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Tournaments  | Story | 7/10/2019

Ostingers refuse to lose

Photo: Zach Ehrhard (Perfect Game)
ACWORTH, Ga. – Every great team has an identity. The 2004 Red Sox team was the “Idiots,” and they embraced that mantra on their way to winning the World Series and ending the Curse of the Bambino. The 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball team was the “Dream Team,” and they steamrolled their way to a gold medal.

At the WWBA 16u National Championship, Ostingers 2021 Reed has their own ethos that have fueled them to a perfect 7-0 record and a spot in bracket play.

“In our program we teach winning, but we also teach hating to lose,” coach Jimmy Osting said. “Everybody wants to win. I think that’s a no brainer. But who hates to lose? We could have let that game slip away, but our guys refused to lose and made the plays to make it happen. That’s our motto.”

The Ostingers entered their game against Canes Showcase 16u with a run differential of 51-3. They have been as dominant as it gets. And they looked like they’d cruise on Wednesday against the Canes, as they jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the bottom of the first. But things got interesting by the sixth, as the Canes clawed their way back to make the score 7-6.

The Canes had all the momentum. The Ostingers were on their heels until one player stood up and refused to lose. That player was Zach Ehrhard.

Coming on to pitch in the sixth, Ehrhard struck out six of the seven hitters he faced. Filling the zone with 70 percent strikes, Ehrhard poured in sinking fastballs from his low arm slot. He also whipped out a devastating slider that froze every righthanded hitter that stepped in the box. On Wednesday, he was the stopper that preserved the 8-6 victory and a spot in the playoff rounds on Thursday.

“I just try to focus on the mitt and pound it,” said Ehrhard. “We take pride in doing all the fundamentals right.”

The Ostingers play fundamental baseball. They will bunt. They will run. Their outfielders hit the cut off man, and each player dons a pair of stirrups. Around draft time you will hear a lot of scouts describe a prospect by saying, “That kid is a baseball player.” That’s just what Ostingers coach and founder Jimmy Osting is trying to create.

“Every guy wears the same style pants. Every guys wears stirrups,” Osting said. “We pride ourselves on doing things correctly. Hopefully, that opens the eyes of college coaches and they know that when they get a kid from Ostingers they are getting a baseball player.”

Osting pitched at Clemson before being drafted in the fourth round of the 1995 MLB Draft. He made his big league debut in 2001 with the San Diego Padres, and spent time with the Phillies, Rockies and Brewers. Always a student of the game, he now passes on his knowledge to the aspiring ballplayers in central Florida.

“The program is 10 years old, and we’ve been coming to Perfect Game events since the beginning,” Osting said. “We’re a smaller program, but we keep it small on purpose. We try to minimize it to just one 17u team, a couple 16u teams and a 15u team. Every kid that is on my team is within a 20 mile radius.”

“We’re a local team that plays on a national scale,” he continued. “Last week, our 17s finished in the top four of the 17u WWBA. This 16u team is moving on, and next week our 15u team coming in is a very talented group as well. So maybe we’re not the big name, but I know we can play.”

They don’t have the sheer size of a Team Elite or East Cobb roster, but they have certainly had a lot of success. Osting says 95 percent of his players have gone on to play college baseball, including Jonah Scolaro and Conor Grady (Florida State), Tyler Ward (Air Force), and Austin Taylor (West Point). Osting has also built quite a pipeline to the Division II powerhouse, University of Tampa.

“We had Zach Ehrhard’s brother, Drew, a couple years ago,” Osting said. “He just won a national championship at Tampa, and now he’s here with us coaching. We had guys at Florida State playing in the College World Series. I know that when colleges come to watch us, they are watching a group of kids that know how to play baseball.”

Sean Hermann (South Florida) is the only committed player on the Ostingers 16u team. That is sure to change sooner rather than later, as the likes of Ehrhard, Alex Mussenden, and Chance Trinklein have made the sun soaked fields of Georgia their playground. As a team, they are hitting .321 and have a collective 1.79 ERA.

A smaller program. Fewer college commits. It’s all used as ammunition for this group. And that should be scary because this is a talented bunch that is eager to punch you in the mouth every time they step between those white lines.

“That definitely drives us, especially in that Louisiana Knights game,” Ehrhard said. “We came in so ready to get after it, and that’s exactly what we did.”

Osting is confident as bracket play begins on Thursday. His team has most likely earned the four seed, good enough for a first round bye. So they will sit back and watch to see whom they will battle at LakePoint. Whoever they meet will encounter a program that knows their identity.

“Our guys know they can play,” Osting said. “The team that is in the other dugout is just another opponent that they want to go beat.”




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...
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...
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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