Since the Tournament of Champions has not been around the last few years there have been some pretty cool pre-season/early-season tournaments that have come about. This weekend might be the most jam-packed one that has happened since we have started to cover junior college baseball. Over in Panama City this weekend there is a 16-Team Gugrernaut of a tournament hosted by our friends over at Perfect Game. Here is everything you need to know about each team, Pitching Matchups, Key Players ext.
Here is a link to the Bracket >>https://www.perfectgame.org/events/Brackets.aspx?event=48591
Here is a link on how to Watch >>https://perfectgame.tv/
Opening Round Pitching Matchups
*These are the Projected Starters they Could change at any time*
Game 1 (10:00 AM): Gulf Coast State vs #6 McLennan
Pitchers: Charez Butcher (RHP) vs Will Carsten (RHP) (Oklahoma Commit)
Game 2 (10:30 AM): St. John’s River vs Wallace State
Pitchers: Tanner Bauman (LHP) vs Luke Daniel (RHP)
Game 3 (11:00 AM): #19 Florence-Darlington Tech vs Delgado
Pitchers: Nathan Williams (RHP) (Mississippi State Commit) vs Hunter Draper (LHP)
Game 4 (11:30 AM): Chattahoochee Valley vs Florida SouthWestern State
Pitchers: Cade Mitchell (LHP) vs Frank Elissalt (RHP) (Nova Southeastern Commit)
Game 5 (12:30 PM): #5 Northwest Florida vs #1 San Jac
Pitchers: Jake Madden (RHP) (Alabama Commit) vs. Hunter Hollan (LHP) (TCU Commit)
Game 6 (1:00 PM): State College of Florida vs Andrew
Pitchers: Nick Cosentino (RHP) vs Andrew Parr (RHP)
Game 7 (1:30 PM): #20 Miami Dade vs #23 Wallace-Dothan
Pitchers: Andy Rodriguez (RHP) vs Clete Hartzog (RHP) (Florida Commit)
Game 8 (3:00 PM): #3 Chipola vs #7 Wabash Valley
Pitchers: Cedric DeGrandpre (RHP) vs Jacob Bimbi (LHP) (Tennessee Commit)
The Teams Break Down
*All Starting Pitchers are Projected and Subject to Change.
#1 San Jac (4-0)
Potential Starting Rotation
Game 1 vs #5 Northwest Florida: Hunter Hollan (LHP) (TCU Commit)
Game 2: Chris Stuart (LHP) (Texas Commit)
Game 3:Lex Garcia (RHP)
Game 4: Matthew Tieding (RHP) (Western Kentucky Commit)
San Jac is well San Jac. They have arms they have bats and they are making a statement this weekend. They are going to compete and prove why they were selected as the #1 team in the Country.
Coming off last weekend both Sabin Ceballos (Oregon Commit) and Harlod Coll (Arkansas Commit) are looking to keep the momentum going after week 1 which seems to have them seeing the ball extremely well. Mason Lytle (Uncommitted), who was one of the Week 1 Player of the Week, looks to be making a name for himself and putting himself on many radars from what we have heard. He looks to continue the pace he set last week. Another bat that they are looking to have a big breakout weekend after a hot start is Armani Sanches (Houston Commit) who put up some big offensive numbers to close out the weekend last week against Seminole State (OK). To round out who to keep an eye on for San Jac is going to be RJ Galvan who is their 9-hole and is probably one of the most dangerous 9-hole hitters there are. Last week he went 3-4 in the 3 games he played with 3 Doubles and 6 RBIs.
#3 Chipola (2-0-1)
Potential Starting Rotation
Game 1 vs #7 Wabash Valley: Cedric DeGrandpre (RHP)
Game 2: Kenya Huggins (RHP)
Game 3: Dylan Eskew (RHP) (South Carolina Commit)
Game 4: Beckett White (RHP)
Chipola is always a power and looks to be back to what they have been. This year they are off to a hot start as always with that Tie though their record does not look as good. But still, they have not lost.
As far as looking at their bats they have a lot to like. Tucker Flint is off to a hot start for them Hitting .571 with 4 Doubles and 2 Home runs in the opening weekend which led the team. Pre-Season Player of the Year Cam Collier is doing what a lot expected going 3-8 in the opening weekend with a Homer and 4 Walks. Then Cesar Frano was right behind him going 3-9 with a Double, Homerun, and 5 RBIs.
#5 Northwest Florida (2-1)
Potential Starting Rotation
Game 1 vs #1 San Jac: Jake Madden (RHP) (Alabama Commit)
Game 2: Joel Sarver (RHP) (Charlotte Commit)
Game 3: Caleb Reis (RHP)
Game 4: TBD
Northwest Florida has been one of the other main players that have come out of Florida over the last few years. Year in and year out they are ranked very high and for a very good reason. So far this season they look to be lead offensively through the bats of Carlos Guzman , who hit .500 opening weened, Diego Guevara who is hitting .375, and then AJ Fritz who is hitting .444 with 2 Doubles.
Some others that guys that would classify as Newcomers that you should keep their eyes on this weekend for them are going to be the combo of Will Cannon and Jacob Phillips on the mound and Brandt Smith and Blake Cavill on the offensive side.
When asked about this weekend Head Coach Doug Martin said “We’re excited to participate in what is no doubt the toughest early-season JUCO tournament in the country.”
#6 McLennan (1-1-1)
Potential Starting Rotation
Game 1 vs Gulf Coast State: Will Carsten (RHP) (Oklahoma Commit)
Game 2: Wyatt Cheney (RHP) (Texas Commit)
Game 3: Devin Bennett (RHP) (Dallas Baptist Commit)
Game 4: TBD
The Defending National Champs went up against a scrappy Navarro club to open up the weekend but come into this week with their heads still high. If last year was any indicator McLennan was a second-half team.
Looking at this year though the biggest producers for them this year so far have been Daniel Altman who hit .500 opening weekend. Right behind him was Marquis Jackson who hit .556 with a double, and a triple. To round out some of their hottest bats from the opening weekend was Katcher Halligan who hit .429 with a double, and 4 RBIs.
#7 Wabash Valley (0-0)
Potential Starting Rotation:
Game 1 vs #3 Chipola: Jacob Bimbi (LHP) (Tennessee Commit)
Game 2: Kaleb Applebee (RHP) (LSU Commit)
Game 3: Josh Timmerman (RHP) (Ohio State Commit)
Game 4: Beau Coffman (RHP) (Charlotte Commit)
For Wabash, this is going to be their first look at how they look with outside composition. When talking with Coach Fournier he said “This may be the cliche answer but we obviously want to compete and win. But, it is more important for us to see who we are as a team against some of the top teams in the country this early”.
For them, they have a solid core of returning that they are expecting to have a lot of production especially going to start the season down in warmer weather. They are expecting Ryan McCoy (Lousiville Commit), Jon Hoggart (Louisiana Tech Commit), and Brian Kalmer are all expected to have big weeks for them at the plate and in the field.
#19 Florence-Darlington Tech (0-1)
Potential Starting Rotation
Game 1 vs Delgado: Nathan Williams (RHP) (Mississippi State Commit)
Game 2: Matt Poston (RHP) (North Carolina Commit)
Game 3: Austin Windham (RHP)
Game 4: Drake Thames (RHP)
Florence-Darlington was a breakthrough team towards the end of last year and they return a good core of those guys. This year they have already been hit with the Weather bug having their first series canceled. So this will be the first real test for them this season.
For Flo-Dar They have a good crew of guys that are going to do some damage on the offensive side of the ball as well as hold it down in the field. Brayden Davison (Georgia Gwinnett Commit) looks to hold down either first or Catcher for them. Gabe Hunt looks to be one of the incoming freshmen they have that should make a lot of noise for them. Outside of those two, the Duo of Scott McDonough and Anderson Fulk are going to do a lot of damage for them this weekend.
#20 Miami Dade (3-2)
Potential Starting Rotation
Game 1 vs #23 Wallace-Dothan: Andy Rodriguez (RHP)
Game 2: William Silva (RHP)
Game 3: Anthony Figueroa (LHP)
Game 4: Jose Pichardo (RHP)
Miami Dade was the surprise of the year last year making it out of Florida and putting on a pretty good show in Grand Junction. This year they look to return a bunch of the same guys as they had last year as well as added to that. They seem to be arm-heavy though with a few big bats. Leading those bats looks to be the Combo of Wooyeoul Shin and Loidel Rodriguez.
#23 Wallace-Dothan (0-0)
Potential Starting Rotation
Game 1 vs #20 Miami Dade: Clete Hartzog (RHP) (Florida Commit)
Game 2: Dylan Dickert (RHP) (Troy Commit)
Game 3: Carlos Nolasco (RHP)
Game 4: Kade Snell (LHP)
Wallace-Dothan looks to get started in a big way. They are always one of the top teams to come out of the state of Alabama and with this early season tournament they can prove that they are ready to jump on the national stage in a very loud way.
They have a solid group of pitchers that are going to be difficult to workaround. As well as the combination of Zane Faulk (Georgia Southern Commit) and Jake Killingsworth. Others that are expected to have big impacts for them this weekend include Evan Kavanagh, Chaz Salter, and Jacob Pierce.
Florida SouthWestern State (5-0)
Potential Starting Rotation
Game 1 vs Chattahoochee Valley: Frank Elissalt (RHP) (Nova Southeastern Commit)
Game 2: Grant Besser (LHP) (Rutgers Commit)
Game 3: Magnus Ellerts (RHP) (Florida Commit)
Game 4: Ronald Fernandez (RHP)
Florida SouthWestern is a team that came out with a mission. Ranked just outside the top 25 they have shown that they deserve a spot in the top 25. They started hot going 5-0 so far before this weekend outsourcing their opponents 48-17.
What is a bit of a surprise is the bats coming alive. Everyone knew that FSW had arms falling out of their ears. But the bats were a bit of a question. Well, they have shown up. As a team, they are hitting just north of .300 with Hunter Fitz-Gerald leading the way hitting .500 and Ronny Medina hitting .429 and leading the team with 2 home runs and 11 RBI’s. If the bats coupled with the arms show up as they have then this is going to make for a very exciting team to watch this weekend.
State College of Florida (1-2)
Potential Starting Rotation
Game 1 vs Andrew: Nick Cosentino (RHP)
Game 2: Ryan Stefiuk (LHP)
Game 3: Nick Gottilla (LHP)
Game 4: Eli Thurmond (RHP) (Tampa Commit)
State College of Florida got off to a bit of a rough start in week 1. A Walk-off loss to Miami Dade, A impressive win over Ranger, then a rough game against Gulf Coast in which they lost. That as we all know does not define how a team is going to be.
On the Mound, they look to be strong from their starting staff, Mentioned above, to their bullpen who has a group that should impress a lot of people. Freshman Gavin Adams seems to be drawing a lot of looks from pro-scouts so far this season. Ben Gilbert the two-way standout and Ole Miss Transfer looks to be a big role piece for them at the back end of their arms. Those two coupled with both Nick Gorby and Michael Ojeda are going to make for a tough group of arms to go through for any team.
On the Offensive side, they look just as deep. With Returning All-State selection in Jake Jackson (Liberty Commit), SS Kevin Karstetter (Houston Commit), Switch Hitting Utility guy Owen Ayers (Marshall Commit), and Brandon Fields manning another outfield spot they are going to be hard to get balls by as well as many hard outs if the bats show up as they can.
Gulf Coast State (1-2)
Potential Starting Rotation
Game 1 vs #6 McLennan: Charez Butcher (RHP)
Game 2: Sean Bencosme (RHP/INF)
Game 3: Carson Dorsey (LHP)
Game 4: TBD
Gulf Coast was another team that had a rough start to week one but when you play in Florida no weekend is going to be easy.
Gulf Coast looks to have a solid core of pitchers that they rely on with Glenn Simes being one of their go-to guys out of the bullpen. When it comes to the bats the two guys that people should keep their eyes on would be Dylan Mach and James Jett. Both have gotten off to a bit of a slow start this year but would not surprise us if they were to jump out in a big way this weekend.
St. Johns River (4-1)
Potential Starting Rotation
Game 1 vs Wallace State: Tanner Bauman (LHP)
Game 2: Jarrett Maresco (RHP)
Game 3: Jude Ard (RHP)
Game 4: Ethan Salak (RHP)
St. Johns River has been on a tear. They lost the first game of the season 8-13 and have since outscored their opponents 63-27 over a span of four games. And they look to continue you this into this tournament.
St. Johns River bats as mentioned have been really hot lately. Leading that charge so far for them is the group of Connor Morgan, Jarrett Ford, Elijah Guilliams, and Ramses Cordova. Morgan (1B) has hit .421 to open up the season with 11 RBIs and 3 Extra Base Hits. Ford is just behind him on avg hitting .412. Guilliams is off to an amazing hot start. He is hitting .700 through those 5 games, driving in 7 runs. Rounding out the group is Cordova who is hitting .389 with 3 home runs and 8 RBIs.
Wallace State (0-0)
Potential Starting Rotation
Game 1 vs St. Johns River: Luke Daniel (RHP)
Game 2: Dylan Rhadams (LHP)
Game 3: Owen Arndt (RHP)
Game 4: TBD
This like a few others is going to be Wallace State’s first go this year. They have a lot to look forward to. The Pitching staff is on the younger side but does have a lot of depth and talent in the ay of Mitchell Heer, Colby Masters, Cason Henry, and John Allen Stogner.
Their offense is going to be headed by the duo of Colson Larence and Mitchell Heer. They are more than likely going to be the two highest offensive producers for them this year. They do have a solid support group around them in the likes of Abner Benitez and Jayce Guyette who are going to make their own damage when able to.
Chattahoochee Valley (2-1)
Potential Starting Rotation
Game 1 vs Florida SouthWestern State: Cade Mitchell (LHP)
Game 2: Laiten Hudson (RHP)
Game 3: Zach Smith (RHP)
Game 4: TBD
Chattahoochee Valley has been one of the top teams out of Alabama every year. They have made it to Grand Junction multiple times over the last 10 years.
Chat Valley looks to be a solid mix of players. Leading them offensive looks to be Brant Deerman who leads the team hitting .700 to start the season. Cory Lee is another bat to keep your eye on for them who seems to be another big producer for them and leads the team in stolen bases.
Delgado (0-0)
Potential Starting Rotation
Game 1 vs #19 Florence-Darlington: Hunter Draper (LHP)
Game 2: Corey Cook (RHP)
Game 3: Dwain Guice (RHP)
Game 4: TBD
Delgado on the road to start the season is something that does not happen often. The last time they opened up the year on the road was back in 2014. But, if you are going to break a streak like that might as well be for a tournament this big.
They come into the season with a lot of buzz. They have a deep roster that is over half returners. In the field, the big key returner for them is Ethan Lege (Ole Miss Commit) who led the team in hitting last year. Along with him, you have the likes of Brayden Caskey, Michael Stutes, and JT Singletary to add more firepower to that offense of theirs.
On the mound, the three projected starters are all returners as well as Nick Lorio, Josh MacCord, and Kaile Levatino who are all expected to have big roles when it comes to taking up late innings.
Andrew (1-1)
Potential Starting Rotation
Game 1 vs State College of Florida: Andrew Parr (RHP)
Game 2: Will Sims (RHP)
Game 3: Caleb Granger (RHP)
Game 4: Cole Baucom (RHP)
Andrew College has by far the most to gain from this weekend. Not saying they are the lowest team here but that they are the team nobody is really thinking about making any noise. They are far from a team that you should overlook. After a great and to last year they look to continue that momentum.
Throughout their entire lineup are guys that you should keep eyes on from freshman to returners. When looking at the freshman make sure you keep your eyes on Trevor Gruszka who has a smooth left-handed swing with speed to go along with it. Ben Crawley is another freshman that you should look out for up the middle who has a very reliable glove and has a good baseball IQ to go with it.
For the Sophomores the due of Jack Hay who hit .375 as a freshman and JT Whatley who will most likely man 1st for them who hit 10 home runs last year to have big weekends for the returning guys.
What does seem to be a bit of weakness does seem to be their pitching staff they are a younger group but do have the potential to do something special once the nerves wear off.
Picks
Noahs Bracket >> Full Bracket <<
Champions Bracket Winner: San Jac
Champions Bracket 3rd/4th Winner: Chipola
Silver Bracket Winner: Wabash Valley
Championship Consolation Bracket Winner: Delgado
Silver Consolation Winner: Northwest Florida
Chris’s Bracket >> Full Bracket <<
Champions Bracket Winner: San Jac
Champions Bracket 3rd/4th Winner: Chipola
Silver Bracket Winner: Northwest Florida
Championship Consolation Bracket Winner: Miami Dade
Silver Consolation Winner: Wallace-Dothan
Computers Bracket >> Full Bracket <<
Champions Bracket Winner: McLennan
Champions Bracket 3rd/4th Winner: San Jac
Silver Bracket Winner: Delgado
Championship Consolation Bracket Winner: Chipola
Silver Consolation Winner: Gulf Coast State