BURLINGTON, IA - 2024 Perfect Game Softball Christmas Classic December 21-22, 2024, saw ten teams converge on The Turf indoor facility to finish off the year and attempt to win a championship and carry bragging rights into 2025. In the 14u Division, Texas Glory IL claimed the rings and championship banner while Monsters 18u-Chick took home the spoils in winning the 18u Division title. Again, thank you for choosing to play Perfect Game Softball, and all of us at Perfect Game wish you a safe, healthy, and joyous holiday season.
14U DIVISION
Earning the MV-Pitcher Award was Laila Montague (2028 Moline, IL), of tournament champion Texas Glory IL. Montague, with a pitch to contact type approach in the circle, relies on hitting spots and change of speed to keep hitters off balance. Showing hitters a simple three pitch mix of fastball, change-up and curve, Montague worked 10.2 innings and collected six strikeouts. Topping out at 56 mph, she upset hitters' timing with her change-up, resulting in several weak ground balls and pop-ups. For her effort, Montague gave up eight hits, two free passes and allowed four earned runs to finish with a 2.60 ERA and 0.94 WHIP. As this young lady matures and gains strength, with continued work on her craft, it would be anticipated that velocity and spin rates will increase, giving her the ability to show hitters more speed variances and movement.
Caringtyn Horstmann (2028 Bennett, IA) earned the MVP Award, playing for tournament champion Texas Glory IL. Horstmann, a LHH/LHP, helped her team on both sides of the ball. At the plate, setting up in an open stance, Horstmann gains weight transfer and separation with her stride. Doing a good job of getting back to parallel, she doesn’t let her front side stay open and shows the ability to hit the ball with power to all fields. On the weekend, Horstmann picked up eight hits that included four doubles and two home runs. She scored eight runs and knocked in nine to finish with a .615 batting average. In the circle, topping out at 57 mph, showing hitters a fastball, change-up, drop, rise and curve, Horstmann worked eight innings, struck out seven and allowed two earned runs to finish with a 1.80 ERA and 1.50 WHIP.
Other young ladies doing work this weekend included Payton Harris (2028 Mediapolis, IA), playing for Black Dragons 14u. Harris, hitting from the right side, sets up in an open stance, utilizing a leg kick to achieve weight transfer, and a slight coil to get her hands back, and then a stride for separation, all done in a smooth and deliberate manner. Harris, never seeming challenged playing at this age level, picked up seven hits that included two doubles and three home runs to collect seven rbi’s. She scored six times and also worked pitchers for four walks, to finish with a .636 batting average and .750 OBP.
Charley Courson (2029 Moline, IL) is a RHH for tournament champion Texas Glory IL. Courson loads into the box in an open stance, leaning into the back leg with a toe touch that gets her back to parallel and to transfer weight, before utilizing a stride to gain separation. Showing good balance, and not letting her stride get too long, Courson showed gap to gap ability with some pull-side pop. Courson collected nine hits on the weekend, with two doubles and a home run, scored four times and knocked in nine, and did not record a strikeout to finish with a .692 batting average.
Kiley Besson (2028 Davenport, IA) is another fine hitter for Texas Glory IL that worked her way up the top performers list. Hitting from the right side, Besson sets up in a slightly open stance, leans into the back leg for weight transfer before utilizing a stride to launch her swing. Besson displayed the ability to work her hands inside the ball, to hit to all fields, in picking up six hits, with three doubles and a homerun. Besson scored three runs, picked up four rbi’s and did not record a strikeout, to finish the weekend hitting at a .600 clip.
Taylor Priebe (2029 Nauvoo, IL) is a RHP for Black Dragons 14u who displays a repeatable motion and delivery, while showing hitters a four pitch mix of fastball, change-up, drop curve and a two-seamer. Priebe worked 13 innings and struck out 15, while topping out at 58 mph. When working the bottom half of the zone, Priebe was successful keeping hitters off-balanced, but did get into trouble , as most pitchers do, when leaving pitches up in the zone. Priebe gave up 16 hits, three base on balls, to finish with a 2.20 ERA and 1.46 WHIP for her effort.
Harper Shook (2029 Blue Grass, IA) is a RHP for tournament finalist Nebraska Gold 309. Shook showed hitters a smooth delivery and arm swing with solid use of her lower half in the drive phase. Working a simple three pitch bag of fastball, change-up and drop, Shook kept batters off-balanced with her change of speed and ability to spot her fastball. In her eight innings of work, Shook struck out ten, while topping out at 57 mph. Although giving up eight hits and two free passes, Shook was able to work out of any jams, and did not allow an earned run, finishing with a 0.00 ERA and 1.25 WHIP.
Lilyanna Reyna (2029 Moline, IL) is another young arm for tournament finalist Nebraska Gold 309. Reyna, a RHP, worked 8.2 innings and sat down 14 batters via strikeout. With solid mechanics and a fluid arm swing, Reyna topped out at 58 mph, showing hitters a full assortment of pitches with fastball, change-up, drop, rise, curve and screw, to work all levels of the zone. Reyna, when changing speeds, locating her pitches and getting ahead in the count, was very successful. She would get into trouble when pitches remained up in the zone and in the middle of the plate which contributed to her giving up 13 hits, three walks and allowing six earned runs to finish with a 4.80 ERA and 1.85 WHIP.
18U DIVISION
Earning the MVP Award was Marie Young (2026 Donnellson, IA), a RHH/UTIL for tournament champion Monsters 18u - Chick. Young, setting up with a conventional stance, leaning into the back leg for weight transfer, is short and quick to the ball, working her hands inside the ball and with good bat speed and solid use of her lower half displayed good pull-side power. Young picked up eight hits, with two doubles and two home runs, scored four times and knocked in six runs. Showing patience at the plate, she worked pitchers for two free passes and did not record a strikeout, to finish the weekend with a .615 batting average. With solid swing mechanics, this young lady has a bat that can play at the next level.
Winning the MV-Pitcher Award was Skylar Peterson (2026 Muscatine, IA),with tournament champion Monsters 18u - Chick. Peterson, a RHP, again showed she was able to be the workhorse in the circle for her team, working 18.2 innings on the weekend. With a consistent delivery and motion, Peterson showed hitters a full bag of pitches with fastball, change-up, drop, rise, curve and screw, sitting down 24 batters via strikeout, while topping out at 62 mph. Peterson did struggle at times with her control, handing out 10 free passes, which contributed to her giving up an uncharacteristic seven earned runs to finish with a 2.60 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. Even with control issues, this young lady was still able to get outs and keep her team in games as they worked their way to the championship.
Other players earning their way onto the top performers list included Kori Lincicum (2026 Ankeny, IA), a two way player for Iowa Nationals 18u. Lincicum, a recent Drake University commit, loads into the box in an open stance, utilizing an early toe touch to transfer weight and get back to parallel, then striding to gain separation and momentum. The athletic Lincicum utilizes this momentum to create bat speed and to engage her lower half, showing good power potential, even though small framed. Picking up four hits, that included two doubles and two home runs, she scored four times and knocked in six, finishing with a .571 batting average. In the circle, showing hitters a fastball, change-up, curve and two-seamer , she struck out eight in her three innings of work, while not giving up any walks or earned runs, and only allowing one hit, while topping out at 60 mph.
Maggie Bowman (2027 Bettendorf, IA), hitting from the right side for tournament champion Monsters 18u - Chick, led the tournament with her 11 knocks, which included three doubles and a home run. Setting up tall in an athletic stance, Bowman leans into the back side for weight transfer and then strides to gain separation. When Bowman stays in her legs, staying connected, she shows the ability to drive the ball gap to gap with power and can hit for average, as she finished the weekend hitting at a .688 clip. Defensively, the 5’ 10” Bowman shows good glove work, and general mechanics behind the plate. This young lady would be a good next level follow over the next two years.
Sophie Goerish (2026 West Des Moines, IA) is a LHH for Iowa Nationals 18u. Goerish sets up in a conventional stance, slightly wide and pushes up onto her front toe to get weight transferred. She then drops back onto the front foot to start her launch, occasionally taking a small stride. Goerish continues to show she can drive the ball out of the park, picking up two home runs out of her four hits. She scored four times, knocked in three, drew two walks and finished with a .571 batting average. Defensively, Goerish shows versatility as she can play MIF and OF, and when coupled with her production at the plate, will give her opportunities at the next level.
Karmen Edwards (2026 Chatham, IL) is an athletic 3B for Tbsa Wahoos 08 16u Dahl. Hitting from the right side, Edwards starts with an open stance and utilizes a toe touch to get weight moved back, and to get parallel before striding to get some separation. Edwards picked up four hits, with two doubles, scored two runs, and knocked in an impressive nine rbi’s. Defensively, Edwards showed good pre-pitch movement, solid glove work and the ability to charge the bunt and make quick accurate throws from varied arm angles.
Chevelle Kingsley (2025 Davenport, IA) is a RHP for tournament champion Monsters 18u - Chick. Kingsley, showing hitters a very deliberate and repeatable motion and delivery, is not afraid to go right at hitters, which on occasion gets her in trouble.Working a full mix of fastball, change-up, drop, rise, curve and screw, Kingsley worked 12.2 innings and sat down 27 via strikeout, but gave up 16 hits and walked six, leading to her allowing seven earned runs. Topping out at 61 mph, Kingsley, to continue to be successful, will need to show hitters she can throw her off speed pitches for strikes, get ahead in the count, and spot her pitches, staying off the middle of the plate.
Addison Seitz (2025 Stronghurst, IL) is a RHP for Illinois Bombers 18u Gold. With solid motion and delivery, this Rock Valley College commit worked 6.1 innings showing hitters a simple mix of fastball, change-up and curve to record 11 strikeouts. Topping out at 62 mph, Seitz was able to spot her fastball throughout the zone and throw her curve to both sides of the plate to keep hitters off balance. She gave up four hits and three base on balls, but did not allow an earned run, finishing with a 0.00 ERA and 1.11 ERA. At the plate, Seitz helped the cause by picking up a couple of hits, with a double and home run to knock in three.
Addison Snell (2028 Geneseo, IL) a RHP for Illinois Bombers 18u Gold, is a nice young arm that showed she can compete at the upper level. Snell, topping out at 64 mph, displayed a smooth delivery, with great use of her lower half in the drive phase, and a free arm swing, showed hitters a five pitch bag of fastball, change-up, drop, rise and curve. Snell worked 10 innings and collected 12 strikeouts, gave up 12 hits and seven free passes, but was able to work herself out of jams, only allowing four earned runs to finish with a 2.80 ERA and 1.90 WHIP. As this young lady matures, gains strength and continues to work on her craft she will have a high ceiling, and is a definite next level follow.
Danika Eisenmenger (2027 Pesotum, IL) was another nice young arm, playing up a division with her Tbsa Wahoos 08 16u Dahl teammates. Eisenmenger, a RHP, showed hitters a nice mix of fastball, change-up, drop, rise and drop curve, working 12 innings and picking up 10 strikeouts, while topping out at 61 mph. Eisenmenger did a nice job of changing levels and showing the ability to throw her off-speed pitches for strikes to keep hitters off balanced and disrupting their timing. With continued work on her skill set, this young lady will develop a more consistent arm swing, and with added strength will gain added spin rate, allowing her to show hitters sharp, late breaking movement.