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Tournaments | Story | 3/4/2020

PG HS Showdown Preview

Vincent Cervino

Photo: Jordan Walker (Perfect Game)

2020 PG High School Showdown: Event Page | Schedule

Archbishop McCarthy Mavericks (Southwest Ranches, Fla.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Jack Cue (OF, 2021, T500)
Dominik Ramil (SS, 2020, HF)

The Mavericks of Archbishop McCarthy are always in the thick of state title races in South Florida and they bring a talented and experience group up north to Hoover for the weekend. There’s only one Division I commit on the team in shortstop Dominik Ramil (Mercer) but there’s loads of size and talent throughout which includes uncommitted Jack Cue who impressed our scouts at the PG Fall Top Prospect National a year ago. There are a good combination of experienced seniors and talented underclassmen which makes the Mavericks a big wild card heading into the weekend.

Benedictine Military Cadets (Savannah, Ga.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Carter Holton (LHP/OF, 2021, 46)
Justin Thomas (OF, 2022, 346)
Kameron Edge (SS, 2022, T1000)
Austin Tse (LHP, 2020, HF)

The Cadets enter the PG HS Showdown as undoubtedly one of the younger teams in the tournament, there are only four seniors on the roster, but they have some talented underclassmen including one of the top juniors in the country in Carter Holton. The Vanderbilt is a very good lefthanded pitcher, running his fastball into the low-90s, and he is a must-see prospect when he gets to toe the rubber. Justin Thomas is another impressive underclassman as a physical uncommitted sophomore while Kameron Edge also has some tools on either side of the ball. Senior lefthander Austin Tse, an Eskrine College signee, will provide good experience on the mound and the combination of Tse and Holton leading the charge on the mound will be fun to watch.

Blessed Trinity Titans (Roswell, Ga.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Derek (DJ) Radtke (RHP/1B, 2021, 358)
Trey Baker (RHP/OF, 2020, T500)
Benjamin Hamacher (2B, 2022, T500)
Michael Mitchler (SS, 2021, T500)
Dominic Marcoccio (RHP, 2020, T1000)

The Blessed Trinity Titans are one of the most accomplished teams in the PG HS Showdown field as they have been to the finals of this tournament three straight years including a victory in 2018. They lost first-rounder CJ Abrams from a year ago but return a strong core and Coach Andy Harlin’s teams are always competitive throughout the spring. They’ll be led by two two-way prospects in Auburn commit DJ Radtke and Northwest Florida State signee Trey Baker who should be of big impact. Wofford signee Dominic Marcoccio will be the staff ace as he’s a top of the rotation arm while middle infielders Ben Hamacher and Michael Mitchler will be big contributors. Look for the Titans to once again be competitive and it wouldn’t be shocking to see them in play late in this tournament.

Bob Jones Patriots (Madison, Ala.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Dylan Ray (RHP/3B, 2020, 242)
Caden Rose (SS/RHP, 2020, 417)
Mitchell Daly (SS, 2020, 282)
Camden Hill (1B/LHP, 2020, 293)
Slate Alford (3B, 2021, 175)

One of the top teams in this event is the No. 8 team in the country in the Bob Jones Patriots. Looking up and down the roster Head Coach Jared Smith looks to have his team climb the hurdle in 7A as they were state finalists a year ago. The core four of seniors is very impressive for a high school team in two-way players Dylan Ray (Alabama), Caden Rose (Alabama), Cam Hill (Auburn), along with premier shortstop Mitchell Daly (Texas). Slate Alford and Max Soliz are two SEC committed underclassmen who add some thump to the lineup while senior righthander Nick Brown is also a big arm. There’s talent up and down the roster which contributed to their lofty preseason ranking and the Patriots are a must-watch this weekend competing in Hoover.

Buford Wolves (Buford, Ga.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Dylan Lesko (RHP, 2022, 1)
Riley Stanford (RHP/OF, 2022, 9)
Treyton Rank (RHP/UT, 2021, 194)
Joseph Salvo (C, 2020, T500)
Jackson Gaspard (RHP/IF, 2022, 116)

Head coach Stuart Chester always fields a competitive team in the Showdown and 2020 looks no different as Buford has one of the strongest rosters, with the sophomore class in particular standing out. They’ll be led by two top ten prospects in the class of 2022 in Dylan Lesko, the No. 1 overall player, and Riley Stanford, the No. 9 overall player. Lesko and Stanford are formidable on the top of any rotation and Jackson Gaspard will also be a big piece at the No. 116 player in the class. Treyton Rank is a talented two-way talent heading to Tallahassee for college while senior catcher Joseph Salvo provides stability and leadership. Eli Ledford will also be an important bat as the Preseason No. 31 team will have big expectations after winning the co-championship last year.

Cartersville Hurricanes (Cartersville, Ga.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Josh Davis (2B, 2020, T500)
Micah Earwood (RHP, 2021, HF)
Parker McPherson (OF, 2021, NR)
Davis Williams (RHP/SS, 2021, HF)
Hank Smith (C, 2022, HF)

The Purple Hurricanes of Cartersville have been long-time PG HS Showdown participants and Head Coach Kyle Tucker always brings a team that is prepared and ready to face off against tough competition. Senior starter Josh Davis will lead the offense as the Georgia Gwinnett signee is a three-year starter with experience. He’ll be flanked by outfielder Parker McPherson, catcher Hank Smith, and senior first baseman Chandler Tromza. Junior Micah Earwood is the staff ace as the 6-foot-4 righthander has jumped onto the scene a little bit and has lots of arm talent. Davis Williams is a key two-way player for the Purple Hurricanes and they have a well-rounded squad that will compete well this weekend.

Central Red Devils (Phenix City, Ala.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Tyler Haines (RHP, 2021, 473)
Will Cannon (RHP/2B, 2021, T1000)
Jax Yoxtheimer (OF, 2023, HF)

The Red Devils bring one of the younger teams in the event as the listed roster contains just two seniors. The top player on this Central squad will be junior righthander Tyler Haines who’s a big, physical prospect at a listed 6-foot-4, 210-pounds and has a verbal commitment to Mississippi State. Two-way player Will Cannon will be important both on the mound and in the lineup while youngster Jax Yotheimer is just a freshman but the big, lanky lefthanded hitter impressed our scouts at the 14u Sunshine Gulf Coast last summer. Haines will be a solid performance and certainly one to watch as they face off with North Broward Prep and Buford to start the Showdown.

Cullman Bearcats (Cullman, Ala.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Brennen Norton (IF, 2021, HF)
Brady Patterson (IF, 2020, NR)
Joshua Bartle (RHP, 2021, NR)
Hayden Stancil (RHP, 2022, T1000)
Aj Miller (OF, 2020, HF)

Head coach Brent Patterson has assembled a winning tradition over at Cullman as the Bearcats ascended to state champions in 6A a year ago. They bring back a tough nosed squad, as per usual, to the PG HS Showdown led by a good collection of talent across all age groups. Brady Patterson and Aj Miller will lead the offense from a senior capacity, along with righthander Cade Barnett who is a talented arm. Brennen Norton and Jeb Bartle are two of the better juniors on the squad while two-way sophomore Hayden Stancil opened eyes at the WWBA Sophomore World Championship last year. The Bearcats always compete well in the Showdown and the defending 6A champions will once again be strong.

Decatur Bulldogs (Decatur, Ga.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Jordan Walker (3B, 2020, 1)
Jaylen Paden (RHP, 2020, 235)
Luke Clark (C, 2020, Follow)
Marshall Toole (OF, 2021, T1000)
Brady Jones (MIF, 2022, 485)

Decatur enters the Showdown boasting the top-ranked player in the 2020 class in third baseman Jordan Walker. The Duke signee is projected to be a first-round pick in a couple of months and Walker tore it up as an underclassman and is well on his way to another outstanding season. Georgia Southern signee Jaylen Paden leads the Bulldogs on the mound with a quick right arm while fellow college commits Luke Clark and Marshall Toole will be big contributors in the lineup. Brady Jones is ranked 485th in the class of 2022 and Decatur has some serious star power that will be worth watching this weekend.

Denham Springs Yellowjackets (Denham Springs, La.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Cade Cole (C, 2020, NR)
Braydan "Gabe" Spedale (OF, 2020, T500)
Brennan Hall (1B, 2020, Follow)
Reese Smith (SS, 2021, T500)
Noah Juan (3B, 2020, HF)

The Yellow Jackets enter the 2020 field with high expectations as Denham Springs is always competitive come PG HS Showdown time. The Louisiana natives will be tested right away as they open with the Bob Jones Patriots in the first time slot on Thursday afternoon. They have a good collection of senior talent and the team gets an immediate boost with the return of catcher Cade Cole who missed the 2019 season. Gabe Spedale is a strong outfielder who’s committed to LSU-Eunice, Brennan Hall has some pop at first base as does Noah Juan, while Reese Smith is a heady player and the Louisiana-Lafayette commit does a little bit of everything well. Expect the Bob Jones matchup to be a good one and one that could give the Yellowjackets momentum heading into the weekend.

DeSoto Central Jaguars (Southaven, Miss.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Blaze Jordan (3B, 2020, 2)
Cade Smith (RHP, 2020, 106)
Kyle Booker (OF, 2020, 267)

The highest ranked team heading to the PG HS Showdown is the defending Mississippi state champion DeSoto Central Jaguars as the team came into the season with the No. 3 overall ranking nationwide. They’re led by a strong trio of senior talent in PG All-American Blaze Jordan, righthander Cade Smith and outfielder Kyle Booker. Jordan has prodigious raw power and a precocious feel to hit as he could be a high draft pick while fellow Mississippi State commit Smith can run his fastball up to 94 mph while Tennessee commit Booker has plus bat speed and excellent overall athleticism. The Jaguars have a couple of other college bound senior to provide length in the lineup but scouts will not be missing any DeSoto Central games as the weekend approached.

Doral Academy Firebirds (Doral, Fla.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Adrian Figueroa (1B/LHP, 2020, 318)
Luis Espinal (3B, 2020, 432)
Dominic Pitelli (SS, 2020, T500)
Marcus Franco (1B, 2021, 129)
Gabriel Gutierrez (OF, 2021, T500)

The Firebirds coached by Ralph Suarez enter the PG HS Showdown with some of the best talent and overall physicality in the field. Two-way prospect and Florida International signee Adrian Figueroa leads the way with big raw power from the left side in his 6-foot-6, 225-pound frame. He’ll also see time on the mound while Luis Espinal and Marcus Franco are other big boppers in the middle of the order. Miami signee Dominic Pitelli is a real heady player up the middle with good tools on either side of the ball and Gabriel Gutierrez is very athletic, physical, and can go out and get it in center field. This is a well-coached and talented club that should be able to make some noise late into the tournament.

Hartselle Tigers (Hartselle, Ala.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Drew Cartee (RHP/OF, 2021, T500)
Elliott Bray (RHP/OF, 2022, 302)
Brodie Morrow (RHP/OF, 2022, HF)

The Hartselle Tigers finished with a sub-.500 record on the 2019 season but return a solid trio of talent in Drew Cartee, Elliott Bray and Brodie Morrow. All three are underclassmen but will be expected to lead the team as all three players will be important on the mound and in two-way capacities with production at the plate. Bray is the highest ranked of the prospects per the PG class rankings and is currently committed to Auburn. Hartselle enters the tournament against Archbishop McCarthy and Parkview so they’ll be tested right away and it’ll be interesting to see how the underclassmen respond to the challenge.

Helena Huskies (Helena, Ala.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Brody Moss (SS, 2021, T500)
Will Griffith (RHP, 2020, T1000)
Jc Wilburn (1B, 2020, Follow)
Tyler Jon Santos (C, 2021, NR)
Luke Stamba (OF, 2020, NR)

Bringing a solid core of college commitments are the Helena Huskies who have a consistent team and are one of the mentally tougher teams in the field. Shortstop Brody Moss will lead the way as the team’s highest ranked player per Perfect Game as the Auburn commit does a little bit of everything on the field. He’s an excellent hitter and he’ll be flanked by Wallace Hanceville commit Jc Wilburn in the offense while staff ace will be senior righthander Will Griffith. Tyler Jon Santos, Luke Stamba, and Landon Leake will all lengthen the lineup and the Huskies will be fun to watch compete all weekend.

Hewitt-Trussville Huskies (Trussville, Ala.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Tyler Mauldin (2B, 2020, T500)
Michael Fowler (RHP/3B, 2020, 179)
Kerrigan Edmondson (CF, 2020, T500)
Skylar Jones (RHP, 2021, T1000)
Keith Lanum (OF, 2020, NR)

The Huskies finished with an impressive record of 33-9 a year ago and made it all the way to the state semifinals. They return a strong trio of seniors in Northwest Florida State signee Tyler Mauldin, Louisiana State signee Michael Fowler, and Alabama signee Kerrigan Edmondson. Mauldin was a 1st team 7A All-State selection a year ago as was Michael Fowler who will be their top draft prospect with a fast arm and a fastball that sits in the low-90s. Underclassman Skylar Jones has been into the low-90s as well and senior Keith Lanum should contribute as well.

Hoover Buccaneers (Hoover, Ala.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Colson Lawrence (OF/RHP, 2020, T1000)
Robby Ashford (OF, 2020, 133)
Davis Young (C, 2020, HF)
William Steele (C, 2022, 431)
Evan Radford (1B/OF, 2021, 307)

The hosting Buccaneers enter the HS Showdown with lofty expectations as they came into the season ranked No. 32 in the entire country. It’s easy to see why when you see the talent that Head Coach Adam Moseley has assembled led by seniors Colson Lawrence and Robby Ashford. Lawrence is a high-level two-way prospect who has drawn some draft attention this year while the uber-athletic Ashford is a high-level quarterback who broke out baseball-wise at this event last year and is signed to play both baseball and football at Oregon. Senior Davis Young is a stout catcher behind the dish while underclassmen Evan Radford and Lucas Steele are high-level prospects. Be on the lookout for Hoover to make some noise with another talented squad.

Houston County Bears (Warner Robbins, Ga.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Jaden Woods (LHP, 2020, 408)
Brodie Chestnutt (RHP, 2021, 75)
Coleman Willis (RHP, 2021, 178)
Treyson Hughes (OF, 2021, 293)
Gage Harrelson (OF, 2022, T500)

The Bears entered the 2020 spring with a lofty preseason ranking as the No. 37 team in the country. Their deep pitching staff will be out in full force over the weekend as they’ll be led by their trio of Georgia signee Jaden Woods, Florida State commit Brodie Chestnutt, and Georgia commit Coleman Willis. These arms should be able to go toe-to-toe against anyone in the tournament and they’re very deep overall when it comes to underclass talent. West Virginia commit Treyson Hughes is an athletic outfielder while Gage Harrelson is a notable hitter as well; be on the look for one of the top-ranked 2023s in the country in Drew Burress who should be able to make a big impact offensively as well.

IMG Academy Ascenders (Bradenton, Fla.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Mac Horvath (SS, 2020, 64)
Jake Gelof (SS, 2020, 307)
Kevin Karstetter (3B, 2020, 363)
Billy Underwood (OF, 2020, T500)
James Wood (OF, 2021, 119)

The defending champions of this event from a season ago, IMG Academy returns a similarly loaded roster for the Showdown in 2020. They’re led by an ensemble of Division I talent in their lineup which includes seniors Mac Horvath (North Carolina), Jake Gelof (Virginia), Kevin Karstetter (Florida Atlantic), Billy Underwood (Coastal Carolina). Charez Butcher (Tennessee), Aaron Combs (Coastal Carolina), Heston Tole (Arkansas), Corbin Morrison (Tennessee), and Brandon Llewellyn (uncommitted) head up a very impressive rotation. They also have a strong crew of underclassmen led by Mississippi State commit James Wood, Arkansas commit Drake Varnado, and Vanderbilt commit Sam Hunt. Stone Russell is one of the better 2023s in the class and IMG is going to be must-watch baseball all weekend in Hoover as they look to defend their 2019 title.

IMG Academy Black (Bradenton, Fla.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Michael Kluska (SS, 2020, T500)
Keegan Allen (RHP, 2021, 77)
Quinn Blackman (OF, 2020, T1000)
Jordan Miller (3B, 2020, T500)
Zachary Thomas (IF, 2020, HF)

IMG’s Black team has a number of Division I talent too and should similarly be competitive in what is a very strong event overall. West Virigina signee Michael Kluska will lead the offense while Georgia Tech commit and top 100 ranked righthander Keegan Allen will lead the pitching staff with his strong arm. Third baseman Jordan Miller is signed with Georgia State while three other Division I commits round out the lineup. A pair of uncommitted lefthanders in Skyler Bronw and Jack Fortin will round out the pitching staff as the IMG Academy Black team promises to be of intrigue once the games start.

Locust Grove Wildcats (Locust Grove, Ga.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Cole English (RHP, 2020, T500)
Connor Crisp (RHP, 2023, 32)
Bransen Powell (RHP, 2023, 66)

Locust Grove enters with a very talented pitching rotation that features a couple of nationally ranked freshmen in Connor Crisp and Bransen Powell. East Tennesse State signee Cole English is a physical righthander who can swing it too while Crisp and Powell are both currently committed to Georgia with advanced feel and projection on the mound. The Wildcats will certainly be tested early this weekend as they matchup with Mountain Brook and nationally ranked Westminster Christian. Tune in to see how the bright lights affect the freshmen as this could be a strong two-way duo much like Buford has in their 2022 class.

Loganville Red Devils (Loganville, Ga.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Dylan Strickland (SS, 2020, T500)
Jonathan "Daniel" Braswell (2021, 1B, T500)
Caleb Garner (RHP, 2020, HF)
Ian King (C, 2020, T1000)
Brocker Way (OF, 2021, T500)

The Red Devils have been one of the most consistent programs in the state for the last few years as Head Coach Jeff Segars and the 2020 class will be gunning for their unprecedented fourth state title in four years. Loganville also secured a co-championship in the HS Showdown a year ago and look to be strong heading into the 2020 event. Four-year starter Dylan Strickland returns as the Georgia Tech signee figures to be the key cog for the offense while he’ll be flanked by junior Georgia commit Daniel Braswell. Ian King will provide stability behind the plate, Brocker way is a toolsy lefthanded hitter, and Caleb Garner will be the staff ace as a Georgia Highlands signee. Loganville is one of the more prestigious programs in the event and they’ll be one to watch out for all weekend.

Montverde Academy Eagles (Montverde, Fla.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Joseph Coffey (OF, 2020, T500)
Justin Javier Colon Jaime (SS/RHP, 2021, 59)
Kenneth Eccleston (OF, 2021, T500)

The Montverde Academy Eagles were on top of this event in 2018 with a supremely talented squad and the 2020 team looks to have deep talent as well. Senior Joseph Coffey is a UCF signee with good tools on both sides of the ball while junior Justin Colon is one of the top juniors in the country with very loud tools including his arm strength and glovework. Miami commit Kenneth Eccleston has a smooth lefthanded stroke while there are also some talented underclassmen in Florida commit Salvador Alvarez and nationally ranked freshman Oscar Hernandez. The talent is loud at least on paper for the Eagles and they’ll be fun to watch compete this weekend.

Mountain Brook Spartans (Birmingham, Ala.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Harrison Ware (C, 2020, T500)
Will Yarbro (OF, 2020, T500)
Ford Kelly (1B, 2020, T500)

The Spartans are heavy on senior talent leading up to the PG HS Showdown and they have a core of top 500-ranked seniors that should be impactful in the lineup. Harrison Ware is a dependable backstop who is signed with South Alabama, Will Yarbro has great physicality and a strong lefthanded stroke, and first baseman Ford Kelly shows some serious pop from the left side. They’ll be tested early with Westminster Christian in their first game of the weekend while Locust Grove is a strong team too and if the Spartans make it out of their pool they will certainly have earned it.

Mountain View Bears (Lawrenceville, Ga.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Garrett Spikes (OF, 2020, 404)
Kenneth Mallory, Jr (OF, 2021, 99)
Nicholas Hong (C, 2021, T1000)

The Bears have one of the more difficult paths to the PG HS Showdown championship as they have to face off with nationally ranked Russell County and Montverde Academy to open pool play. That shouldn’t deter Mountain View, however, as there’s a good amount of talent on the roster led by senior Georgia signee Garrett Spikes. He’s a physical, lefthanded hitter with big raw power and he’ll be flanked by top 100 junior Kenneth Mallory who has big pop from the left side and center field athleticism. Guys like Nicolas Hong, Connor Claymore, Wyatt Fooks, Micah Ledford, and Ryan Westfall will all contribute in big ways and this team has the components to surprise their opponents heading into the weekend.

North Broward Prep Eagles (Coconut Creek, Fla.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Yoel Tejeda Jr (1B/RHP, 2022, 60)
Sawyer Feller (C, 2021, Follow)
Jonah Diaz (IF, 2021, 396)
Kobe Benson (IF, 2021, T500)
Dustin Snyder (RHP, 2020, T500)

The Eagles return to Hoover for their third straight year of participation in the PG HS Showdown and they always make for a formidable foe. They’re deep in terms of underclass talent led by one of the top sophomores in the class in Yoel Tejeda. The long corner infielder has prodigious raw power and he’ll be joined by a number of other Division I commits that include Harvard commit Sawyer Feller, Florida commits Jonah Diaz & Jake Clemente, and Coastal Carolina commit Kobe Benson. South Florida signee Dusty Snyder will lead the team on the mound, he’s been up to 90 mph and has a strong three pitch mix.

Northside Patriots (Columbus, Ga.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Mack Williams (OF, 2020, T1000)
Hunter Poe (OF, 2020, HF)
Conner O’Neal (C, 2021, T1000)
Walt McConnell (SS, 2021, T500)
Conner Sizemore (RHP, 2021, HF)

Defending AAAA state champions Northside will arrive in Hoover with high expectations as they’re led by a couple of college bound seniors and a strong core of junior talent. Mack Williams and Hunter Poe will both be right in the middle of the lineup while senior Tray Richburg was an All-State performer a year ago. Junior catcher Conner O’Neal has some thump in the middle of the order and hits from the left side while Walt McConnell is a strong up the middle prospect and a Division I type. Conner Sizemore is the Patriots’ No. 1 arm and he went 4-0 in the state playoffs last season. Look for the Patriots to be a tough out and compete with the rest of the high-level competition.

Parkview Panthers (Lilburn, Ga.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Miles Garrett (RHP, 2020, 114)
Xander Stephens (RHP, 2020, 335)
Jonathan Ponder (CF, 2020, 319)
Pascanel Ferreras (SS, 2020, T500)
Ryan Spikes (2021, IF/RHP, 31)

Head coach Chan Brown has built a national power at Parkview and the Panthers entered the 2020 season with a lofty preseason ranking of No. 10 in the country. They should be one of the top teams in the state of Georgia once again as they look to defend their 2019 state title and the Panthers feature a strong core of prospects. Vanderbilt signee Miles Garrett and Georgia Tech signee Xander Stephens will lead Parkview on the mound while Jonathan Ponder, Pascanel Ferreras, and two-way junior Ryan Spikes round out a potent offense. Jack Davis and Graham Yntema will contribute in big ways and this is one of the most complete teams in the 2020 HS Showdown field.

Pike County Pirates (Zebulon, Ga.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Dylan Garner (RHP, 2020, T500)
Wesley Hancock (LHP, 2020, T500)
Mason Trucks (RHP, 2023, T1000)

The Pike County Pirates will be tested very early on as they meet up with the hosting, and nationally ranked, Hoover Buccaneers and the always dangerous Blessed Trinity Titans in their pool play games. They have a strong core of pitchers led by Kennesaw State commit Dylan Garner, who we last saw as nothing short of spectacular in a win over the Canes in Jupiter. Wesley Hancock is another power arm who has been up to 90 mph from the left side while freshman Mason Trucks already has some impressive velocity for a young prospect. Senior Coleman Boynton will be sure to figure into the team’s results as well and this is an interesting squad to watch down in Hoover this weekend.

Rockmart Yellow Jackets (Rockmart, Ga.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Ty Floyd (RHP/SS, 2020, 34)
Brayden Cole (1B, 2020, T1000)
Cody Parramore (3B, 2020, NR)
Christopher Culver (2B, 2020, NR)
Reed Couch (RF, 2020, NR)

The Yellow Jackets finished as runners up in the AA classification a season ago and they return some excellent senior talent led by Louisiana State signee Ty Floyd. The two-way prospect is one of the best draft prospects in the state with a mid-90s fastball and very good arm speed and overall athleticism. He’ll likely start their toughest matchup and will be flanked in the lineup by fellow seniors Brayden Cole, Cody Parramore, CJ Culver, and Reed Couch. Sophomore Trevor Caldwell should be able to provide solid innings while underclassmen Andrew Morris, Cooper Yanzetich, and Andruw Morris are all names to watch. The Floyd start will likely be one of the biggest in the event in terms of scouts and is a can’t-miss game.

Russell County Warriors (Seale, Ala.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Logan Austin (RHP, 2020, 206)
Zac Rice (OF, 2020, 309)
Landon Russell (SS, 2022, T1000)
Colton Wombles (C, 2023, 21)
Bailey Thorne (RHP, 2024, 9)

The Warriors entered the 2020 season ranked No. 25 overall in the preseason high school top 50 and they look to be one of the favorites heading into the PG HS Showdown. They have talent throughout the lineup led by senior Auburn signee Logan Austin who runs his fastball into the low-90s along with the speedy Zac Rice who recently impressed us by running a 6.2 second 60-yard dash at the World Showcase. Landon Russell is due for a breakout year with supreme talent while Colton Wombles is a physical Auburn commit who stood out at the PG Select Festival. Lookout for 13u Select Festival alum Bailey Thorne who is ranked in our newly unveiled 2024 rankings and will be one of the youngest players in the event while already working in the upper-80s.

Smiths Station Panthers (Smiths, Ala.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Carson Swilling (RHP, 2020, 173)
Zane Faulk (C, 2020, 301)
Hunter Donaldson (SS, 2020, 330)

The Smiths Station Panthers were ranked nationally heading into the season as they landed at No. 44 in the PG HS Top 50. They have a bevy of talent led by the senior trio of Carson Swilling, Zane Faulk, and Hunter Donaldson. Swilling is a power-armed righty signed with Auburn, Faulk has tools galore led by his arm strength and is signed with Wallace-Dothan, and Donaldson has a strong arm at short and a smooth lefthanded stroke while he’s signed with South Alabama. There are a number of other Division I commits on the roster including Trent Godgdon (West Virginia), Javi Marrero (Troy) and Ellis Yohn (Tennessee-Martin) as this is one of the deepest teams in the field heading into Hoover.

Thompson Warriors (Alabaster, Ala.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Carson Hobbs (RHP, 2020, T500)
Logan Braunschweig (SS, 2021, NR)
Cade Watts (2B/RHP, 2021, NR)
Harrison Poplin (OF/RHP, 2020, NR)
Josh Mehmen (3B/RHP, 2020, NR)

The Thompson Warriors enter the 2020 season hungry to make the state playoffs after missing out a season ago, and the PG HS Showdown will be their first big test of the 2020 campaign. The Warriors are going to be thrown into the fire right away as they matchup with IMG in their first game of the weekend. Senior Samford signee Carson Hobbs will go against them and Hobbs is arguably the Warriors’ best player with a live right arm and he’s also a three-year starter at shortstop. Lefthanded hitting Logan Braunschweig will play an important role as will the team’s leading returning hitter Cade Watts. Senior Harrison Poplin will be an important arm and Josh Mehmen will go game two while junior Trey Puckett also offers two-way potential.

Vestavia Hills Rebels (Vestavia Hills, Ala.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Grant Cherry (RHP, 2021, 128)
Mason Maners (OF, 2020, T500)
Joseph Sullivan (OF, 2021, T1000)
Carter Tyus (RHP, 2021, HF)
Jack Hoppenjans (RHP, 2021, T1000)

The Rebels made a deep push in the state playoffs a year ago and they return another talented tema in 2020 along with a rich program history of success. Vestavia Hills is right down the road from the Hoover Met complex and are longtime crosstown rivals with the host Hoover. The top player to watch on the Rebels will be junior Georgia commit and hard-throwing righthander Grant Cherry, who recently impressed us at this same ballpark at last year’s Junior National. Graham Duncan and Carter Tyus will get the ball in the first two games for Vestavia Hills and they have a wealth of arms and an offense led by Jacksonville State signee Mason Maners.

Westminster Christian Warriors (Palmetto Bay, Fla.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Victor Mederos (RHP, 2020, 22)
Jayden Melendez (C, 2021, 22)
Sal Stewart (3B, 2022, 15)

The Warriors of Westminster Christian enter the PG HS Showdown as one of the most talented teams in the event with a preseason ranking of No. 20 nationally on the PG High School rankings. They’ll be led by PG All-American Victor Mederos on the mound who has generated big draft buzz this spring, working into the upper-90s with a hammer curveball. His battery mate will be the No. 22 overall player in the junior class in Jayden Melendez who’s a stout defensive catcher with sneaky pop and the brother of former PG All-American MJ Melendez. Fellow seniors Jamar Fairweather and Albert Hernandez are both nationally ranked while Sal Stewart is one of the top players in the 2022 class. The Warriors are one of the most talented teams in the event and look to be one of the early favorites on paper.

Winder-Barrow Bulldogs (Winder, Ga.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Brady House (SS/RHP, 2021, 1)
Andrew Lewis III (OF, 2021, 314)
Andreaus Lewis II (C, 2021, T500)

The Bulldogs boast one of the top players in the entire event with two-way superstar Brady House, the No. 1 overall player in the 2021 class. The Tennessee commit is explosive in every aspect of the game as he can launch long home runs and run his fastball up to the mid-90s on the mound. He had a great HS Showdown in 2019, part of his long run to becoming the top player in the class, and it’ll be a fun matchup in game two between Decatur as No. 1 players square off in House and Decatur’s No. 1 2020 in Jordan Walker. The Lewis’ lengthen the Bulldogs lineup and there’s some high ceiling talent which will be must watch, especially when House is up to bat.

Woodward Academy War Eagles (College Park, Ga.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Will Sanders (RHP, 2020, 49)
Dwight Allen (OF, 2020, T500)
Tyler Neely (OF, 2021, T500)
Chandler Pollard (RHP/UT, 2022, 264)
Banks Snellings (IF/RHP, 2021, T1000)

The War Eagles are coming off a very successful 2019 campaign that saw the come to Hoover and impress in last year’s HS Showdown. PG All-American Will Sanders leads the way and he’ll be a must watch when he’s on the mound as last year all Sanders did was toss nine innings of one-hit baseball en route to his PG All-American summer. Dwight Allen is one of the best athletes in the class and the Georgia signee has some serious upside while a trio of underclassmen in Tyler Neely, Chandler Pollard, and Banks Snellings should provide some length. Mark Gallups will man behind the plate duties and on the whole the War Eagles are an exciting squad led by two high end senior talents in Sanders and Allen.

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Tournaments | Story | 1/27/2026

MLK East Scout Notes Recap

Perfect Game Staff

‘28 OF Jakob Groeschel (OH) continues to impress with the bat on the circuit, picked up 2 2Bs in the first game today. Really athletic, went 4.4 on turn; easy to dream on all the traits. #MLKEast @PG_OhioValley pic.twitter.com/wOIwnGKnkg — Perfect Game Florida (@Florida_PG) January 17, 2026 2028 OF Jakob Groeschel (Springfield, Ohio) broke out at this event last year hitting a casual .909, and although he didn’t turn in quite the same performance, he hit a strong .462 with 4 extra-base hits, 5 walks, 5 bags and only struck out once. He’s a pretty dynamic athlete who can do a lot of things well, but the bat is the calling card as he just lives on the barrel and has no problem handling all kinds of pitching. It’s a simple swing, but he’s got fast hands and he can really impact the ball without being overly physical yet. 2030 RHP Michael Vazquez...

College | Story | 2/6/2026

Conference Preview: Ohio Valley

Kyler Peterson

High School | General | 2/6/2026

California All Region & Top Tools

David Rawnsley

The 2026 class is one of the best in recent memory for the state of California, with 18 players ranking among the top 100 in the Perfect Game national rankings. Three PG All-Americans, IF Trey Ebel, OF Isaiah Hearn and RHP Logan Georges were all edged out of places on the California All-Region Team as a result. And although the 2027 class doesn’t look as deep, it does feature three Top Six players in SS Dylan Seward, LHP Jared Grindlinger and SS Carter Hadnot. Not surprisingly, California high schools are very well represented in the Perfect Game Pre-Season Top 50 rankings, particularly with 2025 Trinity League champion St. John Bosco beginning the season as the top ranked team in the country. A very deep Orange Lutheran squad holds down the third spot in the rankings, with 12th ranked De La Salle being the top team from Northern California. Corona (17th),...

College | Story | 2/6/2026

Conference Preview: Atlantic 10

Marcus Thomas

2026 College Preview Index | Preseason Top 25 | Preseason Collegiate All-Americans For all of Perfect Game's conference previews as part of the 2026 college baseball preview content, the 2025 records and all-conference teams are available for free. The conference top prospects and individual team breakdowns can be viewed with a subscription. 2025 Records Teams are listed in alphabetical order Team W L W L Davidson 19 12 28 29 Dayton 14 16 27 31 Fordham 15 15 25 33 George Mason 20 10 40 21 George Washington 14 16 27 27 La Salle* - - - - Rhode Island 23 8 39 20 Richmond 14 16 33 19 St. Joseph’s 17 13 24 28 St. Louis ...

High School | General | 2/5/2026

Georgia Region Top Teams

Tyler Russo

Georgia All Region Team & Top Tools Rk School Record 1 Etowah 34-4 2 Blessed Trinity 34-9 3 Parkview 26-11 4 Houston County 33-7 5 Lowndes 28-13 6 Walton 34-8 7 Buford 25-9 8 Pope 31-5 9 North Cobb Christian 24-11-1 10 Harrison 23-14 11 Newnan 32-5 12 North Paulding 28-10 13 Marist 30-7 14 Cartersville 32-10 15 Denmark 19-14 16 North Oconee 27-8 17 Loganville 29-8 18 Morgan County 32-10 19 North Gwinnett 35-5 20 Carrollton 23-12 21 Troup County 32-9 22 Hillgrove 21-13 23 River Ridge 25-15 24 Pickens 32-7 25 McEachern 24-8

Draft | Story | 2/6/2026

PG Draft: Mid-Major Picks to Click

Tyler Henninger

While Power 4 prospects tend to soak up the bulk of the industry buzz, there’s plenty of legitimate talent lurking at the mid-major level. These are competitive programs that are loaded with players who have real tools, physicality, and performance track records that translate beyond their conference. Below are nine mid-major prospects we expect evaluators to be in early and often on this spring. Ethan Norby, LHP, East Carolina (Rank: 155) Norby is an undersized left-hander, but has produced strong numbers over two years at ECU. The left-hander has produced a 3.80 ERA with 182 strikeouts over 149 1/3 innings. While the velocity does not stand out, Norby can still miss bats with the heater. It works in the low-90’s and creeps towards 95 mph at times. Quality extension for his size and high spin allow that offering to get on hitters, resulting in weak contact as well as whiffs....

High School | General | 2/5/2026

Georgia HS All Region & Top Tools

David Rawnsley

Georgia has its usual depth of high-level athletes and Perfect Game All-Americans, although three 2027 players did make the All-Region team. There are an unusual number of two-way prospects among the All-Region players, a testament to the big arms that the state has right now. Two Georgia high schools are ranked in the top 10 of the PG Pre-Season High School Top 50 rankings and the Georgia high school ranks are annually among the most competitive in the country. Etowah is the highest ranked team at 5th overall, while Blessed Trinity Catholic checks in at 8th. Parkview is the only other Georgia team in the top 50, holding down the 34th spot. OF-RHP Dexter McCleon Jr will be fixture on the Georgia All-Region team for the next two years but the top ranked prospect in the 2028 class will have to take a back seat to his elders this year. McCleon’s absurd...

High School | Rankings | 2/4/2026

Florida Region Top Teams

Tyler Russo

Florida All Region Team & Top Tools Rk School Record 1 Stoneman Douglas 31-2 2 Tampa Jesuit 25-10 3 Trinity Christian Academy 30-5 4 South Walton 31-4 5 IMG Academy 24-1 6 Venice 29-5 7 Bishop Verot 32-3 8 American Heritage (Plantation) 29-6 9 St. Thomas Aquinas 29-6-1 10 Doral Academy Charter 27-8-1 11 North Broward Prep 23-8 12 Lincoln 24-11 13 Mater Academy 25-9-1 14 The First Academy 30-4 15 Alonso 21-13 16 St. John's Country Day 26-9 17 Bishop Snyder 23-8 18 Spruce Creek 30-4 19 Buchholz 33-3 20 Lake Mary 15-15 21 Miami Springs 28-3 22 Jupiter 25-10 23 Plant City 16-12 24 Berkeley Prep 25-10 25 Winter Park 25-6

College | Story | 2/4/2026

Conference Preview: Northeast

Jason Phillips

2026 College Preview Index | Preseason Top 25 | Preseason Collegiate All-Americans For all of Perfect Game's conference previews as part of the 2026 college baseball preview content, the 2025 records and all-conference teams are available for free. The conference top prospects and individual team breakdowns can be viewed with a subscription. 2025 Records Teams are listed in alphabetical order* Team W L W L CCSU 23 7 31 17 Coppin State 13 17 15 34 Delaware State 6 24 7 34 FDU 16 14 16 37 LeMoyne 17 13 20 28 LIU 24 6 35 23 UMES 6 24 7 41 Mercyhurst 15 15 17 35 New Haven* 12 12 24 20 Norfolk State 4 26 4 38 Stonehill 18 12 20 32 Wagner 23 7 31 22 *Member Northeast-10 DII Preseason All Conference Team Pos. Name School Stats/Notes C Frankie Ferrentino CCSU .281-13-35, 9 2Bs, (Merrimack), Double digit HR all 3 years at Merrimack 1B Jayden Walker Mercyhurst .314-12-40, 10...

Press Release | Press Release | 2/4/2026

Baseball Meets Hollywood For Great Cause

Jim Salisbury

BASEBALL MEETS HOLLYWOOD FOR A GREAT CAUSE There’s no crying in baseball, but there is laughing, and there was lots and lots of it -- for a great cause -- last Saturday night in Hollywood, California. Perfect Game and its Believe in Baseball Foundation assembled a star-studded cast of comics and guests for the inaugural “In the Spirit of the Game” dinner and auction. The event was held at the iconic Laugh Factory, a historic venue that, in baseball terms, would be equivalent to Dodger Stadium or Wrigley Field. Late-night superstar Jay Leno took a turn on stage. So did comedic aces Tiffany Haddish, Nikki Glaser, Dustin Ybarra and Gary Cannon. “It was 4 ½ hours of straight laughter,” said PG commissioner Dennis Gilbert, still beaming a couple of days later. “It was a really nice success.” No one kept score at the event, but...

College | Story | 2/5/2026

Conference Preview: Western Athletic

Scott Rankin

2026 College Preview Index | Preseason Top 25 | Preseason Collegiate All-Americans For all of Perfect Game's conference previews as part of the 2026 college baseball preview content, the 2025 records and all-conference teams are available for free. The conference top prospects and individual team breakdowns can be viewed with a subscription. 2025 Records Teams are listed in alphabetical order* Team W L W L Abilene Christian 34 23 15 9 Cal Baptist 30 27 12 12 Sacramento State 32 26 15 9 Tarleton State 24 32 12 12 UT Arlington 21 33 11 13 Utah Tech 24 31 9 15 Utah Valley 29 29 13 11 Preseason All-Conference Team Pos. Name School Stats/Notes C Mason Strong Utah Valley 1st team All-WAC in ‘25 hitting .366 and leading the conference in hits. Also hit 11 Home Runs 1B Grant Watkins Abilene Christian .292 with 14 Home Runs and drove in 48 runs in...

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