West Orange's Carson Montgomery showed off skills in Perfect Game All-Star Game -- Observer Preps

When the game had ended, Carson Montgomery’s phone was blowing up.

Whether through Snapchat, Twitter or text, teammates and friends from West Orange High and elsewhere had all made sure to let the sophomore pitcher and outfielder for the Warriors know they had seen his national television debut in the Perfect Game Select Baseball Festival’s 14U Game Sept. 3, which was broadcast by Fox Sports.

“(My teammates) were all watching and cheering me on — I got a bunch of Snapchats from all of them,” Montgomery said.

The game featured 40 of the top amateur players in the country age 14 and younger, split into East and West teams. The festivities took place out of Fort Myers’ JetBlue Ballpark, the Spring Training home of the Boston Red Sox.

Montgomery, a Florida State commit who plays his travel baseball for Power Baseball, has been to many high-profile showcases — including the USA Baseball 15U Trials earlier this summer — but said this most recent event was the best yet.

“This is the top event, for sure — it had the most prestige, we got the most stuff, there were the best kids there,” Montgomery said. “It’s cool to meet kids around the country, because things are different. You can ask them questions and stuff.”

“It’s cool to meet kids around the country, because things are different. You can ask them questions and stuff."

Montgomery arrived Aug. 31 in Fort Myers, and the festivities began with a team dinner. When the players arrived at their hotel rooms, there was a pile of gear waiting for them.

The next day, players practiced before heading to a local children’s hospital, where they worked on arts and crafts with some of the patients. On Saturday, the invitees again practiced, but followed it with a scrimmage and home-run derby.

Finally, on Sunday, game day arrived, and all 40 players signed autographs before taking the field at JetBlue Ballpark. 

“The game was fun, definitely, but I liked the home-run derby because I hit one over the ‘green monster,’” Montgomery said.

In the actual game, Montgomery was part of a 5-1 victory for the East. He pitched one inning and struck out two batters, including one to end the inning.

“I think I did well on the mound,” Montgomery said. “I could have thrown harder, but I was more worried about throwing strikes.”

Back in West Orange, Montgomery — whose parents live in Winter Garden and Windermere — is focused on fall ball for the Warriors and getting better. As a freshman for West Orange last spring, the two-way player did not see a ton of action on a loaded squad, and that was by design. 

This time around, though, head coach Jesse Marlo expects Montgomery to be an important part of the Warriors’ pitching rotation and batting lineup.

“Without wanting to put too much pressure on him … we expect him to kind of fill into that role this year,” Marlo said. “We all know he has the talent — that was on display this weekend.”

Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].