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Tournaments  | Story  | 3/5/2020

Showdown-Academies Preview

Vincent Cervino      Greg Gerard     
Photo: Alex Santos (Perfect Game)

2020 PG High School Showdown-Academies: Event Page | Schedule


 Bessemer Academy (Bessemer, Ala.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Garrett Mangione (C/RHP, 2020, High Follow)
Landon Dial (UT/RHP, 2021, High Follow)
Andy Poole (OF/RHP, 2020, High Follow)
Tyner Patterson (1B/C, 2021, NR)
Hunter Lopacki (2B, 2021, NR)
John Robert Moore (C, 2021, NR)
Ethan Leatherman (IF/RHP, 2021, NR)

Coming off a season in which the Rebels finished 28-12, Bessemer Academy has a talented group of upperclassmen who should compete well in Pool A of the PG High School Showdown-Academies. Two-way talent Garrett Mangione is the team’s top pitcher and hitter as the Shelton State commit has a fastball in the 85-88 mph range and lots of power at the dish. Made up mostly of juniors the rest of the way Landon Dial is the top guy for the Rebels in that department as an athletic third baseman on the left side of the infield. The Rebels will also look for contributions from Andy Poole, Tyner Patterson, Hunter Lopacki and John Robert Moore at the plate as well as Ethan Leatherman on the mound.

Brunswick School (Greenwich, Conn.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Joe Henry (RHP, 2020, 500)
Leo Socci (RHP, 2020, 500)
Cole Mascolo (OF, 2022, Top 1000)
Jake Hyde (1B/3B, 2020, Top 1000)
Luke Fisher (3B/RHP, 2021, High Follow)
Jack Matthews (SS, 2020, Follow)
Jack Griffin (OF, 2020, Follow)

Thursday may be the first time the Brunswick School has been able to practice on a grass field in quite some time. Getting a morning workout in prior to the start of action should be just what the Connecticut and New York native players need to be ready to start up the PG High School Showdown-Academies. Led by a pair of pair of promising senior right-handed pitchers in Joe Henry and Leo Socci, Brunswick has just what they need to get out of pool play and into bracket play action. Offensively, Furman commit Cole Mascolo is the team’s top hitting threat while Jack Hyde and Jack Griffin will surely provide a spark as well.



Citadels (Peachtree City, Ga.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Marquis Grissom Jr (RHP, 2020, 131)
Caleb Logerwell (RHP/3B, 2021, 238)
Antonio Gleaton (OF/RHP, 2020, 470)
Camron Hill (LHP, 2021, 500)
Zion Taylor (OF, 2021, 500)
Kareh Valentin (UTIL, 2021, 500)
Jeremy Clark Jr (SS, 2020, Top 1000)
Jaylen Thompson (OF, 2020, Top 1000)

Citadels brings with them a loaded group headlined by son of former Major Leaguer with a similar name Marquis Grissom Jr. Grissom is a right-handed pitcher who will run his fastball into the low-90s with a pair of promising secondary offerings. Also on the Citadels roster is physical two-way talent Caleb Logerwell who has the ability to hit for power as well as overpower hitters on the mound. Antonio Gleaton is one of the fastest players in the tournament and he will man the outfield for Citadels while Georgia Tech commit Camron Hill will also pitch for the club. Citadels has the talent to go all the way in this event and with three dominant arms, they have to be considered one of the favorites to come away with the title.

Citadels Blue (Peachtree City, Ga.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Jacob Bringuel (OF/RHP, 2020, Follow)
Jayden Pennington (OF, 2021, Follow)
Mason Takvorian (3B/1B, 2020, Follow)

The Citadels Blue have a tough draw in Pool C having to take on a pair of loaded rosters in Next Level Academy and Citius Prep. Citadels Blue has three players on the Follow list for Perfect Game in Jacob Bringuel and Mason Takvorian in the 2020 class and Jayden Pennington in the 2021 class. Jack Ryntz and Cooper Taylor will take on the roles as the team’s pair of primary pitchers who will need to limit Next Level and Citius Prep in their first two matchups. Citadels Blue are certainly underdogs in Pool C, but maybe with some timely hitting and well-pitched performances the team from Georgia can make it out of Pool C. 


Citius Prep (Mount Vernon, N.Y.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Alex Santos (RHP, 2020, 8)
Tommy Tavarez (SS, 2021, 120)
Justin Rodriguez (RHP, 2021, 278)
Salix Felix (3B, 2020, 500)
Carlos Peguero (RHP, 2021, 500)
Bobby Bland (RHP, 2020, High Follow)

Traveling south from New York for the PG High School Showdown-Academies, Citius Prep probably has not seen too much time on the field yet this spring, but the roster they bring with them to Hoover is pretty talented with top ranked pitcher and player in PG All American Alex Santos as well as Pittsburgh commit Tommy Tavarez at shortstop. Citius Prep has three pitchers ranked in the top 500 of the PG class rankings who should provide a deep run for the out of Pool C. Santos, Justin Rodriguez a commitment to Florida International and Carlos Peguero are all highly touted righthanders who should provide low scores to the opposition.

ECB Academy Navy (Marietta, Ga.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Nick Tarantino (C/1B, 2020, High Follow)
Aiden Berggren (RHP, 2020, High Follow)
Blake Baldwin (MIF, 2020, Follow)
Ryan Combs (OF, 2022, Follow)

A pair of collegiate commitments in Blake Baldwin and Nick Tarantino will lead ECB Academy Navy into Hoover, Alabama for the PG High School Showdown-Academies. Baldwin is an infielder committed to Shorter University (DII) and Tarantino is a catcher committed to Oglethorpe University (DIII). The two will be the two primary weapons offensively and defensively for ECB while Aiden Berggren, Jake Crumley, Hector Diaz, Hernando Pacheco, Ethan Payne, Clayton Webb, Mitchell Taylor and Tate Smith will look to take on the pitching duties. ECB will face off with Bessemer Academy in game one and SBO Florida in game two as they look to earn a trip to bracket play out of Pool A.

ECB Academy Texas Orange (Marietta, Ga.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Rob Gordon (SS, 2021, 41)
Beau Fletcher (RHP, 2020, 500)
Hunter Gray (1B/3B, 2020, 500)
Spencer Borgel (LHP, 2020, 500)
Cameron Foster (SS/OF, 2020, 500)
Devon Alleyne (OF, 2022, 500)
Agyei Quinichett (SS, 2022, 500)

The top-ranked player in the 2021 class attending the Showdown-Academies is shortstop and Vanderbilt commit Rob Gordon. The righthanded hitting Gordon is a standout on both offense and defense with the way he handles the barrel and makes plays with the glove. He is sure to shine at the event as will corner infielder Hunter Gray and versatile defender Cameron Foster. For the team on the pitching side of things, 500-ranked pitchers Beau Fletcher and Spencer Borgel will be the one-two punch on the bump. ECB Academy Texas Orange has the draw in Pool D and will take on Sunshine State Elite Academy followed by Hitters Count Select in a double header on Friday.

Georgia Bombers (Cumming, Ga.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Gabe Hunt (SS, 2021, 374)
Colin Linder (3B/RHP, 2022, Top 1000)
Cole Munhall (C/RHP, 2022, Top 1000)
Rylan Serna (C/RHP, 2021, High Follow)
Nicholas Hollifield (C/IF, 2022, Follow)
Christopher Pudney (OF/RHP, 2021, Follow)
Evan Venable (1B/RHP, 2021, Follow)

Recent standout at the PG National Underclass Main Event Showcase Gabe Hunt will lead the Georgia Bombers as the team’s shortstop. His tools standout on the field and for the Bombers, having to face International Baseball Academy and High School in their first game in Hoover will be no easy task. The Bombers are deep on the mound with five players on the Follow list or better who may see time on the bump. Made up of all but one 2021-2024 graduates, the Bombers will have plenty of youth on the field but with the right arm on the mound and a solid pitching performance they should see plenty of success at the Showdown-Academies.

Georgia Premier Academy Sox (Statesboro, Ga.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Harold Coll (SS, 2020, 99)
Jquann Smith (OF, 2021, 247)
Jay Knowles (SS, 2022, 427)
Rayondre Mercer (OF/RHP, 2021, 500)
Adonis Perez (RHP, 2020, 500)
Samuel Rosario Rosa (OF, 2020, 500)
Tyler Kennedy (RHP, 2021, Top 1000)

One of the star performers from the PG World Showcase in January will lead the Georgia Premier Academy Sox as shortstop Harold Coll is a top 100 player in the 2020 class with tools all around. Coll threw 97 mph across the infield at the event and showed average raw power along with plus bat speed at the event. Joining Coll in Hoover will be speedy outfielders Rayondre Mercer and Jquann Smith along with the top pitcher on the team in junior righthander Tyler Kennedy. As they have been for a handful of years now at the PG High School Showdown-Academies, the Georgia Premier Academy Sox will be one of the favorites to take home the title.

Gwinnett Barons (Duluth, Ga.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Andrew Shadburn (C/1B/RHP, 2022, NR)
Jimmy Martens (UTIL, 2020, NR)
Ansel Best (RHP, 2022, NR)

The Barons have a tough draw in Pool F having to take on Citadels and Knights Baseball who each bring a loaded roster to Hoover. The Barons do not have a ranked player in the Perfect Game class rankings, but will have a nice mixture of both upperclassmen and underclassmen leading the charge. Taking the hill for the Barons in game one will be Andrew Shadburn who will his work cut out for him against one of the favorites to win the event in Citadels. Utility player Jimmy Martens and right-handed pitcher Ansel Best are slated to pitch in game two of Pool F action.

Hitters Count Select (Saco, Maine)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Barbecue Yee (RHP/C, 2021, Top 1000)
Jake Arel (UT/RHP, 2020, Follow)
Giles Paradie (SS/RHP, 2020, Follow)

Hitters Count Select is traveling into Hoover, Alabama early to get a pair of practice sessions in on both Wednesday and Thursday afternoon. It surely has to be one of the first times the squad from Maine will have taken a practice outdoors in 2020. Barbecue Yee is a player to follow for the group as the righthander has a fastball that will reach the upper-80s and stood out this fall at the PG Southeast Top Prospect Games. Thomas College commit in Jake Arel at shortstop and Giles Paradie behind the plate are a pair of players who are both seniors and will lead the team offensively.

International Baseball Academy & High School (Fajardo, Puerto Rico)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Mario Zabala (OF, 2020, 11)
Steven Ondina (SS, 2020, 65)
Gilberto Torres (OF, 2020, 276)
Edward Gonzalez (SS, 2020, 297)
Elvis Rumaldo (OF, 2020, 400)
Jorge Figueroa (SS, 2020, 489)

On paper there is no other team in the event as loaded as the International Baseball Academy and High School. Boasting the highest ranked position player at the event in outfielder Mario Zabala, this group has two top 100 players along with six top 500 players in the 2020 class. All of these players are position players so the team traveling to Hoover from Puerto Rico will have to have the pitching staff step up in a big way for the likely favorites to take home the championship. A pair of Frontier CC commits in Ian Martinez and Karving Vargas Colón will lead the way for International on the mound. The top 500 players on the team are Zabala, Steven Ondina, Gilberto Torres, Edward Gonzalez, Elvis Rumaldo, and Jorge Figeuroa.

Knights Baseball (Nashville, Tenn.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Nick Correll (RHP, 2022, 240)
Chase Nelson (1B/LHP, 2020, Top 1000)
Anthony Patterson (OF/RHP, 2020, Top 1000)
Justin Battle (C, 2022, High Follow)

Knights Baseball Academy will be in Pool F along with Citadels, Gwinnett Barons and Victory Charter Knights. Headlining the Knights will be class of 2022 righthander Nick Correll who has been up to 88 mph already in his young career. Also among those playing for the Knights will be first baseman/left-handed pitcher Chase Nelson who is committed to play for the Buccaneers of East Tennessee State. Nelson is a Top 1000 ranked player by Perfect Game along with Anthony Patterson, an uncommitted 2020 outfielder from Clarksville, Tennessee. 2021 graduate Abbott Lawrence has received high praise from his coaching staff for the pop in his bat as he and the rest of the Knights will look to make a deep run in the PG High School Showdown-Academies.

Legends 2021 (Orlando, Fla.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Xavier Cintron (MIF/OF, 2021, 500)
Javier Acevedo (RHP, 2020, 500)
Omar Sanchez (LHP, 2020, Top 1000)

One of the five teams from Florida and traveling north to Hoover, Legends 2021 is a team made up almost entirely of underclassmen. Two of the top prospects for Legends 2021, however, are seniors in uncommitted righthander Javier Acevedo and lefthander Omar Sanchez who is committed to Florida Southwestern State College. Xavier Cintron is a switch hitting shortstop and ranked as a 500 player in the class of 2021 player rankings. Legends open up tournament action on Friday morning against Georgia Premier Academy followed by a nightcap against the Brunswick School.

MVP Baseball Academy (Kissimmee, Fla.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Armando Ramirez (OF/3B, 2020, Follow)

Just three seniors make up MVP Baseball Academy in outfielder Armando Ramirez, right-handed pitcher Andres Tupano and catcher Diego Hernandez. Made up of mostly players who attend Reborn Christian Academy in Kissimmee, Florida MVP Baseball Academy will be playing in Pool E at the PG High School Showdown-Academies. Offensively MVP is in good hands with Ramirez leading the charge while the youthful underclassmen will have to step up on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Pitching will be led by a trio of righthanders in Tupano, Felix Areas and Daniel Nava.

Next Level Academy (Wetumpka, Ala.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Aidan Stewart (SS, 2021, 186)
Damien Whitfield (LHP, 2021, 494)
Nick Cosentino (RHP/OF, 2020, 500)
Breon Horne (OF, 2020, 500)
JonPaul Wheat (OF, 2021, 500)
Ethan Adkison (2021, LHP/OF, Top 1000)
Michael Young (C/OF, 2021, High Follow)

The 2018 winners of the PG High School Showdown-Academies in Next Level Academy boast the top 2021 graduate ranked by Perfect Game in Missouri commit Aidan Stewart. The switch hitter is the 186th-ranked player in the class as a switch hitter with solid actions in the infield and a strong arm both on the mound and at shortstop. Made up mostly of underclassmen, Next Level Academy has a strong young group that will surely make a deep run this season. On the mound will be Eastern Kentucky commit Damien Whitfield and Penn State commit Nick Cosentino headlining the staff. Cosnetino has seen his fastball reach the low-90s at PG events while Whitfield has reached 88 mph with his fastball and also varies his timing to the plate well to throw off hitters’ timing.

SBO Florida (Coral Springs, Fla.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Giovanni Febus (UTIL, 2022, 500)
Ebizail Medina (C, 2020, Top 1000)
David Bosque (UTIL, 2022, Top 1000)
Jacknier Martinez (3B, 2020, Top 1000)
Julian Garcia (3B, 2023, High Follow)
Juan Garcia (1B/3B, 2020, High Follow)
Luis Rodriguez (OF/RHP, 2021, High Follow)

Most of SBO Florida’s team is listed in the Perfect Game player rankings in some capacity with sophomore utility player Giovanni Febus ranked as a 500 player and committed to Alabama State. Nearly all of the players ranked are position players as Febus, David Bosque, Julian Garcia, Luis Rodriguez and Jose Toledano are each secondary pitchers who may see time on the bump during the Showdown-Academies. Playing in Pool A, SBO Florida is likely the favorite to come away the winners and earning a trip to bracket play. SBO will play back-to-back on Friday afternoon starting at 1 o’clock against ECB Academy Navy.

Sunshine State Elite (Kissimmee, Fla.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Michael Guerreo (RHP, 2020, 500)
Angel Mejias (RHP, 2020, High Follow)
Raphael Beltre (OF, 2020, Follow)

One of three teams playing in the PG High School Showdown-Academies who hail from Kissimmee, Florida, Sunshine State Elite have a diverse roster made up of players from both Florida and Puerto Rico. Outfielder Raphael Beltre, a commitment to Palm Beach State had a very strong performance in Jupiter at the plate as he hopes to follow that up with another nice PG tournament at the plate. Pitchers Angel Mejias and Michael Guerrero can each run their fastballs into the upper-80s and are sure to give Sunshine State Elite a strong chance in each of their outings on the bump.

Victory Charter Knights (Kissimmee, Fla.)

Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
Gabriel Morales-Melendez (RHP, 2020, High Follow)
Yehoshua Garcia (LHP, 2020, High Follow)
Edrick Felix (SS, 2020, High Follow)

Battling it out in Pool F, the Victory Charter Knights have a tough draw against Citadels and Knights Baseball in their pair of pool play games. Victory Charter will send Yehoshua Garcia, a College of Central Florida commit, to the mound as well as righthander Gabriel Morales-Melendez. Fellow College of Central Florida commit Edrick Felix will play shortstop for Victory Charter while Robert Alonzo with roam the outfield as the two are the team’s top offensive threats. The Knights will play at Hoover High School on Friday morning against Knights Baseball.

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