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Softball  | Softball Tournament  | 9/13/2024

PG Elite 16 Scouting Showcase

Ashley Mears     

Perfect Game Softball Elite 16 Illinois Scouting Showcase

September 6-8

PEORIA, ILLINOIS- It was the perfect softball weekend in Peoria, IL at the Louisville Slugger Complex. Sun was shining and the weather was in the 70s, you couldn’t ask for better weather! The competition and strength of teams was at an elite level. Ultimately the Nebraska Gold 319 Berning team walked away with the 18U championship over the loaded Southeast Iowa All Stars Miller. The semi-finalists, Iowa Elite Red and the Iowa Gold Prospects were not teams to sleep on either. In 16U the Heartland Havoc 08 took the championship, beating the Tbsa Wahoos with a score of 11-5.  The Havoc showed an explosive offense with 16 hits on the board.  In the 14U division the Southeast Iowa Allstars Team 1 absolutely dominated, beating the Peoria Sluggers 14U Knight 13-4.  Overall it was an incredible weekend of great softball being showcased!

 

18U Division

The Most Valuable Pitcher award went to Lily Knutson (Cedar Rapids, IA 2026) of the tournament champion Nebraska Gold 319 Berning. With her fastball sitting in the upper 50s consistently, its her movement pitches and change up that are the most effective. Willing to throw her change up anywhere in the count, Knutson kept batters off balance utilizing this in many situations. Her rise and curveball are also highly effective resulting in several swings and misses. She finished with a tournament high 36 strikeouts through 20 innings pitched and only allowing 3 earned runs. An athlete who hasn’t even reached her ceiling yet, is sure one to watch in the upcoming years.

The tournament’s Most Valuable Player award went to Ashley Hansen (Bettendorf, IA 2026) of the runner-up Southeast Iowa All Star Miller team. Hansen is a left-handed slap hitter with remarkable speed. She has a simple batting approach and does her job batting in the two hole and gets on base. Once on base, Hansen is not afraid to steal on any catcher, tallying three stolen bases on the weekend.  Hansen finished the weekend with a tournament high 15 hits, including an in the park homerun, a triple and a double. Her speed, ability to play both infield and outfield makes her a great candidate to play at the next level if she chooses to do so.

Alayna Schulte (Waukee, IA 2026) of the semi-finalists Iowa Elite Red lead the Top Batting Performers this weekend.  Schulte is another left-handed slap hitter with remarkable speed on the bases. As the team’s lead off batter, she can place the ball well and can also hit for power. Once on the bases she has no hesitation at stealing the next bag, leading the tournament with nine stolen bases. Defensively, the middle infielder also has plus range and a strong arm to go with it. Schulte finished the weekend with 13 hits including a double, a triple and a homerun. Schulte will make an immediate impact on any lineup at the next level.

Kyla Schulte (Amana, IA 2026) of the tournament champion Nebraska Gold 319 Berning, is a clutch hitter that you would love to have in your lineup. Schulte has a simple approach, gets her hands through the zone well and generates power from her legs to drive the ball. Although an aggressive hitter, Schulte has a keen eye and walked four times. Defensively, a true utility player, Schulte can pitch, play the infield as well as the outfield. However, Schulte shines the most in the batter’s box, finishing with 10 hits, including three doubles, two triples, and knocked in seven RBIs.

Lauren Hagedorn (Adel, IA 2026) a right-handed pitcher from the Iowa Nationals turned in the weekends top pitching speed, with a fastball hitting 67mph several times and consistently in the 62-64mph range. The flamethrower utilizing her arsenal of fastball, change-up, rise, curve and screw, racked up 23 strikeouts in 15innings of work. As Hagedorn continues to perfect her craft and she will have skill and build to be successful at any level.

Jenna Hazard (Chatham, IL 2025) of Hitting Center 07 had her power and speed on display this weekend. Utilizing her lower half, she starts in a low crouched position, takes a small step to gain separation and helps to generate power. Hazard hitting in the three hole, produced well for her team having nine hits and of those nine, five were triples! She did her job well reaching base 15 times and scoring all 15 times for her team. Hazards athletic ability makes her a prime candidate for the next level.

Peyten Spiegel (Ankeny, IA 2028) of the Iowa Aries 18u was one of the youngest pitchers in the 18u division and held her own nicely. Using her legs well to drive off the mound, Spiegel confidently throws her fastball which sits in the upper 50s, to all corners, She also mixes in her change-up, rise and screw to keep batters off balance. Spiegel finished the weekend with 21 strikeouts through 13 innings pitched. A 2028, this athlete has not yet reached her ceiling and will only continue to get better and she continues to perfect her craft.

Julia Roth (Dubuque, IA 2026) a right-handed pitcher and utility player of the Lady Expos Blue was very impressive over the weekend. Roth, who is also very offensively strong, put her pitching on full display boasting a 14 strike out 6 inning game in pool play. Roth’s fastball topped out at 63mph, and she consistently worked in the lower 60s. What sets Roth apart was her killer rise ball that resulted in several swings and misses. Roth also mixes in her other pitches well which include a change-up, curve and drop. Roth is an incredible athlete that would be a huge addition to any team at the next level.

Katie Koch (2025 Indianapolis, IN) of the Indiana Shockwaves put her power on display this weekend. Utilizing a slight load and step, Koch uses her lower half to gain power. She does a great job of getting her hands through the zone and barreling up pitches. The power hitter finished the weekend with nine hits, which included three doubles and nine RBIs.

Peyton Stineman (Cedar Rapids, IA 2026) of Iowa Elite Red an upcoming right handed pitcher brought her speed to showcase this weekend. Working in the low 60s, Stineman is just a 2027 with several years to continue to gain strength and speed. Carrying a lot of the pitching load for her team this weekend, Stineman had 21 strikeouts through 18 innings pitched. Stinemans ability to paint the corners and mix in her change-up helps keep batters off balance. Keep an eye on this 2027 in the future.

 

16U Division

Reagan Kearns (2026 East Moline, IL) of the Heartland Havoc 08 was one of the best hitters of the weekend. Kearns put up an impressive stat line, tallying 7 runs, 13 hits, 1 double, 1 triple, 2 home runs, and 10 RBIs. Known for her powerful right-handed swing, she consistently generated hard contact and drove in runs throughout the tournament. As a versatile 2-way player, Kearns also contributed on the mound, pitching 12 innings and recording 10 strikeouts. Her fastball was clocked in the 54-56 mph range. Kearns' performance at the plate and on the mound makes her an exciting prospect to watch as she continues to refine her skills.

Gianna Cowan (2027 East Peoria, IL) of the TBSA Wahoos was among the top hitters on the weekend. Cowan consistently occupied the 3-spot in the lineup, using her powerful right-handed swing to drive in runs and produce for the Wahoos. Her impressive stat line included 7 runs, 12 hits, 3 doubles, 2 triples, and 2 home runs, leading to 10 RBIs. Cowan not only demonstrated strength at the plate but also combined her power with speed on the basepaths, making her a constant threat. Her ability to deliver in clutch moments solidified her role as a key RBI producer for the Wahoos and a standout player overall.

Addison Jones (2027 Divernon, IL) of the TBSA Wahoos was the sparkplug at the top of the lineup, igniting her team with her speed and energy. As the Wahoos' leadoff hitter, Jones consistently set the tone, scoring 11 runs on 9 hits and driving in 3 RBIs. Her speed on the basepaths was a key asset, swiping 8 stolen bases over the weekend. A versatile player, Jones also showcased her defensive abilities as a lefty catcher with advanced receiving skills and excellent communication behind the plate. Additionally, she patrolled center field, using her strong arm to make key plays. Jones’ blend of speed, defense, and leadership makes her a valuable asset to her team.

Khloe Kearns (2028 Beardstown, IL) of the TBSA Wahoos earned the title of this weekend’s Most Valuable Pitcher with a commanding performance in the circle. Kearns threw 20 innings, recording an impressive 27 strikeouts while only giving up 6 earned runs. Known for her ability to deceive hitters, Kearns expertly used her rise ball on two planes to keep batters off balance. Her curveball was her go-to pitch to get ahead in counts, further enhancing her dominance on the mound. With velocity in the high 50s on her movement pitches, Kearns proved to be a formidable presence and a key contributor to the Wahoos' success this weekend.

Macyn Bischoff (2028 Bettendorf, IA) of the Southeast Iowa All-Stars was one of the top pitchers of the weekend, impressing with her power and precision. Bischoff reached the highest velocity on the weekend, topping out at 63 mph, and effectively used east/west movement with her curveball and screwball to dominate hitters. Known for her strategic approach, Bischoff stretched the zone when ahead, enticing batters to chase, while also elevating her rise ball to change eye levels. Her changeup, which she sells exceptionally well, was a devastating weapon, keeping hitters off-balance. Bischoff’s combination of velocity, movement, and pitch selection made her a standout in the circle.

 

14U Division

Jordyn Iversen (2029 Independence, IA) of the Southeast Iowa Allstars Team 1 was the weekend's MV-Hitter and the third highest scoring pitcher of the tournament. Iversen was a threat at the plate all weekend producing 13 RBIs for her team and collecting 8 extra base hits; 4 doubles and 4 triples. Her swing was powerful considering she was part of the younger age group of this tournament. Iversen also had a large impact on the mound this weekend with her top speed sitting at 59 mph and averaging at 57 mph. Standing at 6’0” she pitches with great intimidation and tremendous speed placing herself above the 80th percentile of pitchers her age. Continue to look for this athlete as she grows and gains more speed and movement pitches.

Alexandra Knight (2028 Lexington, IL) of the Peoria Sluggers Knight was one of the top hitters this weekend tallying the most hits at 10. Knight’s powerful stance is intimidating at the plate, and it is clear to see she has a good hitter’s mentality. She consistently gets on base, allowing her to use her speed as a threat on the basepaths. In the outfield, she showcases a strong arm and good speed to reach balls in the gap. She had a great drop step, moving back on balls well. Knight is a very well-rounded athlete who can definitely play at the next level, and will continue to grow stronger and faster as she progresses in the sport.

Teagan Drury (2028 Edwards, IL) of the Peoria Sluggers Knight was a standout catcher all weekend. Her framing technique was exceptional, helping her pitchers get many balls turned into strikes. Drury is the commander on the field and aggressive from behind the plate, intimidating base runners who dared not to steal on her. With a recorded pop time of 1.94, she showcased her strength of arm many times holding runners back at 1st base with pickoff attempts, but also from the outfield as well. Drury was seen throwing base runners out from the outfield and moving fast for balls in the gap. At the plate, she was extremely disciplined and had a great hitter's eye, tallying the most walks at 4 BB. Drury often drove the ball deep to the outfield with great bat to ball connection. This player can succeed at the next level.