BURLINGTON, IA - 2023 Perfect Game Softball Christmas Classic, December 16 - 17, 2023 saw teams in 14u and 18u divisions battle for the final championship up for grabs in the 2023 calendar year. Wisconsin Lightning 2010 took the 14u title, with Illinois Bombers16u taking the 18u crown. We would like to wish all those teams that competed with PG Softball over the past year, a joyous holiday season. Hope to see you all in 2024.
14U Division
Alexandra Oerther (2028 Bloomington, MN) earned the MVP Award for her performance in helping her MN Waves 13U National team to the finals. Hitting from the right-side, Oerther sets in the box in a slightly open, wide but well balanced stance, rolling into the back leg before utilizing a small stride to make her move to the ball. Showing pull side pop, Oerther picked up eight hits, with 2 doubles and a homerun, scored 11 runs and knocked in six. She also worked pitchers for three free passes that helped her finish with a .667 BA and a nice .733 OBP for her weekends work. Utilizing a swing with few moving parts, Oerther should continue to excel offensively as she progresses through age level play.
Leona Eichholz (2028 Harvard, IL) was named the MV-Pitcher, leading Wisconsin Lightning 2010 to the championship. Showing a smooth, repeatable motion, with consistent arm swing, Eichholz worked a six-pitch mix that included fastball, a knuckle change, rise, drop, curve and screw. In her 13 innings of work, Eichholz, topping out at 62mph, sat down 29 batters via strikeout, showing a rise that ran out of the top of the zone, and a screw that dove in hard on the hands of right-handed batters. Although Eichholz gave up 10 base on balls, she worked herself out of jams and never gave up a big inning. This young lady, with continued work on her craft as she matures and gains strength, will be a very interesting, next level follow with a high ceiling.
Avah Oertel (2027 Tiskilwa, IL), is a two-way player for Peoria Sluggers 14U. The RHH/RHP just missed earning top performer status on both list for her work this past weekend. In the box, Oertel sets up in an open stance, utilizing a toe touch to get weight transferred and then a stride to get separation and timing. With great use of her lower half, Oertel displayed pull-side power but also showed the ability to drive the ball out of the yard, gap to gap. At the plate, she picked up five hits, with a double and three tanks, scoring five runs and knocking in 11. Showing some discipline at the plate, Oertel also came away with 3 walks that helped her secure a .667 OBP. In the circle, Oertel worked six innings, topping out at 58 mph, and recorded seven strikeouts utilizing a fastball, change-up, drop, rise and curve, and did not allow an earned run.
McKynna Szymandera (2028 Racine, WI) is a R/R Utility, playing for the tournament champion Wisconsin Lightning 2010. Starting with a solid base, in a parallel stance, Szymandera utilized her lower half to generate torque, and a good tilt to set an aggressive attack angle. For a young lady that is not getting cheated at the plate with her swings, she showed the ability to stay on pitches and drive the ball gap to gap. Szymandera picked up six hits on the weekend, with four doubles and a homerun included in the mix. She scored five times, collected 11 rbi’s, and did not record a strikeout, to finish the tournament hitting at a .600 clip.
Ella Anderson (2028 Franklin, WI) was the table setter for her Wisconsin Lightning 2010 teammates, on their march to the championship. Although listed as a S/R, I only observed her hitting from the left-side, and was impressed with what I saw. As a slapper, Anderson displayed good footwork in the box, showed good barrel awareness, and the speed necessary to succeed. Anderson collected seven hits that included a couple of doubles and an inside the park homerun. She drew three free passes, knocked in four, scored nine times and swiped five bases, finishing with a .700 batting average. As this young lady matures, and continues to develop all aspects of her slapping skill set, she will be a great follow for any coach at the next level.
Lauren Schellhammer (2028 Prior Lake, MN) has the distinction of earning a spot on both the hitting and pitching top performers list for the tournament. The RHH/RHP, stands tall in the box, with a slightly wide parallel stance. Utilizing a slight rocking motion to get weight transferred to her back side, and then only a small stride to get separation and timing, Schellhammer picked up seven hits, with two going for doubles. She scored six runs, knocked in five and was able to draw a couple of walks. In the circle, keeping things simple with a four-pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise and drop. Schellhammer topped out at 61 mph, and recorded 22 strikeouts in her 11 innings of work. Although giving up one walk an inning, Schellhammer stayed away from big innings and led her MN Waves 13U National team to the finals. As this young lady matures as a pitcher, with continued work on her craft, velocity, spin rate and consistency will improve and she will be next level ready.
Charley Courson (2029 Moline, IL), a RHP for Heartland Havoc 2010, was one of the youngest arms on the top performers list. Utilizing a smooth, repeatable motion, with good use of her lower half in the drive phase, Courson worked seven innings and sat down 13 batters via strikeout, with a mix of fastball, change-up, drop and rise, Topping out at 57 mph, Courson was consistently around the plate, only allowing one free pass, and was able to spot her pitches and change speed to keep hitters off balance, only giving up five hits, to finish with a 0.86 WHIP.
Addison Przybylo (2027 Brimfield, IL) started things out with a bang for Peoria Sluggers 14U, as the RHP opened up pool play throwing a run rule shortened, 3 inning , six strikeout, perfect game. Topping out at 53 mph and working with a four bag mix of fastball, change-up, curve and rise, Przybylo worked both sides of the plate and effectively kept hitters off balance with some nice movement and change of speed. In her remaining four innings of work on the weekend, showing good command of her pitches, Przybylo only allowed two free passes, three hits, and a single earned run to finish with an ERA of 1.00 and a 0.71 WHIP.
Allana Benoit (2028 Carver, MN) was another key contributor for MN Waves 13U National as they pushed to the finals. Benoit, a RHP, opened up pool play in the circle and responded with a 3 inning, five strikeout performance, in a game shortened by run rule. Benoit, armed with a fastball, change-up, drop and rise, and although topping out at 58 mph, Benoit’s change-up did most of the damage. With a final line of seven innings pitched, Benoit struck out seven, gave up six hits, walked two and allowed one earned run, relying on her defense to make plays behind her, Benoit did not allow many balls to be barrelled up, keeping hitters off balance with her change of speed. She finished with a 1.00 ERA and a WHIP of 1.14.
18U Division
Adalynn Johnson (2026 Eldridge, IA) was named tournament MVP, playing for finalist Southeast IA Allstars 16U Black. Johnson, a R/R Catcher/3B put on a power display having five of her seven hits going for extra bases, with a double and four bombs. Setting up in the box with a slightly open stance, sitting into the legs, she pushes the hands back to get separation and then, with minimal stride, sets her attack angle and gets her barrel through the zone. Torque provided by good use of her lower half, she hits from a firm front leg and displays obvious pull-side power. Rounding out her stats, Johnson scored seven runs and knocked in a tournament leading 12 rbi’s. This young lady has next level ready tools, but still has a few seasons left to polish up those tools, raising her stock for the next level.
Addison Seitz (2025 Stronghurst, IL) earned the MV-Pitcher Award, for tournament champion Illinois Bombers 16u. The RHP Seitz showed you don’t need a lot of pitches, if you can throw the ones you have, good. Armed with a fastball, change-up, and curve, Seitz worked 11.2 innings and picked up 14 strikeouts. Displaying a smooth, repeatable motion, Seitz showed the ability to spot her fastball, topping out at 59 mph, throughout the zone, throw her change-up for strikes and have enough movement on her curve to elicit swings that came up empty. Seitz showed two curves, one with tight spin and late movement and a second one that was more loose and had more of a sweeping movement, possibly caused by not getting fully under the ball at release. Whether by design or happenstance, it proved to be effective, and aided her as she only allowed six hits, a couple of walks and two earned runs to finish with a 1.20 ERA and a nice 0.69 WHIP.
Avery Kennedy (2025 Colona, IL), a R/R Utility, was one of the offensive leaders for tournament champion, Illinois Bombers 16u. Kennedy sets up in a slightly open stance, feet approximately shoulder width apart, sitting into the legs. Picking the front foot up to get weight transfer, and then a stride to gain separation and for timing, Kennedy worked her hands inside the ball allowing her to hit to all fields. Picking up seven hits, showing some pull-side pop with two doubles and a home run, Kennedy knocked in eight, and also showed some speed in scoring six runs and swiping 3 bases. To Kennedy’s credit, she failed to register a strikeout on the weekend, and finished with a .636 batting average.
Arion Lonergan (2025 Rock Island, IL) is a two way player for Illinois Bombers 16u, who earned her way onto the top performers list for hitting as well as pitching. The R/R Pitcher/OF, setting up tall in the box, with a slightly open stance, utilizes a leg kick to get weight transferred, then going into stride as a timing mechanism and to get separation. Showing pull-side power, with a line drive approach, Lonergan picked up eight hits, with 2 doubles and a home run, scored eight runs, knocked in two and finished with .727 batting average. In the circle, displaying a smooth easy motion, Lonergan brings a six-pitch mix of fastball, change-up,curve, screw, drop and rise, to work. Showing good spin on the curve with late movement, a very nice change-up that she doesn’t tip off, and a rise that works just above the hitter's hands, Lonergan worked eight innings , recording 10 strikeouts. Keeping hitter’s off balance with movement and change of speed, and then spotting her fastball that topped out at 58 mph, Lonergan didn’t allow many balls to get barrelled up, and only gave up two earned runs.
Ella Trenkamp (2024 Charlotte, IA) is a R/R OF, playing for Southeast IA Allstars 16U Black. The recent North Iowa Area Community College commit, sets up slightly open, gets weight back with push from stride, and then does a good job of getting back to parallel. Keeping the front side closed, she works her hands inside the ball and shows line drive ability gap to gap, with a fluid swing. On the weekend, Trenkamp picked up six hits, including three doubles, scored five runs, knocked in six, swiped three bases and did not register a strikeout. This young lady should show up in Mason City next fall, and make an immediate impact for the Trojans.
Charley Perkins (2026 Taylor Ridge, IL), playing for Green Xtreme Gxta 18u, the RHH Perkins made the most of her three hits on the weekend. Setting up in a wide stance, feet almost parallel, Perkins rocks back to get weight transferred and then utilizes a small stride to start her positive move and get some separation. Displaying an aggressive attack angle, Perkins showed pull side power when on time and balanced, and picked up three home runs, scored three runs and knocked in six. If you are only going to get three hits on the weekend, might as well make them big.
Leighton Salazar (2026 Washington, IA) is a L/R Catcher for Southeast IA Allstars 16U Black. Salazar, although a catcher, is gifted with speed, and puts this to good use in her slapper approach at the plate, displaying good footwork in the box, working at a steady pace so as not to rush towards the pitcher. Salazar stays closed prior to contact and shows good barrel awareness, working the ball to the left side with either a soft or power slap. On the weekend, she picked up four hits, including two doubles, scored seven runs, knocked in six and stole four bases. Salazar also worked pitchers for five base on balls and finished with nearly a .600 OBP.
Saydee Plummer (2024 Burlington, IA) is a RHP for Southeast IA Allstars 16U Black, who looked a lot different this tournament. Having spent the last two weeks working on her motion and delivery, to become more consistent, Plummer showed hard work pays off. Working her six-pitch mix of fastball, change-up, drop, curve, screw and rise, she sat down 12 batters via strikeout in her eight innings of work, she worked consistently around the plate and still showed good movement on her screw and curve, while topping out at 60 mph. The Iowa Western Community College commit should continue to see good results, as she becomes even more comfortable in the circle with her recent changes.
Grace George (2026 Bettendorf, IA) is another RHP for the pitching heavy Southeast IA Allstars 16U Black. George, with a smooth repeatable motion, delivery and release, puts her lower half to good use as she drives to the plate. Working with a full complement of pitches that includes a fastball, change-up, rise, curve and screw, George is able to locate her pitches within the strike zone, top to bottom, in and out, to keep hitter’s off-balance. In her five innings of work, George struck out nine, gave up two hits, allowed two free passes and only gave up one earned run, while topping out at 57 mph, to finish with a 0.80 WHIP. There is a lot to like with this young lady, making her a good follow for next level coaches.
Alexis Trueg (2026 Cedar Falls, IA) is the third pitcher for Southeast IA Allstars 16U Black to earn a top five spot in the top performers list. Trueg, a RHP, is not gifted with the long levers associated with top pitchers, but she optimizes what she has control over, which includes her ability to hit spots, having a fundamentally sound motion and delivery, and having the ability and willingness to throw any of her pitches, no matter the count. Armed with a fastball, change-up, screw, drop and rise, Trueg worked six innings, striking out eight, while topping out at 55 mph. With a plus change-up, that she is able to throw for strikes consistently, Trueg left many hitters lunging at, or swinging over the top of, resulting in weak ground balls.