BURLINGTON, IA - 2025 Perfect Game Softball Winter Warm Up Tournament, January 31 - February 2, 2025 saw 24 teams, across two age divisions, come to The Turf indoor facility to take the opportunity to get some game speed reps in, as players start to prepare for their Spring season, and compete for the championship banner and rings. The 16u Gold Bracket Division was won by CIK 08s, who took a 3-2 win over Wisconsin Lightning 2010 14u. The 18u Gold Bracket Division saw Nebraska Gold 319 Berning, secure the banner and rings, with a hard fought 1-0 win over finalist Iowa Gold Prospects.
16U DIVISION
Earning the MVP Award was Peyton Stineman (2027 Cedar Rapids, IA), a R/R two way for tournament champion CIK 08s. Stineman sets up in the box with an open stance and utilizes a toe touch to get weight transferred and back to parallel, then stride to generate separation and momentum. She showed solid use of her lower half and displayed pull-side power in collecting five hits that included two home runs. She scored five runs, knocked in three and drew a walk to finish with a .500 batting average. In the circle, Stineman worked 12.1 innings and struck out 19, showing hitters a full complement of six pitches, topping out at 61 mph. She allowed one hit, walked four, and gave up one earned run to finish with a 0.60 ERA and 0.41 WHIP. This young lady is a next level follow, that still has time to develop as she matures and continues to put work in on her craft.
Leona Eichholz (2028 Harvard, IL) earned tournament MV-Pitcher Award, playing for tournament finalist Wisconsin Lightning 2010 14u. Eichholz, who was recently selected to the U-15 USA Women’s National Team, will be competing internationally in Mexico and France in the upcoming months, was dominant in the circle. Showing hitters a six pitch mix, with a couple variations thrown in, of fastball, rise, drop, curve, screw and off-speed, Eichholz worked 13 innings, striking out 28, which included a four inning, 11 strike out no-hitter in semi-final play. On the weekend, Eichholz did not allow a hit, walked three, and did not allow an earned run, to finish with an outstanding 0.00 ERA and 0.23 WHIP. At the plate, Eichholz picked up five hits, with a double and two home runs, scoring four runs and knocking in six to finish the weekend hitting at a .625 clip. This young lady is one of the premiere 2028 arms in the country, and will be sought after accordingly.
Other top performances turned in during this tournament include Liliana Hansen (2027 Cedar Rapids, IA) sets up in an open stance, feet wide, and utilizes a leg kick to transfer weight and gain separation with the stride. Showing pull side power, Hansen, playing for Blue Devils 16u, made the most of her four hits by collecting three home runs. She scored three runs and knocked in seven, to finish with a .400 batting average. This young lady, when she gets back to parallel with her stride, is very successful. With continued work on her skill set, Hansen will have the opportunity to develop more consistency at the plate, to have the ability to hit for power as well as average.
Sadie Sholtis (2026 Gillespie, IL) is a two way for Black Widows 08 who showed well at the plate and in the circle. In the box, setting up slightly open, weight into her legs, Sholtis leans into the back leg to transfer weight. Utilizing her stride for timing and separation, Sholtis did a good job of getting to parallel and putting the barrel on the ball, to collect five hits, that included a double and two home runs. She scored four runs, knocked in eight, hitting .455 for her effort. In the circle, Sholtis worked 11.2 innings and recorded 14 strikeouts, with a six pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, drop, curve and screw, while topping out at 58 mph.
Mackenzie Schnulle (2027 Woodstock, IL), a RHH for Gts 15u Elite-Riemer, sets up in the box in an open stance, with weight into legs and achieves weight transfer by leaning into the back leg. Schnulle picks the front foot up and places it back down with little or no stride, hitting from a firm front leg with a good hip turn. On the weekend, Schnulle picked up seven hits, none more important than her walk off winner in the Bronze Division semi-final game. She collected four doubles, scored five runs, knocked in five and finished with a.538 batting average for her effort.
Alexis Trueg (2026 Cedar Falls, IA) is a RHH for tournament champion CIK 08s who sets up in an open stance, sitting into legs and utilizes a toe touch to get parallel and shift weight back. With her stride, she gains separation and momentum for her swing. Trueg picked up six hits, that included two doubles and a home run, drew two walks, scored six runs and collected one rbi to finish with a very nice .667 batting average and .727 OBP. This young lady has shown she can get the job done at the plate and has the ability to do the same at the next level.
Brynna Gander (2028 Marion, IA) is an athletic LHH/UTIL for Blue Devils 16u. Gander, setting up in a slightly open, wide stance, leans into her back hip, before utilizing a stride for separation. She does a good job of not allowing her front side to fly open, and combined with working her hands inside the ball, she showed the ability to hit to all fields. Gander picked up a tournament leading nine hits, that included two doubles and a triple, she scored three runs and did not record a strikeout, to finish with a .643 batting average. This is a 2028 that will garner some attention over the next few years.
Violet Knepp (2028 Madison, WI) is a RHP for Va Glory Gagliardi/Kozel 15u. Topping out at 58 mph, Knepp displayed a consistent motion, with solid leg drive in the push phase, and a quick arm swing. She showed hitters a five pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, curve and screw, tossing a nice curve, and spotting her fastball throughout the zone, to record 23 strikeouts in her 15 innings of work. Knepp allowed six hits, gave up two free passes and allowed two earned runs to finish with a 0.90 ERA and0.53 WHIP. If this young lady continues work on her craft, she would be a good next level follow as she matures and gains strength over the next couple of years.
Alaina Gahring (2027 Cedar Rapids, IA), is a RHP playing for Blue Devils 16u. Gahring displays a fluid motion and delivery, in showing hitters a five pitch bag of fastball, change-up, rise, curve and screw, with the curve and change-up being solid strikeout pitches. In her 13 innings of work, Gahring struckout 24 hitters, while topping out at 59 mph. She allowed 10 hits, gave up 6 walks and allowed eight earned runs, to finish with a 4.30 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. As this young lady progresses, she will need to stay off the middle of the plate and work on getting ahead in the count, but don’t sleep on this young pitcher, with continued work on her skill set, she has the tools to contribute at the next level.
Rachael Andrews (2027 Cedar Rapids, IA) worked her way onto the top performers list again, but this time for her work in the circle. Andrews, a LHP for tournament champion CIK 08s, goes to work with a consistent and repeatable motion and delivery, showing hitters a five pitch mix of fastball, change-up, drop, curve and screw. Andrews, topping out at 61 mph, worked 8.1 innings, striking out 12, while allowing three hits, two walks, and not giving up an earned run to finish with a 0.00 ERA and 0.60 WHIP. With nice spins, and a mechanically sound motion and delivery, this young lady has next level stuff.
Maclain Hickenbottom (2027 Eldon, IA) is a RHP for Iowa Elite Force Howell. Working with a five pitch bag of fastball, change-up, rise, drop and curve works with a consistent motion, staying tall throughout her delivery and utilizing a strong push in the drive phase. Topping out at 60 mph, Hickenbottom worked 13 innings and struck out 13, while allowing 14 hits and walking four. Although allowing a hit per inning, Hickenbottom was able to get herself out of jams and only allowed three earned runs, to finish the weekend with a respectable 1.60 ERA and 1.38 WHIP.
18U DIVISION
Kate Scholl (2025 Bettendorf, IA) earned the MVP Award, playing for tournament champion Nebraska Gold 319 Berning. Scholl, hitting from the right side, sets up in an athletic, slightly open stance with her hands held above shoulder level. With a push to get weight to her back side, she then gets parallel with her stride, and displays a quick barrel, working her hands inside the ball, hitting to all fields. Scholl, a Des Moines Area Community College commit, shows good use of her lower half, hits off a firm front side, and has an aggressive attack angle with good barrel extension through the zone. For the weekend, Scholl picked up four hits that included a double and two home runs. She scored three runs, stole a base and knocked in four rbi’s.
Earning the MV-Pitcher Award was Lily Knutson (2026 Cedar Rapids, IA), a RHP with tournament champion Nebraska Gold 319 Berning. Knutson, a three time winner of this award, continues to impress in the circle. With a consistent and fluid motion and delivery, with good use of her lower half, Knutson shows hitters a full arsenal of pitches. In the past, Knutson relied on a very effective change-up to throw off hitters, but this time around she utilized a nice rise and late moving curve to do damage. In her 11 innings of work, Knutson sat down 27 batters via strikeout, while topping out at 60 mph. The recent Augustana University (SD) commit allowed three hits, walked five and did not give up an earned run, being one of a trio of 319 pitchers that held opponents scoreless throughout the tournament, to finish with a 0.00 ERA and 0.73 WHIP.
Other top performers include Samantha Gripp (2027 Indianola, IA), a RHH for Silver Bracket Champion, Iowa Nationals Alliance Select 18U. Gripp, setting up with a slightly closed stance, utilizes a toe touch to shift weight and then stride to gain separation. Staying in her legs throughout her swing, Gripp generates plus power to all fields, finishing the weekend with five hits that included a double and two bombs. She scored six runs and knocked in seven, and showing discipline at the plate, worked pitchers for three walks to amass a .625 batting average and .727 OBP. This young lady has next level ability and will be a highly sought player out of the 2027 class.
Sophie Reed (2026 Altoona, IA) is another polished RHH for Iowa Nationals Alliance Select 18U. Reed sets up in an open stance, sitting back into the rear hip. She utilizes a toe touch to get back to parallel, and then strides to generate some separation and momentum. With an aggressive attack angle and solid use of her hips, Reed showed she too has some pop in her bat, collecting five hits that included a double and three home runs, while scoring four runs and knocking in seven, finishing with a .556 batting average. This young lady has some high level pop in her bat, with a swing that can play at the next level.
Adalynn Johnson (2026 Eldridge, IA) is a RHH for Southeast Iowa Allstars 16u Jones. Johnson, setting up in an open stance, sitting into back leg, utilizes her stride to get parallel and gain some separation. Johnson, a recent Des Moines Area Community College commit, does a good job of working the ball out front, with hands staying inside the ball, utilizing a line drive approach, hitting to all fields. Picking up six hits on the weekend, that included a double and two home runs, Johnson scored five runs, knocked in seven, and drew a walk to finish with a .545 batting average. Expect to see this young lady make an impact when she gets on campus in Boone.
Sophia Miller (2026 Peosta, IA), hitting from the right side for Lady Expos Blue, made the most of her four hits on the weekend. Setting up in a nearly parallel stance, staying tall in the box, Miller leans into the back side for weight transfer and then uses her stride to gain separation and momentum. Miller displays an explosive hip drive that leads her into her tilt and turn that sets an aggressive attack angle. The results of this was four hits, with three bombs, knocking in seven and finishing with a .400 batting average. With the development of patience at the plate, as this young lady continues to mature and work on her craft, one would expect to see her continue to hit for power, but also for average.
Dylan Amling (2028 Cedar Rapids, IA) is a RHH for tournament champion Nebraska Gold 319 Berning. Amling loads into the box in a slightly open stance, leaning into the back leg, and pushes with front foot to get weight transferred, then moves into her stride. On the weekend, Amling picked up six hits that included two doubles and two home runs. She scored four runs, knocked in four, and drew a walk to finish with a healthy .667 batting average and .700 OBP. Showing the ability to work the ball gap to gap with power, this young lady is a definite next level follow, who still has time to mature and get stronger, while continuing to work on her skill set.
Emily Koranda (2025 Marion, IA) is a RHP for tournament champion Nebraska Gold 319 Berning, who is no stranger to the top performers list, and another reason 319 did not allow a run all tournament. She shows hitters a repeatable motion and delivery, utilizing a strong leap in the push phase. Koranda, a Missouri State University signee, works with a five pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, drop and curve. With high spin rates on her movement pitches, and velocity topping out at 63 mph, Koranda worked 11 innings, striking out 20. She gave up three hits, walked one, and did not allow an earned run, to finish the tournament with a stellar 0.00 ERA and 0.36 WHIP.
Julia Roth (2026 Dubuque, IA) is a RHP for Lady Expos Blue that shows hitters a smooth, easy motion and delivery, with a leap in the push phase. Working hitters with a five pitch bag of fastball, change-up, rise, drop and curve, Roth, a recent University of Iowa commit, struck out 21 batters in her 11.1 innings of work, while topping out at 63 mph, and working her curve to both sides of the plate. Roth stayed ahead of hitters in the count, and did not give up any big innings, in allowing nine hits, zero walks and only one earned run, finishing with a 0.60 ERA and 0.79 WHIP. This young lady, although known for her abilities at the plate, is showing she can be equally as dominant in the circle.
Lyla Canny (2026 Walford, IA), playing for Cedar Rapids Reds 18u, continues to sit down hitters via strike out. Canny, working from the left side, showed hitters a four pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise and drop curve, that she has the ability to throw each pitch to either side of the plate. In her14.2 innings of work, Canny, a recent Des Moines Area Community College commit, struck out a tournament leading 31 batters, while topping out at 61 mph. Canny gave up 12 hits, walked 14 and gave up six earned runs, but it was obvious she was suffering from some lower back pain that may have adversely affected her performance.
Grace Pence (2026 Albia, IA) is a RHP for Southeast Iowa Allstars16u Jones. Pence displays a smooth, repeatable motion and delivery in the circle, maximizing the drive phase by executing a leap in her delivery. Showing hitters a five pitch bag of fastball, change-up, rise, drop and curve, Pence, who topped out at 61 mph, did not shy away from working hitters inside, kept hitters off balanced with her change-up, and delivered a tight spinning curve that showed good late movement. In her ten innings of work, Pence struck out 18, gave up four hits, walked six, and did not give up an earned run to finish with a 0.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. This young lady, currently uncommitted, has the physical tools, as well as the pitcher’s mentality, to be successful at the next level.