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Softball  | Softball Tournament | 3/29/2022

PG Softball Earlybird Scout Notes

Photo: Perfect Game
There were 14 teams in total that competed in the 18u High School Earlybird, hosted in Burlington Iowa. Teams came from all over the state to represent and show what they have before their high school season starts.
 
Saturday had eight teams come out to the indoor turf at Fun City. Right-handed pitcher Zadie Wadle (2023, Indianola, Iowa) with the Iowa Bandits proved her way to the top, tallying up 22 strikeouts in just 9 innings pitched. Wadle showed great strength with her movement of the ball around the zone.

On Wadle’s coat tail was Cooper Klaahsen (2023, Nora Springs, Iowa) with North Iowa Heat, who ended Saturday with 21 strikeouts in 10 innings pitched. Klaahsen kept her pitches consistently between 55-58 mph. Madison Oetzmann (2023, Urbandale, Iowa) was another that got her name on the board for the Iowa Bandits with 13 strikeouts in 6 innings pitched, keeping it consistent between 55-57 mph.
 
Leading in the batter’s box for the Iowa Bandits was Jena Young (2023, Winterset, Iowa), an Iowa commit, who went 6-for-9 on Saturday with a single, 3 doubles, 2 homers, and 5 RBI. Young had a disciplined, aggressive approach to the plate. On the field, Young was a natural at shortstop. She glided across the field as she covered a great amount of range while staying quick with the transfer and throw.
 
Taylor Schwenn (2027, Clear Lake, Iowa) with North Iowa Heat started her Saturday morning with a second inning leadoff homer to center field. Schwenn made great contact and has a solid barrel. Along with that she showed great coverage in center field for her team. She gets a good first-step reaction on balls hit her way to get her footwork set to make the play.
 
With the Southeast IA Allstars, 18u Gold Miller Sydney Roe (2022, Davenport, Iowa), a Kirkwood CC commit, had a day in the batter's box going 4-for-6 on Sunday with 2 doubles and 2 homers. One of her homers was the result of a long battle, hit in a full count at-bat to left field, and the other was a two-run solid drive to go oppo in right field.
 
Teammate Hannah Simpson (2022, Fairfield, Iowa) had a day at the plate as well, going 5-for-7 with 1 single, 2 doubles, 2 homers, and 6 RBI. Both of Simpson's homers cleared the left field fence without question. Simpson has a great feel for the barrel, along with a strong arm at third base. She shows length with her throws across the diamond, and is smooth with the transfer.
 
Maura Chalupa (2023, Muscatine, Iowa) shows an aggressive approach to the batter's box for Southeast IA Allstars, 18u Gold Miller. Maura has a strong feel for the barrel and showed it on Sunday with a strong drive up the middle to tack on 2 RBI for herself. Chalupa also shows great strength in the circle. While keeping her pitches between 57-59 mph, she had 6 strikeouts and no walks in 3 innings pitched on Sunday.



Iowa Gold- 16u's Olivia Feuling (2023, West Des Moines, Iowa) showed off with her framework by keeping her wrist strong and helping out her pitchers to get ahead in the count.  She had a confidence about her slap work in the batter's box. As Feuling matures, the power behind her slaps will only grow and guarantee her a spot on first.

Teammate Joanna Geremesz (2024 Knoxville, Iowa) also had a day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a single, a double, a home run and 2 RBI for her team.
 
Meredith Gatto (2024, Dubuque, Iowa) worked the strike zone for Expos Simon, and she did well leaving batters chasing her rise ball. She led the day on Sunday with 16 strikeouts and no walks in 7 innings pitched. Gatto kept her pitches between 54-56 mph, and she shows great promise with getting more strength behind her pitches as she matures.
 
The leaders in the batter's box for Expos Simon were Emma Karcher (2025, Dyersville, Iowa), going 4-for-5 on Saturday with 4 singles, and keeping it rolling going 3-for-6 on Sunday with 2 doubles, 1 home run and 3 RBI. Brenna Borland (2025, Dubuque, Iowa) was a force to be reckoned with in the batters box on Sunday, going 4-for-4 with 4 singles and an RBI.
 
Cailyn Knight (2024, Altoona, Iowa) showed to be a great utility player for GP Select Iowa on Sunday. She started in right field and had a quick drop step with a smooth transition to catch and throw the ball in to her cut. She moved to third base later in the day and exemplified softball instincts, making quick decisions to keep runners from scoring on plays that came her way.
 
Teammate Katie Murphy (2023, Saint Charles, Iowa) made an appearance in the batter's box and went 5-for-7 with 4 singles and a leadoff home run on Sunday. Right behind her was Jersey Foote (2025 Creston, Iowa), also going 5-for-7 on Sunday with 2 singles and 3 home runs, one of which was a walk-off to secure the run-rule win for GP Select Iowa.
 
Lydia Ettema (2023 Peosta, Iowa) with Lady Expos Houselog had back-to-back days of going 4-for-6 at the plate. Saturday she had 1 single, 2 doubles and a home run. Sunday was 1 single, 1 double and 2 home runs. Two of her home runs over the weekend were grand slams to keep her team on top.
 
Iowa Elite Red had top hitters Saturday overall. Haileigh Smith (2023, North Liberty, Iowa) went 5-for-6 with 2 singles, 2 doubles, a home run, and 4 RBI. Jade Hynek (2023, Swisher, Iowa) led the day with 7 RBI, going 3-for-5 at the plate with 2 doubles and a home run.

Softball | Softball Tournament | 12/11/2025

PG Softball "Toys 4 Tots" Fundraiser 18U division

Dave Durbala
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BURLINGTON, IA - 2025 Perfect Game Softball Toys 4 Tots Fundraiser One Day, December 7, 2025. Kicking off the holiday season, six teams participated in this one day, 3 game guarantee tournament in the 18u Division. We would like to thank those that donated a toy, and know that they will be distributed to area underprivileged children through a local charity organization. Following are some of the top performers from the weekend. Earning Tournament MV-Pitcher was Jolee Strohmeyer (2026 Dubuque, IA), a RHP/UTIL with tournament champion Lady Expos Blue. Strohmeyer shows hitters a consistent and repeatable motion and delivery with good use of the legs in the drive phase, and a quick and aggressive arm whip. Working with a six pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, drop, curve and screw, Strohmeyer topped out at 60 mph, and showed good movement  as she worked her rise and curve just out...
Tournaments | Story | 12/13/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2029

Tyler Russo
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2028 These guys might just be entering high school, but they've certainly already made a name for themselves on the national circuit, especially with their abilities on the defensive side of things.  C: Xavier Rodriguez (Logansville, GA) Rodriguez is a polished defender with real arm strength behind the dish, while showcasing the ability to impact the baseball with authority to all fields evident by thirty of his sixty-five hits going for extra-bases including seven bombs. He handles high-level pitching extremely well, commands his staff and his offensive prowess makes him a true two-way asset. 1B: Cooper Knight (Buda, TX) Knight is a smooth operator at first base with plenty of range, fluidity and agility in his footwork around the bag. Add-in a rocket for an arm, the ability to change slots and to...
Tournaments | Story | 12/12/2025

Scout Stories: Part 5

AJ Denny
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Best Game I Saw: The Dream NTL 18U vs. MBA Scout Team Murphy Jupiter always brings out the best, and we got fireworks from the jump. Turner Marshall gave The Dream an outstanding 4+ innings of work on the mound, holding a lethal MBA team at bay with Chance Dixon, Derrick Carter, and Ellis Appling providing an offensive spark out of the gate for the Georgia based boys. However, it was only a matter of time before the talent on the other side got going, as MBA erased a 3-run deficit in the 5th to take a 4-3 lead led by a Parker Loew HR. The Dream then took command again in the Top of the 6th, before MBA punched right back with a huge 5-run inning in the bottom half capped off by a clutch RBI single from Matthew Kerrigan, ending a wild sequence with tons of notable performances from two very competitive rosters. Best Tournament Performance I Saw: Surely someone has already brought this...
College | Story | 12/12/2025

College Notebook: December 12

Craig Cozart
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Nebraska Cornhuskers 2025 Highlights: The Cornhuskers were a difficult team to figure in ’25 as they finished with 33 wins, played just .500 (15-15) in the Big Ten but had some big wins at various times during the season and got hot at the right time. They knocked off then #16 Vanderbilt in the second game of the year, beat #5 Oregon State 2-out-of-3 at home in late March and then got hot at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha to win the Big Ten Tournament. They beat Michigan State in a 10-inning thriller before taking care of #4 Oregon, knocking off Penn State and then shutout #13 UCLA to punch their ticket to the Chapel Hill Regional. Head coach Will Bolt has now led his alma mater to three conference titles and three NCAA Regional appearances during his six years in Lincoln. No different than when he was a player, Bolt’s teams play with passion and toughness, this was never more...
Tournaments | Story | 12/12/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2028

Troy Sutherland
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 You like athletes? You like defenders who can impact a game at any given point? Look not further than this class as it's loaded from coast-to-coast with elite defenders all over the diamond.  C: Brogan Witcher, Bakersfield, CA Our scouting staff got several strong looks at Witcher whether that was at the Summer Kickoff, Sophomore National or the Underclass All American Games where he showcased his strong overall skillset and especially his advanced ability behind the plate. His 6-foot-3,180 pound build looks like one that will fill in quite nicely and be that big and physical catcher’s frame. His arm talent is undeniable where he gets it out quick and runs it up to 79 mph on throwdowns to 2nd (1.84 pop). Besides the standout catch/throw ability, we’ve seen him frame/receive strong arms and block it well during...
Tournaments | Story | 12/11/2025

Scout Stories: Part 4

Tyler Henninger
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Scout Notes: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Best Game I Saw: Hudson Reed (‘26, GA) torches this ball to deep CF for a solo 💣. Generates easy power that plays to the big part of the yard. Middle of the order traits #UBCWest @PG_Georgia @PG_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/UXqDVFmUBx — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) June 18, 2025 I was fortunate enough to see a lot of highly competitive games with loads of talent on the field, the game that sticks out to me the most was Alpha Prime 2026 vs. ZT National Prospects at the UBC West. The game was an efficiently played affair with arms dominating on both sides. Graham Schlicht was masterful for Alpha, striking out 12 hitters over 5 dominant innings. PG All-American Julian Cazares came out of the pen blowing smoke, touching 97 mph with the fastball. On the other side, Jake Carbaugh surrendered just one hit and...
Press Release | Press Release | 12/11/2025

PG Believe In Baseball Announces Awards Dinner

Perfect Game Staff
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    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   THE PERFECT GAME BELIEVE IN BASEBALL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES DETAILS FOR FIRST ANNUAL “IN THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME” AWARDS DINNER AND AUCTION   Los Angeles, California (Thursday, December 11, 2025) – The Perfect Game Believe in Baseball Foundation, together with Perfect Game leadership of Chairman Rick Thurman and CEO Rob Ponger, has announced the inaugural “In the Spirit of the Game” event, an evening of baseball and laughter, taking place Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the iconic Laugh Factory in Hollywood, Calif. The evening supports the Foundation’s mission to provide financial assistance and resources that allow deserving young athletes to play, learn and grow through the...
Tournaments | Story | 12/11/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2027

AJ Denny
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 Elite defenders from coast to coast certainly seems to be a strength and to think you could make another top-tier team without thinking, speaks to the real depth this group possesses. The infield is a no-doubt strength of the group, but what catcher Dariel Carrion can do behind the plate is like something we haven't seen in a while in the prep ranks with an absolutely bazooka of an arm.  C: Dariel Carrion (San Juan, PR)  It isn’t often you get a catching prospect as athletic and natural as Dariel Carrion, a big reason why he holds the rank of #1 player in PR and #18 nationally. Metrics wise, the 5-foot-10, 210 pound San Juan native is all you can ask for and more, posting a sub 1.80 pop time with an 84 mph arm behind the dish. He has both contact and clear power threat on the offensive end, ending 2025 with a .337 BA and 4 HRs while also...
Tournaments | Story | 12/10/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2026

Tyler Henninger
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The Class of 2026 is one of the deeper prep classes that we have seen in a couple of years. With that being said, there is plenty of talent on the defensive side. Let’s take a look at some of the best defenders in the class.  C: Will Brick, Christian Brothers HS (Memphis, TN) Brick is a newcomer to the class after reclassifying, but immediately became the top backstop. Extremely advanced actions are shown behind the dish with impressive athleticism to go with it. Brick showcases big time arm strength and is consistently accurate on throw downs. He can make playing the position look extremely easy at times. Brick possesses all the defensive tools needed to be a premier catcher.  1B: AJ Curry, University City HS (San Diego, CA) Curry has a bigger and stronger frame with good strength throughout. He has a well-proportioned build that serves him well on the dirt. He’s...
General | Blog | 12/10/2025

Youth Baseball Exec. DeDonatis III Joins PG

Jim Salisbury
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Youth Baseball Executive Don DeDonatis III Joins PG By Jim Salisbury  It’s free-agent season in baseball and Perfect Game has landed a big one. Don DeDonatis III joined PG as a consultant in November. The DeDonatis name is synonymous with youth baseball and softball. Along with his dad, Don Jr., DeDonatis helped build USSSA into a big hitter in the game. He brings decades of experience and knowledge to PG. “We all acknowledge that Donny has moved on from USSSA,” PG CEO Rob Ponger said. “This is a new chapter for him and we hope both sides take advantage of it to help youth sports in general. “The DeDonatis name has a legacy attached to it and we’re hoping that Donny is going to help us. PG is a growing brand and he’s on board to help.” DeDonatis was CEO at USSSA from 2018 until his exit from the company two years ago. “I’m...
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