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Tournaments  | Story | 9/2/2019

East Labor Day Scout Notes

Jerry Miller

The 2019 East Labor Day classic was severely affected by the very real threat of historically devastating Hurricane Dorian as it churned off Florida’s Atlantic coast. A vast majority of the registered teams for this year’s tournament opted to stay at home instead of venturing to Southwest Florida for the always competitive event. The clubs that did choose to participate found the weather just fine as Dorian built strength and thankfully stayed away from the coastline over the weekend.

Representing the championship club, the Southwest Monarchs, were a gifted group of players. Their grit and attention to detail from first pitch to last enabled the Tampa area club to capture the 2019 East Labor Day crown.

The North Port, Fla.-based Monarchs were led by their talented backstop, John Schroeder (2021, Lakewood Ranch, Fla.). The 6-foot-1, 170-pound, switch-hitting catcher was either the kick-starter for the high-powered Monarch offense or the hitter who was somehow at the dish when his club needed a key knock to break open a game. His ability garnered such respect that he was intentionally walked to openan inning in a game in which his club led by a run. The junior at Lakewood Ranch High School is also a mature receiver who calls a veteran’s game. His quick feet and plus arm help keep opponent’s running games in check. His guidance of the Monarch pitching staff helped lead his club to the championship game and to a 1-0 shutout win in the highly entertaining contest.

Although he was only able to play in Sunday’s games, 6-foot-5, 190-pound shortstop Gehrig Wright (2021, North Port, Fla.) made his presence felt. The smooth fielding middle infielder with a plus arm made some crucial defensive plays that kept both the 5-Star Orlando and SWFL Canes clubs at arm’s length. Despite his length, Wright can make all the routine plays in the middle infield and he does so with a calm and confident ability that belies his relative youth. The Booker High School junior shows quickness and agility and a plus arm that is consistently accurate. The big righthanded swinger also had a couple of key at-bats and big knocks for his club. He has gap-to-gap pop and flashed some developing raw power.

Strong and sturdy, Clino Penge (2021, Sarasota, Fla.) was the key bat in the middle of the Monarch’s offense all weekend. The stout, 5-foot-11, 195-pound righthanded hitter posted a 1.514 OPS over five games while driving in six runs and scoring five. The Riverview High School junior has a great feel for the barrel and shows consistent ability to work counts and drive the ball to the gaps.

Fred D'Ariano (2021, Bradenton, Fla.) posted some big numbers on the weekend while garnering the silver platter emblematic of the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. The Southeast High School junior was simply outstanding on the hill in the championship game. His mastery of his mechanics and understanding of his ability is a skill usually reserved for a pitcher much his senior. The 5-foot-11, 160-pound righthander – who pitches with a veteran’s calm presence – is never going to be confused with a high velocity hurler. His fastball is thrown in the low-70s, but it shows consistent sink and arm-side run and he adds and subtracts velo with a plan that sees him reading batters’ swings and stances. He mixes in a quality 12-to-6 breaking curveball and a straight change that shows tumble at the dish. His ability to work with pace and pound the strike zone leads to a lot of anxious at-bats by the opponents. In his 1-0, complete game shutout in the tournament’s final contest, he never let one hitter get a quality barrel to a pitch.

If turning in the most impressive mound outing of the tourney wasn’t enough, the athletic D’Ariano also was a sparkplug for the Monarchs offense. The righthanded hitter is a contact guy who has a great understanding of the strike zone, a disciplined approach and a short, quick, direct swing path that sees him consistently getting his barrel to the ball. He is a plus runner who can pressure defenses with his speed and baserunning ability.

Fort Myers High School senior Jake Griffith (2020, Ft. Myers, Fla.) was dynamic in leading the powerful SWFL Canes offense. The lefthanded swinging leadoff hitter was a constant force in almost willing his club to the tournament finals. He has a great understanding of the strike zone and a truly quick bat. He also flashed some big gap power. He is a plus runner who will steal a base and press the action. Lastly, Griffith is also a gifted defender with a plus throwing arm that is highly accurate.

The East Upperclass Labor Day Classic Most Valuable Pitcher was Jace Jones (2021, Ft. Myers, Fla.). The long and lean, 6-foot-2, 180-pound junior at Cypress Lakes High School was dominant during his two appearances on the hill. He was the tough luck loser in the 1-0 championship game that saw him go the distance, striking out seven while flashing an active fastball that touched 90 mph and sat consistently between 86-88. The FGCU commit also shows a plus 12-to-6 breaking, tight-spinning curveball and a quality changeup thrown out of the same tunnel as his swing-and-miss fastball. On the weekend, Jones threw 10 innings and struck out 16 while walking only one.

Erik Arraraz (2021, Chino, Calif.) was sound for the Bulldogs Baseball Club throughout the weekend. The 5-foot-9, 150-pound dynamo was solid on the hill and at the plate for the Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.-based team. Arraraz posted six solid innings on the mound as he mixed and matched pitches, allowing only one earned run during his outing. His fastball was thrown to the edges and he complemented his well-commanded heater with a commendable curveball that showed late break at the dish. The Ruben S. Ayala junior made his presence felt at the dish, too. His ability to make solid contact with a short and quick path allowed Arraraz to hit .400 on the weekend and post a .971 OPS.

The Cape Coral, Fla.-based Blue Bombers club had one of the tournament’s top offensive performers on the weekend in Gavin Hause (2022, Cape Coral, Fla.). The North Fort Myers High School sophomore turned in an impressive performance as evidenced by his 1.972 OPS. The 5-foot-8, 135-pound righthanded swinger was seemingly always on base. His ability to work counts was noteworthy. He has a flatter bat path and a great ability to always get his barrel to a plus contact position. He uses the entire field to spray line drives and then presses the action with an aggressive baserunning style that showcases his plus speed.

5-Star Orlando’s Josean Sanchez (2021, Kissimmee, Fla.) was arguably the top offensive performer on the weekend. The 5-foot-6, 165-pound bundle of energy only made three outs in 13 plate appearances and was the catalyst to a very impressive 5-Star Orlando lineup. The Osceola High School junior is a line drive machine who has advanced bat quickness and a great ability to drive the ball to both gaps with authority. His almost unheard of 2.103 OPS saw him collect six hits. Four of those hits went for extra bases (two doubles and two triples) as Sanchez used advanced speed and a controlled aggressiveness to push the action throughout the weekend. For good measure Sanchez also stole three bases and scored six runs. Sanchez is also a gifted defender and showcased a smooth glove and plus arm while ably manning third base for his club.
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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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