Softball | Softball Tournament | 3/9/2021

PG Diamondkast Experience Recap

Jerry Miller

Photo: Perfect Game

2021 PG Diamondkast Experience Event Page

High School Division

The SWVA Miners out of Tazewell, Va. cruised to the 2021 DK Experience championship in the High School division, posting a perfect 3-0 record. The orange and black-clad Miners rode solid pitching, air- tight defense and clutch, timely hitting to the winner’s circle on Saturday at Bradford Park in Huntersville, N.C..

Tournament MVP Carly Compton (2025, Tazewell, Va.) showed her talents at the plate, on the dirt, and in the pitching circle throughout the Miners run to the championship. The 5-foot-10, noticeably gifted player was impressive at the dish. Her day at the plate was highlighted by a no-doubt home run to the deepest part of Field 4. The drive, which one-hopped the permanent fence in deep left field, some 290 feet from home plate, was gone when it left the bat. Compton, who is only in the 8th grade, also showed plus range at shortstop and a strong, powerful arm that was true throughout the day. In addition to her exploits at the plate and on defense, Compton also threw three no-hit innings in the championship contest.

Haven Helton (2025, Catawba, N.C.) was also a sound contributor to the Miners trophy run. The 5-foot-7 right-handed hurler was dominant in the circle in the Miners first two victories. In total, the North Carolinian threw five innings, striking out seven, while allowing only five hits.

Maddie Gillespie (2024, North Tazewell, Va.) had a big day at the dish, hitting .750 with an .800 OBP. The left-handed hitting first baseman had a double and drove in three runs, while also scoring three on the day.

Joining in the offensive fun for the champions from Virginia was Alayshia Griffith (2023, North Tazewell, Va.). The right-handed hitting outfielder hit .667 for the tournament. Her four knocks also saw her drive in three. Griffith’s heady and aggressive baserunning style saw her pressure the defense throughout the day as she also scored a couple of runs.

Another player worth noting who showed grit and moxie throughout the tournament was Resurrection Softball pitcher and first baseman Destini Vines (2020, Claremont, N.C.). All Vines did was lead her club out of the bracket play-in game with a gritty performance in the circle and clutch at-bats. Vines threw a tournament-leading 9 1/3 innings on the day and struck out 13. She also went 4-for-9 at the plate, doubling twice, while also driving in two.

14U Division

Team Venom rode a strong offensive showing in the championship contest, solid pitching, and lockdown defense to a surprising 10-0 run-rule victory over the top-seeded L-Town Xtreme Carpenter club in the 14U division finals.

Pacing the victorious Venom team was their outstanding RHP Rachel Lyons (2026, Marvin, N.C.). The 5-foot-3 righty threw seven scoreless innings on the day, allowing only five hits, while striking out seven.

Supporting the outstanding pitching for the champions from Waxhaw, N.C. was their dynamic middle-infield combo. Shortstop Caroline Petroff (2026, Waxhaw, N.C.) collected four hits, with a double, scoring four runs, while also driving in a couple more. The 5-foot-4 smooth-fielding defender also stole a base for the champs.

Petroff’s partner on the Venom infield, Kambria Bragg (2026 Charlotte, N.C.), also had a plus day at the dish. Bragg collected five knocks for the tournament. Two of her hits were triples as she showed her plus speed to all in attendance. She scored three and drove in five to pace the Venom offense.

The top seeded L-Town Xtreme Carpenter club probably would not have advanced to the championship game without the exploits of their top hurler, Maddison Herms (2026, Maiden, N.C.). Herms threw 10 innings, allowed only eight hits and no runs. She struck out 10 during her outstanding day in the circle.

12U Division

The Mooresville, N.C.-based Comets Trego ran roughshod over the 12U field in claiming the division championship over T24 Softball 12U Lessmeister, by a score of 5-1. The T24 nine, from York, S.C., did it the hard way in making it to the final contest. Coming out of bracket play, they scored 21 runs in two games to make it to the championship round. In the end though, the Comets were just too dominant as they plowed through the 12U field by a collective score of 30-5 in posting four impressive wins.

Kudos go out to two outstanding T24 Softball hitters in Mariah Rushin (2026, Charlotte, N.C.) and Taylor Moreland (2026, Tega Cay, S.C.). This dynamic duo paced the hard charging T24 Lessmeister crew at the dish. Rushin, who is a smooth-fielding shortstop, collected six safeties on the day, scoring four runs, driving in three, while stealing four bases. Moreland, the T24 catcher, had five knocks, one of which was a double and scored a couple for the runners-up.

The trophy-winning Comets were led by dominant pitching and an overwhelming offense. Leading the way in the circle were Addison Trego (2027, Mooresville, N.C.) and Caroline Constable (2026, Mooresville, N.C.). Trego threw a team-high eight innings during the tournament. The 5-foot-4 right-hander only allowed four hits, while striking out four. The 5-foot-8 Constable was equally as good as her pitching mate. The right-handed hurler threw seven strong innings and struck out an impressive 10 opponents.

Leading the way for the overpowering Comets offense was outfielder Caroline Paslay (2026, Statesville, N.C.). The 5-foot-2 right-handed swinger drove in an impressive six runs, in an offensive display that included a triple, two runs scored, and a stolen base.

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