Softball | Softball Tournament | 2/22/2022

Winter World Series Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff

Photo: Perfect Game

There were 18 teams in town this past weekend in Burlington, Iowa at the Perfect Game Softball 16U Winter World Series, with a great number of impactful players in attendance. The Bandits from Kaukauna, Wis. finished the tournament undefeated, continuously showing their prowess against the rest of the competition.

Gabby Fakes (2024, Fox Lake, Wis.) was named tournament MV-Pitcher for the tournament for the Bandits, while Sophia Bauman (2025, Grimes, Iowa) with the Iowa Outlaws Select 06 Andrews was named MVP of the tournament with an impressive 23 RBI.

Right-handed pitcher Avery Rost (2023, O'Fallon, Ill.), playing for the Tomahawks, was key on the mound this weekend. She was pitching anywhere from 43-58 mph, making it difficult for batters to have any predictions of what was to come. She finished with 21 strikeouts and only 4 walks for the tournament. To top it off, her curveball was most impressive as it tailed down near the end. She also hit fourth in the lineup at the plate, as she had a ready-to-hit mentality, attacking the ball with consistent hits to the middle of the ball.

Ruby Tarr (2024, Sidney, Ill.) with Illinois Ruthless showed huge range at shortstop, snagging hits that would typically be out of range. Her consistent glove was the glue to some successful games. She followed with some impressive swings at the plate, throwing her hands with natural ease at the ball that resulted in a home run.

Left-handed catcher Lexie Griggs (2024, O'Fallon, Mo.) with Texas Glory STL 24/25 was an asset behind the plate and at the plate. With an upright stance behind the plate, she was able to bend what could have been a ball into a strike. In the event her pitcher wins at the plate, she is the first to jump and congratulate her to keep the heat rolling. At the plate, she puts her all into each hit, driving her hips and striking through the middle of the ball.

Talia Lavorato (2024, Clive, Iowa) with Iowa Outlaws Select 06 Andrew shows a presence at the plate with a keen eye and an aggressive stance, ready to strike at the ball. She fights to get her pitch and once there, she drives through throwing her hands at the ball and she's quick on the bases. She uses her high energy all over the field, whether it be behind the plate keeping her pitcher up or in the dugout cheering on the batter for a transferred boost of energy. Behind the plate she is quick to pop up or down to use her body to block when it is needed.

Grace Blakemore (2024, Edwardsville, Ill.) with Illinois Ruthless was a true utility player, making her way around the field and yet at each position excelled. In right field she was able to jump on a ball to throw the runner out at first base. She also showed the ability to track some tailing fly balls with ease.

Addie Bowers (2023, Saint James, Minn.) with MN Waves- Nessler 16U was painting corners effortlessly. She was touching 62 mph and ended the weekend with 49 strikeouts. Her consistent accuracy helped lead her team to third place to finish up the tournament.

Brinlee Ostrander (2024, Eldon, Iowa), a 5-foot-1 catcher with the Mudd Dawgs, was a standout with her speed coming in handy behind the plate. A passed ball was no problem for her to jump on and ensure runners did not have the time to proceed to the next base. Her framing capability came in handy too, grabbing some strikes for her pitcher.

Ryleigh Albers (2024, St Charles, Mo.), a catcher with STL Comets 23/24, presents a certain confidence behind the plate when she sees the ball before it is even there, giving her the advantage to set up accordingly for each pitch.

Right-handed pitcher Karly Meredith (2025, Kaukauna, Wis.), playing for the Bandits, played a pivotal role on the mound this weekend, touching 64 mph, and showed the importance of accuracy with her 42 mph changeup that batter's often watched go by. On more than one occasion she had innings with no hits. At the plate, she pounds the ball dead center with a wide stance, ending the weekend with 2 home runs and 8 RBI to show for it.

Lydia Ettema (2023, Peosta, Iowa) with Nebraska Gold – Sandknop is a utility player in countless places for her team. As a middle infielder you can count on her for any close play to follow through with a chuck to first. As a pitcher touching 62 mph with a changeup at 35 mph, she makes a mark that brings her team up. At the plate, she shows off exceptional bat mechanics that result in consistent hits that her team can count on to get things heated up.

PERFECTGAME.TV

Give us your feedback

Softball | Softball Tournament | 3/4/2026

Perfect Game Softball March Madness

Ashley Mears

2026 Perfect Game March Madness February 27-March 1st Ashley Mears What a weekend at the Fun City Dome in Burlington, Iowa! The energy was electric from first pitch to final out towering home runs, edge-of-your-seat battles, dramatic comebacks, and extra-inning thrillers with some unpredictable endings, it was a great weekend all around. The Top Performers list welcomed some exciting new names, while seasoned seniors continued to cement their legacies, delivering standout performances week after week. For some, this may have been their final appearance on a Perfect Game stage, and they made sure it was unforgettable. In the 18u division a tough Nebraska Gold 319 Berning team outlasted the Southeast Iowa All Stars in the championship. In 16u the Top Gun 2028- Strange completed their weekend by beating the Iowa Aries 16U CE Fire Black. 18U The weekend’s Most Valuable Player award...

College | Story | 3/24/2026

College Players of the Week: March 24

Vincent Cervino

March 24th Perfect Game/Player of the Week: Quinton Coats, IF, Cincinnati The Cincinnati Bearcats (19-7) are on the cusp of the Top 25 and are playing their best ball of the season. The offense has been the driving force behind their success, and it has been incredibly consistent having averaged 8.5-runs per game. In the middle of it all, Quinton Coats, is on pace for a historic season both within the program and on a national level. The 6-3/225 infielder from Olathe, KS has been launching home runs at a record pace and opponents seem to be powerless to stop his onslaught. With incredible strength in his hands, Coats creates easy loft and in 5 road games last week he collected 9 hits in 20 at-bats, with 4 home runs, 9 runs scored, and he drove in a total of 9 runs as well. As for his pursuit of history, the modern day BBCOR bat standard single season home run record is 34, set back in...

College | Recruiting | 3/23/2026

Recruiting Notebook: March 23

Ryan Miller

High speed look at the FF-SL from '27 SS/RHP Harry Chubb Jones Jr. (GA)... #BeastoftheEast @PG_Uncommitted @PG_Georgia https://t.co/zXWgDJjU0y pic.twitter.com/GUIUN4tWmw — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 25, 2025 Harry Chubb Jones Jr., RHP/SS, Class of 2027 Commitment: Alabama Jones recently flipped his commitment from Clemson to Alabama, landing Rob Vaughn and staff a high-end two-way talent in the ’27 class. The Georgia native possesses tremendous upside on the mound, working from a long and lean right-handed frame that displays projection and athleticism. Jones starts over the face before working to the belt and into a higher pronounced leg lift. He fires down the mound via a standard-length arm action and high three-quarters slot. Chubb’s fastball/slider combination and feel for the zone, with the heater showcasing run/ride traits and power into the high-90s....

College | Rankings | 3/22/2026

College Top 25: March 23

Vincent Cervino

Time flies when you are having fun and the fact that we are almost to the halfway point of the 2026 season, proves just how entertaining things have been to this point. In what was an ultra-impactful week on the national landscape, there are some clubs fading out of the limelight while others are emerging from the shadows and showing they are a force to be reconned with. Conference play always makes the big picture come into view and we are now getting a feel for who the true contenders may be as the grind begins. The UCLA Bruins (21-2) keep their stranglehold on the top spot in the land as they remain unchallenged since the start of Big Ten play and finished the week with a (4-0) record. The Texas Longhorns (20-3) did lose back-to-back games this week but showed their resilience by winning an intense road series against now No. 7 Auburn (19-4). Georgia Tech (19-5) also had a (2-2) week...

Draft | Rankings | 3/20/2026

2026 Draft Board: Top 300

Vincent Cervino

The 2026 MLB Draft class is shaping up to be one of the better in recent memory and, potentially, the best class in the last decade. It’s led by UCLA superstar shortstop Roch Cholowsky, a true five-tool prospect who’s the early favorite for 1:1. One of the most popular pieces of industry feedback when constructing this list was some variation of “Roch is too low” or “go up on Roch” and he’s the best college prospect since 2019 when Adley Rutschman (Oregon State, Orioles) was the consensus No. 1 prospect. Similarly to 2019, there’s a superstar Texas prep shortstop at No. 2, in 2019 it was Bobby Witt Jr. (Colleyville Heritage, Royals) and this year it’s Grady Emerson. Both Emerson and Alabama’s Justin Lebron would have been solid 1:1 candidates in years where Roch Cholowsky is not eligible and both have All-Star potential....

High School | General | 3/23/2026

High School Notebook: March 23

Perfect Game Staff

Talon Brown (‘29 CA) showing some intriguing stuff over 2.1 IP running the FB up to 89, living 86-88 while mixing in a BB at 77. FB heavy on the day w/ a limited pitch count. 6-4, 205-lb w/ an athletic operation working down the bump #PGHS pic.twitter.com/HkLmJHrB1W — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) March 14, 2026 Talon Brown 2029 RHP, Christian Brown features an advanced 6-foot-4, 205-pound, athletic, projectable frame. The freshman has made two appearances on the young season working four-innings without allowing a hit or run and has struck out seven opposing hitters. It’s an easy, downhill operation and the ball jumps out of the hand, using the four-seam often that has ride through the zone, sitting 85-88 and topping out at 89. The breaking ball showed 11-5 shape with depth spinning it at 1900 RPM+. Brown features an athletic...

Press Release | Press Release | 3/19/2026

PG Teams Up with OZ Ball Tournaments PTY

Perfect Game Staff

667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PERFECT GAME NAMES OZ BALL TOURNAMENTS PTY AS OFFICIAL AREA DIRECTOR IN AUSTRALIA, EXPANDING GLOBAL FOOTPRINT Sanford, Florida (Thursday, March 19, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that it has entered into a new international partnership with Oz Ball Tournaments Pty, naming the organization as an official Perfect Game Area Director in Australia. The agreement establishes Perfect Game-licensed tournaments and showcases across major Australian markets, including Sydney, Brisbane/Gold Coast, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. Australian events will operate under the Perfect Game brand, delivering the same...

Press Release | Press Release | 3/18/2026

PG Introduces Individual Player Entry

Perfect Game Staff

667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PERFECT GAME INTRODUCES INDIVIDUAL PLAYER ENTRY, EXPANDING ACCESS TO ELITE NATIONAL EVENTS Athletes Can Now Compete in Select National Tournaments Through Structured ‘Team PG’ Rosters Sanford, Florida (Wednesday, March 18, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced the launch of Individual Player Entry, a new initiative designed to provide athletes the opportunity to compete in select national events even if their primary team is not attending. Through the program, players can now register individually and be placed on a structured “Team PG” roster, allowing them to participate fully in...

Juco | Rankings | 3/18/2026

JUCO Top 25: March 18

Blaine Peterson

This week brings a new top team to the rankings as Johnson County (KS), on the strength of 10 consecutive wins and a 26-2 record, claims the overall number 1 spot. The Cavaliers have made 3 consecutive trips to the JUCO World Series and have the talent to make it back there again this spring. Florida Southwestern and Chipola have seemingly separated themselves as the most consistent teams in Florida. Welcome to the top 5 to the Gaston Rhinos who will be one of the first teams to 30 wins this spring. Pearl River stays as the top NJCAA D2 team and Fresno City stays as the top Juco team in California; both are coming off undefeated 2 week stretches. Welcome back to the top 25 to John A. Logan who is now 20-7 overall and have played one of the toughest schedules of anyone. And for the first time in several years welcome to the top 25 to the College of Southern Idaho, the Golden Eagles have...

High School | General | 3/18/2026

Class of 2026: Preseason HS All-Americans

Perfect Game Staff

College | Rankings | 3/18/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: March 18

Nick Herfordt

In every major sport, the championship is decided in the postseason. You can lose games all year, get hot at the right time, and walk away with the hardware. The regular season is a rehearsal. The playoffs are the show. The championship belt changes that. Borrowed from professional wrestling, boxing and ultimate fighting, the belt travels the moment the holder loses — no brackets, no seeding, no second chances. A random Tuesday non-conference game in Milledgeville, Georgia becomes a title fight. A spring trip to Florida becomes a gauntlet. The defending national champion can lose the belt before February is over. We’re tracking three belts this season — NCAA Division II, NAIA, and NCAA Division III — each starting with the defending national champion. The results have been exactly as chaotic as you’d expect. Worth noting along the...

Loading more articles...

Contact PG Softball

Quick Links

About PG Softball

FAQ

PG Baseball

Our Services

PG Tournaments

PG Combines

PG Leadership

Stay in the loop!

Join Our Newsletter

PG Softball on SiriusXM