HANNIBAL, MO. - Perfect Game Softball Buster Tharp Memorial Tournament, June 10 - 11, 2023.
Fifty-two teams arrived to lay claim to the Championship rings and cup, but after an opening day of pool play, mother nature had other plans and washed out day two. There were still some exceptional performances on day one, and although there were no stats provided, these following young ladies enjoyed good success on day one.
16u Division
Madalyn Boyer (2025 Carthage, IL) standing 5 feet 10 inches tall, is a lanky RHP for Adams County Aces 16u. Keeping things simple with a fastball, curve and change-up, Boyer was able to move the ball around in the zone and had just enough bite on her curve to not allow many balls to be barreled up. Boyer has the physical build that would project her to have increased velocity if she continues to work on her craft. With increased velocity she should also develop higher spin rates which will allow for more movement on her curve. As she progresses, Boyer would benefit from the development of a rise or drop, to show batter’s different level changes. At the plate, Boyer, hitting from a slightly closed stance, showed pull side power, with the ability to drive the ball out of the yard.
Georgia Powell (2027 Elsberry, MO) is a RHP for the River Rats. Powell, with a full mix of pitches that included fastball, screw, rise, change-up and curve, was not shy about throwing inside and was throwing her spin pitches to both sides of the plate. Powell started with her stride leg pushed way back, leaning over and in a semi crouched position. She was at her best when she stayed low on the drive leg, pushing to the plate, and not raising up on the leg as she started her delivery. When raising up, Powell’s spin pitches appeared to lose their effectiveness and her rise would flatten out. This will be a young lady to follow over the next few years as she matures, gains strength and continues to develop as a pitcher.
Mia Holt (2028 Columbia, MO) is an athletic SS for 09 Aces Fastpitch (Mid-Mo). Offensively, hitting from the right side, Holt stays tall in the box, moves weight into the back side, and with a slight coil and stride she gets some separation. Holt does a nice job of working her hands inside the ball and is able to drive the ball middle, opposite field, with some pop. Defensively, Holt has good pre-pitch movement, shows good glove work, and displays an adequate arm to play short at this age level. One must remember, Holt, currently a middle schooler, will develop strength as she matures and would benefit from a qualified throwing program, just as all players would, that could allow her to continue on the left side of the infield at the next level.
Addy Abell (2026 Durham, MO) does not allow herself to get cheated at the plate. Playing for Midwest Extreme 16u, Abell, starting almost erect in the box, gets a nice weight transfer to the back side, shows good coil and utilizes a stride to get moving to the pitch. Swing shows a good torso turn and tilt, that sets an attack angle that lends itself to keeping the ball off the ground. She works her hands inside the ball, shows good bat speed and displays good pull side power. The only time Abell seemed to struggle at the plate was when she would overstride, trying to be too aggressive, she would pull off pitches due to her not being able to keep her front side closed. Defensively, listed as an OF, Abell looked comfortable at 3B, showing good pre-pitch movement, steady glove and feet work, and the arm strength to get the ball across the infield.
Liz Grube (2025 Mapleton, IL) is a LHP for Peoria Sluggers Thornton 16U. Grube displayed a full mix of pitches that included a fastball, change-up, drop, curve, rise and screw as she went to work in the circle. Grube appeared to have some early first game jitters, but once she settled in she showed the ability to work both sides of the plate, along with the top and bottom of the zone. As the game wore on, her drop became her go-to pitch, leaving hitters to swing over the top of it, or beat it into the ground for routine ground balls. At the plate, Grube, hitting from the left-side, showed pull side power with the ability to barrel up the inside pitch.
18u Division
Kaitlyn Hatfield (2023 Grentop, MO) is listed at 6 feet 1 inch tall, and looks every part of it. The L/R, playing 3B for Midwest Extreme 18u is a true athlete, having earned All-State honors in Basketball and Softball, and being a two sport commit, Softball and Track, to Columbia College. On the softball field, Hatfield looks confident in the box, setting up in a wide stance, slightly open from the left side. Small movements get her weight transferred and hands separated. Hatfield works her hands inside the ball showing opposite field power, driving the ball gap to gap. Once the ball is off the bat, Hatfield utilizes plus speed to move around the bases, easily moving home to third on a ball in the gap.
Brieanna Remster (2023 Melcher-Dallas, IA) is a RHP for Iowa Blitz-Ault. The Iowa Central Community College commit works the circle with a 5 pitch mix of fastball, rise, change-up, drop-curve and an off-speed pitch that fits in between her fastball and change-up. Remster has matured as a pitcher and has learned that location, change of speed and movement are keys to being successful, not just trying to blow the ball by batters. Normally sitting in the 59 - 61 mph range, Remster showed the ability to throw her drop-curve and off-speed for strikes, which also had hitters swinging over the top of or beating them into the ground. Remster should see success at the next level when she arrives on campus in the fall.
Addie Rhea ( 2023 St. Louis, MO) is a right handed hitting 1B, playing for Louisville Lady Sluggers 18u. Standing nearly 6 foot tall, with a solid frame, Rhea sets up in the box with an open stance, gets weight moved to the back hip and uses a stride to get separation. Utilizing an aggressive attack angle, Rhea gets the ball in the air showing pull side power. If Rhea can consistently get back to parallel during the stride phase, she should be able to hit for power to all fields. Rhea has committed to William Woods University, in Fulton, MO and should make an immediate impact when she arrives on campus this fall.
Sarah Stufflebeam (2023 Macomb, IL), hitting from the right-side, and playing for Future Swings 18u, is not your typical lead-off hitter. First, she is a catcher, and secondly, Stufflebeam does not appear to be at the plate looking for a base hit. Utilizing an open stance, and a torso turn and tilt that sets an aggressive attack angle, Stufflebeam gets the barrel on the ball and looks to be trying to hit the ball into the parking lot. She doesn't allow her hands to get outside the ball and displays gap to gap power. Behind the plate, Stufflebeam has a good set-up, displays nice glove work when receiving, and moves well when needing to block an errant pitch. This young lady committed to Spoon River College and has the game that will play well there.
Rebecca Neupauer (2024 Pittsfield, IL) is a LHH Slapper/Hitter for Future Swings 18u. Neupauer, appears just as comfortable moving in the box as she does digging in to swing away, and showed success in both disciplines. In the slap, Neupauer does not rush her foot work, does not allow her front shoulder to fly open, and shows excellent barrel awareness in utilizing the soft or hard slap. Once the ball is down, she demonstrates plus speed to get down the line or around the bases. On the bases, Neupauer is a threat to steal at any time, utilizing a well timed push off the bag, and gifted speed. This young lady has the ability to be a lead-off batter at the next level, and will get the opportunity to move on, if she chooses to.