Top Tier Las Vegas Newsletter: February 19, 2025
Welcome to the first installment of the Top Tier Las Vegas Newsletter, a recurring feature on the Top Tier Las Vegas website that will help keep parents and players informed about various topics. Today, we’re starting with a recap of the 14U’s performance at the Perfect Game President’s Day Classic. We’ll touch on some other notes, including the high school schedules for our 17U players, who will begin their high school seasons next week.
THE LEADOFF SPOT
14U falls short at pg President’s Day Classic
Despite falling to High Heat (NV) in walk-off fashion in the semifinals of the Perfect Game President’s Day Classic, there was no shortage of offense for the 14U group this past weekend. The 14s scored 49 runs on 56 hits in five games, with shortstop Trey Webb (2029, NV) leading the way at the top of the lineup, going 11-17 at the plate with six doubles, 10 RBI, and eight runs scored. Webb is slashing .615/.667/.923/1.590 through nine games with eight doubles, 17 RBI, 11 runs, and a pair of stolen bases and will be one for the crew at Prep Baseball Report to watch at next month’s Las Vegas Rising Stars event.
Aeden Redditt (2029, NV), Makai Adarme (2029, NV), and Ethan Gonzales (2029, NV) also had solid weekends at the dish, with six hits each. As a group, the 14s scored the second-most runs of the event, and everyone on the roster contributed to an impressive offensive showing.
In our pre-tournament meeting last week, the coaching staff emphasized the importance of recording quality at-bats rather than aiming for a result in the scorebook. The coaching staff logged quality at-bat charts during the weekend, with various ways for players to achieve a quality at-bat being the criteria. Those results were: hard hit balls, hits, walks, hit by pitches, moving base runners with no outs, scoring a runner from third with no outs, six-pitch at-bats not resulting in a strikeout, and eight-pitch at-bats even ending in a strikeout.
This simplified and team-success-driven approach resulted in a team-wide .695 quality at-bat percentage. That quality at-bat percentage translated to a team-wide .424 batting average, a .493 on-base percentage, 49 runs, 56 hits, 10 extra-base hits, and 18 walks. The boys were also a perfect 12-12 on stolen base attempts on the weekend. Comparatively, the team had a .321 batting average and four extra-base hits.
While there’s room for improvement, the defense had a significantly better weekend. They posted a .911 team fielding percentage, up 18 percent from their first tournament, when they posted a .772 team fielding percentage.
(Left to Right): Makai Adarme (2029, NV), Coach Nate Waskey, Trey Webb (2029, NV), and Jastin Watkins (2029, NV)
AROUND THE HORN
looking ahead: 14U back in action, 17U’s high school seasons begin next week
The 14s are back in action this weekend at the Perfect Game February Showdown in Las Vegas and Henderson. They have a pair of pool play games on Saturday, and bracket play will occur on Sunday. Family members and friends who are approved family members of any player on the roster through GameChanger can watch the games live on the GameChanger app—a big thanks to Jojo Gonzales, who manages the team’s GameChanger and livestreams every weekend.
Our 17U’s will open their high school season next week. Our coaches will be taking in their high school games throughout the season in person, and we encourage our younger players to catch a game when it fits into their schedule. Here’s a list of links to our 17U player’s high school schedules:
Here’s to a successful high school season for our 17U players!
Prep baseball report rising stars
Prep Baseball Report will hold its 2025 Rising Stars event next month (March 22) in Las Vegas. This event has a dual function. For most participants, this will be their first showcase event - an initial step toward achieving a player’s baseball goals. Part of this event is educational: there will be a lecture about what scouts look for, how to comport themselves, what to expect in the recruiting process, and the overall landscape of playing at the next level. The second function of the event is to identify young talent and, at the same time, get valuable coaching in the showcase process.
Top players from this event will be invited to our Rising Stars Games at the end of May, where we will select Team Nevada for the 2025 Junior Future Games. The Junior Future Games will run in conjunction with Prep Baseball's Future Games and Senior Future Games. The Future Games features the top High School players in the Class of 2027 across Prep Baseball's 40+ state coverage area. It is one of the most highly recruited summer events and attracts more than 400 college coaches nationwide annually.
The Junior Future Games, an Invitation-Only event, will feature the best-identified prospects nationwide in a four-day event at Lake Point in Cartersville, GA. This state-of-the-art facility features eight all-turf fields. Participants will compete against other top-level players while representing their respective states.
Players from the 2029 and 2030 graduating classes can register for this event for FREE (with paid optional upgrades available) at the link below:
Prep Baseball Report 2025 Las Vegas Rising Stars
players of the week
Each week, we will select a player of the week from each age level of the program. There will be a hitter of the week, a pitcher of the week, and a gold glover of the week for teams in action the previous weekend.
14U Hitter of the Week: Trey Webb (2029, NV)
Webb racked up 11 hits in 17 at-bats, pacing the 14U’s offense at the top of the order with six doubles, 11 RBI, and eight runs. Webb’s smooth and easy swing and growing confidence at the dish have him off to a scorching start to the season.
14U Pitcher of the Week: Everett Abelar (2030, NV)
In a must-win pool play game against Wow Factor Utah, Abelar tossed four and two-thirds innings, allowing no earned runs (two unearned) on two hits while striking out two in a victorious outing that set the tone for a perfect 2-0 Sunday for the 14s.
14U Gold Glove of the Week: Austin Pratt (2030, NV)
Pratt’s versatile and steady glove shined at multiple spots this weekend, with Pratt spending time behind the plate, at first base, and second base. Pratt had a perfect fielding percentage, was part of a pair of double plays, and only allowed one passed ball in 13.2 innings of work behind the plate.
Top Tier Las Vegas 14U C/INF Austin Pratt (2030, NV)