Softball | Softball Tournament | 4/27/2022

HS State Championship Scout Notes

Russ Wohler

Photo: Perfect Game

This past weekend was the final tune-up for Iowa players before tryouts and the high school regular season begins in May. Fifteen teams across two age divisions took the field on a beautiful and windy Sunday. Alliance Select Cox from the 16u side and Iowa Bandits from the 18u side claimed victory against fierce competition.

16u

Alliance Select Cox ran the table on their way to the Championship Sunday, not surrendering a single run all day long. Jada Lande (2026, Slater, Iowa) was a big part of Selects' success. Lande has quick hands and a line drive approach when she enters the box. The barrel pops with contact as she hits to all fields. The MVP of the 16u division, Lande collected seven hits on the day, driving in four and an OBP of .800.

The finalist of the 16u division Alliance Select 16u Black also had a great day. Campbell German (2024, Cumming, Iowa) showed confidence in her mix of pitches, which includes an explosive rise and nasty changeup. A 15 MPH difference between those pitches helped German keep hitters off-balanced and guessing all afternoon. Each of her pitches has some type of breaking motion, whether it bores, or runs and/or drops. German earned two wins, rung up 12 batters in 7 2/3 innings pitched and was named the MV-Pitcher of the 16u bracket; bright future for German indeed.

Her Alliance teammate, Nyah Hulbert (2025, Norwalk, Iowa), helped the team at the plate. Hulbert has a great feel for the barrel, classic approach to hitting and plus baserunning. Using those abilities, Hulbert collected five hits, scored four runs and stole six bases.

The Spartans competed hard during the tournament. Zoey Kirchhoff (2026, Atlantic, Iowa) is a true bright spot on this team. In the circle, Kirchhoff is a force, using an explosive delivery as she goes after hitters. Each of her pitches has great spin that will undoubtedly get tighter and fast as she matures. Setting hitters up with curves and screwballs, Kirchhoff uses a rise to get the strikeout, 11 on the day. Kirchhoff did not allow a hit and only walked one batter in 5 2/3 innings leading to a microscopic WHIP of .18.

18u

The Iowa Bandits came away with another tournament title. It was not a clean sweep though, as they were challenged three separate occasions by a talented Jags Select squad that finished as a finalist for the 18u level. Payton Drefke (2024, Ankeny, Iowa) for Jags Select came to play. Drefke has the ability to engage her lower half and drive the ball with intent. Line drives are the norm for her, collecting eight hits and scoring five runs.

Cedar Falls Tigers 18u squad is full of power bats and power arms. Cyrah Rasmussen (2022, Waterloo, Iowa) is a power arm. Jamming hitters with a great spinning screwball, she is not afraid to pitch on the river. In 15 innings of work, Rasmussen tallied 28 strikeouts with a 3.30 ERA. She can hit too, driving in six runs and hitting a home run; good dual-threat player. Her Tiger teammate, Lauren Sandvold (2024, Cedar Falls, Iowa), is a power bat. She has pop for power with every swing, and Sandvold stays on plane with strength through contact resulting in hard hit balls all over the field. Hitting two home runs and driving in six more, she was a threat for extra bases each at-bat.

Iowa Bandits are loaded with college talent, all-around athletes and high softball acumens. Grace Bailey (2022, Hamilton, Iowa) was dominant in the circle. Awarded the MV-Pitcher for the 18u division, Bailey delivered time and time again. The DMACC commit showed command and control on all pitches. With great feel for her pitches, she attacked hitters all tournament long. Letting her defense do work, Bailey had an ERA of 1.80, struck out four and got two wins.

Ava Smith (2023, Waukee, Iowa) for the Bandits had herself a field day with opposing pitching. Having the two projectable hitting tools, power and average, coupled with her rising potential, Smith put on a clinic. Nine hits on the day, two doubles and two home runs, scoring seven runs and driving in 14, Smith will be a force at the next level for sure.

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