BURLINGTON, IA - Perfect Game Softball Burst The Bubble Tournament, January 24 - 25, 2026. 15 teams in this four game guarantee, pool into bracket play tournament, with both a 16u and 18u division contested. In the 16u Division, it was the 09 Midwest Sluggers claiming the Championship over finalist Wisconsin Heat. In the 18u Division it was CIK 08’s taking home the gold rings over finalist Alliance Select Black. The tournament was filled with lots of young talent with big bats, and several players already committed to higher education programs. Below are some of the players that earned their way onto the tournament top performers list.
16U Division
Earning the tournament MVP award was Ruby Stagg (2028 Bettendorf, IA) a solid fielding SS for tournament champion 09 Midwest Sluggers. Stagg, hitting from the right side, sets up in a conventional stance, slightly wide and makes an early move to get her weight transferred to the back hip, also moving her hands back to gain separation. With minimal stride, Stagg gets the barrel through the zone, working the ball gap to gap with heavy pull-side favor. On the weekend, Stagg collected five hits with two doubles and a two out, first inning, two run bomb to open up the championship game in amassing seven rbi’s. Stagg scored two runs, stole a base, and struck out once, finishing with a .455 batting average. With continued work on her skill set, and development of some patience at the plate to hunt her pitch, this young lady could be a high average hitter, with some pop in her bat.
Winning the MV-Pitcher award was Izzy Kramer (2027 Oshkosh, WI), a RHP for tournament finalist, Wisconsin Heat. Kramer showed hitters a smooth, repeatable motion, with a lively arm swing while delivering a simple four pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise and curve. Kramer did a good job of changing speed and hitting spots, showing she was not worried about working hitters inside, while topping out at 58 mph. In her 12.2 innings of work, Kramer recorded 12 strikeouts, while allowing 14 hits and nine earned runs. In her defence, Kramer allowed 12 hits and all her earned runs in the semi-final and final, to arguably the two best hitting teams in the tournament. With her consistent delivery, Kramer was always around the plate and only allowed two walks. Kramer finished with a 5.00 ERA and 1.26 WHIP for her effort. There is a lot of upside to this young lady and her work in the circle. Even if not having her best stuff, she continued to compete, and did not shut-down in the circle, and kept her team in the game and in a position to win.
Other players earning top performer status includes Brooke Young (2027 Coal Valley, IL), a RHH for tournament champion 09 Midwest Sluggers. Young sets up in a parallel stance, hands held high, utilizing a toe touch to shift weight and for timing, before gaining separation with her stride. Young sets the barrel early in her swing and works this bat path through the zone. Young generates some pop with solid use of her lower half and is selective at the plate. In only picking up three hits, Young collected four rbi’s and scored four runs, while adding a home run in her hit total. She stole a base, drew two walks and did not record a strikeout to finish with a solid .600 batting average and .714 OBP.
Brynley Wenig (2029 Burlington, IA) is a two-way player for Southeast Iowa Swarm. Hitting from the right-side, Wenig sets up in an open stance, sitting into her legs, then leaning into the back leg for weight transfer. Wenig gets back to parallel with minimal stride, and works the ball gap to gap showing power to all fields. Making the most of her three hits with two doubles and a home run. She scored two runs, knocked in five and recorded one strikeout to finish with a .600 batting average. In the circle, Wenig works a five pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, drop and curve, topping out at 61 mph. In her 4.1 innings of work she struck out eight, gave up five hits and four free passes while allowing one earned run. For her effort, Wenig finished with a 1.60 ERA and 2.08 WHIP.
Harper Meyers (2030 Amana, IA) is an athletic RHP for Cedar Rapids Blue Devils 14u, playing up a division this weekend. Meyers shows hitters a repeatable delivery and arm swing, utilizing her lower half to generate momentum in the drive phase, in working a five pitch bag of fastball, change-up, rise, drop and drop curve. Although topping out at 60 mph, Meyers is most effective when she is able to throw her off speed pitches for strikes. In her 10 innings of work, Meyers struck out 11, while giving up 10 hits and five base on balls, allowing three earned runs. She finished up the weekend with a 2.10 ERA and 1.50 WHIP.
Zoey Silva (2027 Rockfalls, IL) is a RHP for tournament champion 09 Midwest Sluggers. Silva, utilizing good legs in the drive phase, with a smooth compact motion and delivery, worked 9.1 innings in the circle. Silva showed hitters a simple four pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise and curve while topping out at 57 mph. Silva was able to sit down 18 batters via strikeout, primarily utilizing a late moving, swing and miss type curve ball. Silva allowed 10 hits and six base on balls which contributed to an elevated 7 earned runs to finish with a 5.30 ERA and 1.71 WHIP.
18U Division
Earning the MV-Pitcher award was Peyton Stineman (2027 Cedar Rapids, IA) a RHP for tournament champion CIK 08’s. Stineman, a recent Missouri Southern State commit, shows hitters a very deliberate, but powerful motion and delivery with a lively arm whip and next level stuff, while closing the distance to the hitter through her push. Working a six pitch bag of fastball, change-up, rise, drop, curve and screw, Stineman works the whole zone, hitting spots and changing speed. Topping out at 60 mph, Stineman worked 13 innings and struck out 22, with hitters struggling to catch up to her rise. She allowed eight hits and three walks while giving up one earned run, finishing with a 0.50 ERA and 0.80 WHIP. This young lady could make an immediate impact at the next level when she arrives on campus in the Fall of 2027.
Picking up the MVP award was Nikayla Davis (2027 Bondurant, IA), an athletic SS for tournament finalist Alliance Select Black. Hitting from the right side, Davis loads into an open stance, sitting into her legs, transferring weight as she simultaneously coils to gain some separation. She gets back to parallel with her stride, and works her hands inside the ball showing the ability to hit to all fields, with power. Davis picked up 9 hits with a double and two home runs, and put her speed on display by recording more than one infield single. Davis scored 13 runs, knocked in eight and worked pitchers for two walks to end her weekend with a .643 batting average. Defensively, Davis showed nice footwork and good hands while making routine plays, and displayed good arm strength and quick release getting the ball across the infield. This young lady is a solid next level follow.
Alexis Havlovic (2027 Bondurant, IA) is a solid all around athlete for Iowa Elite Force 16u. Havlovic, who can pitch, catch and play any other position, steps into the box from the right side utilizing a slightly open stance. With good weight transfer, and solid use of her lower half, Havlovic gets the barrel through the zone with an aggressive attack angle, looking to get the ball in the air. In collecting seven hits, that included a double and three bombs, Havlovic knocked in nine, scored four runs, drew one walk and did not record a strikeout. Showing the ability to hit for power and average, Havlovic finished off her weekend hitting at a .636 clip. This young lady gives coaches at the next level plenty of options, when looking to fill a roster spot.
Mackenzie Freetly (2027 Ankeny, IA) is a RHH for tournament finalist Alliance Select Black. Freetly, a true contact type hitter, works from an open stance, sitting into her legs. With a short move to get weight transferred and with enough of a stride to get parallel, Freetly gets the barrel on the ball, working to all fields, but may be at her best when letting the ball get deep and driving it opposite field. Freetly picked up 11 hits, which included two doubles, collecting seven rbi’s and scoring seven runs. She swiped two bases, drew one walk and went down swinging one time, finishing with a tournament leading .733 batting average and .750 OBP.
Addie Pearson (2027 Albia, IA) is a two way player for tournament finalist Alliance Select Black, that found her way onto both the hitting and pitching top performers list. Pearson, a RHH/RHP, starts from a solid base in the box, showing good weight transfer and solid use of her lower half, while working her barrel through the zone with good extension through contact. Pearson collected a double and home run with her seven hits, recording an impressive 12 rbi’s. She scored three runs, drew three walks and struck out two times, but still managed to hit .636 on the weekend, with a .733 OBP. In the circle, Pearson worked 12 innings and sat down 18 via strikeout, showing hitters a fastball, change-up, rise, drop and curve while topping out at 60 mph, finishing with a 2.90 ERA and 1.58 WHIP.
Autumn Kress (2029 Quasqueton, IA) is a RHP for Cedar Rapids Reds 18u Red. With good height and size, and a drive phase that closes the distance to the batter, Kress is an imposing figure in the circle. Topping out at 59 mph, and working hitters with a five pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, drop and curve, Kress was at her best when throwing off-speed for strikes and moving the ball around the zone. In her 13.2 innings of work, Kress struck out 17, gave up 13 hits and seven walks, while allowing seven earned runs to record a 3.60 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. As only a 2029, Kress has time to continue to develop her craft, gaining strength and consistency as she matures as a pitcher.
Kori Lincicum (2026 Ankeny, IA) is a RHP for Iowa Gold Prospects. The November, Drake University signee showed that she can dominate a game when in the circle. As one would expect from a future DI pitcher, Lincicum displays a consistent motion and delivery, solid lower half in the drive phase, and snappy arm swing that all work together to generate both velocity and spin. Lincicum went at hitters with a simple four pitch bag of fastball, change-up, curve and two-seamer. With a fastball topping out at 62 mph, a tight spinning, late breaking curve, and a two -seam that showed good glove side run, Lincicum struck out eight in her four innings of work. She did not give up a hit, walked three and did not allow an earned run to finish with 0.00 ERA and 0.75 WHIP.
Haleigh Caspary (2026 Fond du Lac, WI) is a LHP for Wisconsin Bandits 18 National-Heintz. A November signee with Rock Valley College Caspary showed all the attributes, physically and mentally, that are needed to be successful at the next level. Working with a four pitch bag of fastball, change-up, rise, and drop curve, Caspary topped out at 63 mph, showing great movement on her fastball with glove side run that was nearly impossible for hitters to barrel up. In her 6.2 innings of work, Caspary struck out eight, gave up eight hits and three base on balls, to allow three earned runs.
Hayden Kresser (2026 Jesup, IA) is a Catcher that had the job of sitting behind the plate, every game for tournament champion CIK 08’s. Hitting from the right side, Kresser, a Des Moines Area Community College commit, utilizes an open stance, staying tall, with a lean into the back hip for weight transfer. She does a good job of getting to parallel with her stride, and sets the bat at an aggressive angle through the zone, showing good hips and extension after contact. For the weekend, Kresser picked up seven hits that included a double and two bombs, picking up six rbi’s. Kresser also scored three runs, drew three walks and didn’t have a strikeout, finishing with a nice .636 batting average and .714 OBP. Behind the plate, Kresser showed good glove work while receiving, displayed nice mobility while blocking, and good arm, with quick release when throwing to bases.