The 2026 Premier Collegiate Development League season concluded with Team Perkins, led by Francis Howell Head Coach Tony Perkins, winning the PCDL World Series with a cumulative inning score of 11-5-2.

It may look like an unusual final score—and that is exactly what makes the PCDL World Series different.

Throughout the summer, PCDL athletes train to improve their physical capacity, pitching arsenals, offensive approach, defensive skills and overall understanding of the game. The final week is designed to place those improvements into a competitive environment where execution matters.

Training creates new tools. Competition teaches athletes how to use them.

A Different World Series Format

The PCDL World Series uses a “Win the Inning” scoring system.

Rather than determining the champion solely through the final run total, one point is awarded to the team that wins each inning. The score from the first game carries over into the second game, creating one continuous competition across both days.

If an inning ends with the same number of runs scored, the following formula is used as the tiebreaker:

(Barrels + Stolen Bases) – (Walks + Hit by Pitches)

If the teams remain tied at the end of the series, total runs scored serves as the final tiebreaker.

The format forces players to compete during every inning. A team cannot afford to lose focus because each individual frame has a direct effect on the final result.

We intentionally reserve the final week of the PCDL season for this type of competition. It is a fun way to finish the summer, but it also reinforces an important lesson: player development is not complete until improved skills can be applied successfully in a game.

2026 PCDL World Series Highlights

Day 1: Barrel Derby

World Series week began with the PCDL Barrel Derby.

Each player received eight swings against a pitching machine and was challenged to produce his best possible contact. PPP coaches Nate Orf and AJ Pabst evaluated each swing based on contact quality and launch angle.

The competition eventually came down to a head-to-head final between Trey Kent-Landrum and TJ Bender.

Kent-Landrum delivered when it mattered most, producing four barrels during his final round and winning the competition on his final swing of the day.

Day 2: Team Perkins Wins a High-Scoring Opener

Team Perkins opened game competition with a 19-14 victory.

Bryce Beyers and Nate Caraballo were named the Offensive Players of the Game after leading the Team Perkins lineup.

Caraballo reached base twice and delivered one of the biggest swings of the game, finishing:

• 1-for-3

• Two-run home run

• Two RBIs

• One run scored

• One hit by pitch

Beyers consistently produced quality contact and finished:

• 3-for-4

• Two doubles

• Two RBIs

• Two runs scored

Their performances helped Team Perkins establish an advantage heading into the final day of competition.

Day 3: Team Perkins Finishes the Job

Team Perkins followed its opening victory with a 12-5 win in Game 2, securing the PCDL World Series championship with a final cumulative inning score of 11-5-2.

Caden Ziha and Macon Kessler earned Player of the Game recognition.

Ziha made several important defensive plays and helped Team Perkins control the game in the field.

Kessler led the pitching staff with one of the strongest outings of the entire World Series:

• 3.1 innings pitched

• One run allowed

• One hit allowed

• Zero walks

• Six strikeouts

Kessler attacked the strike zone, limited free bases and gave Team Perkins the stability it needed to close out the championship.

2026 PCDL Season Leaders

The PCDL gives athletes the opportunity to compete while tracking meaningful performance data throughout the summer. The following players finished the 2026 season as statistical leaders:

Pitching Leaders

Innings Pitched
Dominic Horn — 20.0 IP

Maximum Fastball Velocity
Calvin Robinson — 90.7 mph

Lowest Walk Percentage
Macon Kessler — 6.1%

Lowest Average Exit Velocity Allowed
Calvin Robinson — 72.6 mph

Highest Whiff Percentage
Will Browning — 64.8%

Highest Zone Percentage
Aiden Strickland — 45.1%

Offensive Leaders

Plate Appearances
Cooper Demanuele — 58

Lowest Strikeout Percentage
Cooper Demanuele — 3.4%

Highest Batting Average
Braden Schreimann — .423

Highest OPS
Nate Caraballo — 1.194

Highest Average Exit Velocity
Nate Caraballo — 85 mph

Lowest Chase Percentage
August Hutchinson — 11.2%

2026 PCDL Most Valuable Player: TJ Bender

TJ Bender was named the 2026 PCDL Most Valuable Player after producing one of the most complete seasons in the league.

Bender is a catcher, third baseman and shortstop from St. Louis, Missouri. He will begin his freshman year at Missouri University of Science and Technology in the fall of 2026.

As the primary catcher for Team Pabst, Bender provided consistently strong defense behind the plate throughout the summer. His throwing arm stood out, and he continued to produce offensively even as his catching workload increased over the course of the season.

Bender finished near the top of the league in several primary offensive categories:

• Plate appearances: 59

• Pitches per plate appearance: 3.97

• Strikeouts: 7

• Walks: 12

• Batting average: .341

• On-base percentage: .508

• Slugging percentage: .477

• OPS: .986

His combination of defensive value, plate discipline and offensive consistency made him one of the league’s most impactful players.

2026 PCDL Pitcher of the Year: Aiden Strickland

Aiden Strickland was named the 2026 PCDL Pitcher of the Year.

Strickland is a left-handed pitcher from Columbia, Missouri, who attended Hickman High School. He will attend McKendree University for his senior year in the fall of 2026.

Throughout the summer, Strickland worked to improve both his delivery and his pitch arsenal. His progress has put him in a strong position to contribute at McKendree during the upcoming season.

Strickland impressed the PCDL coaching staff with the quality of his repertoire. His fastball showed life through the strike zone, while his changeup and slider demonstrated the ability to generate swings and misses.

Most importantly, Strickland was willing to attack hitters.

His 45.1% zone rate, the highest in the league, reflected his confidence in his arsenal and his willingness to challenge opposing hitters rather than pitching cautiously around the strike zone.

Strickland finished the summer with:

• Innings pitched: 17.1

• Batters faced: 74

• Hits allowed: 11

• Earned runs: 10

• Walks: 6

• Strikeouts: 27

• Pitches thrown: 277

• Whiffs: 42

His combination of strike throwing, swing-and-miss ability and continued development earned him the league’s top pitching honor.

More Than a Summer Baseball League

The PCDL is designed to bridge the gap between training and competition.

Players receive opportunities to develop their bodies, improve their movement patterns, refine their arsenals, understand their performance data and compete in meaningful game situations. The World Series serves as the final test of that process.

The 2026 season featured impressive individual performances, measurable player development and a competitive finish from beginning to end.

Congratulations to Coach Tony Perkins and Team Perkins on winning the 2026 PCDL World Series, and congratulations to every athlete who competed, trained and developed with us this summer.

The work completed during the PCDL season does not end with the final out. It becomes the foundation each player carries into his next college season and the next stage of his baseball career.