Perfect Game Softball Winter Warm Up
Burlington, IA
Jan 30-Feb 1, 2026
BURLINGTON, IOWA- 23 teams across two age divisions converged onto Fun City Turf last weekend to compete to be the Winter Warm Up champions. In the 18U division, the Iowa Nationals 18U came out on top in a hard-fought game, defeating the Iowa Gold Prospects 2-1. On the weekend, several athletes stepped up big for their teams and below we highlight some of the top performers of the tournament.
18U Division
Julia Roth (2026, Dubuque, IA) of the Lady Expos Blue was one of the most effective hitters of the weekend. She finished her weekend batting .583, tallying seven hits, four of them being home runs. Her power was on display, and she came in clutch multiple times, driving in nine runs for her team. This right-handed hitter showed great composure in the box, working counts, and making defenses earn every out. She drew three walks and scored nine times. She has a fantastic barrel path to the ball and has incredibly fast hands. She showed great ability to stay behind the ball, driving the ball up the middle multiple times. Roth also produced for her team in the circle, pitching 9.2 innings and striking out 15 batters.
Alex Mohlke (2027, Polk City, IA) of the Iowa Gold Prospects proved to be one of the toughest hitters in the tournament last weekend. She finished the tournament with a staggering .700 batting average, driving two home runs and a triple. This right-handed hitter starts in a balanced and calm stance and takes a short and efficient path to the ball. She does a great job with her contact points, driving the ball to all fields. Mohlke drove in four runs for her team and scored four times. She showed a great eye in the box, drawing two walks and overall showed great athleticism on the field all weekend.
Lauren Hagedorn (2026, Adel, IA) of the Iowa Nationals 18U was easily one of the strongest two-way players to compete in the tournament. She shined bright on both sides of the ball, finishing with a .636 batting average and a 1.00 ERA. Offensively, this right-handed hitter and Iowa State Commit is built strong and packs a punch. She has loose hands and almost looks effortless when she swings. The ball pops off her barrel with solid velocity and she showed the ability to drive the ball to all fields. Hagedorn drove in five runs for her team and scored six times. On the mound she threw 14 innings, striking out 13 and giving up no walks. She commanded the zone well, using a mix of her tight-spinning curveball, backdoor curve, and riseball. She throws with good velocity paired with really nice movement.
Samantha Gripp (2027, Indianola, IA) of the Iowa Nationals 18U was a key piece to helping her team win the championship last weekend. This power-hitting righty finished her weekend batting .545 and drove in seven runs for the Nationals. Most notably in the championship game, she got the only two RBI’s of the game, a scorched line drive over the right-center fence to secure the win. Her power was on display all weekend as she belted three home runs. Gripp also stole three bases and scored four times for her team. Overall, Gripp is a perfect combination of power and athleticism. She uses a solid front leg lift to start her swing, but she gets the foot down on time and fires hard against a firm front side. She generates an incredible amount of barrel whip and doesn’t shy away from clutch situations. Her composure in the box during stressful situations was a huge asset and quite impressive.
Brynna Gander (2028, Marion, IA) of Nebraska Gold 319 Berning was one of the top impact players in the tournament. This left-handed hitter showed off her pop and grit in the box, blasting three home runs and driving in four runs for her team. She drew three walks and belted two doubles. In the box she generates a ton of barrel whip and has a strong and violent back side when swinging. She also threw three innings for her team, finishing with a 0.00 ERA and striking out three.
Kori Lincicum (2026, Ankeny, IA) of the Iowa Gold Prospects was a strong offensive force for her team last weekend. She finished the tournament batting .462, driving a home run, six hits, three RBI’s, and scoring five times. She stole six bases for her team, showing off her wheels. This Drake University Commit has a calm presence in the box and generates a great amount of bat speed. She is balanced and powerful within her swing and packs a punch.
Sophia Schlader (2028, Urbandale, IA) of the Iowa Gold Prospects was a standout performer on the weekend. She is a talented two-way player who dominated on both sides of the ball. Offensively, this right-handed hitter is built strong and knows how to generate power. She has a quick barrel and a short path to the ball, making her swing truly efficient and powerful. She has the ability to drive the ball to all fields with authority. She finished the weekend batting .500 and drove a double and had an RBI. In the circle, Schlader was a show of dominance. She consistently pops mid 60’s with good movement and command. In 14 innings pitched, she struck out 28, averaging two per inning. She finished with a 1.00 ERA and was a huge part of her team’s success.
Other notable performers…
Lia Horn (2028, Arlington Heights, IL) of the VA Glory 18U showed off incredible consistency in the box over the course of the tournament. She finished her weekend batting .750 with four doubles and three RBI’s. She also stole a base for her team.
Alivia Gillespie (2026, Aledo, IL) of the Lady Hitmen 18U Crawford had a great weekend at the plate for her team. She finished the tournament batting .625, driving a double and three RBI’s.
Mallory Willis (2027, Chariton, IA) of the Southern Iowa Savage finished her tournament batting .556, tallying five hits, three of them being home runs. She finished with five RBI’s and scored five times for her team as well.
Mia Lund (2027, Palatine, IL) of the VA Glory 18U finished her tournament batting an impressive .556. She scored three times, had an RBI, and stole a base for her team.
Sophia Miller (2026, Peosta, IA) of the Lady Expos Blue had a great tournament, hitting .417 on the weekend, driving two doubles and a home run. She also drove in six runs and scored three times for her squad.
Madison Fuhrman (2028, Janesville, WI) of GTS 18U Elite- Gonzalez finished her tournament batting .556. She belted two doubles and tallied four RBI’s for her team.