URBANDALE, IA - 2025 16u Perfect Game Elite Iowa Showcase, September 13 - 14, 2025, saw 17 teams not only compete against each other, but also against unseasonably warm temperatures reaching the mid nineties during both days of competition. As expected, there were several top performers that showcased their skills during the weekend, and when it was all said and done, it was Iowa Aries 16u Ce Black taking the Championship with a hard fought 4 - 3 win over a tough Iowa Gold Mathews team. Below are some of the individual top performers from the Elite Iowa Showcase.
Earning Tournament MVP was Elliot Gress (2028 Clive, IA) of Iowa Aries 16u Ce Black. Gress, a 3B\RHP, sets up tall in the box, and with a slow and deliberate move for timing and weight transfer, collects at the back foot before striding to initiate her launch phase. Showing good tilt and turn, with accelerated bat speed, Gress displayed plus power, but also control in her swing to also hit for average. In picking up 13 hits, that included two doubles and four home runs, Gress collected an incredible 17 rbi’s on the weekend. She scored 11 runs, drew one walk and struck out one time to finish with a .650 batting average. In the circle, working a fastball, change-up, drop and curve, she struck out six in 11.2 innings of work. She gave up 11 hits, 3 base on balls and one earned run, finishing with a 0.60 ERA and 1.20 WHIP for her effort. This young lady has a high ceiling and will be garnering lots of interest over the next two recruiting cycles.
Earning Tournament MV-Pitcher Maddison Zlomke (2027 West Des Moines, IA), a LHP for tournament champion Iowa Aries 16u Ce Black. Zlomke showed hitters a smooth repeatable motion and delivery, with good use of the lower half in the push phase utilizing a leap to generate momentum. Working with a five pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, curve and screw, Zlomke worked 14 innings and sat down 21 batters via strikeout, while topping out at 59 mph. Keeping hitters off balanced with movement, and disrupting their timing with change of speed, were keys to Zlomke’s success as she gave up 14 hits, one base on balls and two earned runs, finishing with a 1.00 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. Also getting work done at the plate, Zlomke collected nine hits, which included a double, a triple and four home runs to pick up 10 rbi’s and score 9 runs. With good movement and the ability to hit her spots, and a silky smooth swing from the left side with some pop, keep eyes on this young lady as she continues to impress in the circle and at the plate.
Other top performers at the Elite Iowa Showcase include Addison Matlock (2028 West Des Moines, IA) is a RHH for Barracuda Aces 16u Olson. Setting up parallel, Matlock will lean into the back side as she takes a pre-pitch stride for weight transfer, and will then drive the hips forward, keeping her hands back, to initiate her swing. Working the ball to all fields, Matlock picked up 11 hits that included four doubles and a triple, knocking in eight, while showing her foot speed in scoring 11 runs and stealing 5 bases. A solid top of the line-up hitter, Matlock finished the weekend hitting at a .611 clip, and shows an offensive skill set that can play at the next level.
Gracie Anderson (2028 Ankeny, IA) is a LHH/Slapper for tournament finalist Iowa Gold Mathews. When swinging away Anderson sets up parallel, sitting into her legs, with a lean into her back hip and stride for weight transfer and separation. She does a good job of keeping her front side closed and can drive the ball to all fields, and with her speed, extra bases are common. While slapping, Anderson displays solid foot work, good barrel awareness, bat angles and touch in both hard and soft slaps. On the weekend, Anderson picked up 10 hits with two doubles and three triples, collecting four rbi’s from her lead-off spot. With her speed on display, she scored 12 runs and swiped 10 bases, turning singles into doubles. A high level athlete with tools that can be successful at the next level.
Anna Salvador (2027 Le Claire, IA) is a RHH for tournament champion Iowa Aries 16u Ce Black. Salvador sets up parallel, sitting into her legs, hinged at the waist, then leaning into the back hip for weight transfer before striding to get separation. Salvador, taking a line drive approach, and working the ball to all fields, picked up a tournament leading 14 hits. A contact hitter with occasional pop, she collected five doubles and a homerun, knocked in six, scored 8 runs, stole 4 bases and finished with a fine .667 batting average for her effort. This young lady has tools that coaches are looking for at the next level.
Brylee Bach (2028 Ankeny, IA) is a LHH/Slapper for tournament champion Iowa Aries 16u Ce Black, who sets up in an exaggerated open stance, sitting into the back leg. She moves back to parallel as a timing mechanism, and will either initiate her swing or start foot work for her slap. On occasion the front side does not get closed up, causing her to pull off the ball. But when the shoulder stays in and she is on time, and in sync, Bach is very effective at the plate. On the weekend, Bach collected 10 hits, which included two doubles and a homerun, scored 10 runs, stole five bases and drew two walks to finish the weekend hitting at a .556 clip.
Maya Twigg (2029 Waukee, IA) is an athletic 3B/C with Barracuda Aces 14u Gentzler, who first grabbed my attention due to her defense, or more importantly, the arm strength she displayed getting the ball across the infield from 3rd base. Later, she charged a bunt, playing through the ball with her glove hand, transferred the ball and threw a strike to the first baseman, without breaking stride as her momentum was still taking her towards home plate. At the plate, Twigg stays tall in the box, leans into the back side for weight transfer and utilizes a stride for timing and to gain separation. She utilizes a solid lower half and showed pull-side pop, collecting nine hits, with six doubles and a homerun, knocking in six and scoring six runs while not recording a strikeout on the weekend, to finish with a .692 batting average. This young lady, with her current skill set, and having time to continue to develop over the next few years, should be a high interest, next level follow.
Elsa Kopriva (2028 Clive, IA) is a RHP for Barracuda Aces 16u Olson that shows hitters a smooth repeatable motion and delivery, with solid use of her lower half, utilizing a leap in the push phase. Kopriva works a five pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, curve and screw while topping out at 59 mph. Working down in the zone, and then changing levels with her rise, resulted in several swing and miss attempts that helped her record 19 strikeouts in her 14 innings of work. Kopriva also changed speeds well and appeared comfortable throwing to both sides of the plate, and although she allowed 10 hits and gave up four base on balls, she stayed out of big innings, only allowing one earned run, finishing with a 0.50 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. Don’t sleep on this young lady, she continues to impress with her consistency in the circle and seems to improve each time out.
Maclain Hickenbottom (2027 Eldon, IA), a RHP for Iowa Elite Force 16u, stays tall during her delivery, with good use of her lower half in the push phase, and a consistent arm swing while showing hitters a five pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, drop and curve, while topping out at 59 mph. Although only working six innings in the circle, Hickenbottom showed what she could do, by recording 15 of her 18 outs via strike out. Hickenbottom had good success working her drop at the bottom of the zone, resulting in hitters swinging over the top of it as it dropped out of the zone. Hickenbottom gave up three hits, four base on balls and one earned run to finish with a 1.20 ERA and 1.17 WHIP.
Avery Bower (2029 Ankeny, IA) is a RHP for Iowa Elite Force Bower who shows hitters a consistent motion, while tending to stay tall with her delivery. Bower works with a four pitch bag of fastball, change-up, rise and curve, with a top velocity of 55 mph. Bower is successful when she changes speed and is able to locate her pitches, throwing all for strikes. In her 11.1 innings of work, Bower struck out 12 and gave up five base on balls. Drawing a couple of tough assignments, Bower allowed 10 hits and six earned runs to finish with a 3.70 ERA and 1.32 WHIP for her efforts. A nice young arm that has time to develop if she continues to work on her craft.
Brooklyn Valles (2030 Woodbine, IA), a RHP for Barracuda Aces 14u Gentzler, had a good showing, playing an age group up and pitching against some quality hitters. Valles, with a solid delivery and motion, used a good lower half in her push phase and maintained a fairly consistent arm swing. Working with a simple four pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise and curve, Valles struck out 12 in her nine innings in the circle, while topping out at 58 mph. She showed hitters a good, tight spin, late moving curve and a rise that was a swing and miss pitch for her. Although giving up 11 hits and six base on balls, she was able to keep the damage to a minimum with only 3 earned runs, finishing with a 2.30 ERA and 1.82 WHIP. As this young lady matures and gains strength over the next few years, one would expect to see her movement and velocity to increase, if she continues to work on her craft.