Iowa City, IA - Perfect Game Softball Iowa City Scouting Showcase Series # 2, September 27 - 28, 2025. Forty teams converged on Iowa City to showcase their talents in a five game guarantee, round robin showcase format. With several college coaches in attendance, athletes in three divisions, 14u, 16u and 18u, went to work putting their skills on display. Although there were no championship banners or MVP awards handed out, several top performers were identified and are being highlighted below.
14U Division
Kierson Griffith (2029 Carbon Cliff, IL) is a young RHH hitter for Nebraska Gold 309 that does a lot of things right at the plate. Working from a parallel stance, utilizing a toe touch to shift weight and stride for timing and separation, Griffith works her hands inside the ball and shows good bat speed, getting the barrel to the ball in utilizing all fields. Griffith picked up 10 hits with a couple of doubles, scored 15 runs, stole seven bases and knocked in six to finish with a .625 batting average on the weekend. With continued work on her skill set, as this young lady continues to mature and gain strength over the next few years, one would expect her power numbers to increase, while still maintaining her ability to hit for average.
Makenna Feist (2029 Milan, IL), a RHH for Midwest Sluggers 11, made some noise with her bat this weekend. Setting up slightly open and into her legs, Feist worked a solid lower half and turn that had her working an aggressive bat path through the zone. Staying square and inside the ball, Feist picked up seven hits on the weekend that included both an opposite field and pull-side, leaving the park without a doubt homerun’s, along with a couple of doubles. She scored seven runs and knocked in seven, while also collecting two base on balls to finish with a .583 batting average. This young lady does not get cheated at the plate and is already showing plus power and the ability to hit with power to all fields.
Sophia Anderson (2030 Andalusia, IL) is a talented two-way player for Nebraska Gold 309. At the plate, swinging from the right side, Anderson utilizes a strong athletic frame, staying slightly in her legs, showing good bat speed in working the barrel through the zone. Anderson collected seven hits that included two doubles, scored six runs and knocked in nine to finish hitting at a .538 clip. In the circle, Anderson utilizes a good lower half in the push phase and shows a fluid accelerated arm whip in working hitters with a six pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, drop, curve and screw. In her 9.2 innings of work, the right hander struck out six while topping out at 57 mph. She allowed eight hits, gave up five walks and four earned runs, to finish with a 2.90 ERA and 1.34 WHIP. A young lady with a lot of talent that will be an interesting follow over the next few years.
Maya Woltz (2030 Davenport, IA) is listed as a S/R, but I only observed her working from the left side of the plate, which she did effectively. In working bunts and soft slaps, Woltz showed good foot work and generally good barrel awareness. Although she would on occasion not get the ball ideally placed, her pure foot speed allowed her to beat out the throw to record a hit. Woltz picked up 10 hits, all singles, scored nine runs, collected two rbi’s, swiped three bases and drew one free pass to finish with an outstanding .833 batting average. As this young lady matures, gaining strength and continuing to work on her craft, she could develop into a very nice triple threat slapper, putting extra pressure on the defense by not allowing them to play her just one way.
Brianna Schlapkohl (2029 Milan, IL), playing for Midwest Sluggers 11, is another two-way player that worked her way onto both top performers lists. In the circle, the RHP shows hitters a consistent motion and delivery, with good use of her legs in the drive phase. With a six pitch bag of fastball, change-up, rise, drop, curve and screw, Schlapkohl worked 9.2 innings and struck out 12 while topping out at 56 mph. Showing good movement and change of speed, she gave up seven hits, five base on balls and two earned runs to finish with a 1.40 ERA and 1.24 WHIP. At the plate, she picked up five hits, scored eight runs, knocked in seven and drew two walks to secure a .500 batting average. No stranger to Scout Notes, this young lady continues to find herself finishing at, or near the top of our top performers list each time out.
Kynlee McElvain (2030 Amana, IA) is a RHP for Thunder 14u Feuerbach that keeps things simple,working the zone with a four pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise and drop. McElvain showed good use of her lower half in the drive phase, and a fairly consistent arm swing and release during her nine innings of work. While topping out at 60 mph, she struck out 13, allowed 10 hits, gave up four free passes and allowed six earned runs, finishing with a 4.70 ERA and 1.56 WHIP. I will note that McElvain did draw the tough task of facing a very good hitting Midwest Sluggers team that accounted for 6 of her hits, and 4 of her runs allowed, but also, this was the Sluggers lowest hit and runs output on the weekend. As this young lady matures as a pitcher over the next few years, with continued work on her skill set, she will be an interesting follow.
Lizzie Camp (2028 Douds, IA), with long levers, is a RHP for the Black Dragons. Camp utilizes her size, and solid use of her lower half to close the distance to the batter in her drive phase. Showing hitters a four pitch bag of fastball, change-up, two-seam and drop curve, Camp worked 10 innings, striking out 10, while topping out at 56 mph, working a late moving drop curve and her two-seamer that consistently showed good glove side run. Camp gave up 10 hits, five base on balls and four earned runs to finish the weekend with a 2.80 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. This young lady has physical tools that next level coaches are seeking. With continued work on her craft, as she matures as a pitcher, she will get the opportunity to perform at the next level.
Bayah Angle (2030 Swisher, IA) is a RHP for Thunder 13U Swancutt, who showed hitters a four pitch mix of fastball, change-up, drop curve and screw. Angle worked 10.1 innings, and at times looked totally in command in striking out 10, while topping out at 56 mph. Angle allowed nine hits, and at times appeared to struggle with her release which resulted in her walking 11. To her credit, Angle kept her composure and worked through her control struggles, only allowing two earned runs, to stay away from big innings, finishing with a 1.40 ERA and 1.94 WHIP. As this young pitcher continues to work on her craft, as she matures and gains strength, her motion and delivery will become more consistent and I would expect to see her regularly on the top performers list.
16U Division
Aubrey Robertson (2028 North Liberty, IA) is an athletic catcher for Thunder Softball Club 16u-Tague. The RHH Robertson sets up slightly open and into her legs, then leans into her back side for weight transfer, and utilizing a stride to gain separation and get to parallel. She gets the barrel through the zone in quick time, and although she has a tendency to favor pull-side, she did work the ball opposite field, to help her pick up eight hits, that included two doubles and a home run. She scored nine runs, knocked in 10, drew two walks and struck out once to finish with a .667 batting average. Defensively, Robertson displayed a nice arm, and is not afraid to throw the ball around the field. She shows good receiving skills and communicated well with her pitcher. A quality 2028, showing some next level defensive tools that can also swing the bat.
Lilly Anderson (2029 Ankeny, IA), a RHH for Iowa Elite Force Bower, works from a parallel stance, weight into her legs, forming a good solid base. She utilizes a slight lean into her back leg to transfer weight, before taking a stride to gain momentum and gain separation, and with a line drive approach, Anderson’s bat path through the zone is not overly aggressive. On the weekend, Anderson collected nine hits, with two doubles. She scored nine runs, knocked in seven, drew one free pass and did not record a strikeout to finish with a .600 batting average. This young lady will be a nice follow as she matures as a hitter over the next couple of years.
Sydney Jarvis (2027 Ft. Madison, IA) sets up in an open stance, utilizing a lean into the back hip for weight transfer, and then starts her launch phase with a stride, getting to parallel and generating separation and momentum in the swing. Hitting from the right side for the Black Dragons, Jarvis worked her hands inside the ball and utilized the whole field in picking up her six hits, that included three doubles and a triple. She scored four runs, knocked in six and did not record a strikeout, finishing with a .429 batting average. When Jarvis gets her pitch, she does a good job barrelling it up and working gap to gap. With some added patience at the plate, Jarvis will have the ability to continue to hit for extra bases, but should also be hitting for a higher average.
Bella Sutter (2030 Pleasantville, IA) is a RHH for Iowa Elite Force Bower, with a solid set-up in the box, weight into her legs, using movement to get weight transferred prior to launch. Sutter worked her hands inside the ball, and used both sides of the field in collecting her showcase leading 10 hits, which included two doubles. She scored six runs, knocked in three, swiped 3 bases and worked the pitcher for one free pass, to finish the weekend hitting at a .625 clip. As this young lady matures and gains strength over the next few years, with continued work on her skill set, one could project an increase in her power numbers, with her continued ability to hit for a high average.
Natalie Hora (2029 Cedar Rapids, IA), a RHH for the Nlxks Sparks, really showed she was at her best when working the ball middle/opposite field. Setting up in a narrow parallel stance, with weight into her legs, Hora kept her front side locked in and attacked the inside part of the ball, showing good extension after contact, in collecting seven hits, that included three doubles. She scored six runs, knocked in five, swiped a couple of bases, drew two walks, and struck out three times to finish with a .500 batting average. This young lady has a lot of good things working in her favor, and with continued work on her craft as she matures over the next couple of years, she will get the opportunity to play at the next level.
Avery Bower (2029 Ankeny, IA), a RHP for Iowa Elite Force Bower, again earned her way onto the top performers list. Bower showed hitters a very consistent, and repeatable delivery and motion while working a four pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise and curve. Bower again changed speeds well, and located her pitches throughout the zone in her 12.1 innings of work, topping out at 57 mph. But this time around, Bower sat down 18 batters via strikeout, showcasing a tight spinning, late moving curve that was a swing and miss pitch. Always around the plate, she allowed eight hits, one walk and three earned runs, finishing with a 1.70 ERA and 0.73 WHIP. Keep eyes on this young lady as she continues to mature and gain strength over the next few years as she is already displaying qualities that are required to be successful at the next level.
Jordyn Blake (2027 Bettendorf, IA), a RHP for Bett Dawgs ‘10, shows hitters a consistent delivery and motion, with solid use of her lower half in the push phase. Blake, who worked a tournament leading 15 innings in the circle, gave hitters the full compliment of fastball, change-up, rise, drop, curve and screw, to strike out 10 while topping out at 55 mph. Blake gave up 15 hits, two base on balls and five earned runs, finishing the weekend with a 2.30 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. This young lady showed some nice movement, was consistently around the zone, and that she can be very successful if she keeps the ball off the middle of the plate.
Ellie Tague (2028 North Liberty, IA), a RHP for Thunder Softball Club 16u-Tague, is starting to make reaching the top performers list a habit, as this makes back to back showcase appearances. Tague works with a very deliberate and consistent motion and delivery, utilizing a leap in the push phase, doing a good job of closing the distance to the batter. Topping out at 60 mph, Tague showed hitters a fastball, change-up, rise, drop, drop change, and newly introduced curve that did account for a few of her 14 recorded strikeouts, during her 7.1 innings of work. She allowed five hits, four base on balls and three earned runs to end the weekend with a 2.90 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. Staying consistent, improving mechanics, developing pitches, doing what needs to be done to compete and be successful at the next level, well done.
Sophie Romey (2029 Urbandale, IA) is a RHP for Iowa Aries 16u Ce Black that showed hitters a consistent delivery and motion, with solid use of her lower half in the drive phase, and a lively fluid arm swing. Romey worked with a four pitch bag of fastball, change-up, rise and drop in her 6.1 innings, striking out 11, while topping out at 58 mph. Romey showed nice movement with her curve, throwing it to both sides of the plate and a rise that she had hitters chasing, but never catching up to. Romey displayed good composure in the circle, never appearing to be rattled and just went to work, allowing five hits, two base on balls and zero earned runs, finishing with a very effective 0.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. This young lady will be a next level follow over the next few years.
Peyton Stineman (2027 Cedar Rapids, IA), a RHP for Nlxks Sparks, showed just how dominating she can be in the circle. Working just 4.1 innings, Stineman struck out 9 of the 13 batters she faced, showing hitters a six pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, drop, curve and screw, while topping out at 61 mph. Stineman’s ability to spot her pitches in all quadrants of the zone, and effectively throw the change-up for strikes, without tipping it off, have always been keys to Stineman’s success in the circle. At the plate, Stineman utilizes the same strong lower half from pitching to generate power and torque, and collected four hits that included two doubles and a homerun, scoring four runs and knocking in six, to finish in the top 5 on the top performers list in Pitching and Hitting, just playing three games. This young lady continues to display the tools and skills necessary to be successful at the next level, and will be given the opportunity to do so.