WWBA World Championship Event Page
All 24 pools, A through X, for the 2020 WWBA World Championship will be released and previewed over the span of two days, beginning on Tuesday October 29. Be sure to check out the Perfect Game homepage as well as the main event page for links to the full tournament schedule, standings, playoff bracket, daily scout recaps and feature stories leading up to and carrying through this year's WWBA World Championship to be held in Fort Myers, Florida at JetBlue Park, October 8-12.
Click on the team name link to view each team's schedule and roster.
Pool A
Projected Pool Winner: East Coast Sox 2021 Founders Club
A look at the East Coast Sox club this October will provide a quick glimpse of things to come in the SEC as 14 of their commits are slated to head that way after high school, a number only dwarfed by their total number of rostered commitments of 25. Built heavily around a core of hard hitting seniors who played a majority of the summer together in PG All-American Braden Montgomery, Aaron Downs and Sean Smith, the Sox also have an athletic IF in Jordan McCants who will help pace the offense. Keep eyes on fellow PG All-American Tyree Reed as he joins the roster and has some of the loudest tools in the class. Depth on the mound shouldn’t be an issue as lefthanders Maddux Bruns and William "Pico" Kohn have the stuff to win at the highest levels while the addition of Aaron Calhoun gives them a power armed righthanded option as well.
Dark Horse: Tri-State Arsenal Scout Team
The Tri-State Arsenal Scout Team head to Fort Myers having played not only a majority of this summer together, but through the ranks coming up, giving them a core nucleus of talent heading into the WWBA World Championship. Cather Will Rogers, an Arizona State commit, will provide a powerful bat in the middle of the order while doing a majority of the pitch calling, though he’s also up to 89 mph on the mound. Troy McGirt could very well join Rogers as key run producers while Gavin Abrams and Jack Crighton will provide stability to the left side on defense with both Jesse Robinson and Tyler Sorrentino bringing speed to the lineup. Lefthanded pitching can always baffle an opposing lineup and Tri-State comes to Fort Myers with four on their roster, led by Korbin Griffin who has been up to 90 mph already. Fellow lefthander Jacob Gomberg may be on the younger side for this tournament but he already shows high level pitchability that could prove crucial in a setting like this while righthander Owen Flynn has what it takes to thwart a high powered offense.
What to Watch For: AJ Smith-Shawver
Listed as a primary third baseman, AJ Smith-Shawver burst onto the scene this summer with a fastball that peaked at 95 mph on a relatively low-mileaged arm, meaning his best days may still be ahead of him. Smith-Shawver, who is currently uncommitted, boasts an ultra-projectable 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame and brings plenty of athleticism and arm speed to the mound. While he still has some refining to do, all the ingredients are there for him to continue to ascension up boards, especially with a loud performance on the biggest stage of amateur baseball.
-Jheremy Brown
Pool B
Projected Pool Winner: Louisiana Knights 2021
This Louisiana Knights club is built to go deep in the gauntlet-like environment that is the WWBA World Championship. The first thing that immediately jumps is all but two of their 29 rostered players are committed to play at the next level and the sheer size of their roster means they have the depth to play deep into a tournament where multi-win days are a necessity. Having a duo of Peter Heubeck and Travis Smith is an immediate boost to a pitching staff as their combination of stuff and feel can compete against any lineup while Chase Allsup and Samuel Dutton have both been successful in their PG careers. Both Josh Pearson and Brennon McNair are spark plugs in the offense who can quickly change the score of a game, both with their bats and their speed, and they’ll be counted on though the lineup has several bats capable of stepping up.
Dark Horse: Mets Scout Team/Georgia Bombers
The Mets Scout Team/Georgia Bombers club will rely on some underclass talent to get through pool play but they are the type of prospects who have the skill to make an impact despite their age. Riley Stanford has long been on the national scene and has already been up to 97 mph on the mound, though his right-handed stick will be relied on even more so than his arm after the summer he put together. Fellow Georgia Tech commit Parker Brosius has game changing speed while Austin Fawley will likely do a majority of the pitch calling. Stanford’s arm on the mound has been noted, but Tucker Linder and Logan Bogue are two arms who can start a game and pick up strikeouts by the handful thanks to their arsenals which includes fastballs working into the low-90s. Louisiana Tech commit Kenya Huggins Jr gives the coaching staff another power armed option, as does 6-foot-4 Bryce Cunningham out of Alabama.
What to Watch For: Game Changing Two-Way Prospects
PG All American Drew Gray and Select Festival alum Riley Stanford are in the same pool and coincidentally enough, are two of the top two-way prospects in the tournament. Gray, an ultra-smooth left-handed hitting outfield, also leaves scouts dreaming with his abilities on the mound, working up to 92 mph with his high spin heater while mixing in a quality, powerful slider. Speaking of power, Stanford may only be a junior but he’s already been upwards of 97 mph on the mound, showcasing legitimate arm strength that jumps on hitters, a late breaking curveball and a firm changeup. He’s just as capable of impacting a game with his right-handed swing with big power off the barrel to all fields and a strong feel for finding the barrel in the box.
-Jheremy Brown
Pool C
Projected Pool Winner: Cangelosi Sparks 2021 Black
Looking to stay hot off a Qualifier sweep at the 2020 Kernels Foundation Championship, the Cangelosi Sparks bring a roster packed with some of the best talent the state of Illinois has to offer. Their win at the Kernels Foundation Championship marked their fourth consecutive title at the event as they continued their dominance at the Midwest qualifier. They will look to bring that success to the WWBA World Championship this year with a roster that features 14 D-1 commits in the 2021 and 2022 classes. They will be led by a pitching staff that has averaged just one run allowed per game this fall and is headlined by 2021 Louisville commit Kyle Walter and 2022 Vanderbilt commit Noah Schultz. At the plate they look for uncommitted 2022 outfielder Jack Lausch to add to his already impressive 2020 campaign where he is hitting .423 with three home runs in Perfect Game events.
Dark Horse: 5 Star National-Gold
Dark Horse is not a term typically used for a roster as loaded as the one 5 Star National-Gold will feature in Fort Myers. But when you pair that with the fact that every player on their roster is eligible to play in this years Underclass World Championships it makes the youngest squad in the event a bit of an underdog heading in to such a loaded event. They will need big performances out of a roster that features 12 top 100 players in the class of 2022 and 2023. This is not a squad that is unfamiliar with going on a run though; a good group of this roster finished the summer 40-0-1 including Championships at the WWBA’s, PG World Series, and BCS National Championships. Look for 2023 Georgia commit James Hays and 2022 Alabama commit Austin Williamson to run their fastball into the low 90s, while offensively 2022 Vanderbilt commit Sal Stewart and 2023 Louisville commit Cam Collier will look to prove what they can do against some of the best pitching in the country.
What to Watch For: Youth versus Experience
In a pool that features premier talent at the top of the 2022 and 2023 class, will it be the young prospects like James Hays, Austin Williamson, and Sal Stewart for Five Star or Calvert Clark for the On Deck O’s that can propel their teams through to bracket play? Or will the experience gained from last year’s WWBA World Championships by the likes of Reed Gannon, Ty Batusich, Ryan Moerman, and Kyle Walter prevail for the Cangelosi Sparks, as they look to put a first round exit from last year behind them with a deep run in this year’s event.
-Colt Olinger
Pool D
Projected Pool Winner: Team Indiana
A roster that consistently features some of the top talent from parts of the Ohio Valley region, Team Indiana comes to Florida primed once again to make a run to the playoffs. The lineup is headlined by talented infielders Colson Montgomery and Evan Appelwick as well as a strong catch and throw backstop in Boston Smith, making for three good position guys we had the chance to see at PG National. Pair that with a good handful of 90 mph arms and a couple elite underclass Vanderbilt commits Maxwell Clark and Andrew Dutkanych IV and you have a recipe for success in a pool that has a chance to be difficult to win.
Dark Horse: Dirtbags Scout Team
The Dirtbags are no stranger to success in some of the biggest events held on the circuit and this group has a good chance to make some serious noise once game time comes. These guys are no stranger to the fields they’ll be playing on as this roster contains many of the same players who just won this year’s BCS National Championship in Fort Myers back in July. Paced by one of the biggest risers of the year in Kahlil Watson, it’ll be a battle for opposing pitchers to get through this hard-nosed lineup. A number of underclassmen help round out key pieces to the order with outfielder Connor Fuhrman and Austin Hawke, but also add to an already pretty deep pitching staff with guys that are more than comfortable eating up innings in big chunks.
What to Watch For: East Coast Bragging Rights
With a pool made up of teams from different parts of the east coast, it will be interesting to watch how similar styles of play go head to head with one another. While Team Indiana and the Dirtbags represent the Ohio Valley and Coastal regions respectively, the Home Plate Chili Dogs and East Coast Sandhogs come in representing what year-to-year can be very strong regions with the state of Georgia and the Northeast. With the latter two teams both having a good ace in their back pocket in Jake Willis and Tommy Beam, keep an eye on when they come out and if they can be enough to steal a win against one of the two clear top dogs in the pool.
-Tyler Russo
Pool E
Projected Pool Winner: Scorpions Marucci Franchise Team
Scorpions Marucci Franchise Team has one of the deepest rosters in the entire event. They are full to the brim with big D-I commits, tallying 21 commits, 5 of those being SEC commits. They will be led offensively by Jake Fox, Corey Robinson, & Deric Fabian. All three are also committed to Florida. Aidan Meola, who is committed to Oklahoma State, is also a key part of the line-up offensively. Scorpions also carry a pitching- heavy roster, which is needed to make any sort of run at a championship. They sport 19 pitchers in the rotation, which is headlined by the likes of Alabama commit Hagan Banks, North Carolina commit Alden Segui and Florida commit Ty Evans.
Dark Horse: 643 DP Cougars 18u
Don’t ever brush a DP squad under the rug as you know that they will come ready to play. It’s uncanny in the way they go about their business as you will see them play solid defense, throw strikes, and generate opportunities on offense. They are led by one of the most elite young prospects in all of baseball, Vanderbilt commit Andruw Jones. Fellow Vandy commit, RJ Austin is also a big name to follow as he is a legit two-way type guy. His outings on the mound are going to be heavily scouted and can’t miss type stuff. They will also be headlined with Will Tippett, James McCoy, & John Armstrong. You can expect them to not back down from any challenge and look for them to fight until the end.
What to Watch For: Anyone’s Pool
We all know how loaded Scorpions Marucci Founders Club lineup is but for those who know about this event, anything can happen. Team Lousiana is a scrappy type ball club that brings an intensity that is hard to match. They will have Grant Fontenot & Andrew Woods on the mound at some point and with those two throwing, a win is right around the corner. They will also be led offensively by LSU commit Connor Simon. We do not know much about the Ontario Blue Jays, as they hail from Canada, but that makes them that much more dangerous. Maxx Davidson & Nelson Mercado are two arms to keep an eye out for. Offensively, look for them to work counts and get on base as Mateo Zeppieri leads the way. Like noted before, 643 DP will be fundamental in all aspects of the game and have just as much a chance as anyone else in the pool. At this point, all you can do is sit back and watch the action unfold as it is anyone’s race to win.
-Drew Wesolowski
Pool F
Projected Pool Winner: North East Baseball National
NEB may be a Northeast-based program but they’ve had plenty of success on the national circuit and their North East Baseball National name for the WWBA World Championship is fitting given the 15 different states represented on their roster. Reaching into all corners of the country, this NEB club has some serious depth on both sides of the ball with PG All-American Casey Saucke II leading the charge on offense. He and Chase Valentine will provide quality defense on the left side of the diamond though underclassmen Demitri Diamant and Anthony Silva could also make an impact while Northeast products Matthew Garbowski and Sam McNulty are veterans of the NEB way. Micah Ottenbreit is a high upside arm out of Michigan who scouts will be certain to lock in on and will likely be given the ball in a pivotal pool play game though boasting a roster with 18 primary arms gives the coaching staff plenty of options.
Dark Horse: 5 Star National-Black
5 Star National-Black has the type of talent to make noise in their pool with a bevy of talented bats who can change the outcome of a game in a variety of ways. Jackson Baumeister, a primary catcher with advanced skills behind the plate, is also an intriguing upside type arm with a fast and loose arm stroke, running his fastball into the low-90s. Similar to Baumeister, Cole Mathis is a two-way prospect who has impressed this summer in both facets, especially with his righthanded power, a trait that shows up in both Devin Obee and Brogan Napier’s abilities in the box. Jackson Mayo, Clayton Hodges and Nathan Smith are all PG veterans who will bolster the lineup. Kentucky commit Colby Frieda has already run his fastball up to 93 mph and he’ll lead a pitching staff that features eight additional primary pitchers and a bevy of positional players who will eat up valuable innings as well.
What to Watch For: Pool Depth
While North East Baseball may enter the tournament as the pool favorite, all four teams have what it takes to make noise and have the talent to make any given game a pivotal, must-win to get out of pool play. All four clubs are loaded with committed talent and high-end athleticism, complete with game changing bats and arms on the mound that can silence any lineup whether it’s Power Baseball’s infield combo of Justin Colon and Braden Holcomb, Canes Midwest’s Tucker Biven and Austin Bode, or any of the talent talked about above for North East and 5 Star. This pool will be a fascinating one to follow once play gets underway.
-Jheremy Brown
Pool G
Projected Pool Winner: 5 Star Academy Select
5 Star Academy Select stands out in a big way as the roster is littered with D-I commits. Many of which are SEC & Big 12 guys. 5 Star has notoriously been strong at past PG events and they project to do just the same this year. They look for the likes of Hagen Smith to carry them deep as the left-handed pitcher has the arsenal to carve any line-up to shreds. The pitching rotation also consists of Lucas Davenport, Luke Robertson, and Robert Fortenberry which are all established arms. They also have a deep line-up offensively that is led by Creed Willems and Gavin Kash. Look for them to find a way to win close ball games as they have proved they could in past events.
Dark Horse: BPA 2021
Don’t ever sleep on BPA as they also seem to do the little things right, pitch and play solid defense. BPA has long been established as one of the top West Coast organizations and with them adding some talent from the Deep South, they could upset any team at any time. BPA is led by stand-out Oliver Santos and Brady Disbro on the bump. Also look for the mighty talented two-way prospect in Gavin Turley to carry a big part of the load. You can expect them to make some noise offensively as they will be aggressive on the paths and take any opportunity given to them.
What to Watch For: Regional Prominence
All four squads hail from different regions in the country and it will be interesting to see who takes the pool, further proving that specific regions dominance. Baseball U hails from the coastal region with a loaded roster of coastal commits, including 3 Virginia commits in Jay Woolfork, Harrison Didawick, and Ethan Anderson. BPA represents the West Coast & Deep South regions with Washington & BYU commits like Colby Wallace & Ozzie Pratt. 5 Star covers the Lone Star State with a blanket as they have 17 D-I commits in the state. Palm Beach Select looks to keep bragging rights in South Florida as Miami commit Christian Hamilton leads the way. Whichever way the cards may fall, whoever wins will have bragging rights as the strongest region of the year.
-Drew Wesolowski
Pool H
Projected Pool Winner: Dallas Tigers 2021 Hernandez
The Dallas Tigers made a deep run at the 17u WWBA, falling in the quarterfinals and showing they have one of the best rosters in the country. What always helps a team’s case is when they have the No. 1 player in the country on their roster and the Tigers will be able to slot in that very prospect, Jordan Lawlar, into their lineup everyday. Joining Lawlar in what will be a potent offense is fellow All-American Luke Heefner as well as other highly ranked prospects like Tyler Collins, Elijha Hammill, and sophomores Trenton Shaw and Jayson Jones. The lineup looks like it will be relentless and there’s also quality pitching led by 6-foot-6 Ryan Johnson whose start will be a must watch.
Dark Horse: Canes Prospects
It was only two years ago that the Canes underclass team captured the WWBA World Championship and the 2022 Canes are one of the organization’s most accomplished teams. They won the 16u WWBA and finished the summer as the third best 2022 team in the country and the roster certainly boasts that. Cole Young is one of the best hitters in the class and he’ll be joined by fellow top 50 prospects Xavier Isaac, Nathan Fink, Roman Anthony, Paxton Kling, and James Triantos. The pitching staff has serious firepower with hard-throwers Tristan Smith, Brock Porter, and Tyler Gough all up to 95 mph or better. The pure talent is hard to ignore and the Canes game against the Dallas Tigers will be a must watch.
What to Watch For: Jordan Lawlar’s Draft Stock
Jordan Lawlar had about as good a summer as a draft prospect could have on the circuit as he ascended and cemented himself as the top prep prospect for next July’s draft. There’s a myriad of things he does well and almost nothing that he doesn’t as Lawlar is one of the more well-rounded prep shortstops you’ll find and likely the best since second overall pick Bobby Witt Junior. The hittability is notable as Lawlar scorched .442 with two home runs this summer and he’s as sure-handed as they come defensively. With a good week Lawlar will all but lock in his status as the best prep in the country and perhaps secure a top ten spot in the draft.
-Vinnie Cervino
Pool I
Projected Pool Winner: Canes American/Dodgers Scout Team
There is a ton of depth on the roster of Canes American/Dodgers Scout Team, headlined by a big right-hander in Daniel Brooks and Lonnie White who is a name to follow as well as the versatile defender with great size and is poised for a big week to help lead the club. Another name is Elijah Lambros who had a big week in Georgia during 17u WWBA. If Lambros can spark the Canes American/Dodgers Scout Team like he did with Canes American in July, then this team will be strongly favored in Pool I. The pitching depth is what should be the separator for them, however. With Brooks as the headliner MLB Draft prospect arm, there are several future Division I arms to accompany him on the staff. With ten other pitchers committed to the Division I ranks, Canes American/Dodgers Scout Team have the versatility to throw numerous guys and make a deep run at the WWBA World Championship.
Dark Horse: FTB Tucci 2021
Made up of all players from the state of Florida, FTB Tucci has a really good group of both 2021 graduates and 2022 players for their trip to the southwest region of their represented state. Their top two ranked players on their roster are juniors in shortstop Titan Kamaka and right-handers Davion Hickson and William Ross. In fact, each of their guys ranked inside the top 500 of the Perfect Game national rankings are in the 2022 class, but don’t let that keep you from thinking that they cannot potentially make a big run at Pool I. 13 Division I commitments are on the roster including Ross who is committed to the Florida Gators and Kamaka as well as Hickson who are each committed to the Seminoles of Florida State. Pitching and underclassmen are the recipe for FTB Tucci 2021 and with efficient innings on the mound, there is plenty of potential for the Florida-based club to surprise some in this pool.
What to Watch For: Underclassmen
In this pool the top position player for three of the four teams in the pool are from the class of 2022. Two of the three pitchers ranked in the top 100 of the national rankings are from the class of 2022 as well. Underclassmen have a massive opportunity to really shine in this pool. Texas Tech commit Travis Sanders, Florida State commit Titan Kamaka, and Virginia commit Evan Blanco all are the top ranked prospects on their respective teams and all hail from the class of 2022. The 2021 class will certainly be the headliner at the prestigious tournament that is the WWBA World Championship with numerous scouts from every MLB organization, but the 2022s in Pool I may have the abilities to really spark each of their teams to victories.
-Greg Gerard
Pool J
Projected Pool Winner: eXposure/Knights Baseball
eXposure/Knights Baseball is stacked with talent throughout the roster showing a lot of offensive upside from a lineup-perspective. They’ll be led by the left-handed basher Cooper Kinney who hit all summer as well as be flanked by several other standouts in Daniel Corona, Christopher Katz, Gavin Mez, and a myriad of other physical hitters. They have a couple talented arms in Kyle Magrans, Jake Poindexter, Chase Horst, and others but the pitching will have to deliver some big innings in what is sure to be a competitive pool.
Dark Horse: Royals Scout Team
The Royals Scout Team has really established themselves as a talented organization out of the Midwest and they’ll be led by PG All-American Carter Jensen. The LSU commit has big left-handed power and was a standout at this event last year as an underclassman. Billy Amick, Teo Banks, and Kendall Diggs will round out what should be a solid lineup as Chase Jans has big speed and in addition Hunter Teplanszky should provide a boost to both the lineup and middle infield defense. Jack Findlay will be the staff ace as he’s one of the best command pitchers in the country while arms like Ty Uber, Jack Tinberg, and Matthew Buchanan will also see time.
What to Watch For: Pacific Northwest Talent
Due to the pandemic, traveling has been hard for some teams so we didn’t get a chance to lock in on all the talent that’s in the Pacific Northwest this year and there’s certainly a lot of it. Mason Guerra looks to be one of the top draft prospects from the region as he and Antonio Guerrero are coming off big Area Code Games performances. Caden Vire is a very young, left-handed pitcher, and up to around 90 mph from a very difficult slot while performers like Drake Anderson, Bennett Thompson, and Wilson Weber all will make impacts in the lineup.
-Vinnie Cervino
Pool K
Projected Pool Winner: Florida Burn 2021 National
The Burn have been strong all summer as they competed well at the 17u WWBA in Georgia, captured the championship of the inaugural Ultimate Baseball Championship, and most recently went 7-0 en route to victory in the Florida Qualifier. The defending WWBA World champions have one of the best hitters in the country in the middle of the lineup in PG All-American and North Carolina State commit Tommy White while exciting players like Michael Robertson, Tayden Hall, and BJ Graham should all provide balance in the lineup. The depth on the mound is notable as they present a strong combination of pitching depth to go with upside offense.
Dark Horse: Dulin’s Dodgers 2021 Prime
There’s a good amount of underclass talent on the Dulin’s roster as they’ll be led by two top 125 players in the 2022 class in shortstop Cade McGarrh and lefthander Griffin Herring. Expect Herring to get the ball when they play Florida Burn but outside of Herring there’s a good blend of arms like David Jeon, sophomore Barrett Kent, Brady Garcia, and others. A number of ranked underclassmen fill the roster in addition to the two mentioned earlier like Aidan Smith, Kyler Proctor, and Barrett Kent. Youth is always a bit of a double-edged sword in an event like this but the pure talent is as good as they come in the pool.
What to Watch For: Florida Burn Three-Peat
The only other organization to capture the WWBA World Championship crown three years in a row are the Canes as the Florida Burn look to cement themselves in amateur baseball history. With two consecutive championships there won’t be a Cinderella story for the Burn, but instead there will be targets on their backs as teams look to down the two-time champion. The 2020 team draws similarities to Burn teams of the past given their pitching depth and star power in the lineup and they’ll be looking to take their place atop the amateur baseball world once again in Fort Myers.
-Vinnie Cervino
Pool L
Projected Pool Winner: Dirtbags Skrap Pak
The Dirtbags made a run to the finals of the WWBA World Championships last year and this roster may be deeper. The program takes great pride in developing players and it will be interesting to see the gains some of these talented players have made since the summer. The fun thing to watch will be the left-handers on both sides of the ball. The lineup is littered with talented left-handed bats that can change a game in a hurry. The stable of left-handed pitchers is no different as they could start a high-end southpaw in every game if they choose. The Dirtbags have become accustomed to finding ways to win at the WWBA World Championships.
Dark Horse: Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team
The Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team is not your typical “Scout Team”. Yes, the roster is put together with a group of players that do not typically play together. But Matt O’ Brien, who is the chief architect of the roster, brings a different culture to the dugout that is geared toward winning games. After a deep run at the WWBA last fall, they bring back an equally loaded roster that even has some Canadian and Island flavor. They have a couple hold-over arms from last year’s team that understand the type of pressure-packed situations they will have to endure. That type of experience can bring a lot of confidence to the rest of the dugout.
What to Watch For: Youth!
Every roster in this pool has some exciting young prospects that will undoubtedly make an impact on who wins the pool. This event is such a grueling experience. A handful of underclassman always prove they belong in the discussion in the next wave of draft prospects. This pool features some of the top young talent and they will be called upon to come through in huge spots during the event.
-Jered Goodwin
Pool M
Projected Pool Winner: Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team
Not only the projected winner of Pool M, but the Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team are also a strong candidate to potentially win the entire event. With a very impressive eight players ranked inside the top 100 of the PG rankings across all four high school classes, the Brewers have an immense amount of talent from top to bottom. Headlined by shortstop Maxwell Muncy who is a name to follow for the 2021 MLB Draft, the Brewers have both the offense and pitching rotation to go all the way in Fort Myers. Among the other top 100 players, Brandon Olivera is the highest ranked prospect hailing from the class of 2023 as a right-handed pitcher who already runs his fastball into the low-90s. Others include high school teammate of Muncy and Oklahoma State commit Roc Riggio and left-hander Anthony Solometo in the top 100 of the 2021 class. Solometo is a name to really follow and will surely have a slew of scouts looking on during his outing for the Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team as he has reportedly just been up to 96 mph with an ultra-deceptive delivery.
Dark Horse: Team Georgia 2021 National
Team Georgia 2021 National includes a couple of names in this year’s draft class with Michael Bello and Shane Panzini. Several of the top prospects from the state of New Jersey in 2021 and 2022 are well-represented on the roster as well. Headlined by Panzini and Bello in that category as well, Team Georgia also includes the likes of 2022 graduates Rocko Brzezniak and Zach Crotchfelt from the Garden State. There is a very strong mixture of talent from all over the country for Team Georgia and they always seem to find a way to compete at a very high level in whichever tournament they attend so look out for this club to give the Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team a run for their money in Pool M.
What To Watch For: Maxwell Muncy
One of the huge prep names out west for the 2021 MLB Draft is Arkansas commit Maxwell Muncy from the Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team and Thousand Oaks High School. Muncy is one of the top athletes in the class of 2021 and he comes with an extremely improved skillset over the course of the last year plus. He has top of the class type bat speed and is listed in the top 100 of the PG 2021 MLB Draft: Top 300 from Brian Sakowski and Vinnie Cervino. His quick-twitch athleticism shows up both defensively and at the plate with his simple right-handed swing and sure hands in the dirt. He is the No. 58 overall player in the 2021 class and could very well see his ranking as well as his draft stock continue to climb with a strong showing in southwest Florida.
-Greg Gerard
Pool N
Projected Pool Winner: Reds Midwest Scout Team
The Reds Midwest Scout Team brings a roster from all over the country with kids from 14 different states and Puerto Rico. This is a team with only two players returning from last year’s squad that made it to the first round of bracket play before falling to the eventual runner-up Dirtbags. This year they will look for strong outings on the mound as they bring a pitching staff of 13 D-1 committed pitchers. They will be led by Top 300 Draft Prospects Ben Kudrna and Vincent Trapani, both righties who will work into the low-90s with their fastball and feature a quality secondary offering to create swings and misses. Offensively 2022 FIU commit JeanPierre Ortiz will look to lead a balanced line-up as they will look to put up the run support needed to get the Reds Midwest Scout Team through to bracket play.
Dark Horse: Stars Baseball 2021
The Stars will be coming off a tune-up at this weekend’s Perfect Game Upperclass Coastal Fall Championships in High Point, N.C. where they got to get quality reps before heading to Fort Myers. This team will bring a talented group of hitters to the event which features five bats ranked inside the top 500 of the 2021 and 2022 class’ including North Carolina commit Casey Cook and Louisville commit Noah Smith. On the mound Tyler Fullman and Tommy Beam will look to lead the way as they both have the ability to run their fastball into the low-90s with secondary pitches that have proven to have real swing and miss potential in previous events against high end competition.
What To Watch For: Regional versus National
The fact that the best team on paper comes from all over the country makes this pool a bit tougher to pick. Does the highly touted National roster of the Red Midwest Scout Team have the cohesiveness to come together as a group from all over the country and put together a championship run? Or does one of the more regionalized rosters of Stars Baseball, East Cobb Astros Orange, or Hit Factory Pro that have played together before, have what it takes to come out on top? I will stick with my pick of the Red Midwest Scout Team but keep a close eye on this pool as it may come down to the wire to see who will make it to bracket play.
-Colt Olinger
Pool O
Projected Pool Winner: Rawlings National ST/Sticks 2021
The Sticks almost always come to town loaded with players from the talent-rich state of Arkansas, but this year’s roster is almost as well-rounded regionally as you can get. With players representing 15 different states, there is Power 5 talent from all over the country littered throughout this roster. From Cooper Dossett, who threw 100 from the outfield at Jr National, to Drake Varnado and Colton Sims, you have a trio of very talented Arkansas commits leading the way offensively, while arms like Parker Coil, Adrian Roman and Keegan Allen look to work atop an interesting group of both senior and underclass arms. The play of their underclassmen should be a big factor in if they can both make it out of the pool and make a run at the title.
Dark Horse: GBG Navy 2021
The team GBG sends to Florida every October is always one to keep an eye for a run at the title and this year’s roster of West Coast prospects looks to be no different. With only one underclassman on the roster in Jacob Reimer, the senior-loaded lineup is a mature one with highly-followed California infielders Eldridge Armstrong, Davis Diaz and Matthew Polk all looking to get their fair share of healthy hacks. Pitchers like Dennis Colleran and Anthony Joya will look to improve their draft stock while Carson Williams is a position guy to keep an eye out for on the mound as he recently ran it up to 94 mph out in Phoenix. This roster isn’t as big from a number’s standpoint, so it will be the consistent play of their starting nine that will determine how far they will go.
What To Watch For: Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz & East Cobb Youth
There are many teams that come to this event with an arm that stands out among the rest with the capability of pitching their team to a win no matter the opponent. The Puerto Rico based Team Mizuno have just that this year with projectable right-hander Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz. With an impressive breakout outing at the PG National and reports of being up to 94 mph with two secondary pitches for strikes recently, Cruz is very much an arm that could stymie one of the two top dog lineups and steal a pool-changing win. It is also important to note the plethora of high-level underclassmen that the East Cobb team is slated to bring as it isn’t unheard of to see a team of youngsters make noise against the ones who are supposed to be in the spotlight.
-Tyler Russo
Pool P
Projected Pool Winner: Trosky National 2021
Trosky National 2021 brings an absolutely loaded roaster to Fort Myers this year as they look to make a deep run into the playoffs. Out of the 23 members on the roster, 21 are committed with every single one being a D-I program. Standouts on the mound, Greysen Carter, Jackson Cox, & Ryan Ure all project to have dominant outings. Don’t sleep on the bats either as they have a stacked line-up led by All-American Max McGwire, Ryan Campos, & Jabin Trosky. Look for them to be fundamental in the field on defense and be free swinging in the box on offense, making them a legit threat to all in the pool.
Dark Horse: Sandlot Scout Team 2021
Sandlot Scout Team 2021 is a scrappy-type ball club made up of a tight knit-type community as they are all somewhat local to Oklahoma. These types of ball clubs just know how to play with one another and end up overachieving in big events like these. Sandlot is led by left-handed pitcher and Oklahoma State commit Drew Blake, as well as Brennan Phillips & Brooks Fowler. Offensively they look to Oklahoma State commits, Carson Benge, Ian Daugherty, and OU commit Wallace Clark. Sandlot Scout Team is also made up of a handful of JUCO standouts, further bringing that grit factor of scrappy play and a will to win. John Keaton Ruthardt and Ty Hammack are a few of those guys who look to carry that torch. Don’t be surprised to see them atop the pool when it is all said and done.
What To Watch For: Trosky National 2021 Pitching Rotation
Trosky National has 16 total listed pitchers on the roster and will look for them to carry them deep into the playoffs. They have a deep rotation with a handful of young guys who will need to produce on the biggest stage if they wish to make that run. The likes of TCU commit, Jacob Hudson and Oregon commit Jackson Cox will need to be stellar early on. Dylan Van Meeteren, who is a Southern California commit, is expecting big things in his outings. We all know that Trosky has some offensive prowess, but they will need to rely heavily on the pitching staff if they have any chance of bringing home some hardware back West.
-Drew Wesolowski
Pool Q
Projected Pool Winner: Team Elite/Atlanta Braves Scout Team
The starting pitching, especially the top three top arms, might be the most impressive top of the rotation pitchers in the event. The leash that is put on them will be interesting to watch but if they go deep in games; TE/ABST could have some very quick innings. Offensively, they are extremely athletic and experienced on the infield and at the top of the order. This is a roster filled with high ceiling prospects and if they get going, the sheer talent can overwhelm any opponent.
Dark Horse: Banditos Scout Team 2021
The combination of young and talented underclass prospects and experienced and gritty upperclass prospects could turn the tide in the pool. Regardless of age, this roster is littered with players that are committed to some of the top baseball schools in the country. The amount of position players that are regarded for their top of the scale hit tool is extremely impressive. When the dust settles and the lights turn on, there will be no break in the lineup for opposing pitchers. The relentless offensive attack could end up being the deciding factor on whether the Banditos get to bracket play.
What to Watch For: Potential Mason Marriott vs. Team Elite/Atlanta Braves Scout Team Matchup
The potential of Mason Marriott starting against Team Elite/Atlanta Braves Scout Team could draw one of the biggest crowds of any pool play game at the event. A true riser in the eyes of scouts, pitching against one of the best and most experienced lineups at the event will get anyone’s feet moving.
-Jered Goodwin
Pool R
Projected Pool Winner: Houston Astros Scout Team
The Houston Astros Scout Team will roll into Fort Myers with no shortage of high-profile players as they bring seven ACC commits, as well as six SEC commits to go along with eight other D-1 commits. It comes as no surprise to see these types of commitments for a team based out of South Florida, an area well known for rich baseball history and high-level prep talent. On the mound they will look for high level pitching from Top 100 draft prospect and Perfect Game All-American Irving Carter who will surely draw the attention of scouts in his outing with a fastball that has been up to 94 mph in multiple events over the summer, as well as Devin Futrell who will look to display to scouts his athleticism on the mound and fastball that has been up to 92 mph. Alex Ulloa, a top 150 draft prospect, will take the field behind Carter and Futrell as one of the top shortstops in the prep class. He has shown big time potential with the bat, hitting at a high level in every event he has played in this summer as he looks to translate that success to Fort Myers.
Dark Horse: Texas Twelve
The Texas Twelve might be making their first appearance at the WWBA World Championships but this not a group that will go quietly. This roster comes packed with talent from the Lone Star state as they will be looking to make some noise with a team that boasts seven Texas A&M commits along with 12 other committed players to schools in the region. 14U Select Festival alum Jace LaViolette will look to provide some juice in the middle of the order as he has shown big time power potential in previous events and hopes to bring that same kind of thump to this lineup. On the mound a pair of potential future Aggies, William Maynard and Brad Rudis along with Auburn commit Ben Bosse will look to provide strong innings as all three righties are capable of getting into the low-90s with their fastball.
What To Watch For: Irving Carter
Irving Carter is the main event on this card, as the big physical righthander has proven to be one of the top high school arms in the upcoming 2021 Draft. His outing will surely to be highly attended by Pro Scouts as they look to see how he performs against this high-level competition. You can except Carter to sit in the low- 90s with his fastball and run it up to as high as 94 mph. He will also feature a swing and miss breaking ball with sharp depth as he does a nice job tunneling it off the fastball, and a changeup that has flashed heavy fading action at times with the makings of a quality third offering. If all three pitches are on, look out, as Carter has to potential to mow down batters in a hurry.
-Colt Olinger
Pool S
Projected Pool Winner: Ohio Warhawks
The Ohio Warhawks team, made up of players from 16 different states plus Canada, is easily one of the most diverse of the event. It pairs a very good lineup and rotation of seniors with a handful of talented underclassmen to make up a roster with enough firepower to make a run at winning the entire thing. Senior offensive weapons Joshua Baez, Carlos Pena and Aidan Stewart make up a trio of power bats that could go deep at any moment. Where the roster runs deepest is on the pitching side with arms like underclassman Blaise Grove and seniors Calvin Ziegler, Kruise Newman, Jaylen Jones and Traton Staheli all ready to lead the staff. The play of elite-level two-way Joshua Baez will certainly set the pace, but it will take the guys around him performing at or the near the same level to win an event of this caliber, not to mention having to win a likely matchup with electric righthander Jackson Jobe.
Dark Horse: San Diego Padres Scout Team
We don’t usually talk about a team of predominantly underclass players having a real shot at taking out the top team in the pool, but if there was ever a time it was now. The San Diego Padres Scout Team is made up of just eight seniors out of their 23 listed players, but those guys could very well be the leadership needed to lead their underclass teammates into a playoff spot. While top-end players like Justin Best, Jacob Miller and AJ Gracia should perform as they normally do, it is the grinder-type players like Santiago Ordonez, Jaden Rudd, Chris Arroyo and Cameron Cauley that will be some of the most important pieces if they look to upset a loaded Warhawks team.
What To Watch For: Jackson Jobe vs Joshua Baez
With what would potentially be some of the most watched at-bats of the event, a Jackson Jobe vs Joshua Baez match-up could be one for the ages. The power-hitting right-hander has shown time and time again not to back down against some of the best arms the class has to offer, but Jobe, up to 96 mph with a slider that consistently shows over 3000 RPMs and got a number of swing-and-misses at the PG National and PG All-American Game, is an arm you don’t get to see on a regular basis. Pair that with the chance that Baez could hop on the mound himself that game to run it into the upper-90s and you could have one of those forever talked about pitching match-ups this event seems to consistently offer those in attendance.
-Tyler Russo
Pool T
Projected Pool Winner: Canes National/Mets Scout Team
The depth and balance of the roster, on paper, could be the very best in the entire field. The Canes are no stranger to maneuvering through the most challenging tournaments in amateur baseball as their three program titles prove. The offensive and defensive blend basically mirror themselves. The position players bring range, sure hands, and versatility and the bats have the same blend of hit, power and speed. On the bump, the power-armed righties are equally complimented by the pitchability lefties. The Canes system is simple: limit freebies, grind out at bats, and play a selfless brand of baseball that is centered around a winning mentality. All of the ingredients are there to be in the thick of things come championship Monday.
Dark Horse: VBA/Excel Blue Wave
This roster looks tough as nails on the surface. They have an experienced middle of the field defense that will make you earn every hit. They will also grind out at-bats and have a ton of experience hitting against the top arms in the country. The arms are equipped to make things extremely difficult to opposing lineups and they have a bonafide ace in Drew Beam that was outstanding this summer. This is a scary roster that will back down from no one!
What To Watch For: Power Arms.
This pool could light up the radar guns. There are plenty of hard throwers that will be monitored extremely closely. That isn’t saying they cannot pitch; its just saying that every at-bat during pool play, hitters will be tasked with knowing there is no pitch they can take off.
-Jered Goodwin
Pool U
Projected Pool Winner: FTB/San Francisco Giants Scout Team 2021
An annual favorite to win the whole thing, FTB/San Francisco Giants Scout Team 2021 is bringing yet another loaded roster to the WWBA World Championship. All American’s Edwin Arroyo and Jay Allen will play in the middle of the field and at the top of the lineup, with early ’22 1:1 candidate Elijah Green lurking dangerously in the middle with Luke Heyman and Treylen "TJ" White amongst others. The arms look loaded as well, led by Thatcher Hurd and Mason Albright they are sure to draw big scouting crowds along with Jose Pena and Ethan Wood, amongst many others.
Dark Horse: US Elite
A national club who draws from all over the country, US Elite is bringing a very talented roster to Fort Myers and stands a very strong chance providing an upset. Jacob Morrison is one of the more talented uncommitted ‘22’s in attendance, and he’ll be joined in the rotation by Casey Smith and Evan Smith, Brian Reinke, and several others. Penn State commit Derek Cease will help both with the bat and on the mound, while William Ray, Adam Kuzmicki, and Spenser Hamblin should be big pieces.
What to Watch For: It’s All About the Draft
The WWBA World Championship is, after all, a scouting event. FTB in particular will have several prominent 2021 high draft candidates trotting out daily for them, and in particular positional players like Jay Allen, Edwin Arroyo, Treylen "TJ" White and others will have scouting eyes on every move they make. The FTB pitching staff will feature prominently on national scout’s to-see lists, with Mason Albright, Thatcher Hurd, Jose Pena and others all figuring to be in the mix for the draft next summer.
-Brian Sakowski
Pool V
Projected Pool Winner: Padres Scout Team/ECB
This very well may be the Padres Scout Team/ECB’s pool to lose as the Pool V favorites are also my pick to win the WWBA World Championship as noted at the bottom of this feature. This roster is absolutely stacked consisting of six Perfect Game All-Americans, five former PG Select Festival players and 23 Division I verbal commitments. From top to bottom and on offense as well as on the pitching staff, the Padres Scout Team/ECB have all the ingredients of a team that can win this event. With the No. 2 and No. 4 players in the 2022 class in Termarr Johnson and Dylan Lesko, the Padres Scout Team/ECB boast two of the top players regardless of classification on their roster as well. Their top two MLB Draft prospects are both of their catchers-Joe Mack and Harry Ford, but also bolster even more with shortstop Michael Braswell, and right-hander Shane Panzini as well as switch hitting outfielder Thaddeus Ector.
Dark Horse: LVR 2021
It is a tough draw in Pool V for anyone who has to go through the buzzsaw that is the Padres Scout Team/ECB, but LVR 2021 with the help of outfielder Tyler Whitaker and Oregon commits Jacob Walsh and Tanner McDougal may have what it takes to upset the favorites. LVR’s program has a very strong track record of performing well at PG events in the past especially on the West Coast. 12 of the 15 players listed on their roster have committed to Division I programs including Oregon, BYU, Arizona, UNLV, Utah and San Diego State. The top-ranked player on the team is Tyler Whitaker who has seen his stock steadily climb this fall with the way he has swung the bat in front of scouts at several big-time events including the Area Code Games. Top pitching prospect is Tanner McDougal, a right-hander committed to Oregon, who has seen his velocity touch the mid-90s and will certainly have a flock of scouts gather at his field when he takes the bump for LVR 2021.
What To Watch For: MLB Draft Prospects
This pool is very deep with MLB Draft prospects primarily from the Padres Scout Team/ECB but also with Tyler Whitaker and Tanner McDougal from LVR 2021 as well. Joe Mack and Harry Ford are the top two MLB Draft names in the pool and both are primary catchers for the Padres Scout Team/ECB. They have a pair of arms in Shane Panzini and Drew Christo who each have been among conversations as pro prospects especially with Panzini who comes in at No. 69 in the PG 2021 MLB Draft: Top 300. It does not stop there for the Padres Scout Team/ECB who also have shortstop Michael Braswell as well as outfielders Thaddeus Ector and Jett Lovett who each could make a big statement for themselves in southwest Florida. For LVR 2021 Tyler Whitaker is the No. 100 overall player on the PG 2021 MLB Draft: Top 300 and Tanner McDougal is a 6-5 right-hander who can run his fastball up to 94 mph. All in all, there will definitely be MLB scouts roaming around Pool V for the names listed above.
-Greg Gerard
Pool W
Projected Pool Winner: CBA Marucci 2021
CBA perennially brings one of, if not the best West Coast roster to the WWBA World Championship, and this year looks to be no exception. Perfect Game All-American Brock Selvidge will be one of the top scouting draws when he toes the slab, and he’s joined in a talented rotation featuring Evan Yates, Mason Molina, Logan Kimberlin, and others. Offensively, Wes Kath and Josh Randall are two talented bats with Randall also having mid-90s heat on the mound, and Payton Brennan, Cameron Magee, and Caiden Huber, among others, figure to play big roles.
Dark Horse: Ostingers Baseball Academy 2021
Ostingers Baseball Academy traditionally shows well in PG events across several age groups, so expect them to be ultra-competitive in Fort Myers. Sean Hermann, a South Florida commit, is joined on the pitching staff by Alex Canney, Bryan Boully, and Peyton Petry among others on what looks to be a deep staff. Johnathan Bruno, a George Washington commit, should pace the offense and he’ll be joined in the everyday lineup by Florida Tech commit Gabe Garrett and several uncommitted prospects with talent, including Nicolas Rodriguez, Bradke Lohry, and others.
What to Watch For: West Coast Flavor
Given COVID-19, it was difficult for a lot of West Coast teams and players to travel extensively this summer. From our perspective, we’re excited to get closer looks at a lot of these players heading to Fort Myers, especially the players we only saw once or didn’t at all this summer. Wes Kath and Josh Randall are two legitimate high-draft targets as prep bats, and this tournament is an important one for them in front of high-level scouts from every club, as will Brock Selvidge’s outing be heavily attended. CBA always brings an excellent club, and this year is no exception, and it’ll be good to get extended looks at them.
-Brian Sakowski
Pool X
Projected Pool Winner: San Diego Show
Coming off a monster weekend at the PG Fall National Championship in Arizona back in September, the San Diego Show will head to Fort Myers with a loaded roster and a lot of confidence. Marcelo Mayer will be one of the more closely-followed players in attendance overall, and outfielder Gabe D’Arcy had a monster week in Arizona and is moving up boards. Mikey Romero, Ryan Ward, Dean West, Duke Ekstrom and others represent an exciting amount of high-end underclass talent, many of whom will be getting their first WWBA World Championship experience on the big stage.
Dark Horse: South Charlotte Panthers
With an excellent balance of veteran upperclassmen and talented underclassmen, the South Charlotte Panthers have a lot to like about the roster they are bringing to Fort Myers. Catcher Jacob Cozart will quarterback the defense and hit in the middle of the order, and should do an excellent job leading a strong stable of arms, including Eli Jerzembeck, Cameron Padgett, Chance Mako, Jake Hunter, and others. Parker Byrd, Walker Jenkins, Logan Wagner, and many others join Cozart in what looks like a loaded lineup as well.
What to Watch For: Marcelo Mayer
A Perfect Game All-American and potential top 10 overall pick in next year’s draft, this will be Mayer’s first trip across the Mississippi River this cycle. Strong showings out West as well as in the All-American Classic have kept his stock sky-high, and this will be a big weekend for the sweet-swinging SoCal shortstop, who has the makings of a lefthanded-hitter left side infielder with prodigious power upside, a coveted profile to be sure. Of note, Mayer’s at-bats vs. fellow high draft candidate Caedmon Parker when the Show and Hunter Pence square off will be as heavily-attended as any in the tournament.
-Brian Sakowski
Jered Goodwin's Projected Champion: Canes National/Mets Scout Team
The Canes look like they are pulling out all the stops as they have six 2022 grads listed on roster, more than normal for the storied program. The two big 2022 names that could pitch in huge spots are Jackson Ferris and Ian Ritchie Jr. Both are elite prospects and were very consistent on the summer circuit. They join Camden Hayslip, Malakhi Knight, Rene Lastres, Daylen Lile, Alex Mooney, and Cody Schrier who all participated in the 2020 Perfect Game All American Classic last summer. This roster is deep and experienced and after winning the 17U Elite Championships, they clearly know how to win. Then the Canes added a couple monster arms in Roman Kimball and Eric Silva who are equipped to beat any lineup they face. In all, the Canes again come to the WWBA World Championship as the favorite to take home the hardware.
Brian Sakowski's Projected Champion: FTB/Giants Scout Team 2021
FTB’s pitching staff features a handful of guys who could end up top 10 rounders less than a year from now, including potential top 50 picks Mason Albright and Thatcher Hurd, along with Jose Pena in 2021 with several underclassmen who have that upside. There’s the pitching depth you need to win this tournament. You also need a deep, grinding everyday lineup that doesn’t give away at-bats, can bang with power, but can also drive up pitch counts and get into bullpens. With Jay Allen, Edwin Arroyo, Elijah Green, Luke Heyman, TJ White, Jayden Melendez, Matthew Prevesk and several others on the roster, it looks like FTB has that. Add in a good bit of fast twitch throughout the lineup and big-time defenders in key spots, and this club definitely has the ingredients to walk away world champions.
Jheremy Brown's Projected Champion: East Coast Sox 2021 Founders Club
As an organization the Sox are no strangers to winning and the way the coaching staff constructed the lineup points to their intentions of making a deep run in the WWBA World Championship. The favorites to come out of Pool A, this club is led by three Perfect Game All Americans though they won't have to rely on just Braden Montgomery and Tyree Reed offensively, nor just the arm of lefthander Maddux Bruns. As mentioned above William "Pico" Kohn is a big game pitcher who is capable of picking up strikeouts by the handful, as can Brayden Jones, and their presence to this pitching staff will be huge. Hard-hitting Aaron Downs and Sean Smith have shown their strength throughout the summer. It's a well-rounded roster where no one player will be heavily relied upon and there's also a nice collection of underclass talent who will look to prove themselves on amateur baseball's biggest stage.
Vinnie Cervino's Projected Champion: Florida Burn 2021 National
The Florida Burn have another very talented team with a deep pitching staff and the requisite star power at the top of the lineup to not only win the WWBA World Championship but to do so for the third consecutive year. Tommy White is a star in the middle of the lineup, being one of the more consistent performers over the last couple of years while the athleticism of the lineup up and down is impressive. Defensively they’re going to be strong with Jake Mummau and White on the left side of the diamond, Michael Robertson covering an ocean in centerfield, and Tayden Hall keeping everything in front of him. I expect White and the offense to get hot and the pitching to keep runs off the board as Florida Burn will, once again, hoist the trophy.
Greg Gerard's Projected Champion: Padres Scout Team/ECB
It may very well be the most loaded lineup that East Cobb has ever brought to the WWBA World Championship. A lineup that consists of five legitimate MLB draft prospect hitters and a pitching rotation with a pair of high end arm talents, also among the top prep Draft names, Padres Scout Team/ECB has every bit the amount of talent to take the title in Fort Myers. Harry Ford and Joe Mack in the middle of the lineup and Termarr Johnson (one of the top 2022s in the country) at the top makes the Padres lineup a lethal one every time through.
Colt Olinger's Projected Champion: Trosky National 2021
Trosky will make their way east to Fort Myers for their first appearance in the WWBA World Championships. What’s really intriguing about the Trosky roster is the balance of high-level arms, and a lineup that looks poised to put runs on the board that they have put together. On the mound look for a strong outing from Oregon commit Jackson Cox who is coming off a very impressive outing at the Underclass All-American Games where he ran his fastball up to 92 mph. Trosky will also need solid innings out of a pair of Colorado arms in Greysen Carter and Ryan Ure. At the plate Max McGwire’s bat will be the focal point of the offense, but it will be up to others like Jabin Trosky, Trevor Haskins, and Ryan Campos to bring the balance to the offense that they will need to bring home a championship.
Tyler Russo’s Projected Champion: Team Elite/Atlanta Braves Scout Team
Known year after year to be one of the premier travel organizations in the country, Team Elite will once again run out a very well-rounded Braves Scout Team squad that looks to have all the pieces needed to acquire their first WWBA World title since 2009. With names like Brady House, Rob Gordon, Jonathan Santucci, Thomas Dilandri and Ryan Spikes littering the lineup with top-100 players, it is easy to see why they will likely swing the bat with the best of teams. Where the roster really sets itself apart is in their much-needed pitching depth with PG All-Americans Christian Little, Carter Holton and Drew Christo headlining a rotation where eleven of their sixteen primary arms have been up to 92 mph or better.
Drew Wesolowski's Projected Champion: Dallas Tigers 2021 Hernandez
The talented Dallas-based team is absolutely stacked with high-end prospects, as they look prepared to make a run at taking home the coveted championship trophy. They will be led by future draft pick Jordan Lawlar, who has had an eye-opening summer at the plate. Jayson Jones and Walker Polk also need to be dominant in the box for them to have a chance. The Tigers will call on DBU commit Ryan Johnson, Trenton Shaw, & Ryan Prager to be lights out on the bump. It has been over 15 years since a Texas ball club has taken home the trophy but look for that to possibly change this year if the Dallas Tigers can put it all together at the right time.
Connor Spencer's Projected Champion: San Diego Show
So far at Perfect Game events in 2020, the San Diego Show is a perfect 7-0, highlighted by their most recent first place finish at the PG Fall National Championship in Surprise, Arizona. The San Diego Show features some of the most highly rated players in all of Southern California from 2021 No. 9 overall and PG All American Marcelo Mayer to 2023 No. 34 overall Dean West to 2022 No. 49 overall Mikey Romero. JSerra High School standout and Arkansas commit Gabe D'Arcy is coming off a very strong tournament in the desert and could be the jet fuel that flies this potent Show offense to the finals. The biggest question mark to their success will be their starting pitching. They have excellent arms that are highlighted by 2023 No. 69 overall Duke Ekstrom and Stanford commit Gavin Nalu; however, their arm talent as a whole isn’t quite in the same tier as some of the other elite teams at the tournament. If their arms can get deep into ball games, they have more than enough talent offensively to drive them to the finals.
Johnnie McAdams' Projected Champion: Dirtbags Skrap Pak
The North Carolina based “Skrap Pak” come to Fort Myers with a close knit, talent laden roster filled with plenty of pitching depth, strong bats and mental toughness needed to make a deep run on the biggest stage of amateur baseball. Jacob Orr and Tucker Toman will most likely be the catalyst at the top of the Dirtbags lineup, allowing for the run producing skills of Derek Bender and Grant Hussey to drive them in. Bender and Talmadge LeCroy are athletic backstops that will control the running game and command the deep pitching staff for The Dirtbags. Pitching will be at a premium in the WWBA World Championship and the Skrap Pak will have no shortage of that with a good mix of both left and right-handed pitchers ready to seize the opportunity to help their team advance. Tyler Dean and his mid-to-high 90s fastball may have some of the best pure stuff we see in Fort Myers but the battle tested arms of Merritt Beeker, Matt Scott and Billy Barlow provide plenty of top-end firepower to stymie any lineup. Couple that with plenty of guys in the pen to match up with any of the loaded rosters in Fort Myers. The close camaraderie of this group, along with timely hitting, fearless pitching and downright scrappiness make me think a deep playoff run is in order for Andy Partin’s “Skrap Pak”.
Todd Coffey's Projected Champion: Mets Scout Team/Georgia Bombers
The Georgia Bomber team is a very talented and tough group. The pitching is going to be very difficult for teams to score off of and if the team scores more than three runs in a game, I would be surprised. The pitching staff, as a collective in their last 55 innings, have struck out 72 batters. The Bomber’s have a well-balanced defense that makes all of the routine plays easy. With a team that can manufacture runs, their depth at pitching will be very difficult for teams to overcome.