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Softball  | Softball Tournament  | 2/4/2022

Burst The Bubble Scouting Recap

Photo: Perfect Game
Huge talent from all over the greater Midwest gathered together, representing Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, to compete in Perfect Game Softball’s Burst the Bubble in Burlington, Iowa. There were 24 16U and 18U teams facing off in our three-day tournament at FunCity Turf.
 
16U Division
 
The 16U division featured 12 teams, all playing three long days of softball, divided into two pools. Saturday night games finalized pool play, with CIA 16U and Iowa Aces claiming the No. 1 seed in their pools, both with a 3-0 record. More impressively, Iowa Aces allowed zero runs through pool play. By Sunday night, Iowa Aces faced Top Gun Gold Stl 05 in the championship game. Top Gun Gold Stl 05 dominated at the plate, out-hitting their opponent, ending in a 4-1 victory in the 16U bracket of Perfect Game Softball's Burst the Bubble.
 
Ashley Ware (2023, Manchester, Mo.) was awarded tournament MV-Pitcher, and absolutely owned the circle this weekend. In 16 innings, Ware struck out a whopping 30 batters, and also knocked in seven RBI, including two homers for Top Gun Stl 05. This young, elite prospect is an all-around player and competitor. Sitting around 55 mph, Ware owns a solid pitch-mix variation and commands the zone, finding each corner of the plate. Her biggest asset is a lively rise ball that jumps to the ceiling of the zone. Offensively, Ware has a fantastic cut that consistently produces pop for power.
 
MVP was given to Iowa Ace’s Jaidan Abel (2024, Urbandale, Iowa). The sophomore right-handed pitcher helped lead her team to the championship game both in the circle and at the plate. In 14 innings, Abel sat down 20 batters with a solid pitching performance, including a curveball that cuts right into the river. With a four-plus pitch repertoire, Abel allowed only eight hits the whole tournament. Offensively, Abel has a simple swing, short to the ball, with great extension, spraying the field. She finished the tournament with one home run, nine RBI, and four runs scored.
 
Another amazing player from this weekend includes Top Gun Gold Stl 05's Sofia Birkenholz (2023, Saint Peters, Mo.), who is a fantastic two-way player. As an infielder, Birkenholz shows heart and hustle, knowing the next play, and making diving catches. Her offensive talent is even more impressive. With a picture-perfect cut, Birkenholz makes clean contact and gets big hits. In 15 at-bats, this slugger finished the weekend with a .600 average including six RBI, seven runs scored, and three out-of-the park homers. Huge future for this athlete.
 
Teammate Maddie Guevara (2024, Washington, Mo.) has massive zone awareness, with plate discipline with every at-bat and jumps on mistake pitches. Guevara puts the ball in play and makes this happen on the field. This catcher and third baseman closed the tournament with nine hits, six RBI, seven runs scored, and six stolen bases.
 
Iowa Ace’s Caedence Risius (2024, Des Moines, Iowa) is a standout right-handed pitcher with a huge pitch-mix variation, including a late-breaking screw that rides the rivers. She has a fastball velocity of 54-56 mph and a rise ball that jumps through the zone. Risius collected 20 strikeouts in 14 innings. Offensively, she had a presence at the plate, helping her team rack up seven runs scored, plus three RBI.
 
CIA 16U is a team of dynamite hitters, including Macee Reiling (2024, Dallas Center, Iowa), who went 7-for-14 this weekend at the plate. Reiling has a strong lower half, clears her hips, and gets her hands through the ball. This young hitter smacked in eight RBI and crossed the plate eight times. Reiling stands out on the field as a middle infielder. This 5-foot-3 second baseman has huge range on her opposite glove side, making multiple diving plays up the middle. A huge prospect for middle infield. Her teammate, Reese Burke (2024, Grimes, Iowa), led the tournament offensively with nine hits, 13 RBI, and five runs scored, with three being home runs. This 5-foot-11 slugger has a beautiful cut, short to the ball with a long extension and a powerful lower half, giving her extra power.
 
18U Division
 
There were 12 teams represented in the 18U Division at Perfect Game Softball's Burst the Bubble, and at the end of day Nebraska Gold 319 - Berning and Illinois Espirit 04 were left undefeated, going 3-0 in pool play. Team Heat Softball 18U - Lowe beat out Illinois Espirit 04 to meet Nebraska Gold 319 - Berning in the championship game in a close battle. In the end, Nebraska Gold 319 - Berning was victorious with 3-2 win.
 
MV-Pitcher was given to Nebraska Gold’s Emma Nibaur (2022, Iowa City, Iowa), who led her team to an undefeated weekend. This right-handed pitcher has a great mix of pitches that makes her successful, including a fantastic break in her rise ball that produces swing-and-miss and a nasty off-speed at 38 mph. Nibaur racked up 12 strikeouts in nine innings.
 
Her teammate, Ava Curry (2024, Oskaloosa, Iowa), was given tournament MVP for her performance at the plate. This is Curry’s second season as a switch-hitter on the left side, and has a huge future. As a 5-foot-5 hitter, Curry has a disciplined approach at the ball, and with solid zone awareness, she walked six times. When given the chance, she does an amazing job keeping her hands inside the ball and driving it to the opposite field. She closed out the weekend with eight  trips across the pay station and five RBI.
 
Another standout player for Nebraska Gold 319 - Berning is Caelynn Obleton (2022, Marion, Iowa). This small and mighty hitter consistently puts the ball in play with a short, simple, effective cut. Obleton has a great feel for the barrel, getting complete contact and driving it to all areas of the field. In the circle, this right-handed pitcher plays her position and keeps the batters chasing with a solid off-speed and a closing rise. Her impressive stats include eight hits, one homer, four RBI, and four runs scored. 
 
Peyton Paulsen (2023, Dubuque, Iowa), playing for Team Heat Softball 18U - Lowe, shined above the rest for her speed in the circle, maxing out at 64 mph. She plays low in the zone, with a drop that keeps the ball on the ground and in the infield, trusting her defense to make plays. She has a huge range of movement with an off-speed, a fantastic screw that cuts in at batters, and a closing rise. With this bag of tricks, she led the tournament with 18 innings pitched, shutting down 24 batters.
 
Quad City Firebirds 04 were led to the semifinals by Maddy McDermott (2023, Walcott, Iowa). Going 8-for-13, McDermott has a great feel for the barrel, leading the 18U Division in home runs with three total.This 5-foot-11 hitter also knocked in five RBI and six runs. In the circle, McDermott had 11 appearances and struck out 16 batters. Avery Budde (2022, Damiansville, Ill.) hit her team, Illinois Espirit, into the semifinals with tournament-leading stats including 10 hits in 13 at-bats, with two home runs, four RBI, and seven runs scored.

-Brianna Brooks
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