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Tournaments  | Story | 7/12/2019

Canes loaded once again

Photo: Cole Young (Perfect Game)

MARIETTA, Ga. – The college coaches present to watch Canes National 15u on Friday afternoon represented a who’s who of college baseball. Vanderbilt. Mississippi State. Clemson. Louisville. North Carolina. Duke. The list goes on. And those who came to The Walker School got quite a show, as the Canes overwhelmed US Elite Mid Atlantic, 13-0, to open pool play at the WWBA 15u National Championship.

One week ago Canes National hoisted the trophy at the 17u National Championship. That roster was stacked with future professional talent. This 15u group is no different, as they have assembled a team that features seven players ranked in the top 40 of Perfect Game’s high school class of 2022, namely, Nathan Fink (No. 11), Cole Young (No. 13), Tristan Smith (18), James Triantos (No. 23), Mason Neville (No. 27), Lamar King (No. 38), and Travis Sanders (No.39).

“We try to bring in good young men,” Canes coach John Batchelor said. “We’ve gotten to the point where we can be selective with our players. We have a really fine group here. They’re quality, selfless young men. They’re here to have fun, get better, and be around players that are as good if not better than them. And of course, they have the opportunity to win a national championship.”

It’s a lineup full of stars, but Cole Young seemed to shine the brightest on Friday. The Duke commit went 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs. On defense, the shortstop had scouts and fans buzzing about a play he made on a groundball up the middle. Young ranged to his glove side, picked the short hop, spun, and fired a perfect throw to first base to nail the runner.

Young’s wide skill set is a big reason why he was selected to the 2018 14u PG Select Baseball Festival.

“I’ll never forget it,” he said of the event. “It was incredible to be around all those great players. The gear was pretty awesome, too.”

While many of his teammates are currently experiencing the stresses of college recruitment, Young already has his decision locked up. While the Wexford, Pa., native just finished his freshman year of high school, he has already committed to Duke University. The Blue Devil program has ascended to new heights the last two seasons, coming a game away from Omaha each year. When Young gets to Durham in the fall of 2022, he hopes to help bring them to the Promised Land.

“I love all the coaches there,” he said. “They were a top 20 team this year, making it to the brink of the College World Series. The academics mean a lot to me, too.”

Young is very polished on the field, and handles himself with confidence and professionalism off it. He says nothing would be possible without his family.

“My dad has had a major influence on my career,” he said. “He doesn’t really push me because I’m already driven, but he is always willing to go down to the field with me. My brother has had a huge impact as well. He’s taught me how to be a good person, on and off the field.”

Like Young, Lamar King also participated in the 2018 14u PG Select Festival. King is ranked as the top catcher and top overall player in the state of Maryland. The physically built 6-foot-3, 195-pound backstop is enjoying his time surrounded by top talent.

“It was probably the best time of my life. I got to meet all the best kids in the country, and all the gear we got was great,” King said of the Festival. “This week is cool, too.  I love being with the boys. We just came from the 16u National Championship. The chemistry is excellent right now. It’s a lot of fun.”

King has not made his college decision yet. His Perfect Game profile lists his interests as Clemson, LSU, and UNC. It’s a hectic time, but it’s something that King is thoroughly enjoying as he sifts through his choices.

“It’s a lot. It’s hectic,” he said. “There are a lot of phone calls, but it’s fun. That’s what you want.”

The Canes have had over 1200 alums go on to play college baseball, and over 250 have been drafted. For 15u coach John Batchelor, this is not his first rodeo. And in an age now when kids want to commit somewhere and post their decision on Twitter and Instagram, Batchelor advises his boys to take it slow.

“They’re growing up in an environment that is pretty aggressive, but we tell them to be patient with the recruiting process,” Batchelor said. “Mainly, we tell them to ignore the outside stuff and play between the lines. Enjoy the game they have and take advantage of the opportunities provided for them.”

Moving forward, the Canes appear to be in excellent shape. The four inning, mercy rule decision on Friday means that the pitching staff has been preserved. Starter Evan Siary threw just 42 pitches, and Mason Neville got the final three outs on only 11 pitches.

The arms are lined up, and the bats are hot. As we enter the third and final week of WWBA National Championship season, perhaps we will see the Canes crowned champions once again.

“We have such a talented team,” Young said. “Especially with this pitching staff. We also have a crazy lineup. One through nine, we don’t really have any weaknesses.”

But again, the Canes organization has been here before. And Batchelor is approaching the upcoming week with the cautious optimism of a veteran skipper.

“Our goal is to win each game,” he said. “We take it one game at a time. We want to win the pool, but to do that we have to take it day by day.”




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

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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...
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...
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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