Softball  | Softball Tournament | 3/15/2021

PG Spring Kickoff Recap

Photo: PG Spring Kickoff Champs: AAFP Elite-18U Cozart (Perfect Game)
2021 PG Spring Kickoff Event Page

The spring fastpitch season truly kicked into high gear on Saturday, March 13 at two different venues across three age divisions. Play was exciting and highly-competitive as the Coastal Region crowned four champions at 12U, 14U Gold and 14U Silver, and the High School level, as organizations continued to hone their collective games in preparation for the first of four Perfect Game Regional Qualifiers scheduled for next weekend in suburban Charlotte, N.C.



High School

Two highly-competitive, well-coached, hard-nosed, and very talented teams met in the high school division championship game on Saturday evening at George Poston Park in Gastonia, N.C. The All-American Fastpitch Elite-18U Cozart club bested the never-say-die Elite Diamondcats-Ball squad by a score of 6-2.

The scrappy, daring, highly-aggressive AAFP team was led offensively and defensively by their shortstop and tournament MVP, Tayjah Cooper (2023, Warrenton, N.C.). Cooper seemed to be in the middle of every important moment for the AAFP club. When her club needed an offensive spark, they usually saw Cooper come to the plate. When they needed a clutch defensive play, the ball always inevitably found Cooper’s glove. Tayjah plays with great intensity, like all of her teammates. And she plays, always, with a smile on her face. One would be hard pressed to find a player, anywhere, who plays the game with more joy.

The AAFP club could have been the most fundamentally sound teams to play on any of the fields at Poston Park on Saturday. It is apparent that they are well-schooled and understand the details involved with higher-level competition. They rarely make mistakes, and they don’t make the same mistake twice. They cruised to the championship with a 3-0-1 record and could have easily been undefeated. The AAFP team plays the game the right way and they pull for each other. They unquestionably earned and deserved the big silver PG Championship trophy.

The Elite Diamondcats-Ball squad is also a tough and determined bunch that plays with a lot of emotion and has a winner’s mindset. Their trip to the championship game was highlighted by a 3-0 semifinals victory of the top-seeded and previously unbeaten RC Swarm-Cole club. The Diamondcats take their cues from their talented coaching staff and play the game the right way. They pull for each other and their enthusiasm is contagious. Although they limped into bracket play going 0-1-1 in the pool play portion of the tournament, the D-Cats caught fire in the single elimination tournament. They scored 14 runs in their first two playoff games, which included the aforementioned 3-0 win over the top seed. They hit the ball hard in the championship contest, but just ran into some tough luck and a very talented All-American team.

There was a great deal of talent on display in the High School division. Any of the teams that participated could have easily won the championship. The number of young players with college potential was almost limitless. There were a number of athletes whose career will continue far beyond their high school and travel ball years. We look forward to following all of them as their careers continue.

2021 Perfect Game Softball Spring Kickoff High School Runners-Up: Elite Diamondcast-Ball



2021 Perfect Game Softball Spring Kickoff High School MVP: Tayjah Cooper



14U Gold

Two impressively talented clubs met in the 14U-Gold division championship contest where the final score wasn’t determined in this grind-it-out game until the last out was secured. The Lady Dukes-Sturgill bested TC Elite-Pruett, 5-4, to capture the Spring Kickoff 14U Gold championship. Tourney MVP Madeline Sturgill (2024, Davidson, N.C.) led her gritty, mentally-tough, very talented Lady Dukes team to the winner's circle. Although the Lady Dukes cruised through pool play by a combined score of 33-0, their mettle was truly tested in bracket play, where they had to win three one-run contests to claim the crown.

TC Elite-Pruett was equal to the Lady Dukes in just about every aspect. TC Elite scored 24 runs in pool play and only allowed one. In the quarterfinals and semifinals, they scored 11 runs and only allowed a single tally. The championship nail-biter could have gone to either club. TC Elite was certainly worthy of their spot in the finals and would have been a just and deserving champion.

We are certain to hear from these two fine organizations in the not-too-distant future as both are loaded with very talented players.

14U Silver


Offense dominated the 14U Silver championship contest as Team Venom edged out Bandits NC-Brooks by a score of 9-8.

Both teams had up and down days, especially during the pool play portion of the tournament. However, each club came to life once bracket play began. Team Venom, which was outscored 11-8 in going 1-1 during pool play, came to life in their march to the 14U Silver championship. Although they allowed 17 runs in three games in capturing the crown, their offense supported their pitching staff, scoring 29 runs. Their bracket games included a 15-5 quarterfinal run-rule victory that may have saved a little bit on their pitcher’s arms. That little bit of pitching life probably saved just enough to eke out a high-scoring, one-run win in the final contest over a very game Bandits NC-Brooks club.

Bandits NC-Brooks had to make their run to the finals the tough way. They dropped an early pool play game and tied another. Their bats showed up during bracket play however, as they scored 10 runs in their first two bracket games and only allowed four. Their offense provided more than enough support in the final contest, but Team Venom, by the narrowest of margins, had just a tick more left in the tank.

Each deserved to be in the Sliver championships as they played their best when it mattered most. We certainly look forward to following the players on these two outstanding clubs as they continue through their careers. The best is yet to come for all of these talented individuals.

12U


Next Top Recruits-Joyce, led by tournament MVP Peyton Cantrell (2026, Hurdle Mills, N.C.), completely dominated the field in their impressive march to the silver PG Championship trophy. Cantrell, whose talent far exceeds her current age group, threw two dominating shutouts on the day. She was supported by an air-tight, very mature, highly-advanced defensive effort from her teammates, and an overwhelming offense that scored 38 runs in four games. NTP-Joyce allowed zero runs the entire tourney. Hard to lose games when your opponents don’t score.

Next Top Recruits-Joyce defeated an equally talented club, the Comets 12u-Gillmore, by a score of 7-0 in the championship game. The Comets, the tourney’s second seed, had allowed only one run before the championship contest against the juggernaut Next Top Recruits club.

Great things are on the horizon for the players from both of these well-coached, highly-skilled clubs.

Congratulations to the 2021 Spring Kickoff 12U champions, the Next Top Recruits-Joyce and the runners-up, the Comets 12U-Gillmore.

Softball | Softball Tournament | 9/21/2023

PG Des Moines Scouting Showcase

Dave Durbala
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URBANDALE, IA – Perfect Game Softball Des Moines Scouting Showcase, September 16 – 17, 2023, saw thirty-four teams, across 3 divisions, compete for the tournament championship, but also at stake were automatic qualifying bids to the Perfect Game Softball Super Regionals, to be held in 2024. Some of the weekends top performances are recapped below. 18u Division Congratulations to tournament champions, Central Iowa Riptide 18u Elite, finalist Alliance Select 18u-Benge, and to semi-finalist Iowa Slammers-18u Van Houton and Iowa Gold Prospects 18u-Baker on earning automatic bids into the Perfect Game Softball Super Regionals. Finley Netten (2025 Van Meter, IA) earned the MVP Award in leading Central Iowa Riptide 18u Elite to the championship. Offensively, the RHH Netten utilizes a parallel stance, with a slight crouch and her hands held up high. She moves into the back leg and...
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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