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PG Select Baseball Festival | General | 9/1/2024

Cotton Remains Calm & Poised

Hannah Jo Groves

Photo: Chase Cotton (Perfect Game)

Making the journey all the way from Lincoln, California, Chase Cotton sits in the dugout and jokes with his teammates representing the west at the 2024 14U PG Select Fest. This is his second Select Fest as he was invited to the 2023 13U Select Fest as well.

“I’m more calm,” Cotton said, comparing his experience last year to this year. “I’ve been here before and done this before so it feels like a regular baseball event…Being able to be with my teammates or people I played with and don’t anymore — I can just be with them the whole weekend and play with them one more time.”

The No. 1, nationally ranked right-handed pitcher has put up huge numbers on the mound for the 2024 season.

In 12 games played and 37.2 innings pitched, he’s struck out a total of 52 batters and his ERA sits 2.42.

Cotton got the start for the West in the PG Select Fest less than 24 hours from learning he was tagged as the 2024 14u National Pitcher of the Year at the awards banquet the night prior. In his one shut-out inning on the bump, Cotton used 13 pitches to strike out a batter. He showed off his 92 mph fastball as well as changeups and sliders that sat around the 80 mph mark.

Though it’s clear he puts in a lot of work on the field, he does even more off the field - and that’s what he feels has brought him back to the Select Fest for a second year in a row.

“It’s been working out every day, in the gym at least four times a week, throwing five times a week and just getting stronger, faster, and better.”

With fastballs touching 92 mph, Cotton said his favorite pitches to throw at the moment are his change-up and slider. Though his slider is still new — Cotton is already looking to the future and thinking of adding a cutter to his arsenal as well.

The 15-year-old explained that he’s made strides in the mental part of the game this year - identifying small issues and being able to move on from them - of course, with some help.

“My dad always helps me and reassures me that I gotta stay level. I can’t be too high or too low. I’m gonna show my energy, but when I get back to the dugout, it’s like, ‘next batter.’”

Though Cotton feels more relaxed than he did during his first Select Fest, the gravity and honor that comes with the invite is not lost on him.

“It means a lot to me,” Cotton said. “It makes me want to keep working more and keep getting better and better to make the next event.”

PERFECTGAME.TV

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