PG Softball Illinois Scouting Showcase Series 18U Division

PEORIA, IL- It was a phenomenal weekend for softball as six teams from three different states gathered at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria, Illinois for the 2026 PG Softball Illinois Scouting Showcase Series 18U Division. The competition was fierce from the first pitch to the final out, making for an action-packed slate of games. Our scouts were treated to an incredible display of talent and athleticism throughout the event, and below are the standout players who truly caught our eye.

Joharah Boze (2027, Chillicothe, IL) of the Indiana Magic 18U Lewellen hit an astounding .778 on the weekend. She finished the tournament with four singles, three doubles, two walks, three runs scored, and four RBIs, proving to be the pillar of consistency for her squad. Featuring an athletic stance and a balanced swing, she demonstrated the ability to drive the ball to all fields. She has quick hands and turns on the inside pitch really well, doing a great job utilizing her backside to create excellent barrel whip. Overall, she brings a powerful swing and exceptional barrel awareness to the plate.

Elizabeth Bruce (2028, Bloomington, IN) of the Southern Indiana Intense was an unstoppable force at the plate this weekend. She finished the tournament batting .778 with three singles, three doubles, and a triple, tallying five RBIs for her team as well as scoring three times. This right-handed hitter has an athletic stance with high hands and takes a short, efficient path to the ball. She showed great barrel awareness and drove the ball up the middle well while keeping her hands ahead of her barrel. She also showed good front side resistance and the abhility to sit on a changeup. Overall, she has an athletic swing, and we are excited to follow her path this season as she is sure to draw attention from coaches at the next level.

Iyana Merino (2028, Iowa City, IA) of the Cedar Rapids Blue Devils National 16/18U was impressive at the plate this past tournament, belting two doubles and a home run while driving in five RBIs and stealing three bases. A true specimen of an athlete, she has incredible hand-eye coordination and barrel awareness, runs the bases well and causes chaos whenever she reaches base. She features a balanced, athletic swing and generates a ton of barrel whip using a strong backside fire against firm front-side resistance. Powerful with her barrel and capable of driving the ball well to all fields, she is an impressive overall athlete and a true utility player who will contribute immediately to a school at the next level. 

Germany Graves (2027, Bettendorf, IA) of Apex Fastpitch 18U Molloy was a top offensive producer for her team this past weekend, finishing with four singles, a double, and a triple. She came in clutch multiple times, driving in five RBIs and scoring three times during the tournament. She showed the ability to drive the ball to the wall, hitting gap-to-gap and spraying the field with authority. Though small in stature, she packs a real punch in her swing.

Paislee Bear (2029, Muscatine, IA) of Apex Fastpitch 18U Molloy was one of the most consistent hitters in the tournament, batting an impressive .750 on the weekend. She tallied four singles and two doubles, driving in four RBIs, scoring three runs, and showcasing her speed with three stolen bases to finish with a 1.800 OPS. This right-handed hitter showcased quick hands and the ability to turn on the inside pitch. Featuring a balanced stance and swing, she also proved to have great pitch selection along with exceptional barrel control and awareness. Keep your eye on this strong young athlete as she has a ton to give both offensively and defensively as an athletic utility. 

Brenna Livingston (2028, Monmouth, IL) of the Knox County Crush 18U Lee had a phenomenal tournament, going 6-for-11 to bat .545 on the weekend. This right-handed hitter does a good job getting her front foot down and making consistent contact, showing great barrel control and awareness. She drove the ball to all fields and was a remarkably consistent force at the plate for her team.

Naomi Flower (2029, Davenport, IA) of the QC Firebirds 08 was a consistent force for the Firebirds this past weekend. She led the tournament with seven RBIs, tallying three singles, a double, a triple, and a home run during the campaign. She scored seven times for her team and walked three times, showing an incredible eye and strong plate discipline. This right-handed hitter is athletic and does a phenomenal job letting the ball travel and going with the outside pitch. Keep your eye on this young athlete as she continues to develop in the coming seasons. She has a very bright future. 

Isabella Merritt (2027, Marion, IA) of the Cedar Rapids Blue Devils National 16/18U had an incredible weekend at the plate, batting .667. Merritt showed great pop in her barrel with three extra-base hits, finishing with a 1.667 OPS. A tall, strong right-handed hitter, she packs a real punch in her swing when she gets extended. She demonstrated the ability to hit the ball to all fields and showcased fast hands to turn on the inside pitch. She also contributed on the mound for her team, finishing with a 1-0 record and a 3.50 ERA over four innings with three strikeouts. Featuring a smooth, relaxed motion, she does a great job throwing a sharp-breaking drop ball that induces a lot of ground-ball outs.

Kelsie Weeks (2028, Aledo, IL) of the QC Firebirds 08 was a standout in the circle this weekend. Although this event was very offensively favored, Kelsie showed up for her team, going 2-0 on the weekend while throwing 10 innings and striking out nine with a 1.00 WHIP. She features an athletic motion with good break in all quadrants of the strike zone and maintains great posture throughout her delivery. Right now, she is sitting in the mid-to-high 50s velocity-wise with a high ceiling, making her a pitcher to keep an eye on as she continues to develop her immense potential.

Other notable performers include…

Abigail Blackburn (2028, Evansville, IN) of the Southern Indiana Intense finished her weekend with five hits, batting .714 with four singles and a triple. She also tallied two RBIs and drew a walk for her team.

Callie Demeulenaere (2028, Port Byron, IL) of Apex Fastpitch 18U Molloy had a strong weekend at the plate, batting .667 with four hits and three runs scored, while also stealing a base for her team.

Jazmyn Copeland (2027, Monmouth, IL) of the Knox County Crush 18U Lee had a strong weekend at the plate, batting .462. She tallied six hits, an RBI, and a walk for her team.

Taylor Lee (2028, Galesburg, IL) of the Knox County Crush 18U Lee finished her weekend batting .500 with six hits, finishing with a 1.333 OPS. Her barrel was on fire, as three of her six hits were for extra bases. 

Avery Wilson (2027, Seymour, IN) of the Southern Indiana Intense finished her weekend with four singles and a home run, batting .500 for her team. She also added two stolen bases for her team and posted an impressive 1.300 OPS.

Trinity Flower (2027, Davenport, IA) of the QC Firebirds 08 was strong both with her bat and in the circle this past weekend. Offensively, she hit .333 with four hits and four RBIs. In the circle, she finished with a 1-0 record and a 0.00 ERA over five innings pitched, tallying five strikeouts and finishing with a 0.80 WHIP.