THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,802 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,802 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story | 6/16/2019

Chi Town Cream of the crop

Cory Van Dyke
Photo: Jason Hodges (Perfect Game)

MARIETTA, Ga. – Making the journey from the Windy City to the Greater Atlanta Area for the 2019 WWBA 18u National Championship, there’s a collection of ballplayers who are the cream of the crop.

These players form the Chi Town Cream 18u team that has jumped out to a 3-0 start and look to be a serious contender in the tournament. 

The Cream’s roster is put together by head coach Chuck Reeder. He’s been filling the team with some of the best talent across the nation for the past 10 years, but his methods are a lot simpler than you may think. 

“It’s funny,” Reeder said. “I really pick the team by the seat of my pants. I’m not one of these guys who has 100 guys come out and pick the best 20 or whatever. It’s just word of mouth… I network and guys know the level of ability that I want. We just go from there.”

Comprising this year’s roster is a number of players from Chicago and the surrounding area. The other half is filled with players from various states in the midwest, plus a few players from Puerto Rico, namely starting shortstop Isaac Marte.

It’s Marte’s connection at the University of New Mexico where he’ll be playing baseball in the fall that granted the Cream some international flavor.

“I’ve become friendly with the coach at New Mexico,” Reeder said. “He called me and said, ‘Hey, I have this kid. I think he’s a good fit for your team.’ That’s Isaac Marte. Then I needed someone else, and one by one, the coach who coached Marte gave me the two other guys.”

Cream left fielder Jason Hodges treasures one last opportunity to play summer baseball before heading off to college. The No. 41 ranked player nationally in the 2019 class will play for Arkansas in the fall.

“I really just wanted to be together with a good group of guys,” Hodges said. “Before we go off to college and call another place home, you kind of want to do something with your hometown one last time. It’s a cool experience. I love being out here. It’s definitely a lot hotter than Chicago.”

While Hodges might not be used to the warm weather, his bat isn’t far behind on the thermometer after he blasted a grand slam deep into left field during the the 13-2 victory over GSA Gatorz-Navy on Sunday afternoon. Right now he’s focused on bringing the Cream a WWBA National Championship, but he’s got one eye on the College World Series, knowing he could join the Razorbacks at TD Ameritrade Park next summer.

“It’s a great feeling when you see your team in the College World Series,” Hodges said. “Going to a top notch program with great coaches and great guys. I’m super eager to get down there. Right now I’m playing with the Cream and getting ready for Arkansas.”

Joining Hodges as another anchor in the middle of the lineup for the Cream is Kendall Ewell. Ewell is the No. 210 player nationally in the 2019 class and he’ll be playing his college ball at Eastern Kentucky. 

Ewell joined Hodges (34th round - Cincinnati Reds) earlier in the month by hearing his name called in the 40th round of the MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies. While both players will continue on the path to college, it’s still one step in the right direction of fulfilling the ultimate dream.

“It’s a blessing,” Ewell said. “I’m really blessed that the Rockies had the generosity to draft me. I feel like I earned it.”

The Chi Town Cream have had a number of players drafted over the years with the most famous being Alex Verdugo who’s put together an impressive rookie season thus far for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Reeder credits the joy that the team has while playing for the results yielded on the field.

“I know they enjoy themselves,” Reeder said. “When you’re on Cream, you have a good time. We play good, competitive baseball… Beyond baseball, we have a really good time. The kids enjoy it. We just had nine guys, ex-Cream players or present Cream players drafted in the past draft. It’s worked out.”

The pleasure of playing the game plus a tried and true method of winning baseball means the Cream is no stranger to success at Perfect Game tournaments. Over the years, they’ve won three Perfect Game tournaments, including a third place finish in the 2017 WWBA 18u National Championship.

“It’s one of the things in life that I know how to do is coach winning baseball,” Reeder said. “Coach good fundamental baseball with bunting and a lot of small ball. My formula for winning is pitcher’s who throw strikes and a tight infield. That’s it. If we have that we’re in every game.”

The greatest lessons for Reeder extend beyond the field with baseball being used as a vehicle. Most of the players on his team are attempting to carve out a career in the MLB, but the odds of that happening for all is slim. It’s why there’s an emphasis on some more big picture items as a member of the Chi Town Cream.

“I try and teach the kids not only how to play baseball, but how to be a good citizen and how to act properly,” Reeder said. “Because for a lot of kids baseball when you’re in high school is the most important thing. All of a sudden, boom, if you don’t go to the majors your career is over in a blink. I just try to teach them about life.”

In a field consisting of 48 teams, the Cream is exciting for the run ahead and likes their chances to be crowned champions at the end of the week.

“In my eyes we’re the best team here,” Hodges said.

“I’ve never won a Perfect Game tournament with a team, but I know with this team we can compete and definitely take it home,” Ewell said. “I’m looking to bring it home. Nothing else.”
Give us your feedback
Tournaments | Story | 1/9/2026

PG Leaderboard: Class of 2030
Jheremy Brown
Article Image
Complete PG Leaderboard Database PG Leaderboard: Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2028 | Class of 2029 Today we wrap up our reviews of the 2026 thru 2030 class where we looked back on some of the eye opening metrics we saw from around the country, both in a showcase and tournament setting. To those not inside the youth baseball world, some of the metrics below would seem truly unattainable from current 8th graders, from the pair of 90 mph heaters courtesy of Amani Tuiasosopo and Kingston George, to upper-80s velocity from all over the field and multiple players north of 90 mph on the exit velocity testing (with wood), this 2030 class is one that has a chance to be special as we continue to watch it unfold moving forward.  Top Fastball Velocity  Rk Player FB Event School Hometown 1 Amani Tuiasosopo 90 2025 WWBA 14U World Championship Renton...
Read More
College | Story | 1/14/2026

2026 College Preview Index

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
From Preseason All-Americans to a Top 25, make sure to check back daily as we will continue to pump out content as a staff. Every conference preview will include a Preseason All-Conference Team as well as Draft/Prospect lists for each of the next 3 years (2026, 2027, 2028) while also breaking down every team within each conference. Publish Date Content Wednesday January 7 Preseason All-Americans Thursday January 8 Preseason Top 25 Monday January 12 Top 100 Freshmen Tuesday January 13 Top 100 Sophomores Wednesday January 14 Top 100 Juniors Thursday January 15 Top 100 Seniors College Conference Previews Publish Date Conference Friday January 16 Atlantic Coast (ACC) Monday January 19 Southeastern (SEC) Tuesday January 20 Oregon State Preview Wednesday January 21 Big 10 Thursday January 22 Big 12 Friday January 23 American (AAC) Monday January 26 Atlantic Sun (ASUN)...
Read More
Softball | Softball Tournament | 1/14/2026

Perfect Game Softball Turf Wars

Ashley Mears
Article Image
2026 Perfect Game Softball Turf Wars January 9-11 Ashley Mears   The 2026 season kicked off in impressive fashion at the Fun City Dome in Burlington, Iowa, featuring a highly competitive field across both age groups. The 18U division was loaded with talent, including over 20 Division I and II commits and several high-upside prospects, leading to intense bracket play and multiple walk-off finishes. Iowa Nationals claimed the championship over a well-rounded Iowa Prospects Gold team. The 14U division brought together quality programs from Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois. The tournament championship was an exciting matchup where Southeast Iowa Swarm edged a tough Black Dragons squad. 18u Lauren Hagedorn (2026, Adel, IA) of Iowa Nationals and future Iowa State Cyclone earned weekend MVP honors after a strong two-way performance. In the circle, she consistently kept hitters off balance...
Read More
College | Rankings | 1/15/2026

Top 100 Collegiate Seniors

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
Top 100 Collegiate Freshmen | Top 100 Collegiate Sophomores | Top 100 Collegiate Juniors This senior board is one of the deepest we’ve assembled in years. From experienced weekend arms with power stuff, to proven position players coming off loud 2025 spring seasons, to former prospects returning from injury and looking to reestablish their status, impact players are scattered throughout the group. Headlining the board is Maika Niu, now at Arkansas after a strong season at Marshall and an MVP summer on the Cape. Nui is a high-level athlete in center field and a legitimate offensive force who should slide seamlessly into the heart of the Razorbacks’ lineup. Close behind are two premium arms in Ole Miss’s Hunter Elliott and Kentucky’s Jaxon Jelkin. Elliott is coming off a monster 2025 spring, going 10–3 with a 2.94 ERA and 104 strikeouts, and...
Read More
College | Rankings | 1/14/2026

Top 100 Collegiate Juniors

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
Top 100 Collegiate Freshmen | Top 100 Collegiate Sophomores As we look ahead to another season of college baseball and continue our week of class-by-class lists, we look at the Junior class and we’ve got our Top 100 Juniors in the 2026 college season. This list aligns with the PG Draft lists we compiled at the top, with Roch Cholowsky, Drew Burress, and AJ Gracia rounding out the top three. There’s a litany of storylines to follow this year, with players who have tons of draft upside or players looking to be impactful players among their respective programs. These are the players who we feel are in a position to make some serious noise during the 2026 season. Talent is present all across the board, with players who could make some serious statements this year. Looking all the way up and down the board, there are impact bats, players primed for a breakout, Friday...
Read More
College | Rankings | 1/13/2026

Top 100 Collegiate Sophomores

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
Top 100 Collegiate Freshmen As we creep toward opening day here in a month or so, the draft team has put together the Top 100 sophomores on campus this spring.  This list is chalk full of talent, with future draft prospects littered top to bottom. The headliner of this group is Derek Curiel, a draft eligible sophomore that took the SEC by storm last spring. The Perfect Game All-American posted a .990 OPS over the course of a full season and is projected to vault himself further up the board during his ‘26 campaign. An electric arm in Dax Whitney follows up Curiel, with Strosnider, Lawson and Franco rounding out the top five.  Keep tabs on the draft eligible sophomores in this group come the summer. The rest of the pack are eligible for next year’s draft and figure to feature at the top of many draft lists in ‘27.  Rk. Name Level Pos. B-T School Hometown...
Read More
Draft | Rankings | 1/12/2026

Top 100 Collegiate Freshmen

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
As we creep toward opening day here in a month or so, the draft team has put together the Top 100 freshmen on campus this spring.  Three high-end arms lead the way, starting with Jack Bauer. The Mississippi State left-hander reached triple digits as a prep and is sure to make an immediate impact this spring. UCLA right-hander Angel Cervantes was selected in the 2nd round of last year’s draft but held firm on his commitment and should be an impact arm for the Bruins. Following the arms, a collection of bats rounds out the Top 10. There is loads of upside to the group with the potential and they should draw considerable playing time as freshman.  As the list gets deeper, there are plenty of players that should pop up and make significant contributions both this year and years down the line. The class has both depth and talent, making for a very intriguing group of...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 1/8/2026

PG Leaderboard: Class of 2029

Jheremy Brown
Article Image
Complete PG Leaderboard Database PG Leaderboard: Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2028 These players below are just entering their freshmen year's of high school, a scary though as you scroll through the 11 categories and see some of the eye opening numbers from the fastballs to the infield and outfield velocities, down to the Diamond Kinetic testing and their three sub-categories.  Top Fastball Velocity Rk Player FB Event Commitment School Hometown 1 Brody McCorkle 92 2025 18U PG Mid-Atlantic Fall Elite Championship Uncommitted Ranney Forked River, NJ 1 Caleb Polk 92 2025 14U Perfect Game Select Festival Uncommitted IMG Academy Dallas, TX 1 Knox Myers 92 2025 PG WWBA Freshman World Championship Uncommitted East Bay Riverview, FL 2 Alex Bello 91 2025 16U PG Fall World Series Uncommitted Montverde Academy Orlando, FL 2 Alex Bello 91 2025 14U Perfect Game...
Read More
College | Story | 1/9/2026

LSU Reloads & Returns; Opens No. 1

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
“How do you get to success? You have to honor the process that you built to get to that success…The standard is how we operate, train, and get better each day.”” Process-oriented leadership is a popular coaching strategy here in the mid-2020s but no one exemplifies that more than LSU head coach Jay Johnson. He’s won the Tigers two national titles during his time in Baton Rouge and expectations won’t be any lower in 2026 as LSU is the No. 1 team in the country in Perfect Game’s Preseason Top 25.  Johnson is heading into his fifth season at the helm in Baton Rouge and it’s fair to say that he has already experienced enormous success. There have been two national titles in four years (2023, 2025), a Golden Spikes winner (Dylan Crews, 2023), a first overall MLB Draft pick (Paul Skenes, 2023), and five first-round MLB Draft picks during...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 1/7/2026

PG Announces Naming Rights in Chesterfield

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923  www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    PERFECT GAME AND FIRST COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION ANNOUNCE CHESTERFIELD ATHLETIC COMPLEX    Landmark Partnership to Center on Community, Inclusion and Youth Sports    Chesterfield, Missouri (Wednesday, January 7, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, along with the City of Chesterfield, today announced  an exclusive naming rights partnership with First Community Credit Union (FCCU) for the Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex. Effective immediately, the venue will be known as the “Chesterfield First Community Athletic...
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2026 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.