PG Des Moines Scouting Showcase

URBANDALE, IA – Perfect Game Softball Des Moines Scouting Showcase, September 16 – 17, 2023, saw thirty-four teams, across 3 divisions, compete for the tournament championship, but also at stake were automatic qualifying bids to the Perfect Game Softball Super Regionals, to be held in 2024. Some of the weekends top performances are recapped below.

18u Division

Congratulations to tournament champions, Central Iowa Riptide 18u Elite, finalist Alliance Select 18u-Benge, and to semi-finalist Iowa Slammers-18u Van Houton and Iowa Gold Prospects 18u-Baker on earning automatic bids into the Perfect Game Softball Super Regionals.

Finley Netten (2025 Van Meter, IA) earned the MVP Award in leading Central Iowa Riptide 18u Elite to the championship. Offensively, the RHH Netten utilizes a parallel stance, with a slight crouch and her hands held up high. She moves into the back leg and strides to get to launch. She has good use of her lower half and generates good barrel speed through the zone, showing the ability to drive the ball into the parking lot.  Netten collected seven hits, that included five for extra base hits with two doubles and 3 home runs. She scored nine times, knocked in nine runs and stole two bases. Defensively, Netten, a MIF/OF has good pre-pitch movement, showed good range and the ability to throw from different arm slots on the infield, with the arm strength to play the position at the next level.

Campbell German (2024 Cumming, IA) again finds herself at the top of the performance list, this time earning the MV-Pitcher Award. German, a RHP, brings a five-pitch bag into the circle that includes a fastball, rise, change-up, screw and curve. German was the work horse for Alliance Select 18u-Benge, with 23 innings pitched, none more impressive than a six-inning semifinal win, where she struck out six and only gave up four hits to a very good hitting Iowa Gold Prospects-Baker team. Utilizing a smooth repeatable motion and arm swing, German showed a late moving curve, a plus pitch, that she threw to both sides of the plate, resulting in several swing and miss attempts. Her change-up was well disguised and had batters locked up or way out on their front foot. German finished the tournament with 32 strikeouts, a WHIP of 0.91 and had a top velocity of 63 mph. This young lady has shown the consistency and skill set needed to be successful at the next level.

Nyah Hulbert (2025 Norwalk, IA) is a L/R OF for Iowa Gold Prospects 18u-Baker, who is making lots of noise with her bat. Setting up in an aggressive open stance, getting deep into her legs, Hulbert makes good use of her lower half, gets the barrel through the zone without flying open, and shows the ability to work the ball gap to gap, with exceptional pull side power. This weekend, Hulbert picked up eleven hits with two doubles and two bombs, knocked in 9, scored 9 runs and swiped five bases, while hitting at a .647 clip. At this time, Hulbert already possesses a high-level skill set that could have her playing at the next level, in a Power 5 conference.

Grace Anderson (2025 Johnston, IA) is a RHH/OF for Johnston Hs Purple that caused defenses problems with her ability to put the ball in play and utilize her speed with some aggressive base running. Utilizing a slightly closed stance, Anderson does a good job of clearing her hips, allowing her to get the barrel to the inside pitch. For the tournament, Anderson collected 11 hits that included two doubles and a homerun, while knocking in five. Anderson’s speed and aggressive base running aided her in scoring 11 runs and swiping 5 bases. Anderson finished with a .647 BA and did not record a strikeout in her 17 plate appearances. Showing discipline at the plate, the ability to put the ball in play, and having the gift of speed are good attributes to have in making the move to the next level. With a couple more years to mature and develop, this young lady should get that opportunity.

Bella Mulder (2024 Grimes, IA), playing for Dallas Center Grimes, is a RHH/2B that showed the ability to hit the ball to all fields, and with some pop. Starting with an open stance, Mulder utilizes a toe tap to get back to parallel, and then a stride to gain separation.  Combine this with the good use of her lower half and apparent upper body strength, Mulder gets the barrel through the zone in quick fashion, with an aggressive attack angle, enabling her to pick up six extra base hits, 3 doubles and 3 tanks, in her nine hits.  Finishing with a .692 BA, Mulder knocked in five, scored six runs and did not strikeout in her 14 plate appearances, finishing with a .714 OBP.

Haley Glade (2025 Earlham, IA) is RHH/3B for tournament champions Central Iowa Riptide 18u Elite. Glade was able to help her team offensively as well as with her glove, making the routine plays at 3B, but also flashing some leather to make some run saving plays as well. At the plate, Glade sets up in an open stance, and her first move is to get weight to the back hip and move to parallel. She works her hands inside the ball, showing the ability to hit the ball on a line, with gap-to-gap power. On the weekend, Glade collected seven knocks, including a double and three homeruns, scored six runs and had an impressive nine rbi’s.

Olivia Dougherty (2024 Norwalk, IA) continues to impress in the circle, each outing with Iowa Gold Prospects 18u-Baker. Utilizing a six-pitch mix that includes a change-up and separate off-speed pitch, along with fastball, drop, drop curve and rise, the RHP Dougherty works all her pitches for strikes, working both sides of the plate and the strike zone from top to bottom. With a smooth repeatable delivery and arm swing, Dougherty worked 13 innings and collected 16 strikeouts, topping out at 62 mph, showing hitters a plus rise, with a late jump that ran above their hands. Always around the plate, and with solid defense behind her, Dougherty gave up one free pass and only allowed one earned run, to finish with a .50 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP. This Iowa Western Community College commit, has the skill set that will allow her to step onto campus next fall and make an immediate impact.

Ally Beck (2024 Altoona, IA) has put together some nice work in the circle, on back-to-back weekends, for Alliance Select 18U-Cox. The LHP Beck, keeps things simple with a four-pitch bag that includes a fastball, change-up, curve and rise, and shows a top velocity of 62 mph. What some may see as a lack of pitches, Beck makes up for in her ability to change speeds and levels, utilizing a plus grade change-up that lock’s hitters up, and a rise that hitters struggle to catch up with, which was best displayed when Beck came on in relief and pitched five strong innings, striking out 12, during her team’s second pool game.  In her 16.2 innings of work, Beck sat down 30 hitters via strikeout and finished the weekend with a 1.70 ERA.  

Payton Smith (2025 Urbandale, IA), standing 6 feet 1 inch tall, is an imposing figure in the circle for Central Iowa Riptide 18u Elite. The RHP Smith, utilizing a very smooth motion and arm swing, brings a drop, change-up, off-speed, drop curve and rise with her into the circle, topping out at 57 mph. In her 16.2 innings of work, Smith struck out 14, showing a very deceptive change-up/off-speed pitch that had hitters out front and swinging over the top of the ball. Consistently around the plate, Smith only gave up two walks on the weekend while allowing 3 earned runs. With the frame size and long levers this young lady possesses, and as she continues to mature and gain strength, she would project to have a high ceiling, with continued work on her craft, which makes her an interesting follow for next level coaches.

Madeline Waldorf (2024 Waukee, IA), although listed as a MIF, earned a spot on the top performers list for her work in the circle. Waldorf, who verbally committed to Grand View University, has a six-pitch bag that includes a fastball, change-up, slider, screw, rise and drop. Waldorf has a tendency to open up her hips, landing left of the power line, but displays the ability to keep her arm swing consistent, keep the ball around the plate, and still have the athleticism to top out at 62 mph. Appearing as a pitch to contact type pitcher, Waldorf struck out five in her 14 innings of work, relying on the defense to make plays behind her. Waldorf showed good change of speed and movement in her pitches, which had batters struggling to barrel up balls. Waldorf was given the ball for the championship game, where she pitched an outstanding 5 inning 2 hit gem for the win, for Central Iowa Riptide 18u Elite.

16U Division

Taylor Nuss (2026 Waukee, IA) of CIK 515 was extremely impressive on the mound this weekend. The MV-Pitcher pitched her team to a runner-up finish in the 16u Bracket. Nuss’ go to pitch is her very deceiving curve ball, which has a ton of movement and clocks in around 60mph but clocked in as high as 64mph. Rarely throwing a fastball, she also mixes in a late jumping rise ball and change up to throw off batters. Nuss finished the weekend throwing 16 innings, tallied 32 strikeouts which also included a no hitter, striking out 14 and the  only batter to reach base was a walk. Through her 16 innings pitched, Nuss only allowed three hits and three walks! Keep your eye on this pitcher, she will only continue to get better.

MV-Player of the weekend went to Ilsa Hervey (2028 West Des Moines, IA) of the eventual champions Panthers. The left handed leadoff batter did her job all weekend getting on base and pushing runners through. Hervey has a very aggressive plate approach and won’t be cheated out of an at bat. She does a great job of getting the barrel through the zone and finished the weekend with nine hits, which included three doubles and a homerun. Hervey’s power and ability to square up pitches make her one of the best 2028 hitters around. Keep an eye on this athlete in the coming years!

Maddison Zlomke (2027 West Des Moines, IA) was another integral part to the Panthers success on the weekend. A left handed power hitter, she squares up to the plate and waits on her pitch. Utilizing her lower half, Zlomke had six hits on the weekend pushing nine runs through. Of her six hits, she had two doubles and a homerun. Showing her patience and ability to work the count, Zlomke also walked four times. Excited to follow this young athlete as she goes further into her career.

Shae Swank (2027 Waukee, IA) of Iowa Slammers- Correll was the weekends leading hitter, tallying 14 hits. Swank has pure power, a very aggressive stance and uses every bit of her lower half to power through the ball. Of her 14 hits, she had two homeruns, two doubles and pushed eight runs across the plate.  Swank will be an exciting one to watch as she continues to gain experience in the game.

Lydia Rosin (2026 Lakeville, MN) of the TC Blitz 08 was the weekends RBI leader pushing 12 runs across the plate for her team. Rosin has a very confident plate approach, generates bat speed and power while utilizing her lower half. Barreling up several extra base hits, Rosin had five doubles and a homerun on her nine-hit weekend.

Kayla Fox (2025 Ankeny, IA) of CIK 515 was and RBI machine for her team. Fox is a powerful hitter with a very confident plate approach. Utilizing her lower half and her quick hands, Fox pushed nine RBIs across the plate on five hits, including two doubles and a homerun.

Ruth Tauber (2026 Dubuque, IA) of Dubuque County Fastpitch was another impressive lefty batter this weekend. Standing in an aggressive stance at the plate, Tauber dares pitchers to throw her inside, but is patient enough to let the outside pitch come in and take it to the opposite field. Tauber collected seven hits on the weekend including a double and a homerun.