations if they want to … potentially pursue a professional career.”
Both Jovon Edwards and his wife, Lynette, work for the Palm Beach County School district, and they’ve filled a variety of roles. Jovon, for instance, has been a principal and dean of students, and this past year taught World History at the high school level.
Xavier Edwards – listed at 5-foot-10, 155-pounds with a 3.45 GPA – certainly boasts a PG All-American-caliber resume after competing at more than 30 PG tournaments and showcases.
Respected by scouts for his speed (he’s run a 6.53-second 60-yard dash) and for the way he handles himself defensively when playing shortstop, he has been named to five all-tournament teams (four while playing with Palm Beach Select) and has been a part of those three PG WWBA championship teams with the Palm Beach Select 16u.
“Playing for Palm Beach Select, we’re more of a regional-type team, and Xavier’s been a big part of it; we’ve had a lot of success in Perfect Game tournaments,” Jovon said. “And then watching him go on a national stage with the Canes, and seeing his maturation and his passion for the game.
“It doesn’t matter if he’s playing here or at the WWBA (World Championship) in Jupiter, he’s enjoying himself as a player and as a kid,” he said. “Any dad would be proud to see his kid just having fun doing something that they love.”
He has also proven himself to be a standout showcase prospect, performing at his best when the most eyes are upon him. He has been included on the Top Prospect List at eight PG showcases, including the 2013, ’14 and ’16 PG National Underclass-Main Event, the ’15 and ’16 PG Junior National and this year’s PG National.
For the rest of this week and into the weekend, the Palm Beach Select 2018 Prime will do their best to not only carry on but to excel without their PG All-American shortstop; it’s the only thing Xavier Edwards would ask them to do. And these guys wearing the “Select” jerseys will all continue to try to improve their individual game while also looking to go out and win some ballgames together.
“I’ve been pretty pleased with the way I’ve developed; all thanks to God,” Tiburcio said. “With this group of guys, I’ve learned a lot. They teach me a lot about the game and they’ve made me a better person in general.”