PG Softball Illinois Scouting Showcase Series
16U Division
October 3-4
Peoria, IL
PEORIA, IL- It was a picture-perfect weekend for softball as seven teams in the 16U division converged at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria, Illinois. The action was fast-paced and competitive from start to finish, featuring tightly contested games and outstanding talent on display across the board. Our scouts had a front-row seat to some incredible performances throughout the tournament, and below are the top standout athletes who caught our eye.
Kennedy Murphy (2028, St Charles, IA) of Alliance Select Harper was lights out this past weekend. This right-handed hitter was the pinnacle of consistency in the box. She finished her weekend batting an astounding .857 with twelve hits in just five games. She demonstrated the ability to drive the ball to all fields and did so with authority. She belted two triples, five doubles, and tallied 12 RBI’s on the weekend. She has an athletic stance and goes to a solid toe touch before firing her back side hard. She is balanced throughout her swing and she generates a great amount of barrel whip. She showed great barrel awareness, driving pitches both up and down in the zone. Kennedy is poised to make a big impact at the next level.
Kierson Griffith (2029, Carbon Cliff, IL) of the Nebraska Gold 309 Griffith proved to be one of the most dynamic hitters of the tournament. She finished her weekend batting a whopping .625 with 10 hits and six RBI’s. Throughout the weekend she proved she can drive the ball to all fields, showing a great ability to hit the ball where it’s pitched. She showed a bit of pop in her barrel as well with two doubles. She has a relaxed stance with loose hands which helps her generate some nice bat whip. One of her big strengths is her athleticism and baserunning skills. She moves well, shows great acceleration, and a solid softball IQ on the bases. She stole four bases and scored seven times for her team. Keep your eye on this young athlete, as she has a bright future.
Bristol Nannelli (2029, Cedar Rapids, IA) of the CR Reds 16U Red proved to be one of the most clutch and consistent hitters over the course of the tournament. In 16 plate appearances, she tallied 9 hits and an impressive 10 RBI’s. She did a great job of hitting the ball where it was pitched, spraying the field throughout the tournament. She has a simple approach and simple swing that is effective at making consistent contact. She is build strong and has a ton of power potential, so we are excited to see how she continues to develop in the coming season. Keep your eye on this future star.
Hanna Shook (2031, Blue Grass, IA) of the Nebraska Gold 309 Griffith was one of the most dynamic left-handed offensive weapons of the tournament. With the ability to slap the ball where it's pitched on command, she kept her hands inside the ball really well and did a great job living on the left side of the field. On the weekend, she batted .500, tallying nine hits in 18 at-bats with four RBIs, one walk, and scored eight times for her team. She was a spark plug on offense, as once she reached base, she created a ton of chaos with her speed. She is also a dynamic true utility, who can contribute at any position on defense. Keep your eye out on this athlete, as she has a ton of potential to wreak havoc at the next level.
Jillian Slay (2028, Marion, IA) of the CR-Reds 16U Red was one of the strongest two-way players of the weekend. Offensively, this left-handed hitter has incredibly fast hands, a balanced swing, and a good amount of barrel whip. She utilizes a strong front side resistance in her swing and does a great job staying balanced on off-speed pitches. She showed great discipline in the box, not chasing bad pitches. She finished the weekend with nine hits in 19 plate appearances, batting .474 with a double, four RBIs, and five runs scored for Cedar Rapids. In the circle, she averaged over a strikeout per inning—striking out 15 batters in 9.0 innings pitched—using a combination of a solid curveball, a drop curve, and an effective offspeed pitch that stayed down in the zone well.
Kaylee Krueger (2029, Johnston, IA) of the Alliance Select 16U Hotchkiss was one of the most consistent hitters that we saw last weekend. She finished her weekend batting .571, tallying eight hits in 14 at-bats with two home runs and a double. She scored five times and was incredibly clutch for her team, tallying seven RBIs. Featuring an athletic stance and a quick barrel, she made consistent contact and proved capable of hitting pitches both in and out of the strike zone. This young middle infielder has a ton of potential and we look forward to seeing her continue to grow this coming season. She will be on a lot of collegiate lists.
Addilyn Good (2030, Winterset, IA) of the Alliance Select 16U Hotchkiss was impressive in the circle last weekend as well as with her bat.. This right-handed pitcher finished her weekend with an impressive 0.66 ERA and, in 10.2 innings pitched, struck out 12 batters—averaging more than a strikeout per inning. Good utilizes an absolutely filthy drop ball to both sides of the plate and is excellent at painting both corners with this pitch. Sitting in the low 60s velocity-wise, she showed impressive discipline with her pitches. She also helped her own cause offensively, finishing the weekend batting .500 with six hits and five RBIs, while showing some pop in her barrel with two doubles. She is built strong and packs a punch both at the plate and with her wrist snap on the mound. Keep your eye out for this young and talented athlete, as she is going to make a difference in someone's program at the next level.
Ivy Klaren (2031, Blue Grass, IA) of the Southeast Iowa Swarm was impressive in the circle last weekend. This right-handed pitcher finished with a .78 ERA in 9.0 innings pitched, tallying an impressive 13 strikeouts and showing off a high strikeout-to-innings ratio. She generates a ton of arm whip with a really strong leg drive off the mound. While she is still a bit of a "wild child" as she continues to develop her command, she is going to be incredibly dangerous in the circle once she fine-tunes her control, given her high potential and natural velocity. Klaren is going to be a really fun pitcher for us to follow in her development in the coming seasons, Mark our words, she will be a stud.
Kaitlin Schwartz (2028, West Des Moines, IA) of the Alliance Select Harper was a consistent offensive threat all weekend. She ended the weekend batting .571, tallying eight hits in 14 at bats, with two RBIs and four runs scored. She was effective at hitting the ball to all fields and did a great job sitting back on the changeup. The right handed hitter has a simple approach and makes consistent contact. We look forward to watching her continued development during this year!
Jamey Sullivan (2029, Rock Island, IL) of the Nebraska Gold 309 Griffith had a standout weekend, amassing an impressive nine RBIs for her team, scoring seven times, and stealing three bases, showing off her versatility and speed on the basepaths. This right-handed hitter features a balanced, quiet stance while generating a good amount of barrel whip. She showed the ability to lay down a sneaky bunt and beat it out, as well as a great capability to turn on the inside pitch using fast hands and quick backside fire. Overall, she is a great contact hitter who can drive the ball into the gaps and out to the fence, proving to be one of the top offensive performers for her team this weekend.
Brielle Anderson (2029, Cedar Rapids, IA) of the CR-Reds 16U Red was one of the most consistent hitters for her squad this past weekend. This right-handed hitter finished with an impressive .630 batting average and showed off her speed on the basepaths, stealing three bases. Built strong and athletic, she turns on the inside pitch really well and uses her long levers to generate a ton of barrel whip, leading to next-level barrel pop. She drove three doubles and came in clutch for her team with five RBI’s. Starting in a neutral, athletic stance with high hands and good elbow separation, she takes a short, efficient hand path straight to the ball. She has all the tools to be a big offensive contributor to a lineup at the next level.
Madilynne Reed (2029, Johnston, IA) of the Alliance Select Harper was an incredible offensive force this past weekend. This left-handed short-game specialist causes chaos in the best possible way. She has incredible barrel control, utilizes the ground well, and her first steps out of the batter's box are extremely explosive and quick. Getting down the line in a hurry, she has the ability to beat out a ton of grounders and shows a great knack for dropping a sneaky bunt and beating it out. She finished her weekend batting a strong .667, tallying eight singles. She scored all eight times she reached base and included three stolen bases. She serves as an incredible table setter for her team because once she gets on base, she can cause all kinds of chaos on the basepaths.
Other players to note ...
Chloe Nigon (2030, Clive, IA) of the Alliance Select 16U Hotchkiss put together an explosive weekend at the plate. She finished with a .455 batting average, tallying five hits in 11 at-bats. Of her five hits, two were doubles and three were home runs, helping her rack up six RBIs, five runs scored, and two walks for a massive 1.993 OPS.
Brooke Rubel (2028, Albia, IA) of the Alliance Select 16U Hotchkiss finished her weekend batting .500. She tallied seven hits, including three doubles, one triple, and a home run, along with a stolen base, finishing with a 1.571 OPS.
Meadow Miller (2029, Monticello, IL) of Nebraska Gold 309 Griffith batted .500 on the weekend, tallying seven hits with two doubles. She drove in five RBIs for her team and finished the weekend with a 1.176 OPS.
Tenley Rosekrans (2029, Robins, IA) of the CR-Reds 16U Red finished her weekend batting .571. She tallied six singles and two doubles, stole three bases, and scored all eight times she reached base.
Molly Harper (2028, Cumming, IA) of Alliance Select Harper finished her tournament batting an impressive .545 with three singles, two doubles, and a homerun. She recorded five RBIs and scored all six times she was on base, finishing the weekend with a 1.643 OPS.