JUPITER, Fla. — Marucci Elite made history by winning the 2011 World Wood Bat Association World Championship. The team beat the tournament's Cinderella story, the Central FL PG Royal team, 4-3

Marucci Elite became the first team to win both the WWBA World Championship and the WWBA Underclass World Championship in the same year. Marucci Elite won the Underclass World Championship last year as well.

"The level of play at this thing, I mean it's the best players in the country," Marucci Elite program director and head coach Chad Raley said. "So to win this thing is absolutely huge. It's special to win this thing because there's some extremely talented players at this event."

Infielder Chase Nyman from Pascagoula (Miss.) High plays shortstop and second base for his high school team, but had to move off those positions for a pair of talented juniors: shortstop Oscar Mercado from Gaither High in Tampa and second baseman Chris Rivera from El Dorado High in Placentia, Calif. Nyman, a Mississippi recruit, has a sweet lefthanded stroke and came up clutch for Marucci Elite today, getting the eventual game-winning hit in both of the team's games.

"I haven't seen pitching in a while, so I started out a little slow," Nyman said. "But I came out today and had three hits and two game-winning hits, so it was pretty good."

Another Marucci Elite hitter who had a week to remember was outfielder Ty Moore from Mater Dei High in Santa Ana, Calif. Moore was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

"I just came into the tournament hot and looked for my pitch and just fouled off whatever I didn't like," Moore said. "As soon as I got it, I didn't miss it that often. So it was a pretty good feeling."

Raley said that Moore's leadership stood out as much as his bat did.

"If I were to have a team captain, he was our team captain," Raley said. "I mean, he really took charge of this team. He did an outstanding job and he's a great leader. Any time there was a tough spot in a game, he was the guy to rally the troops. He's an outstanding leader and he's going to play baseball for a long time. He's one of the funnest kids I've ever coached."

Righthander Marcus Brakeman from Shorecrest Preparatory School in St. Petersburg, Fla., was named the tournament's Most Valuable pitcher. Brakeman, a Stanford commit and alumnus of USA Baseball's 2010 16U team came one out away from throwing a no-hitter against Canes Baseball in the previous night's quarterfinal game.

Obviously we were not able to see every player at the event, but here are some other players that stood out this week. . .

FIVE 2012 PLAYERS WHO IMPROVED THEIR STATUS

Kolby Copeland, of, Parkway HS, Bossier City, La.
Arrived late because he also plays football but showed impressive hitting ability and power from the left side of the plate.

Joe DeCarlo, 3b, Glen Mills HS, Concordville, Pa.
Hard-nosed player with a sturdy frame showed a strong arm and strength at the plate.

Edwin Diaz, rhp, Naguabo (P.R.) HS
Live arm with a fastball that touched 94 mph but needs to improve feel for secondary pitches.

Nathan Kirby, lhp, James River HS, Midlothian, Va.
Virginia southpaw worked 90-91 down in the zone and added a good, hard curveball in the high 70s.

Mitchell Traver, rhp, Houston Christian HS
Physical righthander sat 92-94 with good life, threw a solid changeup with sink and a plus, power breaking ball.

FIVE UNDERCLASSMEN TO KEEP AN EYE ON

Michael Barash, c, West Boca HS, Boca Raton, Fla.
Young catcher is a solid receiver with a strong arm and a take-charge attitude.

Clinton Hollon, rhp, Woodford County HS, Versailles, Ky.
Kentucky signee has some crossfire but touched 96 whiling sitting in the low 90s and adding a nasty slider.

Oscar Mercado, ss, Gaither HS, Tampa
Projectable shortstop with smooth hands and a short, compact swing.

A.J. Puk, lhp, Washington (Iowa) HS
6-foot-4, 190-pound lefthander sat 88-92 with a slurvy 72-74 mph breaking ball.

Joseph Jae Roberts, of, Hammond School, Columbia, S.C.
Big bodied outfielder makes consistent hard contact.