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Tournaments  | Story | 7/8/2020

Georgia Bombers Focusing on Mental Aspect

Brett Greenberg
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – After not performing how they would have liked in the 15U WWBA National Championship, the Georgia Bombers 15U Coleman team has regrouped and has been playing great team ball of late. They are currently 2-0 in pool play with a final game tomorrow morning in the 15U Perfect Game Southeast World Series. This team might not have a list of D-1 commitments, but they are a team filled with players who are willing to learn about the game and how to play the right way, something the coaching staff preaches. 

The Bombers are led by Brent Coleman and Aaron Alvarez. Alvarez is the founder of the Georgia Bombers organization and also the owner of Grand Slams Sports Center in Alpharetta, Georgia. Coach Alvarez has been around the game a long time and has seen it all from 10U up to 18U. He says coaching 15U is very rewarding and is where he sees players begin to mature into young men who are dedicated to the game of baseball.  



“15U is a great year to watch guys separate themselves and have a defining year,” said Coach Alvarez. “It is easy to coach when I have players who are willing to learn and want to get better to prepare themselves for the next level.”

There can be some difficulties when coaching 15U as well. From a physical standpoint, 15-year-old kids are all different heights and weights, which causes some teams to miss out on players. Coach Alvarez says, “it’s tough because some kids might not hit their growth spurt, so we miss out on them and then 6 months later, they have grown a foot and gained muscle.” As far as the coaching side, he says the philosophy does not change. The teaching aspect never changes because players will eventually grow, and it is what they have previously learned that will help them be more successful once their bodies fill out. 

“It ultimately does not matter what your height and weight is,” said Coach Alvarez. “If you know the game and can play it the right way, you will have a spot on the field somewhere.”

This team was affected greatly by the Coronavirus pandemic and quarantine which limited their practice time immensely. This Bombers squad was only able to practice one time on a field before competing in their first tournament. Coach Alvarez and the rest of the coaches in the Georgia Bombers organization adapted quickly to Georgia governor, Brian Kemp’s stay-at-home laws and were able to come up with a strength and conditioning program for their players as well as hold zoom meetings every Saturday to discuss the game. Pitchers were also able to work on their mechanics during the weekdays at Grand Slam Sports Center. 

“It was extremely tough for us,” said Coach Alvarez. “We knew that as soon as we got the green light to play, we would be on the field the next day.”

Coach Alvarez also mentioned that there was some difficulty keeping pitchers’ arms in shape as well as getting the hitters quality at-bats. The players were not able to compete in a high school season or see live pitching for a couple months. 

The Bombers are now in their fifth tournament of the year and their bats and arms are where they need to be. The coaches want to see each player improving upon an aspect of their game every day and also want to see the players improving upon situational hitting and actually being able to play the game. When asked what he meant by, “actually being able to play the game,” Coach Alvarez said most of the kids can throw the ball around the field but only few actually understand the game in its entirety. He says one of his goals is to get his players to understand each situation that presents itself in any particular game. 

Learning about the game of baseball is very similar to learning about life and how to go about your business any given day. Coach Alvarez acknowledged that a lot of the lessons he is instilling in his players are applicable to the real world and it is not just about baseball. 

“It’s crazy how much this game relates to life in all aspects,” said Coach Alvarez. “Just like you have to compete for a spot on the field, you will have to compete for a job.”

Coach Alvarez also said he is very big on being aware of what his players are putting on social media. He says social media can either help you or hurt you and he is trying to teach his players to be smart about it.  

“Even just liking a tweet with the wrong context can hurt you and could turn a coach away from recruiting you,” said Coach Alvarez.

This team has two players who have been playing together since they were young. Luke McNeillie and Evan O’Neill have been playing together since their 7U Alpharetta Eagles days at Wills Park. They are both 2023 grads and two of the players named by Coach Alvarez when asked to name a few kids to look out for in the coming years. McNeillie currently attends Milton High School while O’Neill attends Blessed Trinity Catholic High. When asked to give their favorite memory on or off the field, both talked about their walk-off victory in Panama City back in 10U. 

“The walk off was crazy because we were not supposed to beat that team.” – Evan O’Neill

“We celebrated at the pool that night and our coaches bought us fake champagne, which was a memorable moment.” – Luke McNeillie 

Both also offered some insight about how they feel about being on the same team for so long. McNeillie said it is cool to be with the same guy for so long because they have built lifelong friendships and memories, while O’Neill enjoys looking back to where the two started to where they are now. 

McNeillie and O’Neill were sure to thank Grand Slam Sports Center for their success because they have been going there for hitting and pitching lessons since they were seven years old. O’Neill has been getting hitting lessons from Coach Alvarez, while McNeillie thanked his pitching coach, Johnny Magliozzi, for his jump in velocity. McNeillie says he is focusing on the mental aspect of pitching and being able to make adjustments. He also says he has been working on using his legs to create more velocity as well as making sure that he gets the right spin on his breaking ball. As for O’Neill, he says the mental side is huge point of emphasis for him as well as perfecting his cutter, something he recently learned that has been working effectively so far. 

Both offered some advice to those younger players: 
McNeillie: “Have fun and be coachable, it is simple.”
O’Neill: “You play to have fun, but also try to get better every day.”

When asked to name a few guys who are going to break out, Coach Alvarez also named Alex Urias, Schley Gordy, Jackson Alford, and Kyle Henley.

Alex Urias: “He’s just a pure hitter who can really swing the bat and someone who really understands the game, who we can put anywhere in the field. 
Schley Gordy: “He’s leading the team in hits and shows good patience at the plate and is always seeming to barrel up the ball perfectly.”
Jackson Alford/Kyle Henley: “These are two who are fast and athletic and have begun to understand the game. With their athleticism, they will be D-1 players.” 

Coach Alvarez looks to lead his team to another victory in their final pool play game tomorrow morning before heading to bracket play for a chance to win a championship. The Georgia Bombers seem to be putting it all together in the final month of the summer season. 
 
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Tournaments | Story | 9/27/2023

Midwest Invitational Scout Notes
Tyler Kotila
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Creighton Tuzzio (2024, Clarinda, Iowa) took the ball in the semi-final game and was able to get on the bump and carve for his team. Tuzzio is a taller 6-foot-6, 210-pound frame with plenty to like in the operation. The right-handed pitcher has a slower and more controlled operation as he works through the delivery. He lifts the leg up around the belt and then works through a three-quarters release with good whip through it. The fastball worked up to 86 mph on the fastball and held in the low- to mid-80s. He creates some angle on it with the taller & projectable frame. It runs arm-side and can be a problem for right-handed hitters. He also showed a low-70s curveball with a bigger 11/5 tilt to it and good depth to miss some bats. The Iowa Western commit threw 5.0 innings, allowing just 1 run, with 4 walks and 6 strikeouts to his credit.   There’s no surprise here, but...
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Tournaments | Story | 9/26/2023

WWBA World Championship Pool Preview

Perfect Game Staff
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Pool A Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location Boston Red Sox Scout Connor Lane 500 2024 Tague Davis 59 2024 Boston, MA Cangelosi Sparks Tyler Bell  122 2024 Brady Chambers 500 2024 Lockport, IL Dirtbags National 2024 Dalton Wentz 74 2024 Riley Leatherman 251 2024 Sedalia, NC Florida Burn Colton Schwarz 214 2025 Presley Woodson 500 2025 Sarasota, FL Projected Pool Winner: Dirtbags National 2024 With one of the deepest and most physical lineups in the nation, the Dirtbags National 2024 club have been putting up runs in bunches. No hitter is hotter than Austin Irby, as the ECU commit is While sluggers Dalton Wentz, Will Craddock and Palmer Hornick won’t be in attendance, Lee Sowers, Will Brooks, Jon Young Jr. and spark plug Carter Richardson lead an offense that averages over 7 runs per game. They can cover ground on...
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Tournaments | Story | 9/26/2023

Coastal Soph. Fall Invite Scout Notes

Todd Coffey
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Michael Flores (2026, NC) looking great through 4 innings pitched with 11 k’s. Great command and completely missing barrels. #2023WWBACoastalSophmoreFallInvatational pic.twitter.com/Oqd3WD0E05 — PG Coastal Scouting (@PG_Coastal) September 24, 2023 Michael Flores (2026, Mooresville, NC) put on an electric performance to watch for the SBA Futures 2026 in their matchup versus the Carolina Reds. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound, RHP did his job for his team today to keep them in the game. Flores throws with a high leg lift and creates some good motions towards the plate with his whippy action. Flores has a great feel for the zone and pounded strikes at a 66% rate. Flores generated swing and miss after swing and miss and it was clear he was in control out there on the mound. He sat in the 70-mph range to 79-mph range with his fastball with the ability to pinpoint it wherever he pleased....
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Tournaments | Story | 9/26/2023

Fall Frenzy Scout Notes

Jason Phillips
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James Sherry (’26, Aiken, S.C.)- the 6-foot-1, 155-pound right-handed pitcher tossed a complete game for Xtreme Xposure Baseball-Bennett in an 8-1 win over 2 Way Athletics 16U. A primary outfielder, Sherry finished with 15 strikeouts and just one walk while controlling the zone at a 65% strike rate. Appearing in only his second PG tournament, Sherry turned in another great pitching performance after being selected to the All-Tournament Team at the 2023 16U PG Southeast Labor Day Classic. Aidan Petrocco (‘24 GA)- singles here into LF to load the bases for @643DPAthletics Primary MIF 2-for-4 w/ run scored on the day. #FallFrenzy @PG_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/Ly7zEuRwyg — Perfect Game Georgia (@PG_Georgia) September 24, 2023 Aidan Petrocco (’24, Johns Creek, Ga.)- the 5-foot-9, 160-pound right-handed hitter for 643 DP Cougars 18U led the 18U Southeast Fall Frenzy...
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Tournaments | Story | 9/27/2023

Sophomore WWBA Scout Notes: Day 3-5

Kyler Peterson
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A high speed look at this 2B from Keon Johnson... #WWBAWorlds @PG_Georgia https://t.co/Ejl8GirIgk pic.twitter.com/ate7ro35cp — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) September 24, 2023 Keon Johnson (2026, Macon, Ga.) started off the morning loud, going down to get a pitch down and smoking a double that split the opposite field gap at a 92 mph exit velocity. The shortstop has one of the best hit tools in the class and has tremendous feel for the barrel. The swing is quiet and simple, staying loose through the zone. The ball jumps and the parts really work. At short, Johnson looked silky with good actions, range, and plenty of arm strength across. The game comes easy for the Georgia native, and still just 15, the all-around game is very well-refined for the age.  Jaxson Wood (2026, Hoover, Ala.) finished batting .500 over the tournament, including three extra-base hits. The primary...
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Tournaments | Story | 9/25/2023

Deep South Fall Invitational Scout Notes

Alex Dorso
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Patrick Kovacs (2026 Knoxville TN) was dominant in his outing in game two of pool play for Exposure National. The southpaw tossed three scoreless innings allowing two hits while striking out eight. He showed plus command of the fastball dotting it to both sides of the plate while working off the corners at times. Patrick sat 75-78 topping at 79 multiple times throughout. He mixed in a tight breaking ball with two plane movement that he had no problem mixing in any count keeping the opposing hitters off balanced in the box. Coming from a mid 3/4s slot there was some deception within the operation making it tough to pick the fastball up out of the hand. The frame has plenty of athleticism within with plenty of more room for additional strength as he continues to mature. Kovacs should be a fun follow as he continues to progress through high school. Ryan Riojas (‘26 TN) drives this...
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Tournaments | Story | 9/24/2023

Sophomore WWBA Scout Notes: Day 3

Troy Sutherland
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Sophomore WWBA Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Extended look at Gunnar Garrison... 7 IP, 1 H, OER, 13 K, 1 BB (70% K) #WWBAWorlds @PG_FourCorners https://t.co/V89oASpD8r pic.twitter.com/tsP1mWCoNz — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) September 21, 2023 Colorado right-hander Gunnar Garrison (2026, Eaton, Colo.) was magnificent in his start for Slammers Anderson 2026’s. The big and physical 6-foot-4, 210-pound arm threw a complete game, seven inning, one-hit shutout, striking out 13 and walking one. The fastball had downhill life to it, sitting in the 85-88 range for the entirety of the game. Garrison held the velocity and reached back for his fastest bullet of the game, at 89, in the seventh inning. Finishing the outing with 70% strikes, he filled up the zone and went right at hitters. He also induced swing-and-miss on a curveball, featuring late...
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Tournaments | Story | 9/22/2023

Northeast Qualifier Scout Notes

John McAdams
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Jack Harley (2024, Mendham, NJ) put together a dominant performance at the plate in the WWBA NEQ, leading his team to a coveted Jupiter bid while also earning MVP-honors. The 6-foot-1 left-handed hitter showcased his advanced bat-to-ball skills on several occasions. He batted .643 with two doubles, a home run and six stolen bases. Harley utilizes a repeatable, synced-up stroke with clean separation into launch. He has a great feel for the barrel and creates good strength at impact to all parts of the diamond. The future Hokie recorded a hit in all six of his games and proved to be a reliable bat at the top-of-the-order for Clubhouse 2024 EvoShield. Harley’s build offers a good balance of strength and athleticism, making him a well-rounded prospect with intriguing upside moving forward.  .#VandyBoys commit Aiden O’Connell (‘24, NH) is back on the bump in the #NEQ...
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Tournaments | Story | 9/23/2023

Sophomore WWBA Scout Notes: Days 1-2

Vincent Cervino
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Nathan Caldwell (2026, Columbia, S.C.) looked the part in the batter’s box as the Team Elite three-hole hitter had one of the hardest hit balls of the day. There’s really impressive bat speed and the ability to create violence and rotational acceleration through contact. He missiled a single during the game and there looks like there’s going to be pretty significant impact potential long term. He’s a strong kid with good indicators and offensive tools to like. Drew Borkowski (2026, Huntley, Ill.) showed plenty to like in the arm as he got the start in game one on the day for GRB. At 6-foot-1, 170-pounds he’s got a lanky frame with long limbs and plenty of room for physical projection. It’s a quick arm with solid arm speed throughout and he opened up sitting 85-87 mph with the fastball. The fastball showed good sinking life and he used it to get a lot...
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College | Story | 9/22/2023

Cape Cod Top 2025 Prospect List

Vincent Cervino
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Earlier this week we debuted our Cape Cod Top 100 Prospect List and mixed amongst the 100 names were some 2025 graduates who will be eligible for the upcoming 2024 MLB Draft. Below, each of the 50 names are eligible in 2025 and those listed with an "^" are continuing their careers at a new school this fall.  Name Pos. Team School Hometown State Adonys Guzman^ C Bourne Arizona Valley Cottage NY Aidan Jimenez RHP Chatham Oregon State Elk Grove CA Anthony Martinez 1B YD UC Irvine Fairfield CA Ben Jacobs LHP Bourne UCLA Huntington Beach CA Bradley Hodges LHP Hyannis Virginia Fleming Island FL Brady Neal C YD LSU Tallahassee FL Brody Donay^ C/1B Hyannis Florida Lakeland FL Caden Bodine C Bourne Coastal Carolina Haddon Heights NJ Cam Leiter^ RHP Orleans Florida State Island Heights FL Cannon Peebles^ C Cotuit Tennessee Mechanicsville VA Drew Faurot^ SS Orleans Florida State Tallahassee FL...
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