A Look Inside Perfect Game’s 12u Top 100

The 12u age group is perhaps the deepest age group in the state of North Carolina. With 4 teams in the top 100 as well as two more on the "Regional Teams to Watch" list, Perfect Game's 12u top 100 is a reflection of just how deep this age group really is. Although no teams from South Carolina made the top 100, all of our top 5 were listed on the "Regional Teams to Watch" list. Virginia placed 3 teams in the top 100 and another team on the "Regional Teams to Watch" list demonstrating how deep the 12u age group is in this region beyond North Carolina.

North Carolina Representation
12u #2 SBA Futures came in at #21 in Perfect Game's Top 100.

Perfect Game listed 4 North Carolina teams were listed among the top 100 teams in America, with 2 more being listed among the "Regional Teams to Watch." Leading the way, our #2 team in North Carolina, SBA Futures, came in at #21 in the top 100 after posting a 21-8-1 in the fall of 2018 and a combined 72-21-2 record as an 11u team. Our #1 team, Canes Baseball NC - Simpson, earned the #38 ranking after going 18-6 in the fall of 2018 and 52-13-1 as an 11u team. Our #7 team, Five Star Carolina - Neyra, came in at #88 after going 11-6-2 in the fall of 2018 and 48-13 as an 11u team. Our #3 team, Mission Vipers Gold, came in right behind Five Star - Neyra at #89. They went 17-4 in the fall of 2018 after posting a 41-18-1 record as an 11u team. Our #4 and #5 teams, Dirtbags Legends and Canes Baseball NC - Hood, were listed among the "Regional Teams to Watch." Dirtbags Legends was a new team in the fall of 2018 and posted a 27-9 record, while Canes - Hood went 12-4 in the fall of 2018 after going 38-15-1 as an 11u team.

Beyond North Carolina

Our top team in Virginia, Dirty South Bats Venom, was ranked 71st in Perfect Game's top 100. Dirty South went 16-4 in the fall of 2018 after going 57-16-1 as an 11u team. Our #2 team in Virginia, Rock Solid Black, came in at #93 in the top 100, although they were mistakingly listed as a North Carolina team. Rock Solid Black was 23-4 in the fall of 2018 after going 65-14-2 as an 11u team. Our #3 team in Virginia, the Huguenot Red Legs, were ranked at #94, after going 12-6 in the fall of 2018 and 56-16-1 as an 11u team. Our #5 team in Virginia, the Tidewater Drillers Gray was listed among the "Regional Teams to Watch" after going 19-7-1 in the fall of 2018 and 58-14-5 as an 11u team. Perhaps surprisingly, no South Carolina teams made it into Perfect Game's 12u top 100. Our top 5 South Carolina teams (#1 Carolina Bruins, #2 St. Andrew's Rocks, #3 Rawlings Stars Prospects West, #4 Talon Baseball, and #5 Carolina Bomb Squad) were listed among the "Regional Teams to Watch."

 

 

What Perfect Game Got Right

Certainly it appears the teams at or near the top deserve to be there. The team at the top, MVP Hustle - Prieto, posted a 60-2-1 record across all USSSA play as an 11u team, including a title at the USSSA Demarini Elite World Series as well as a title at the 11u USA Futures Invitational last summer. Interestingly, their only losses as an 11u team came against 12u MVP Hustle teams. #2 Alamo Drillers went an equally impressive 64-9-4 across USSSA play as an 11u team, with 6 of their 9 losses coming against 12u teams. Their other losses came against MVP Hustle - Prieto, #4 Texas Raiders Elite - Lale, and #15 San Diego Show Black. More close to home, we might argue Canes - Simpson deserved a bit more love than 38th, but it's hard to argue with being named one of the top 40 12u teams in America.

What Perfect Game Got Wrong

We were a bit surprised to not see a single team from South Carolina ranked among the top 100 12u teams in America. Any of the top 3-4 teams would probably be worthy of consideration, although this too is only a minor criticism. We also expected Dirty South Bats Venom to come in a bit higher than 71st after a string of outstanding results as an 11u team, including a run to the final 8 at the USSSA Demarini Elite World Series.

With regard to the North Carolina teams, it's hard to argue too much with how Perfect Game had these teams ranked. With multiple teams ranked throughout the top 100, it's clear that at the 12u age group, North Carolina is as competitive a state as there is outside of the traditional powers such as California, Texas, and Georgia. We expect to see teams such as Dirtbags Legends, a relatively new team, compete for spots in the top 100 based on the results of the upcoming spring and summer seasons.