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2026 FL Preseason Classic & Open: Day 3 Recap

February 6, 2026
Prep Baseball Florida
Prep Baseball Florida Staff

The 2026 Florida Preseason Classic and Preseason Open will take place February 3-7 at IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. Both events feature ten teams from around the state of Florida kicking off their 2026 high school season with two Preseason games.

Preseason Classic - Day 3 Recap

IMG National 5, Bishop Verot 3

The IMG National built an early lead and held off a late push to secure a 5-3 victory over Bishop Verot on Thursday.

IMG wasted no time getting on the board in the bottom of the first inning, stringing together a fielder's choice groundout from Sebastian Wilson, a single down the right-field line by Max Hemenway, and a single to center field from Cy Chrisman—each contributing to a three-run burst for an early 3-0 advantage.


The Ascenders added insurance runs in the second on a sacrifice fly from Sebastian Wilson and in the third via a groundout by Antonio Chavez, pushing the lead to 5-0.

Michael Ramsey earned the win on the mound for IMG, delivering four strong innings while allowing three hits and one run, with seven strikeouts and one walk. Tyler Reeder took the loss for Bishop Verot after a tough start, surrendering four runs (three earned) on five hits over one and one-third innings, with two strikeouts and three walks. Kyler Meccage closed out the game with a save for the Ascenders, while Michael Todero provided relief support.


Frankie Thomas paced the lineup with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. Bishop Verot mounted a response behind solid hitting from Brody Baxmann and Joey Lawson, each collecting two hits. Braylon Sheffield, Nico Ayars, and Baxmann each drove in one run to account for the Vikings' scoring.


American Heritage 4, Venice 2

Venice fought hard in a competitive matchup but dropped a 4-2 decision to American Heritage on Thursday at the Preseason Classic.

American Heritage struck first in the top of the third inning, capitalizing on a fielder's choice to take an early 1-0 lead.

The Indians answered quickly in the bottom of the fourth when Carter Cox grounded out for a sacrifice RBI, tying the game at 1-1 and keeping the contest close.

The decisive moment came in the top of the sixth, as American Heritage broke the deadlock. Marc Ascencio delivered a clutch double to drive in two runs, followed by a groundout from Blayden Caballero that plated another, pushing the lead to 4-1. Venice managed one more run later but couldn't close the gap.


On the mound, Brady Snow took the start for American Heritage, surrendering three hits and one run over three innings while striking out three and walking three. Kasen Poplin started for the Indians, allowing two hits and one run over three innings with one strikeout and two walks. 


Offensively for Venice, Carter Cox provided the RBI to tie the game. Randall Riley, Graham Houston, Macade Carey, August Backman, and RJ Shields each contributed one hit to the effort.


American Heritage was powered by Marc Ascencio's standout 3-for-3 performance at the plate, which included two RBIs to lead the team.

Preseason Open - Day 3 Recap

ABF Academy 5, Foundation Academy 3

Foundation Academy jumped out to an early lead but couldn't hold on, falling 5-3 to the ABF Academy on Thursday at the Preseason Open.

The Lions struck first in the top of the first inning when Charlie Capozzoli delivered a single to plate the game's opening run for a 1-0 advantage. They extended their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the third as Anthony Miceli grounded into a fielder's choice that brought home another runner.

ABF Academy turned the game around in the top of the fifth, capitalizing on a Foundation error, a single to left field from Angel Pernia, and a double from Nathan Castillo—each contributing to a three-run rally that flipped the score to 3-2 in the Cowboys' favor. They added two more runs later to secure the 5-3 comeback victory.


Francisco Rodriguez provided a strong start on the mound for Foundation Academy, tossing two shutout innings with no hits allowed, two strikeouts, and no walks. ABF Academy's starter, Giannicarlo Garcia-Guzman went for five innings, allowing two hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out four and walking two to earn the win.

Westminster Christian 5, Miami Christian 1

Westminster Christian used strong pitching and timely hitting to secure a 5-1 victory over Miami Christian on Thursday at the Preseason Open.

Westminster broke through in the top of the second inning, capitalizing on two key singles to open the scoring. Mason Wiegandt delivered the first run with a single that plated a runner, giving the Warriors an early 1-0 lead they would build upon throughout the game.

Aaron Hernandez earned the win on the mound for Westminster Christian, tossing three shutout innings while allowing just one hit, striking out five, and walking one. Miami Christian's starter, Adrian Felix, battled early with seven strikeouts over two and one-third innings but surrendered four hits and two runs. Danny Andrea, Mason Wiegandt, and Tyler Curtin each followed with relief innings to preserve the lead and close out the contest.

Offensively, the Warriors spread the production across the lineup. Wiegandt, Fabian Pineiro, Adrian Pineiro, Brandon Comber, and Julian Alvarez each notched one hit, while Wiegandt, Landon Tews, and Comber each drove in one run.


Upcoming Events

Showcase State Date Location
Tampa Rising Stars ID (2030-2031 Grads) FL 02/16 Berkeley Prep - Tampa, FL
Panhandle Rising Stars ID (2030-2031 Grads) FL 03/09 Northwest FL State College - Niceville, FL
South FL Rising Stars ID (2030-2031 Grads) FL 03/17 Athletic Angels Field - Boynton Beach, FL
Orlando Rising Stars ID (2030-2031 Grads) FL 03/21 TNXL Academy - Ocoee, FL
Florida Rising Stars Games (2030-2031 Grads) FL 04/04 Jack Russell Stadium - Clearwater, FL
Tallahassee Summer ID FL 05/26 Tallahassee State College - Tallahassee, FL
Tallahassee Rising Stars ID (2030-2031 Grads) FL 05/26 Tallahassee State College - Tallahassee, FL
East Florida Top Prospect Games (Invite-Only) FL 06/02 Cacti Park - West Palm Beach, FL
Tampa Summer ID FL 06/03 Saint Leo University - Saint Leo, FL
Tampa Rising Stars ID (2030-2031 Grads) FL 06/03 Saint Leo University - Saint Leo, FL
Bradenton Summer ID FL 06/10 IMG Academy - Bradenton, FL
Bradenton Rising Stars ID (2030-2031 Grads) FL 06/10 IMG Academy - Bradenton, FL
Fort Myers Summer ID FL 06/16 Bishop Verot - Fort Myers, FL
Fort Myers Rising Stars ID (2030-2031Grads) FL 06/16 Bishop Verot - Fort Myers, FL
West Florida Top Prospect Games (Invite-Only) FL 06/23 IMG Academy - Bradenton, FL
Miami Summer ID FL 06/24 Doral Academy - Doral, FL
Miami Rising Stars ID (2030-2031 Grads) FL 06/24 Doral Academy - Doral, FL
Jacksonville Summer ID FL 06/30 Jacksonville University - Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville Rising Stars ID (2030-2031 Grads) FL 06/30 Jacksonville University - Jacksonville, FL
Orlando Summer ID FL 07/07 The First Academy - Orlando, FL
Orlando Rising Stars ID (2030-2031 Grads) FL 07/07 The First Academy - Orlando, FL
Clearwater Summer ID FL 07/14 Jack Russell Stadium - Clearwater, FL
Clearwater Rising Stars ID (2030-2031 Grads) FL 07/14 Jack Russell Stadium - Clearwater, FL