Softball | Softball Showcase | 8/31/2022

PG Softball Scouting Showcase Series 1

Russ Wohler

Dave Durbala

Photo: Perfect Game

Brynn Ortlund (2023, Indianola, Iowa) was locked in this weekend for Iowa Gold - Hesseltine. Finishing with a .556 batting average, Ortlund has a feel for the barrel useful at the next level. Smooth and repeatable, her swing is reliable. Once on base, Ortlund stole seven bags, helping reach scoring position so her teammates could drive her in, which they did as she scored five runs. Her Iowa Gold teammate Kaleigh Friend (2023, West Des Moines, Iowa) also was a hitting machine, collecting six knocks on the weekend. Driving in five runs for her team, Friend was doing her part. She never seemed to be forcing the situation, as she looked for her pitch and did not miss it often. Both are uncommitted.

Sydney Skarich SS/UTL (24', Eldridge, IA) for @TXGloryIAQC with a textbook slap. Reading the field, 👀the 🥎, taking barrel to the 🥎 Her excellent speed does the rest.#PGIowaSBShowcase @PGSoftballScout @RussWohler_PG pic.twitter.com/jVDPzxlToK
— Perfect Game Softball (@PG_Softball) August 28, 2022

Texas Glory IAQC had a solid showing, as this team is full of talented players. Sydney Skarich (2024, Davenport, Iowa) is one of those players. Skarich has the ability to read the field and place the ball in a spot that the defense will struggle to throw her out. Skarich has excellent speed stealing 10 bases, a showcase-best by three bags. Whether she is slapping or swinging away, Skarich is a tough out. She scored 11 runs in five games played. Chevelle Kingsley (2025, Davenport, Iowa) is another talented player for Texas Glory. She uses all three aspects: movement, speed and location to be a very successful pitcher. Each pitch uses at least two of those aspects, resulting in swing-and-miss type stuff. In four innings of work, Kingsley recorded only one hit, no earned runs and struck out six, for a WHIP of 1.00. Both are uncommitted.

Addyson Alber (2023, Cedar Rapids, Iowa) for Nebraska Gold 319 Berning has a free and easy swing. Classic swing path generates effortless power for Alber. She regularly barreled the ball all weekend long. Alber collected seven hits during the showcase, including a home run. She also drove in seven runs and scored four more. Alber also conducts herself well on and off the field. Alber’s battery mate Emily Koranda (2025, Marion, Iowa) was a force in the circle. Using great spin, movement and location, Koranda froze hitters, confusing them about what just happened. Sitting in the low-60s consistently, Koranda was able to change speeds as well, leaving the hitter guessing. Recording six strikeouts in 5 1⁄3 innings with a WHIP of 1.31, Koranda will be someone to watch for years to come. Both are uncommitted.

Maddy McDermott RHP/1B (23' Walcott, IA) for Southeast Iowa Allstars with easy, effortless power. Smooth swing, no wasted movement. Ball lands by the BBQ gril in LF for a homerun! #PGIowaSBShowcase @MaddyMcDermott4 @PGSoftballScout @RussWohler_PG pic.twitter.com/vDQVlMK8Jy
— Perfect Game Softball (@PG_Softball) August 28, 2022

Maddy McDermott (2023, Walcott, Iowa) does not waste any movement, as all goes towards her power swing. McDermott is free and easy with her hands, whipping the barrel through the zone generating solid pop. She hit a clutch home run with two outs in one of her games. McDermott drove in four and scored three more. Bright future ahead for Maddy. Uncommitted.

Olivia Dougherty (2024, Norwalk, Iowa) was nothing less than impressive. She had 13 innings pitched, a 1.60 ERA, a WHIP of 1.23, and 24 strikeouts for quite the weekend. Dougherty commands a mix of pitches ranging from the low-60s to high-40s. She is proving in each showcase she is next level ready. Uncommitted.

Iowa Outlaws Select 06-Andrew has some of the region's best girls playing for them. Whether it be offense or defense, this club will make you work for every run or out. Kiley Kindelspire (2025, Indianola, Iowa) makes opposing defenses work to get her out. Collecting eight hits for the showcase, Kindelspire is quick down the line and will do whatever the game dictates, like placing a bunt to drive in a run or stealing a base to get into scoring position. She scored nine runs and drove in four more, and swiped five bags. Her Outlaws teammate Sophia Bauman (2025, Grimes, Iowa) also came to play. Bauman uses a whip-like swing that loads the barrel with explosive power, driving the softball to all fields. She is selective at the plate, working four walks. Bauman knows the pitch she wants and can drive a mistake pitch a long way. Lily Hans (2024, Ankeny, Iowa) was an RBI machine, driving in seven and scoring two more. Hans is clutch with runners on, never trying to do more than the pitch allows. She hits the ball away from defenders and runs the plays out. Hans also fields well, showing great range at various positions.

The Outlaws are also dominant in the circle. Aubrey Lensmeyer (2025, Ankeny, Iowa) had some great outings this weekend. Lensmeyer uses a mix of pitches to all quadrants to gather strikeouts, 13 for the showcase. She executed her team's game plan pitch after pitch. One walk in 8 2/3 innings for a .69 WHIP was overpowering at times.

CJ Risius 3B/SS (24' Des Moines, IA) for @IAGoldProspects swinging with intent. Lower half sets the timing and power, hands do the rest. Bright future ahead! #PGIowaSBShowcase @PGSoftballScout @CaedenceRisius @RussWohler_PG pic.twitter.com/Rf93xdFdlA
— Perfect Game Softball (@PG_Softball) August 28, 2022

Caedence Risius (2024, Des Moines, Iowa) swings with intent every single time. Her lower half sets the power and timing for the swing, and her quick hands do the rest. She had 10 hits over the course of the showcase including two home runs, one of which hit a playground 40 feet beyond the outfield fence. No children were playing at the time. Five RBI and four runs scored rounded out her weekend. In the circle, Risius took care of business as well, striking out 13 in 11 1⁄3 innings of work. Uncommitted.

Lady Expos Houselog put on a show for all to watch. Free swinging, stellar defense and overpowering pitching were the themes for this team all weekend long. Lydia Ettema (2023, Peosta, Iowa) has a lot to like on both sides of the ball. With solid spin and speed from the circle, Ettema is fun to watch. At the plate, she shines even brighter. With a classic swing plan and path, Ettema unloads on the ball, and when she makes contact it is barreled up every time. Ettema had two home runs on the weekend with a showcase-leading 11 RBI and eight runs scored. She is committed to Depaul. Her Expos teammate Devin Simon (2023, Cascade, Iowa) was equally as dangerous at the plate. Simon has the ability to slowly load for timing and then uncoil for huge drives. Simon had a showcase-leading 11 hits, getting out at the plate only 3 times all weekend. She also scored 11 runs and drove in five more. Simon is an Iowa commit.

-Russ Wohler

Emily Watters (2023, Anamosa, Iowa) was dominating in the circle for Eastern Iowa Barracudas - Vantiger. The Missouri Western-committed left-handed pitcher tossed nine innings, recorded 16 strikeouts, gave up one walk and did not allow a run in leading her team to a 5-0 record. Watters, with a smooth, repeatable motion, showed a full complement of pitches with a plus screwball that resulted in several swings and misses, and if contact was made, it usually resulted in batters beating the ball into the ground. Watters topped out at 60 mph but has sat 62-63 at previous Perfect Game events. This young lady could walk on campus next fall and make an immediate impact.

Nebraska Gold 515-16u, playing in the 18u Division, had stellar contributions on both sides of the ball. RHP/IF Hailey Rosonke (2024, Eldora, Iowa) attacked pitches at the plate. Using a slightly open stance, getting back to parallel at toe touch, Rosonke has a quick trigger and keeps her hands inside the ball, allowing her to work foul line to foul line. Rosonke collected 9 hits in 11 plate appearances, with 5 doubles and a bomb to amass 13 RBI and score 6 runs. In the circle, Rosonke pitched to contact, recorded one strikeout per inning and showed good movement on her spin pitches, with a top velocity of 58 mph.

Her teammate, shortstop Jesslyn Stairs (2025 Des Moines, Iowa), passes the eye test. With an athletic build on her 5-foot-9 frame, Stairs can cover ground in the middle. She reads the ball off the bat early and gets herself into position to make plays. Once securing the ball, she displays a plus arm, making strong accurate throws from varied arm slots. At the plate, the left-handed hitting Stairs collected 6 hits with 4 doubles, scoring 7 times and knocking in 5 while hitting at a .462 clip. Stairs may have a tough decision to make in the future, when it comes time to pick which college offer to accept.

MIF Brynlee Slockett (2024, North Liberty, Iowa) is a pure hitter. Hitting leadoff for Eastern Iowa Barracudas-Gold, Slockett collected 10 hits with 2 doubles and 2 bombs. She knocked in 7, scored 6 times and swiped 5 bases. Slockett displays a smooth, fluid swing that appears effortless. Slockett utilizes her legs and hips better than most, generating bat speed that translates to power and the ability to drive the ball with authority. The bat is quick to the zone, long through the zone, with a high finish that lends itself to elevating the ball. A very workable swing that should play well at the next level.

Delaney Mathews (2026, Council Bluffs, Iowa) is a LHP for Iowa Blitz Gold-Satterlee and was one of the younger arms on display in the 18u Division. In her 6 2/3 innings of work, Mathews struck out five and walked none. With a top velocity of 55 mph, Mathew relied on off-speed, primarily a very nice drop that had batters swinging over the top of it or beating it into the ground. Mathews will be an interesting follow as she matures and adds muscle to her 5-foot-10 frame. Added strength and maturity will allow for higher spin rates on her movement pitches plus added velocity. Until that time, she will need to continue hitting spots and working the ball down to stay out of trouble.

-Dave Durbala

PERFECTGAME.TV

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