Tournament Takeaways: 2026 Northeast Summer Championships
July 7, 2026
The Northeast Summer Championships brought some of the top talent in the region to Yaphank, NY, with players from the 2025-2031 classes competing over three days of game action.
Numerous players elevated their stock and put themselves on the radar. Throughout the weekend, players showcased high-end tools, impressive athleticism, and impactful in-game production. Below, we take a closer look at the top performers from the Northeast Summer Championships and the players who made the biggest impressions throughout the event.
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Wesly Almonte RHP / Goliath Academy, NJ / 2027Almonte got the ball in the championship game and did not disappoint. He first caught my attention at a scout day three weeks earlier, where he showed deliberate, repeatable mechanics, a quick arm, and topped out at 82 MPH. I came away wondering how that clean delivery and arm speed would translate into game action. The answer came on the biggest stage. Rising to the moment, Wesly threw a complete-game shutout, effectively mixing all three pitches to keep hitters off balance throughout the contest. With the adrenaline of the championship game fueling him, he reached back for even more velocity, topping out at 85 MPH while maintaining his feel for all three offerings.
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Jaden Alvarez SS / Holy Trinity, NY / 2026The Towson commit played a significant part in an undefeated weekend for Next Level Brewers Sandlot 17u. Already being known for his above average speed, defense, and bat to ball skills, Alvarez flashed gap to gap power throughout the weekend. Alvarez collected multiple XBHs including a no-doubt HR to LCF and a 2-R ground rule 2B on championship sunday.
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Colin Ark LHP / Rocky Point High School, NY / 2027The physical left-hander turned in one of the top outings of the tournament, tossing six shutout innings while showcasing a complete three-pitch mix and the ability to attack hitters with confidence. His arsenal is anchored by a FB 84-86 MPH that reached 87 MPH. The pitch plays well at the top of the strike zone with firm life and enough carry to generate swings underneath it. He consistently established the fastball early before working off of it with his secondary offerings. The slider proved to be his primary put-away pitch, featuring late sweeping action that kept hitters off balance throughout the outing. He also showed confidence in a changeup with late depth and fading drop, giving him an effective weapon against opposite-handed hitters and another pitch to disrupt timing. Mechanically, he works with a long, clean arm swing in the back that produces easy arm speed and helps him generate quality velocity from the left side. The combination of a physical frame, repeatable delivery, and a polished three-pitch mix allowed him to cruise through six scoreless innings, solidifying himself as one of the standout arms on the weekend.
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Jadiel Baez OF / Metropolitan Soundview High School (the), NY / 2028Baez was the driving force behind an explosive offensive weekend, helping lead his team to the 16U Northeast Summer Championship after scoring 68 runs across five games. Baez consistently sparked the lineup, collecting four extra-base hits, including three home runs, and delivering in key moments throughout the tournament. At the plate, Baez features a quiet, controlled setup with a slightly wider-than-shoulder-width base and relaxed hands set at ear height. He keeps pre-pitch movement to a minimum before unleashing an aggressive, compact swing with quick hands that work efficiently through the zone. His slightly downhill bat path creates consistent backspin at contact, allowing him to drive the baseball with authority and produce easy pull-side power. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound prospect has the physicality and strength to profile in a corner outfield spot. His combination of gap-to-gap power, emerging gap to gap power, and above-average arm strength gives him the tools to make an impact on both sides of the ball. |
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Michael Cotto C / Kellenberg Memorial High School, NY / 2028The long and wiry LHH catcher had a big weekend and showed up when it mattered most. In the quarterfinal playoff game, Cotto had 2 HRs and 4 RBIs. In the box, he has a quiet, balanced setup with still hands that hang shoulder high. A short stride and a slightly uphill swing path create launch and backspin upon impact allowing both HRs to sail over the RF fence.
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Julian Medina C / Christian Brothers Academy, NY / 2028After first seeing him at a scout day a few weeks ago, where he turned heads with a loud round of BP, including an 101.7 MPH Max EV, it was easy to see why the tools translated in game. The 5'9", 180 lb hitter has an athletic build, with a strong lower half, working from an extremely wide base with an aggressive uphill swing path and quick hands through the zone. He got his "A" swing off here in the championship game to extend the lead to 9 and put the game out of reach.
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Jack Lankowicz C / Sayville High School, NY / 2027Jack continues to elevate his all-around game, making consistent improvements as both a hitter and as a receiver. He had a loud weekend leading the Blue Line Rangers offense to the number 1 seed with 25 runs across 2 games. Jack flashed gap to gap power with a balanced lower half and rhythmic hands. During his load he utilizes a short stride and a slightly uphill swing with firm hands through the zone that create power. Behind the plate he has a clean transfer and quick feet that helped him gun down a runner at 2nd base during the semifinal.
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Theo Suniewick C / Hastings High School, NY / 2027The 6'2" - 185 lb strong athletic catcher had a big championship sunday depositing multiple XBHs including this go ahead 3-R HR in the quarterfinals!
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