Softball | Softball Showcase | 9/21/2022

Scouting Showcase Series #2 Scout Notes

Brianna Brooks

Dave Durbala

Photo: Perfect Game

14U

After a weekend of rain, Barracuda Aces 14U Zatloukal went undefeated in pool play, outscoring their opponents 14-7, taking home the championship trophy. WDM Panthers put up quite the battle also going 2-0 in pool, outscoring their opponents 18-0. WDM Panthers took home runner-up.

Maggie Allen (2027, Urbandale, Iowa) was titled MV-Player in the 14U division for her offensive performance at the plate. Allen is an extremely aggressive hitter with elite speed who can put the ball down and run it out. This young slugger collected six hits, earning a .600 average including two doubles, five RBI, and four runs across the plate.

Maddison Zlomke (2027, West Des Moines, Iowa) for WDM Panthers was named MV-Pitcher for her work in the circle. In 11 innings, Zlomke shutdown eight eager batters, giving up only one walk for the weekend. This eighth grade LHP is currently pumping out consistently 54-56 mph velocity with the ability to put the ball on both sides of the plate, really working her zone.

Ella Daniel (2026, Waukee, Iowa) is a freshman shortstop with a great arm and solid glove fundamentals. These skills in combination with a large athletic range, makes her a hard spot to get past. Offensively, Daniel’s speed gets her on base as shown in her two stolen bases and .545 OBP. Daniel has a true cut with a strong feel for the barrel with one triple and one homerun. Daniel assisted in ten runs for Barracuda Aces 14U Zatloukal.

Rylee Kluver (2028, Wes Des Moines, Iowa) is a fantastic shortstop with huge potential in the middle infield. Kluver has a large range and a strong arm to back up her glove, making hard throws across the field. This young athlete has a high player’s IQ, knowing the next play and getting those difficult outs. Just as impressive is her ability at the plate smacked out three hits, including one walk, four RBI, and three runs for WDM Panthers.

Helping the cause for WDM Panthers was Jordyn Huffman (2027, Clive, Iowa). Huffman earned a .600 average at the plate. She has an elite cut that makes things happen. Huge power behind this eighth grade slugger, connecting with six hits, two doubles, and one triple. Huffman sends the ball deep to push in two RBI, crossing the station four times.

16U

Sixteen 16U teams in the Midwest pushed through lightning delay after lightning delay in out PG Softball Scouting Showcase Series #2. Jags Elite and Central Iowa Riptide fought it out, both going undefeated in pool play, with Jags Elite finishing in first.

Lauren Sandholm (2027, Ankeny, Iowa) was named Most Valuable Pitcher for Jags Select for her appearances in the circle throughout the tournament. Sandholm is a fantastic two-way player both in the circle and at the plate. This 5-foot-9 eighth grader is pumping out 56-62 mph spins and only has room to increase as she strengthens her abilities. Sandholm worked through 13 innings, striking out 10 batters, earning a 0.77 WHIP on the weekend. At the plate, she helped herself, collecting five hits and assisting in five runs. Sandholm earned a .500 average at the plate. Great all-around player.

Jessica Lathrop (2024, Ankeny, Iowa) was equally impressive for Jags Elite with her outstanding offensive performance. Lathrop collected a .667 average, with a tournament high of eight hits including four doubles. Lathrop helped the cause for Jags, assisting in 11 runs, leading Jags to victory.

Zoey Dickson (2024, Menlo, Iowa) has a true bat path with consistently strong hands to the ball, finding the center of contact every time. Dickson puts the ball in play and has plus speed down the line. Dickson was named Most Valuable Player for Central Iowa Riptide 16U for her performance at the plate, having earned a .444 average. Dickson knocked out four hits including two doubles and one home run. She assisted in 11 runs for Central Iowa Riptide 16U.

Rhiannon Rees (2026, Grinnell, Iowa) is a left-handed utility player for Alliance Select Cox who consistently makes solid contact with the ball. Rees has a smooth swing with slight lift that sends the ball flying as shown in her two doubles and two home runs. Rees helped the cause with three runs and eight RBI, earning a .545 average at the plate.

Zoey Kirchhoff (2026, Atlantic, Iowa), freshman RHP for Spartans Fastpitch, presents a solid set of spins in the circle, working all areas of the zone. Kirchhoff has cutting rise and breaking curve that both produce swing-and-miss action. Kirchhoff pushed through 12 innings, striking out 12 batters. Although impressive, more so is her performance this weekend in the box. Kirchhoff exhibits huge power behind her swing, smacking out a double and home run and going 2-for-2 against the Barracuda Aces 16U. She is disciplined at the plate and collected six hits and two walks. She helped herself by crossing the plate seven times.

Tatum Johnson (2026, Urbandale, Iowa) is a catcher/3B for Barracuda Aces 16U with plus-power. Johnson presents a strong lower half with fantastic hands through the ball. A true path that generates plus pop off the bat, proven in her six hits, earning a .750 average. Johnson has big stats this weekend including two walks, one double, one home run, four RBI, and three runs.

Kennedy Borud (2025, Altoona, Iowa) is a right-handed power hitter for Iowa Slammers – 16U Correll. Borud smacked out a massive grand slam late in the game. Borud presents extreme power in her lower half, using all of her strength through rotation. With a solid average on the weekend at .500, Borud is a true competitor at the plate with a disciplined approach and high zone awareness, having walked four times. She knows the pitch to jump on and smashes it, collecting four runs and five RBI.

Madison Duhon (2024, Sterling, Iowa) has incredible pull side power, having gone 2-for-2 at the plate for Lady Dukes 16U National IL against Iowa Slammers. Duhon smoked the ball to the left side, earning a .375 average, collecting three hits including one double and one home run.

Tatum Goerdt (2025, Cedar Rapids, Iowa) shows good movement through nine innings for Iowa Elite Blue. Goerdt works consistently in the 59-61 mph range as a sophomore, using her late breaking curve to her advantage. Goerdt struck out eight batters in a single game, giving up zero walks. For the weekend, Goerdt struck out 13 batters.

Kayla Fox (2025, Ankeny, Iowa) has an elite feel for the barrel with long extension through contact. This right-handed sophomore has a clear path through the ball with great timing and solid contact, often sending the ball up the middle. Fox collected a .714 average in the box with five hits, four singles, one double, and four RBI.

-Brianna Brooks

18U

After having Day 1 of the Perfect Game Softball Scouting College Showcase Series #2 washed out due to heavy rain, Day 2 saw clear skies that allowed the 21 teams the opportunity to get on the field and get their three pool play games in.

Leading the Top Performers in the circle was Madison Oetzmann (2023, Urbandale, Iowa) of the Iowa Bandits-Rickert. No stranger to scout notes, Oetzmann, who was celebrating a birthday at the ballpark, had seven strong innings, collecting eight strikeouts with a top velocity of 59 mph. In typical fashion, Oetzman was able to locate her pitches to both sides of the plate and her spin pitches showed late movement that hitters struggled to barrel up. Currently uncommitted, I was advised that there have been offers extended and this college-ready pitcher appears to have some options available for her softball future.

Other pitcher’s doing work this weekend included Jessa Demoss (2024, Blairstown, Iowa) with Iowa Elite Red. This RHP/1B worked nine innings, sitting down 13 batters via strikeout, while topping out at 59 mph. Demoss has a full complement of pitches, including a plus curve with late break. Standing 5-foot-10, Demoss has a build that should allow her to pick up velocity if she can build up strength over the next couple of years. A two-way player, Demoss collected a double and two home runs, for 4 RBI on the day.

Recent Hutchinson Community College commit Dakota Lake (2023, Des Moines, Iowa) had another good showing in the circle pitching for Nebraska Gold 515-Cunningham. Lake tallied 12 strikeouts in her nine innings of work, sitting consistently in the low-60s, with a top velocity of 64 mph. Fastballs up in the zone and a plus rise ball that batters chased led to several of her recorded strikeouts.

Ashlyn Finarty (2023, Knoxville, Iowa) is a RHP for Eastern Iowa Barracudas-Gold. This Missouri Western State commit only totaled 3 2/3 innings of work for a Barracudas team that is rich with pitching. Finarty displayed a top velo of 62 mph and a drop ball that dove towards the plate in its last four feet to help her collect 3 strikeouts and not allow a hit. At the plate, Finarty had three hits that included a double while knocking in six runs. A true power pitcher/hitter that could make an immediate impact at the next level in the Spring of 2024.

The last pitcher of note is Ally Beck (2024, Altoona, Iowa). This LHP, playing for Central Iowa Riptide 18u, was in the circle for eight innings and collected 10 strikeouts. With a full arsenal of pitches, Beck topped out at 59 mph and would then come at you with a changeup that was in the 40 mph range. If able to develop the changeup and throw it for strikes, Beck’s other pitches would become even more effective. At the plate, Beck collected three hits, knocked in one and scored twice.

At the plate, Top Performers were led by right-handed hitting Sydney Morris (2023, Ankeny, Iowa). Morris, playing for Jags Select, continued with the hot bat that she displayed at the PG Peoria, Ill. event the previous weekend. Morris, hitting from a firm front side, allows her hips and torso to do work for a swing that lends itself to gap-to-gap line drives. Morris collected five hits on the day which included two bombs. She finished with four RBI, swiped three bases and scored seven times.

Haileigh Smith (2023, North Liberty, Iowa), playing for Iowa Elite 18u-Schoulte, had a nice day at the plate. Smith, hitting from the right side, collected seven hits that included a double and a home run for five RBI and scored three runs. If able to consistently drive the outside pitch to the opposite field, and not roll over on it, Smith will be a tough out. Although not tall in stature, Smith stays in her legs, hitting from a firm front side with good use of hips, allowing her to drive the ball out of the park.

Lily Hans (2024, Ankeny, Iowa) does not get cheated at the plate. Playing for Iowa Outlaws Select 06-Andrews, Hans uses every bit of her 5-foot-4 frame to generate high torque with the hips, transferring to bat speed and power at the plate. Hitting from the right side, Hans collected five hits, with three being for extra bases via a double and two tanks. She knocked in five and scored three times. Defensively, Hans demonstrates good hands and a strong enough arm to play third and middle infield equally as well.

Playing for Iowa Elite 18u-Schoulte, left-handed hitting Jade Hynek (2023, Swisher, Iowa) displayed the ability to work foul line to foul line. Hynek is able to keep her front side locked in, not pulling her front side out, and drive the outside pitch hard to left field. She is equally adept at letting her hips open, allowing room for her hands to stay inside the ball to barrel up the inside pitch, driving into right field. On the day, Hynek had five hits that included four doubles, collecting four RBI and scoring four runs. Once on the bases, Hynek uses her speed and aggressive baserunning to put pressure on the defense.

Kiley Kindelspire (2025, Indianola, Iowa) has one of the smoothest swings from the left side and at times it is hard to believe she is still 15 years old when watching her play. Playing for Iowa Outlaws Select 06-Andrew, and regularly playing up an age division, Kindelspire has the ability to hit to all fields with power or elect to utilize her speed playing small ball. On the day, Kindelspire had five hits including two doubles and a home run. She knocked in seven RBI and scored three runs. An athletic middle infielder, Kidelspire can also play third base and outfield equally as well.

Nebraska Gold 515 16u outfielder Katie Quick (2025, Ankeny, Iowa) made the most of her four hits on the day. Quick hit three bombs, collecting seven RBI to lead her team to a 2-0-1 record. Quick, starting with a slightly open stance, gets back to parallel with stride and uses this as timing, hitting from a firm base. Quick hits the ball slightly out in front which assists her in getting lift to drive the ball into the parking lot. If Quick is able to add some strength over the next couple of years, this young lady will be an interesting follow as she works her way through the recruitment process.

-Dave Durbala

PERFECTGAME.TV

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