THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,416 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,416 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Tournaments  | Story | 7/9/2020

643 DP Cougars Playing Team Ball

Photo: Andruw Jones (Perfect Game)
MARIETTA, Ga. – The 643 DP Cougars Sterling/Mang is a team that has had continued success this summer in each Perfect Game tournament. The 16U Cougars are filled with players who will be playing baseball at the collegiate level whether that be D-I, D-II, D-III, JUCO or NAIA. This team is coached by Ryan Sterling, who has been with the 16U Cougars for 10 years now. Coach Sterling has seen his players go on to play in college and several have been drafted. 

As previously mentioned, this team is in the 16U division, but compete in tournaments that are 17U and 18U. Competing in tournaments with older players is something Coach Sterling has been doing for years he says. He says playing in older age tournaments allows for his players to see the best of the best in competition. The Cougars previously competed in the 18U WWBA National Championship where they placed third. 



“The 18U and 17U tournaments allow us to face better arms, said Coach Sterling. “As coaches, we are trying to get our players ready for the next level and to take the next step.” 

643 was one of the teams that was affected greatly by the Coronavirus pandemic in the past couple months. The players were not able to compete in their high school seasons, so the first couple of weeks of the summer season were rough. Coach Sterling says he has a lot of respect for high school coaches especially this year because in a normal year, his players show up ready to compete at a high level.  

“The high school coaches are something, man,” said Coach Sterling. “It is obvious how much the high school coaches mean to the players.”

Coach Sterling also acknowledged that his players struggled mightily in the first couple weeks in all aspects of the game. It took some time before finding their footing in the box. From a pitching standpoint, their arms were not as conditioned as they would have liked. With no high school season, the slow start to the summer is no surprise. 

“We were decent defensively,” said Coach Sterling. “We struggled with having productive at-bats in the beginning, but we are where we want to be as a team now in the final month of the season.”

Coach Sterling made it clear that 643 is a family. Most of these players have been playing together for years while building friendships and making memories. He attributes his team’s continued success to the family atmosphere and comradery that the players and their families have built through the years and prides himself on making the dugout seem like a high school atmosphere, which keeps the players engaged. 

“The 643 organization is one that prides itself on being a whole,” said Coach Sterling. “Our players are so close, making it easier for them to play for each other, which helps us win ball games.”

When asked what he would like to see his team improve upon in the final month of the season, Coach Sterling identified three things including having productive at-bats, knowing where to go with the baseball, and being a team player. He wants his players to understand that an RBI groundout is best for the team and is not the end of the world if a player goes 0-4. 

“Knowing what you are going to do with the baseball before it is hit to you is very important through our eyes as coaches,” said Coach Sterling. 

In the dugout and outside the foul lines, Coach Sterling is a regular guy who is having fun on the baseball field. If you watch a 643 game, he is often the only voice you will hear and takes great pride in developing relationships with each of his players outside of being their coach. On the field, Coach Sterling is strictly business because he knows what it takes to win.

“At this age, it is important for our players to have a coach who cares about them, said Coach Sterling. “My players and I have a regular relationship where we like to have fun and mess around, but they know where the line is with me.” 

“I still talk with my players from ten years ago,” said Coach Sterling. “Having that relationship outside of baseball is huge because they’ll always come back and stay in touch.” 

Coach Sterling also says that he has the same, one rule that each of his players follow. He went on to say that this rule is said at the first meeting in the fall and is expected to be followed as long as the player is with 643. 

“Do things right is the rule,” said Coach Sterling. “It sounds simple, but it is great because it relates to baseball and how to go about life, something I pride myself on as well.”

The team’s lone college commitment is son of former Atlanta Braves all-star, Andruw Jones. His son, also named Andruw Jones, is a class of 2022 outfielder who is committed to Vanderbilt. When asked to name some other players who could be picking up some offers soon, Coach Sterling mentioned these players, all of which are 2022 grads. 
1. Will Tippett: unranked 2B 
2. Reginald Austin: #5 SS in GA
3. Kai Cunningham: #24 SS in GA
4. Dawson Campbell: #31 OF in GA

643 is in their final month of the summer season and have been on a roll of late. They have gone to the semifinals in their last two Perfect Game tournaments and seem to be primed to get over the hump this week. They went undefeated in pool play managing to score 32 runs while shutting out their opponents. They won both of their first two bracket games posting two mercy rule victories.  
The 643 DP Cougars Sterling/Mang are hopeful of winning two more games tomorrow to crown them champions of the 16U Perfect Game World Series. The semifinal game will be at 10:15 a.m. on field two at East Cobb followed by the championship game.

Tomorrow’s final three games look to be filled with top prospects and great overall play, as we have been accustomed to witness during all Perfect Game championship days. 
 

Tournaments | Story | 4/21/2026

Southeast Super NIT #2 Scout Notes

Jason Phillips
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Chase Jelks (‘30 GA)- with a long double to deep CF. Huge day from the primary SS, 5-for-6 w/ 4 doubles & 6 RBI. #SESuperNIT @TheDreamBall @PG_Georgia https://t.co/biFSzXCrUt pic.twitter.com/HCQMduedb5 — Perfect Game Youth (@PGYouthBB) April 20, 2026 Chase Jelks (’30, Atlanta, Ga.)- the left-handed hitting Jelks was all over the barrel on Sunday in a pair of games for The Dream 14U Black. He finished the day with five hits in six at-bats which included four doubles and six runs batted in. His two doubles and four runs batted in played a big part in the Gold Playoffs Round 1 victory over the talented BPA squad out of California. He backed up that performance with three more hits in a quarterfinal’s loss to the East Cobb Astros 14U Orange to finish the tournament with a .600 batting average and 1.636 on-base plus slugging percentage. A primary utility infielder,...
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  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME NAMES KASH SHAIKH CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER AND HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL   Sanford, Florida (Thursday, April 23, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that Kash Shaikh has been named the company’s new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Head of International. In this role, Shaikh will serve on Perfect Game’s executive leadership team, overseeing global marketing, brand strategy, creative, partnerships and sponsorships, while leading the company’s international P&L and expansion. Shaikh brings more than two decades of experience building brands, businesses and communities across sports, media and consumer...
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Perfect Game Softball Battle for the Belt April 18-19, 2026 Des Moines, Iowa It was a cold and very windy weekend, but the girls still came out and put in their best efforts. If you wanted the place to see some of the state’s top talent, this was the tournament to be at. The 18u division was quite the slugfest! The Ankeny Centennial 18U -Kennedy team took down a tough Iowa Alliance Select-Benge team in the championship. Both teams had double digit homeruns on the weekend. In the 16u division the Iowa Aries CE Fire Black took control of the game from the start and never let up on the gas, taking down a solid Alliance Select- Harper team. 18U Division Kori Lincicum (2026 Ankeny, IA) of the Centennial Jaguars- Kennedy and Drake Bulldog softball commit was the weekends MVP Pitcher. Lincicum defeated a tough Alliance team in the championship game finishing with that game with 11...
High School | General | 4/23/2026

Northeast High School Notebook

Jheremy Brown
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In a season that has already had many exciting matchups across various events, we as a staff would like to highlight or “Shout-Out” notable performers along with an Uncommitted Spotlight and Team Spotlight.  Uncommitted Spotlight: Mason Rosenberg, 1B, 2027, Bishop Eustace Prep  Uncommitted Mason Rosenberg (2027, NJ) has been an absolute force within the Bishop Eustace lineup, as the left-handed hitting slugger is hitting .481 through eleven games including six homers. The strength has vastly improved, allowing for Rosenberg to impact the baseball with authority to all fields. Couple that with improved speed and athleticism, this uncommitted 2027 can be a welcomed addition to a class looking for offense.  Team Spotlight: Northern Burlington (9-0) Northern Burlington is once again off to a hot start, as the Greyhounds sit at 9-0 thus far and have continued to...
Juco | Rankings | 4/22/2026

JUCO Top 25: April 22

Blaine Peterson
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Another week down and Johnson County continues their torrid run to remain at number 1. They're 46-2 on the season with multiple hitters over 25 bombs which is astonishing for the level as the Cavs have announced themselves as title favorites. Just a couple of weeks left heading down the stretch and our field remains mostly the same with the two additions of midwest powerhouse Iowa Western and the Warriors of East Central who will have a tough test Wednesday in Poplarville against fellow Mississippi adversary Pearl River in a mid-week double header.   Rk. School Record 1 Johnson County (KS) 46-2 2 Gaston (NC) 47-3 3 Walters State (TN) 42-10 4 McLennan (TX) 38-8 5 Southern Nevada (NV) 33-9 6 Chipola (FL) 39-9 7 Blinn (TX) 33-12 8 Florida Southwestern (FL) 32-13 9 Florence-Darlington (SC) 42-10 10 Pearl River (MS) 39-9 11 Cloud County (KS) 40-4 12 Cochise (AZ) 39-11 13 Midland (TX)...
College | Story | 4/23/2026

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John Coppolella
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Each week I huddle with Vinnie Cervino and Craig Cozart  to discuss Top-25 rankings and Players of the Week. In Coppy’s Corner, I dive deeper into these Players of the Week, providing analysis from 20+ years working in baseball front offices at the highest level.     Player of the Week: Tague Davis – University of Louisville  Between 2016-2022, the University of Louisville produced 14 players taken in the Top 5 Rounds of the MLB Draft, seven of whom were taken in the 1st Round. The Cardinals haven’t produced a Top 5 Rounds pick since 2022, but that will change soon with Davis. Still only 20 years old and not draft-eligible until 2027, Davis continued his assault on college baseball this weekend with a 7-for-12 performance that included 5 HR. On the 2026 season, Davis is hitting .389 AVG / .489 OBP / .911 SLG / 1.392 OPS. That’s a 400+...
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Nick Herfordt
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High School | Rankings | 4/21/2026

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Tyler Russo
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Another few weeks have wrapped up this high school season as we’re flying through the spring and most southern states are starting playoffs right around the corner. With the end of the regular season, we have another National Top 50 update to bring to you, along with this will be the start of the weekly editions of our National Top 50. We have a change at the top of the rankings as Venice (FL) takes over the top spot after just dominating their competition in the state of Florida this year. Orange Lutheran (CA) drops one spot to No. 2 after dropping a series but still holds firm at No. 2 in the country. Barbe (LA) has continued to dominate and holds onto the No. 3 spot while Tomball (TX) skyrockets in this update to No. 4 in the country, currently holding an incredible 30-0-1 record. The rest of the top-10 is names we’ve become accustomed to see with Aledo (TX) at No. 5, IMG...
PG Select Baseball Festival | General | 4/21/2026

Select Festival Dates/Locations Announced

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    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923  www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    PERFECT GAME ANNOUNCES DATES AND VENUES FOR   2026 SLATE OF SELECT FESTIVALS    Sanford, Florida (Tuesday, April 21, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced dates and venues for its 2026 Select Festivals, a premiere series of invitation-only events showcasing many of the nation’s top young prospects at the 11U, 12U, 13U and 14U levels.    The Select Festivals provide elite players with a unique opportunity to compete alongside and against the best talent in their age group while experiencing a...
College | Story | 4/21/2026

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Vincent Cervino
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April 21st Perfect Game/Player of the Week:  Tague Davis, IF, Louisville  The Louisville Cardinals (22-18) haven’t been able to get themselves in much of a groove this spring, their longest winning streak is 5-games, and they are (4-6) in their last 10-games.  The issue has not been the offense as the Cardinals are averaging over 8-runs per game and Tague Davis is leading the club in virtually every offensive category.  His calling card is his 70-grade power and that was on display last weekend in their series against Cal.  In the three-game series, Davis went 7 for 12, scoring 4 runs, launching 5 home runs and collected 7 RBIs.  The 6-4/220 lefthanded hitter from West Chester, PA has a pure stroke, is one of the premier power hitters in the nation and has significantly improved his plate discipline from a year ago.  After his big weekend, he is...
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