URBANDALE, IA – 2023 PG Softball High School State Championships, April 29 – 30, 2023.
Sixteen teams were greeted with cool temperatures, rain and at times, wind gusts up to 40 miles an hour, as they completed bracket and double elimination pool play in hopes of taking home the championship. The Iowa Bandits, working their way through the loser’s bracket, finished the weekend 9 -1 and closed out the PG Iowa spring season as tournament champions.
Madison Oetzmann (2023 Urbandale, IA) earned the MV-Pitcher Award for the record setting eighth time, to close out her PG Softball career. The Minnesota State commit, was the workhorse for her Iowa Bandits team that was short on pitching for the weekend. Oetzmann, pitching in less-than-ideal conditions, worked 28 innings and collected 38 strikeouts in compiling a 6 – 1 record on the weekend. Utilizing a six-pitch mix, Oetzmann was able to keep hitters off balance, induce groundballs, and not give up many multiple hit innings. At the plate, Oetzmann helped her team and own cause by picking up 13 hits, that included a double and homerun, while knocking in seven and scoring seven runs to help lead her Bandits team to the championship.
Earning the MVP Award was Addison Brunner (2023 Des Moines, IA) who made the extra base hit look easy. Brunner, a LHH University of Northern Iowa commit, utilizes an athletic set up in the box, slightly wide stance and stays in her legs, utilizing a solid lower half in her swing that results in gap-to-gap power. Brunner collected ten hits, that included five doubles, a triple and a homerun. She knocked in nine and scored nine runs and also showed some patience at the plate by collecting four free passes to help her amass a near .600 OBP.
Other young lady’s doing work and making noise, included Julia Roth (2026 Dubuque, IA). This young lady, a RHH for Lady Expos Houselog, was the top performing batter for the tournament. Utilizing a stance with slight knee bend, Roth loads the back hip with slight weight shift, used for timing, slightly picking up front foot and placing it back down with minimal stride to initiate her swing. Roth works inside the ball and shows the ability to hit to all fields with power. Roth picked up ten hits, that included a double and four homeruns, while knocking in 11 and scoring 13 times. With simple mechanics, and a barrel that gets through the zone and onto pitches in easy fashion, Roth will be a good follow over the next few years and will find a home at the next level, if she chooses to play.
Lady Expos Houselog teammate, Brenna George (2025 Dubuque, IA) a RHH Catcher/1B, didn’t strand many runners when given the opportunity to hit with runners in scoring position. George collected nine hits that included three doubles and three tanks, scoring seven runs and knocking in a tournament leading 14 RBI’s. George hit the ball to all fields, but shows pull side power. Behind the plate, George showed good glove work while receiving, works to get into position to block pitches in the dirt and was a vocal leader while behind the plate. With continued work on her craft over the next couple of years, this young lady will have the ability to continue playing softball at the next level, after her high school career is completed.
Katie Pilcher (2025 Cedar Rapids, IA), is a RHH Catcher/Util playing for Xavier High School, who does not get cheated at the plate. Getting deep into her legs in her stance, Pilcher shows good movement to the ball and utilizes solid rotation and tilt in the swing which usually gets the ball in the air. Pilcher collected 13 hits, of which five were doubles, knocked in eight and scored six times. Although taking big daddy hacks, Pilcher did not strikeout on the weekend and finished hitting at a .722 clip. Behind the plate, Pilcher is a workhorse. Shows good glove discipline, working from bottom – up, gives up her body to block bad pitches and is a vocal leader behind the plate. Pilcher, during between inning throw down, had a pop time of 1.75 while throwing from a knee. Great athleticism, good fundamental skills and an obvious desire to win will lead this young lady to the college game.
Chandler Houselog (2024 Dubuque, IA) is another Lady Expo that got things done at the plate. The RHH Catcher/Util showed the ability to move the ball and consistently put it in play. Houselog, showing pull side power, but also the ability to take the pitch the other way, collected 13 hits on the weekend which included four doubles. She scored six times and knocked in nine while finishing with a .722 BA. Houselog displays a swing and approach that can play at the next level.
Duanna Coyle (2023 Cedar Rapids, IA) is an RHP/3B for Xavier High School. The recent Southeastern Community College commit, worked 13 innings in the circle, utilizing a five-pitch bag of fastball, change-up, rise, curve and screw, topping out at 59 mph, to collect 27 strikeouts on the weekend. Staying around the plate, Coyle only gave up 3 free passes and was able to keep hitters off balance with a solid change-up and a rise that hitters would chase out of the zone.
Tiffany Taylor (2028 Des Moines, IA), playing for Iowa Dynamite, and playing against some opponents that were nearly six years her elder, showed up and went to work. With a top velocity of 63 mph, Taylor worked 20 innings and collected an impressive 30 K’s on the weekend against some very good competition, utilizing movement pitches and a change-up to keep hitters off balance. Although giving up more hits and earned runs than she is accustomed to, Taylor should not be discouraged as she faced several players already committed, including DI level talent, and she did not back down. This young lady will continue to improve and develop over the next several years, and will be a highly sought player in the 2028 class.
Playing for Nebraska Gold 319 Berning, Emily Koranda (2025 Marion, IA) is a RHP that utilizes a fastball, topping out at 61 mph, rise, drop and change-up to go to work. Koranda was in the circle for 16 innings and recorded 24 strikeouts, did not give up any big innings and finished the weekend only giving up 3 earned runs. Koranda found success as it appeared she could spot her fastball where she wanted, had hitters swinging and missing the rise and swinging through her change-up. Koranda displays an easy motion and arm swing that will play at the next level.
Carly Goodwin (2024 Sigourney, IA) is a RHP playing for the Sigourney Savages. The recent University of Northern Iowa commit keeps things simple, utilizing a fastball, topping out at 63 mph, a change-up and a drop. She can throw each pitch for strikes and to different plate and zone locations. In her 9 innings of work, Goodwin struck out 19, did not give up a walk and finished with a .096 WHIP. I look forward to watching this one progress, before entering college, as I anticipate added velocity and movement development over the next couple of seasons.
-Dave Durbala