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Tournaments  | Story | 7/10/2012

'Fear the Fin'

Photo: Perfect Game

FORT MYERS, Fla. - As Jimmy Buffett is so fond of singing, there were "fins to the left, fins to the right" and just about any other direction you turned at Terry Park Tuesday morning.

The fin sightings were courtesy of the Columbus Sharks, a 15u team based in Columbus, Ohio, that through their first four pool-play games were looking to make a mockery of the field at the Perfect Game 15u BCS Finals.

The Sharks, with a roster stocked with a nice assemblage of 2014s and 2015s from Ohio - and one, Roman Millem, from Prospect, Ky. - bounced their first four opponents at the 15u BCS Finals by a combined 52-6. They inflicted the ultimate humiliation on the Lehigh A's Tuesday morning, winning 21-0 in three innings.

They did have to go seven innings in their 7-1 win over the So Cal National Travel Team to open the Finals on Sunday, then needed just five innings apiece in a 13-2 win over the South Florida Breakers and an 11-3 triumph over the Atlanta Blue Jays.

"Our team has handled themselves pretty professionally," head coach Bill Kegler said after the demolition of the Lehigh A's. "They come out, they get their work in, they play and they go back in. If we only play one game in a day, we practice just to stay fine-tuned, and for the most part everybody's done everything that I've asked out of them."

It must be difficult for 15-year-olds to maintain their concentration when they're controlling a game like they were Tuesday morning - Columbus scored 10 runs in the first inning and 11 in the third to salt away the win. The Sharks managed to accumulate 35 plate appearances in those three innings.

Nick Conner, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound 2015 at Dublin (Ohio) Scioto High School, was phenomenal against the out-gunned A's. He was 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBI at the plate and also pitched two perfect innings, striking out four of the six batters he faced with a fastball that touched 84 mph. Darryl Wilson (2015, Canton, Ohio) hit a pair of triples and drove in three runs.

But even while the onslaught was ongoing, the Sharks kept their concentration intact.

"Today, we were able to get a lot of guys in, get a lot of work in," Kegler said. "It's easy to lose focus when you start a game out like we did this one, but they all did their jobs and I was very proud of them."

Later Tuesday afternoon, the Sharks topped Team Mizuno of Puerto Rico 15u, 7-1, to run their record to 5-0. If they can beat Home Plate Chili Dogs-Maldonado in their final pool-play game on Wednesday, they will earn an automatic berth into the 15u BCS Finals 16-team playoffs, which begin Thursday.

Through the first five games, Conner batted 8-for-12 (.667) with a double, home run and 10 RBI; Wilson was 9-for-15 (.600) with a double, four triples, seven RBI and nine runs scored; and Hayden Ballog (2014, Columbus) was 4-for-10 (.400) with a double, six RBI and five runs. As a team, the Sharks hit .405 (47-for-116) with 16 extra-base hits.

They traveled just about as far as anyone to get down here this week, although there is one team here from California and other northern states like Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

The travel doesn't seem to bother the Sharks.

"It's very worthwhile. We do this every year, though; we travel all over the country," Kegler said. "The thing is, if you do the little things and play defense, you win. That's why we always travel all over the place to find the best competition."

This is the Sharks first Perfect Game event this year. They had originally planned to play at last month's PG WWBA 2015 grads or 15u National Championship in Marietta, Ga., but just couldn't fit it into their travel plans.

Most of the youngsters on the Sharks roster here this week have been playing together for two or three years, and their camaraderie and familiarity with one another is evident watching them play.

Another group that doesn't seem to mind the travel and also seems to enjoy each other's company is the Columbus players' parents, siblings and other assorted followers. At least 25 Sharks fans - some wearing T-shirts that read "Fear the Fin" - were seated in the bleachers along the third base line at Terry Park's Clemente Field Tuesday, enthusiastically cheering on the young Sharks.

"I've said before that you're only as good as your parents," Kegler said. "Our parents have made a big commitment, and not just money-wise, but also getting the kids to these places on time - they know if they don't get here on time they're not going to start, so we don't have any issues there. They're good, good parents; I wouldn't trade them for anything."

As far as qualifying for the playoffs here this week, Kegler likes the way the 15u BCS Finals are formatted. Each of the 60 teams in attendance opens with an initial three games of pool-play, after which every team is reseeded and placed in second pool with three different teams for three more games.

The 15 champions of the second round of pool-play earn automatic berths into the playoffs and the final spot will be filled by an at-large entrant based on the results of all six of a team's pool-play games. It gives every team the opportunity to play at least six games, and lets the coaches play and pitch a lot of young prospects over the course of four days.

"I think this is really the way the format should be,"  Kegler said. "In some (non-PG) tournaments, they'll just put teams together, and then all of sudden you've got three of the best five or six teams in one pool. This is very beneficial the way it's set up. You still want to take care of business in your pool because you still want to get a lot of kids in the games and get a lot of work in."

The Columbus Sharks organization fields teams from 8u all the way up to 18u and has been around for about 20 years; Kegler has been involved for the past 15. There are five 15u teams in the organization with the group here being the premier team in the pecking order.

And because this is the program's premier 15u team, this group of 15u Columbus Sharks won't be backing down from anyone as the tournament moves into its final three days.

"We're not afraid," Kegler said with a chuckle. "These guys know what it's going to take and they've played against the best and we'll hopefully be able to take care of business down here. I think you only get better by playing better (competition) and they know that. There are only so many teams in Ohio that we can really play that push us to any kind of limit, so this is very beneficial to these guys."


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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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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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...
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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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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