THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,031 MLB PLAYERS | 14,466 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,031 MLB PLAYERS | 14,466 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Tournaments  | Story | 10/24/2011

World belongs to Marucci Elite

Photo: Perfect Game

JUPITER, Fla. – In the moments after Marucci Elite had won its first Perfect Game WWBA World Championship title and only two weeks to the day after a Marucci Elite squad won the WWBA Underclass World Championship, field manager Chad Raley was asked what the organization hoped to accomplish from here on out.

“We just want to keep winning championships,” Raley said. “We want to keep winning championships and keep building the organization and make Marucci proud of us, and just keep playing the game the right way.”

Marucci Elite, armed with a roster featuring elite prospects representing 10 states from all across this great land, pushed across a run in the bottom of the sixth to break a 2-2 tie, and held on to beat upstart Central Florida PG Royal, 3-2, in the championship game of the WWBA World Championship Monday afternoon at Roger Dean Stadium.

Marucci Elite (7-0-1) became the first program to win both the WWBA World Championship and WWBA Underclass World Championship outright in the same year. Marucci won the Underclass World title two weeks ago in Fort Myers, Fla., the second straight year it had won that championship.

“This has been an unbelievable ride,” Raley said. “I’m really proud of these guys and they have a tremendous amount of character. We’re definitely doing some good things here.”

Four prospects filled roster spots on both Marucci Elite World championship teams: SS Oscar Mercado, INF Blake Hennessey, C/RHP Adrian Chacon and C Andrew Dunlap, who was the MV Player at the Underclass event.

At the conclusion of this tournament, outfielder Ty Moore, a senior at Mater Dei High School in Mission Viejo, Calif., who has committed to UCLA, was named the Most Valuable Player. Right-hander Marcus Brakeman, a senior at Shorecrest Prep in Tierra Verde, Fla., who has committed to Stanford, was named the Most Valuable Pitcher.

Moore was 7-for-19 (.350) at the tournament, with five walks, five runs scored and three RBI. In the championship game, he hit a lead-off triple in the bottom of the third inning and scored on a single from PG All-American Andrew Pullin that tied the score at 2-2.

“It was by far one of the best tournaments I’ve ever been to, and just to see all those golf carts and all of those people watching back there, it’s really a great feeling,” Moore said. “We expected to be here and I know the (underclass) tournament over in Fort Myers, Marucci took that one two years in a row.

“I only knew two or three of the players on (the team) when I first got here, but we meshed pretty well and after the first day we expected to be here.”

Moore was joined on the team by four other Californians, including PG All-American right-hander Cody Poteet from Bonita and shortstop Chris Rivera from Fullerton. Rivera is the nation’s No. 1-ranked overall prospect in the class of 2013.

The other players on Elite’s roster came from Florida, Illinois, Washington, Mississippi, Maryland, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia and Louisiana, where the organization is based (Baton Rouge). Fifteen of the roster spots were filled with players who have committed to Division I schools.

“I had a couple of other teams … that wanted me to come and play for them, but you can’t beat Marucci. They offer the best teams and it showed today,” Moore said. “It’s not always about  putting together the (Perfect Game All-American) or the Team USA roster, it’s putting together a bunch of kids that go out and mesh well together and put some runs on the board.”

Brakeman picked up a save in Marucci’s 5-4 pool-play win over Next Level Baseball Friday afternoon and then came close to no-hitting Canes Baseball in a quarterfinal Sunday that Marucci held on to win 2-1.

“It’s really exciting getting to play against the best competition and it will help prepare me for the next level,” Brakeman said of the Jupiter experience.

“Everyone was really confident,” he continued. “We got started a little slowly but we got things going eventually, and by Sunday we were really rolling. Being able to beat all the eighty-something teams that were out here, I’m really proud of that.”

Marucci got valuable contributions from left-hander Kirby Snead, a Florida commit and a junior at Santa Fe High School in Alachua, Fla., and from shortstop Oscar Mercado, a junior at Gaither High School in Tampa and a Florida State commit, throughout the playoffs. Marucci outscored its three playoff opponents by a combined 10-5, including a 4-3 win over the Reds Midwest Scout Team in its semifinal game Monday morning.

Chase Nyman, a senior at Pascagoula (Miss.) High School and an Ole Miss recruit, doubled in the bottom of the sixth to drive in what proved to be the winning run in the championship game.

“We just had a great group of kids who were able to jell and come together as a team,” Raley said. “It was unbelievable to sit back and watch these guys jell as a group. They’re all great kids, they listen, and they’re all humble kids and they all had something to play for. We had one goal in mind and we achieved that goal.”

Not too many people expected Central Florida PG Royal – a member of the FTB Mizuno organization – to be playing for a championship Monday afternoon, but there it was.

Thanks to fine pitching efforts from right-handers Jose Alexander Jimenes Gracias from Puerto Rico; Minnesota brothers Matthew and Michael Ruppenthal, and left-hander Ian McKinney, and a terrific tournament at the plate from 1B Nick Longhi, PG Royal made a concerted run at the championship. Longhi was 3-for-3 in the championship game and 10-for-19 (.526) at the tournament.

Central Florida PG Royal beat pre-tournament favorites Cardinals Scout Team/FTB Mizuno, 5-3, in the quarterfinals and the Texas Sun Devils, 8-2, in the semifinals, and finished with a 7-1 record.


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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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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Coastal Soph. Fall Invite Scout Notes

Todd Coffey
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Fall Frenzy Scout Notes

Jason Phillips
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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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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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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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Northeast Qualifier Scout Notes

John McAdams
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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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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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