BURLINGTON, IA - 2025 Perfect Game Softball Midwest Meltdown, January 4 -5, 2025. Nine 18u Division teams finished off the holiday break by participating in this four game guarantee tournament held at The Turf, indoor facility. There were several highlights from the weekend, but none more impressive than a young Wisconsin Bandits 16u Sabish team, who made a run through the weekend to finish as the tournament finalist, to the tournament champion Illinois Bombers 18u Gold. This was a great way to open up the year, and we are looking forward to seeing you throughout 2025. 

18U DIVISION

Earning MV-Pitcher was Allison Giese (2027 Sun Prairie, WI) was the workhorse for tournament finalist Wisconsin Bandits 16u Sabish, totalling 20 innings of work on the weekend. Giese displayed a smooth repeatable motion, with good arm speed, while staying tall through her delivery, in showing hitters a five pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, curve and a two-seamer that showed good arm side run. Topping out at 60 mph, Giese struck out 33 batters and gave up four walks. Although allowing 20 hits and nine earned runs, to finish with a 3.20 ERA and 1.20 WHIP,  Giese showed composure in the circle and was able to work out of jams, giving her team a chance to win. As this young lady progresses and continues to work on her craft, she will gain the ability to spot her pitches more consistently, moving the ball out of the center of the plate to keep hitters off-balance. With good movement and change of speed, Giese is a next level follow from the 2027 class.

Earning Co - MVP were Addison Seitz and Addison Snell, of tournament champion Illinois Bombers 18u Gold, who both finished high in the top performers list for hitting as well as pitching. Addison Seitz (2025 Stronghurst, IL) a recent Rock Valley College commit, hitting from the left side, sets up in a closed stance, into her legs and pushes into the back side to transfer weight, and then strides to gain separation. Utilizing a split grip on the bat, Seitz is quick to the ball and picked up six hits that included a home run. She scored four runs and knocked in nine, drew a walk and struck out one time, to finish with a .600 batting average. In the circle, the RHP Seits works with a fastball, change-up, curve and screw, topping out at 62 mph. In her 9.2 innings of work, she struck out 12, allowed nine hits, gave up six walks and five earned runs to finish with a 3.60 ERA and 1.55 WHIP.

Addison Snell (2028 Geneseo, IL) is a R/R that sets up slightly open and utilizes a toe touch to get weight transferred, then takes stride to gain separation and generate momentum. When staying parallel with her stride, Snell shows good pull side power as she collected four hits with a double, triple and home run. She scored three runs, knocked in five, drew a walk, and did not record a strikeout, to finish the weekend hitting at a .500 clip. Snell, with a five pitch bag of fastball, change-up, drop, rise and curve, shows a lively arm with good use of her lower half, in topping out at 64 mph. In her 13.1 innings of work, Snell sat down 23 hitters via strike out, allowed nine hits, gave up eight free passes which led to five earned runs, finishing with a 2.27 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. Although battling with some consistency this weekend, this young lady is still proving to be one of the region's top pitchers in the 2028 class.

Other top performers this weekend included Miah Berhenke (2026 Hampton, IL) a RHH for Nebraska Gold 309, who put on a clinic at the plate. Setting up with a slightly open stance, dropped down into her legs, Berhenke utilizes a slight coil and push to get her weight transferred and gain separation. She utilizes a short stride for timing and to generate momentum. With a strong solid base, Berhenke does a good job of utilizing her lower half and is quick to the ball showing big time pull side power. Picking up 10 hits, that included a double and four homeruns, she scored six times and knocked in ten. With discipline at the plate, she was able to work pitchers for two walks, and did not record a strike out, to finish with a tournament leading .833 batting average.  With a compact swing that will play at the next level, don’t sleep on this young lady.

Riley Redig (2025 Fairfax, IA) is a RHH/2B for Southeast Iowa Allstars 16u Jones, who may be coming into her own as a player. Setting up in a parallel stance, Redig utilizes a slight lean for weight transfer and short stride to gain separation and generate momentum, which she transfers into solid use of her lower half in the swing.  Redig showed the ability to get the barrel on the ball in quick fashion, and although not large framed, generated some pop that resulted in her picking up a double and three home runs in her seven hits. She scored four runs, collected 10 rbi’s and did not record a strike out, to finish with a .700 batting average. Defensively, Redig shows good pre-pitch movement, first step, and glove work, always seeming to put herself into position to make plays.

Brianna Krause (2028 Fredonia, WI) is a young RHH for Wisconsin Bandits 16u Sabish, who showed the ability to work the ball gap to gap. Setting up with a slightly wide and open stance, Krause makes a big move pre-pitch to load into the back side, also pushing her hands back. From here, she launches her swing without striding, which on occasion leaves her open, losing the front side, and rolling over on pitches. Of her four hits, Krause picked up two doubles and a home run, scoring 3 runs and knocking in seven. As this young lady continues to mature and work on her skill set, she will become more consistent at the plate, while still continuing to deliver good power numbers. 

Adalynn Johnson (2026 Eldridge, IA) is a RHH for Southeast Iowa Allstars 16u Black, who showed the ability to get the barrel on the ball. Working at the plate in a slightly open stance, Johnson leans into the back leg to achieve weight transfer, and then utilizes a small stride to gain separation and generate drive to the ball. With good use of her lower half, Johnson showed some pop off the bat, and of her six hits, she collected two doubles and a bomb. She scored four runs, knocked in three, and picked up a couple of walks to finish the weekend hitting at a .600 clip. Johnson, a recent DMACC commit, will have the opportunity to continue her softball career at the next level.

Jaylynn Hamilton (2025 Erie, IL) is a contact hitter in its purest form. The RHH Hamilton sets up in the box in an open stance, sitting into her legs and hinged at the waist. She likes to crowd the plate, and working her hands inside the ball, she appears at her best when working the ball through the middle. Hamilton, who committed to Carl Sandburg College this past summer, picked up eight hits, all singles, scored three runs, collected four rbi’s and did not record a strike out, finishing the weekend with a .667 batting average. With good discipline at the plate, and solid swing mechanics, Hamilton should make an immediate impact with the Chargers.

Jersey Metz (2026 Williamsburg, IA) is a RHP for Southeast Iowa Allstars 16u Jones. Metz, with consistent delivery and loose arm swing, shows hitters a five pitch mix of fastball, change-up, drop, rise and curve.  With good pitch location and late moving curve, Metz worked 11 innings and struck out ten batters while topping out at 58 mph.  The recent Missouri Western commit gave up 11 hits, three free passes and allowed four earned runs to finish with a 2.50 ERA and 1.27 WHIP.

Lyla Canny (2026 Walford, IA) is a LHP for Cedar Rapids Reds 18u who, standing 6’ tall, is an opposing figure in the circle. Canny utilizes her long levers to generate good leg drive and arm swing while working with a four pitch bag of fastball, change-up, rise and drop curve. In her 9.1 innings of work, Canny sat down 19 hitters via strike out, while topping out at 62 mph. Having control issues, Canny gave up an uncharacteristic 13 base on balls, nine hits and seven earned runs. Although not her best weekend results, Canny has a large upside due to her build, composure in the circle, and current skill level. With continued maturity and work on her craft, Canny will be a great follow over the next couple of seasons.