2021 PBR Jr. Future Games: Team TN Recap

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In 2021, PBR Tennessee participated in their third PBR Jr. Future Games at Lakepoint, featuring some of the best young prospects from all across the country + Canada. The players haven’t even played an inning of high school baseball up until this point, but it is a magnificent event where college coaches tune in to scope out the next generation of rising talent while the teams battle it out to be crowned national champion. Personally, this is one of the most genuine events as the teams have an unshakable passion for the game and build bonds that have an everlasting impact as they progress in the game. From something as simple as asking an opposing player, “where are you from?” or “who’s your favorite MLB team?” to a “stretch-off challenge” or the opposing fans tipping the cap to an ace pitcher, it just shows how special this event is year in and year out.  

It was another trademark year for the two Tennessee ballclubs representing the 14U and 13U divisions with 30 players donning the fresh navy and red threads to represent the Volunteer State. It was a loaded group with both clubs winning their respective pools to advance to bracket play, a first for PBR Tennessee. We also saw 10 players top out at 81+ on the mound during gameplay and some noteworthy performances on both sides of the ball. For the past three years, we’ve seen seven former JFG members commit to D1 universities, and this year we had our first ever mid-event commitment with 2025 OF Hutson Chance’s commitment to Tennessee. 

I’d like to take this time to also thank the players, families, and coaches for playing a part in another memorable JFG experience for all parties. Now let’s dive into the JFG recap…

JFG Team TN:
News Articles
2021 JFG Roster
Stat Analysis 

2025 Team (14U)

 The 2025 squad featured seven returning players from the 2020 13U group, which was the first club in TN JFG history to make the gold winner’s bracket. Among that group featured four players (Ari Bethea, AJ Greene, Ean McCord, and Madden Williams), who helped lay the JFG foundation in our state, as they competed in their third PBR Junior Future Games which is a feat we may not see touched again since switching to two classifications. Team TN 2025 featured a good mix of JFG experience along with high caliber pitching and offense, and they made it a point to set their sights on winning the whole thing.  

Game One vs Michigan
SS/RHP Harrison Cassle (Clarksville Academy) got the opening game nod on the bump, featuring a quick loose arm and good athleticism while running the FB up to 82. However, (Eventual 14U Champion) Michigan came out firing on all cylinders plating 5 runs in the first frame thanks to some defensive miscues and string of quality at bats. TN tried to climb back in it following back to back doubles from Cassle and Ean McCord (Davidson Academy) in the 2nd. Cassle would work into the 3rd frame and some more defensive errors allowed Michigan to extend the lead to 7-1. TN would answer right back in the 4th with three runs to make it 7-4. The bullpen efforts from Knox Haylip (Friendship Christian), Ari Bethea (Collierville), and Alexander Peck (USN) tried to keep TN in the game, but the early miscues and outstanding defense of Michigan allowed them to take game one 11-4 in the two hour time limit.  

Game Two vs Connecticut
It was an early morning bout in the 8am time slot, but RHP Ean McCord (Davidson Academy) put together one final gem on the mound during his JFG tenure.  McCord kept the Connecticut offense off balance all morning attacking hitters with a FB at 80-83 and sharp CB at 63-67. He finished the game tossing a one-hit CG shutout (5 IP).  Offense was slow out the gate, but OF Hutson Chance (CPA)scored the deciding run on a 2nd inning inside the park home run.  C Baylor Osborne (Mt. Juliet) added an RBI single in the 4th to score C Brock Beddingfield (CPA) and the TN offense exploded late to secure an 9-0 run rule victory to keep their title hopes alive.  

Game Three vs Pacific Northwest
The 2025 group needed to secure a victory against the Pacific NW in a late nightcap on Saturday to advance to bracket play.  RHP Nate Parsons (Clarksville) got the ball and ran with it, turning in a 3-hit CG shutout while only walking one and striking out 13 batters.  Parsons pounded the zone efficiently with a three pitch mix, featuring a FB at 78-81, tunneling CB at 68-73, and CH at 68-71.  TN would muster just enough offense in the later innings to give Parsons a 2-0 cushion, and he finished it out, securing the Pool I title and a chance to make a run in bracket play.  

Bracket Play vs #8 Nevada
Securing the no. 9 seed, TN would need to win four games to capture the JFG 14U title on Championship Sunday.   C/RHP Graham Jones (Daniel Boone) got the starting nod on the bump and worked into the 5th inning while surrendering only two hits, thanks to a FB at 80-85 and mixing breaking ball at 72-74. TN would plate a run in the 2nd, but Nevada answered with one of their own in the 3rd.  Nevada showed to be elite in controlling the run game and picking up outs on the base paths. In the 4th, Nevada ripped a two-out solo HR to RF to give them a 2-1 lead and they would tack on two more in the 5th for a decisive 4-1 victory ending Tennessee’s title aspirations.  

2026 Team (13U)

A fresh bunch of faces in this group with no JFG experience, but a squad that was deep up the middle defensively and maximized arm talent with good matchups. Not to mention a group that would come out the gates very aggressive offensively, putting the pressure on the other team to play catch up. A team that would work deep into counts and could mash the ball around the ballpark, scoring 8+ runs in all four contests. They never wavered and brought the energy every outing, and some would say they were #builTdiffereNt. 

Game One vs New York
The 2026 club didn’t waste any time making a first impression as Harrison Pollina (Munford) walked and Cooper Nebben (Clarksville Academy) singled then Gunnar Boles (Webb School) mashed an inside the park home run to make it a 3-0 game. They would tack on one more in the first on a Gunner Skelton (Columbia Academy) double to make it 4-0, then turned it over to Cooper Nebben on the mound.  Nebben worked 74-77 while mixing a CB at 63-65 and CH at 66-67 and tossed two scoreless frames while striking out five.  The TN offense would add six runs in the 3rd to make it a 10-0 ballgame, but New York would rally for seven runs in the bottom half to cut it to 10-7.  TN would add one in the 4th, then RHP Colie Reynolds (Clarksville) came on in the 4th and closed it out with a three up, three down inning to secure the 11-7 opening victory. 

Game Two vs Arkansas
One of the more exciting games from the week in the matchup vs Arkansas that featured an early back n forth then a lengthy weather delay before finishing it up late on Friday night. Arkansas came out swinging plating three runs in the top of the first, but TN would answer back plating two on RBI doubles from Kaden Powell (Smith Co.) and Gunnar Boles (Webb School). Starting pitcher Gage Graziano (Tennessee) settled in tossing a quick second frame, then Grayson Wright (Bearden) delivered a huge bases-loaded double to make it a 6-3 game. Arkansas would scratch for one in the 3rd, then TN would match it with bases loaded as a weather delay halted the game.  After an hour and a half delay, TN could only scratch one more run to make it 8-4, then Gunner Skelton (Columbia Academy) came on in relief and limited Arkansas to three runs working into the 6th. After a leadoff walk in an 8-7 game, TN made a call to the bullpen bringing in big Kaden Powell (Smith Co.) to try and shut it down. He answered the call featuring a 79-82 mph FB and CB at 68-73 logging a pair of strikeouts and a fly out leaving the tying run at third base.  The win pushed TN to 2-0 in pool play with a “win and in” scenario for a Saturday night matchup with Indiana. 

Game Three vs Indiana
A stout Indiana club was prepared to challenge the ‘26 team in a late nightcap with pool title implications on the line, so TN handed the ball to RHP Eli Dickey (CPA) on the mound and he ran with it.  Dickey would work 5 hitless frames while allowing 2 runs and tallying 10 punchouts. Dickey sat 80-85 with a low spin heater and tunneled a breaking ball at 72-75 (T 2450 rpm), keeping Indiana off balance all night.  TN would score four runs in the first inning, highlighted by a Kaden Powell (Smith Co.) 2-RBI double. They would tack on another in the 2nd thanks to a Gunner Skelton (Columbia Academy) double to make it 5-0 early.  After giving up two runs in the 5th, Dickey would help his cause with a 2-RBI triple before coming around to score to make it 8-2. With a no-hitter still intact, RHP Colie Reynolds (Clarksville; FB: 74-76) made his second appearance in relief tossing a clean 6th inning before surrendering a 45-ft infield single with one out in the 7th. Indiana would load them up following two more singles, then Reynolds got a line out to Nebben at 2B who flipped it to the bag for a double play to end the game. TN captured the Pool I title and also marked the first JFG TN team in state history to go undefeated in pool play. 

Bracket Play vs #5 Alabama
Alabama jumped out to an early lead in the opening round of bracket play, plating four runs on four hits, then would follow it up adding 3 more in the 2nd to take a 7-0 lead.  TN would answer with three runs in the 2nd, but would leave them loaded to end the frame.  Alabama would add one in the 3rd and three more in the 4th on a base clearing double as TN would pick up one run per inning. Heading into the 5th down 11-5, RHP Harrison Pollina (Munford) would throw up a zero in relief of RHP Adam Riley (Jo Byrns), then TN offense had two base runners with two outs. Grayson Wright (Bearden) worked a walk to load the bases then Wyatt Severance (Ravenwood) singled in a run to cut it 11-6. Gage Graziano (Tennessee) would keep the inning alive reaching on an error then Mason Beers (Scotts Hill) singled to bring in two more, giving TN runners on first and third with two outs down 11-9. After a Beers stolen base, Ryan Edwards (Webb School Bell Buckle) hit a flare towards shallow RF, but the Bama second baseman goes full extension to make a diving grab to end the game.  An incredible effort and ending to the 13U JFG title run, but a group that never gave up until the final play.  

As a state, another step forward in the JFG realm by sending both clubs to bracket play for the first time in state history. However, Team TN will return in 2022 with their eye on bringing home the first JFG national championship back to the Volunteer State. The Quest Continues….

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