Perfect Game 18u IOWA CITY SCOUTING SHOW CASE SERIES #1

Iowa City, IA

Perfect Game Softball Iowa City Scouting Showcase Series #1, August 24 - 25, 2024 saw 14u, 16u and 18u divisions, totaling 52 teams, open up the PG fall schedule with five, 80 minute games, with no bracket play or awards presented at the conclusion of play. Besides the warm temperatures that greeted the teams each day, the play of these young athletes also heated up throughout the weekend. Several college coaches were in attendance to watch the teams battle it out and showcase their talented rosters.

18U Division

The Southeast Iowa All Stars Miller team is loaded with talent. The team boasts several D1 and D2 recruits already and has a few others that are currently uncommitted and sure to sign somewhere soon. The team claimed the top 5 Batting Top Performers with Kenna Sandoval (2026 Donnelson, IA) leading pack. Sandoval utilizes a very solid athletic stance and utilizes her lower half to power through the zone. Sandoval had a tournament high 17 RBIs coming from two homeruns, a triple, and four doubles, in her eight total hits.

Another Southeast Iowa All Stars Miller stand out was Abby Mecklenburg (2026 Marion, IA), a very athletic defensive utility player and an offensive threat at the plate. Mecklenburg had a tournament high eleven hits and racked up nine RBIs. Mecklenburg, who is also a track star, is a threat on the bases as well, and led the tournament with seven stolen bases. Mecklenburg would be a great addition to any team at the next level.

Sophia Gratton (2027 Asbury, IA) a right-handed power hitter for the Lady Expos Blue was a force to reckoned with at the plate. Leading her team with seven hits this weekend that included two homeruns and a double: while driving in seven runs. Gratton has a simple line drive approach at the plate and does well extending the bat through the zone. As she is only a 2027, she will be an exciting one to watch as she continues to grow and mature in the game.

Sophia Schlader (2028 Urbandale, IA) of the Iowa Aries 16U National team, is widely recognized as one of most talented athletes in the 2028 class. Schlader is continually showing up weekend after weekend with a hot bat and pitching to go with it. Her over-powering fast ball and ability to pain the corners is what makes this pitcher the most successful. Her rise ball is very deceptive and results in several swings and misses. Schlader finished her weekend on the mound with nine innings pitched and 15 strikeouts. Offensively, Schlader is just as strong as she is on the mound. A very tough out, she has a very aggressive stance, daring the pitcher to give her anything close. She had five hits, three of which were homeruns, and finished with six RBIs.

Samantha Gripp (2027, Indianola, IA) of the Iowa Nationals is another RBI machine. Gripp has a very athletic stance, utilizes a leg kick for weight transfer, and displays quick hands. Utilizing her lower half well, Gripp is a powerful hitter with the ability to find the gap. She finished her weekend with seven hits, four of which were doubles, and a home run. Gripp has the skills and ability to play at the next level now and will be fun to watch the next few years.

Leela Appeldorn (2028 Waukee, IA) is another exciting player to watch from the Iowa Aries 16U National. Appledorn is a left-handed batter who isn’t afraid to work the count and wait for her pitch.  Once on the bases, Appledorn is very aggressive and often looks to take extra bases. At the plate, Appledorn has a wide stance and quick hands. She finished the weekend with seven hits, two doubles, and five RBIs. Appledorn will be one to watch as she continues to grow and mature in the game.

Tatum Goerdt (2025 Ced Rapids, IA) of Iowa Elite Red was the weekends top performing pitcher. She has a mid-60s fastball that she can locate with ease and a very effective change up. Her rise ball is her most lethal pitch that comes in right at the hands. As she continues to home in on her skill and minimize walks, Goerdt would be a great addition to any team at the next level. She finished her weekend with 11 innings pitched and striking out sixteen.

Lily Knutson (2026 Cedar Rapids, IA) a right-handed pitcher for NE Gold 319 was very impressive on the mound this weekend. Utilizing a mixture of pitches, her fast ball sits in the upper 50s and mixes in her change up well. Her go to pitches is her rise and her curveball. Both pitches were working exceptionally well this weekend. Knutson had 10 strikeouts in nine innings pitched, while only allowing two walks. Entering her Junior year, I am excited to see where she commits to at the next level. She would be a great addition to any pitching staff.

Chevelle Kingsley (2025 Davenport, IA) of the Southeast Iowa All Stars 18U Scheetz is a right-handed pitcher who usually finds herself in scout notes for her hitting. This weekend she was one of the more dominate pitchers, standing at 5’ 10” she has a very athletic build and utilizes her leg drive well to generate power. Kingsley is very confident on the mound and the results show why. Closing the weekend, she had 15 strikeouts through 8 innings pitched allowing four hits and four walks. Once she minimizes her walks allowed, Kingsley is going to be a force to be reckoned with. Looking forward to seeing where this 2025 ends up if she chooses to continue her career at the next level.

Lyla Canny (2026 Walford, IA) of Cedar Rapids Red 18U is a left-handed pitcher standing at a mere 6 feet tall. Her mound presence is intimidating; her fastball that sits in the lower 60s, making sure to work all corners. Her low outside fastball that sits right in the river helped ring up several batters on the weekend, finishing with 16 strikeouts through 11 innings pitched. Canny needs to work on minimizing walks, but once she does, look out. Canny is one of the 2026s to keep your eye on.

Kylee Hill (2027 Burlington, IA) of the Southeast Iowa All Stars 16U Jones has a great mound presence and isn’t afraid to go right at batters. Hill’s fastball is sitting consistently in the low 60s occasionally hitting 63/64mph and works all corners of the zone. She also throws a screw, rise, curve, drop, and change up and of which she throws with extreme confidence. She finished the weekend with nine strikeouts in nine innings pitched and only allowing one walk. Just a 2027, Hill has not reached her peak yet and will be an exciting one to watch.

16U Division

Avery Watson (2027 Osceola, IA), hitting from the right side for SDM JTS, sets up in a parallel stance, utilizing a stride to gain separation and to allow her to fire her lower half to generate some exit velocity.  Working her hands inside the ball, Watson showed the ability to work gap to gap, picking up seven hits that included three doubles and two bombs. Watson scored five times and finished with an impressive 11 rbi’s, while not recording a strike out on the weekend and hitting at a .636 clip.

Ella Schott (2026 Urbandale, IA) is a lanky,  athletic, MIF for Barracuda Aces 16U Olson. Hitting from the right side, Schott showed the ability to work the ball from foul line to foul line, with some pop collecting a homerun,  then utilizing her speed to pick up three doubles and a triple with five of her seven hits. Schott scored six runs, drew 2 walks, did not strike out and knocked in five, finishing with a .700 batting average and .750 OBP.

Caycee Crawford (2027 New Hampton, IA) is a R/R utility player for Cik 09s, who sets up in the box with a slightly closed stance. Leaning into the back side for weight transfer and a stride for separation, Crawford displays true pull-side power. On the weekend, Crawford collected six hits that included a double and two bombs, while knocking in nine and scoring five times. Crawford’s power potential is evident, and with continued work, and patience to hunt for her pitch early in the count, she could develop the consistency  necessary  to hit for power and average at a high level.

Olivia Chapman (2028 Osage, IA), hitting from the right side for Cik 09s, moved the ball around the field, hitting it where it was pitched. Starting with an open stance, Chapman makes a pre-pitch move to get back to parallel, then utilizes a stride for timing and to gain separation. On the weekend, she picked up six hits, with a double and home run, scored seven runs, collected seven rbi’s, and did not record a strikeout. 

Maddie Schonhorst (2027 Huxley, IA), is a catcher for Alliance Select Gold.  Although she may have had only four hits on the weekend, Schonhorst showed her true value with her work behind the plate. Setting up in a good workable base, Schonhorst showed good glove work and movement when receiving pitches, and displayed good agility when blocking balls in the dirt, turning them back towards the plate, usually within easy reach. With adequate arm strength, which appeared even stronger due to her quick release, Schonhorst was able to throw runners out attempting to steal, and those that were trying to move up a base on a ball in the dirt. 

Chloe Evans (2028 Grimes, IA) is a LHP for 3t’S Select who displayed a repeatable motion and delivery in her 18.2 innings of work. Showing hitters a 5 pitch bag of fastball, change-up, curve, rise and drop, Evan’s sat down 11 batters via strike out. Topping out at 56 mph, Evan’s was able to change speed and run her curve in on the hands of right handed batters. Although giving up 21 hits and three free passes,  Evan’s was able to stay out of big innings and only allowed three earned runs to finish with a 1.10 ERA and 1.29 WHIP.

Lily Black (2027 Polk City, IA) continues to impress as she moves up through age level play. The RHP for Iowa Aries 16U CE Fire, is maturing as a pitcher and utilizing her five pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, drop, and curve to keep hitters off balance and disrupt their timing. Topping out at 59 mph, Black showed a nice rise that she ran just above the hitter's hands and a drop that led to several ground balls. In her nine innings of work, Black struck out 11, gave up six hits, two base on balls and four earned runs to finish with a 3.10 ERA, but a respectable 0.89 WHIP.

Paige McClintock (2029 Fairfax, IA) is a RHP for Blue Devils 16u, and one of the youngest arms in this division, which was not evident when watching her work. With a smooth motion and delivery, utilizing her lower half very well in the drive phase, McClintock brought a four pitch bag into the circle. Topping out at 59 mph, she showed hitters a fastball, change-up, rise and drop curve. Key to McClintock’s success was changing speed and levels with the drop curve that led to several easy ground ball outs. In her 8.1 innings of work, she picked up nine strikeouts, gave up six hits, two free passes, but did not allow an earned run, finishing with a 0.00 ERA and 0.96 WHIP.  This is a young lady,  if  she continues to work on her craft as she matures and gains strength over the next several years,  will be a great follow for next level coaches.

Brynnlee Seeck (2028 Newhall, IA) is another young RHP for Blue Devils 16U. Seeck, armed with a fastball, change-up, drop curve, and screw, worked seven innings and collected five strikeouts. Topping out at 56 mph, Seeck relied on change of levels with the drop curve to keep hitter’s honest, resulting in hitters being unable to barrel up the ball. Seeck allowed three hits, gave up one walk, and did not allow an earned run to finish with a0.00 ERA and impressive 0.57 WHIP. Another young arm with a high ceiling.

Macyn Bischoff (2028 Bettendorf, IA), a RHP for Southeast Iowa Allstars 16U Brandenburg, displayed a repeatable, fundamentally sound motion and delivery in her 7.2 innings of work. Bischoff showed hitters a six pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, drop curve, curve and screw, while topping out at 57 mph. She sat down nine via strikeout, scattered five hits, allowed three base on balls and  gave up three earned runs to finish with a 2.70 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. 

14U Division

Gracie Neal (2029 Alburnett, IA), a RHH coming out of the 3 hole for the Cedar Rapids Reds, got things rolling on day two, where she picked up five of her seven hits, in just two games.  Working her hands inside the ball, Neal moved the ball to all fields, picking up a double and triple in her seven hits. Neal scored six times, knocked in six, swiped two bases and did not record a strikeout, finishing with a .583 batting average for her effort.

Elsa Kopriva (2028 Clive, IA) is an athletic two-way player for Barracuda Aces 14u Olson, who got  things done equally as well at the plate as in the circle. Hitting from the right side, Kopriva sets up with a good base, leans to get weight transferred and then strides to get separation, utilizing good lower half movement to generate momentum and power. Collecting five hits that included a double and homerun, Kopriva scored six runs, knocked in four and showed discipline at the plate in picking up three free passes while  not recording a strikeout,  finishing with a .713 batting average and .800 OBP. In the circle, utilizing a mix of fastball, change-up, curve and rise,  Kopriva worked 12 innings, striking out 11, and topping out at 57 mph, while keeping hitters off balanced with a good rise and nice change of speed.

Grace Davis (2029 Dubuque, IA) is a R/R Utility player for 29/30 Texas Glory Iowa, who showed the ability to drive the ball gap to gap, picking up three doubles in her six hits, including going 4 for 4 on day two. Davis scored five runs, picked up four rbi’s and showed speed to collect four stolen bases. Davis was consistent at the plate all weekend, did not record a strike out and finished with an impressive .750 batting average and .800 OBP.

McCaelyn Casey (2028 Altoona, IA), hitting from the right side for Iowa Aries 14U CE, set up in a narrow, slightly open stance, utilizing a stride to gain separation and to get back to parallel. Casey, showing the ability to get around the bases, picked up five hits, that included an inside the park homerun, and also swiped four bases, while scoring five runs and collecting six rbi’s. Casey finished the weekend hitting at a .556 clip, with a .636 OBP.

Mila Jordan (2028 Wapello, IA) is a RHP for Southeast Iowa Allstars14u Team 1. Jordan, showing a smooth, repeatable motion, with solid use of her lower half in the drive phase, showed hitters a 4 pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, and drop. Topping out at 58 mph, Jordan worked 11.1 innings, struck out eight, scattered five hits, gave up two free passes, and allowed one earned run to finish with a 0.60 ERA and 0.62 WHIP for her effort. This young lady, with continued work on her skill set, as she continues to mature and gain strength, will be a great follow over the next few years. 

Emeri Hill (2028 Fairfax, IA) is an athletic utility player for Thunder Softball Club 2028. The right handed hitting Hill, working from a solid base, sets an aggressive bat angle and showed pull-side pop in picking up eight hits, that included three doubles and a home run. Hill scored six runs, knocked in nine, drew a couple of walks and did not record a strikeout to finish with a .800 batting average and .833 OBP.  After leading Cedar Rapids Prairie to the Iowa Girls State Softball Tournament this past summer, she has continued to show the ability to impact a game. A solid follow over the next few years.

Ellie Tague (2028 North Liberty, IA), a RHP for Thunder Softball Club 2028, displayed  fundamentally sound mechanics, good arm swing and use of her lower half in the drive phase, during her nine innings of work. Showing hitters a five pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, drop and drop change, Tague worked both sides of the plate while topping out at 60 mph. Effectively changing speed and hitting her spots, Tague struck out nine, scattered seven hits, allowed three base on balls, but failed to give up an earned run, to finish with a 0.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. Having watched this young lady improve and develop over the past couple of seasons, one would expect continued growth over the next few years.