Softball | Softball Tournament | 3/29/2022

PG Softball Earlybird Scout Notes

Molly Roller

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.

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