Softball | Softball Tournament | 2/15/2022

Winter Warm Up Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff

Photo: Perfect Game

BURLINGTON, Iowa - Twenty-four teams arrived in Burlington to stake their claim as champions of the Perfect Game Softball Winter Warm Up. The tournament was held at the Greater Burlington Area Sports Facilities Fun City Turf. The indoor facility allows for two regulation size fields to be utilized for tournament play, in the climate-controlled, air-suspended dome.

16u Division

Twelve teams representing Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin opened the tournament with two days of pool play. Bracket play began on the third day, and after 14 hours of play, the Midwest Sluggers ‘05 had won three games to reach the finals. On the other side of the bracket, Illinois Ruthless 16u, after earning a first round bye, won two games to set up the final matchup. In what turned out to be a highly-entertaining final, it was Illinois Ruthless 16u who were finally able to stop the Sluggers' march through bracket play, holding on for a 7-6 win.

Ava Wombles (2025, Pleasant Hill, Ill.) was awarded the MV-Pitcher award. In 11 innings of work, Wombles, a right-hander, was able to strike out 11. More importantly, Wombles was brought into the championship game with one out and the tying run on second base. Wombles induced a ground ball for the second out, with the tying run moving up to third base. The next batter worked a 2-2 count. Wombles then delivered a stellar changeup that produced a swing-and-miss, sealing the championship for her and her teammates. Wombles also contributed at the plate with nine hits, three RBI and scored seven runs. Ava is a pitch-to-contact style pitcher, sitting consistently at 58 mph, that is successful when she keeps the ball down in the zone, eliciting ground balls. She definitely knows what she wants to do in the circle and with added strength as she matures, her velocity and spin rates will increase giving her even further tools.

Mary Paige Withers (2024, LeClaire, Iowa), batting leadoff for Midwest Sluggers ‘05, earned the MVP award. All Withers did this weekend was produce a stat line showing 11 hits, three doubles, three home runs, three stolen bases, eight RBI, and 10 runs scored, all while hitting .611. Withers, a right-handed hitter, sets up in a slightly squatted, wide base with her hands starting slightly above her shoulder, near her ear with very little movement to get to launch position. Withers plays the ball early, which gets the barrel through the zone, with contact being made out front generating angles which lends itself to getting the ball in the air.

Another pitcher doing work was Maia Lorengo (2024, Tremont, Ill.), a right-handed pitcher who was the workhorse for Central Illinois Lady Force. Lorengo pitched 13 innings and recorded an outstanding 33 strikeouts. Amazingly, with several pitchers throwing in the low-60s, Lorengo did her damage topping out at 58 mph. With a full complement of pitches, the ability to change speeds and seemingly hit her spots at will, she produces swing-and-miss stuff that should play at the next level.

Taylor Nolan (2024, Staunton, Ill.) is a 5-foot-7 shortstop for Illinois Ruthless 16u. Nolan collected eight hits, including a home run, while leading all tournament hitters with 10 RBI. Nolan, a right-handed stick, starts with a narrow, open stance and is able to get to a firm launch position with her hands remaining back. When she fires at toe touch, Nolan displayed one of the quickest bats through the zone in the 16u division. Although possessing this bat speed and good pull-side power, she showed the ability to keep the front side locked in and drive the ball to right field when pitchers worked her away.

Final player of note this weekend was Natalie Pratt (2025, Blue Grass, Iowa) who, although she only collected five hits this weekend, four were for extra bases, including three home runs. She knocked in eight runs and scored six times herself. Once it was seen what she could do with the bat, she was hard pressed to get a pitch to swing at and received four free passes. Pratt, a right-handed hitter, is able to generate the power from her 5-foot-2 frame by constantly getting the barrel to the ball while using a solid lower half. Pratt has a great approach at the plate, knocking the ball around the park, with gap-to-gap power.

18u Division

There were 12 teams competing in Perfect Game Softball’s 18u Winter Warm Up, and after two days of pool play and a 14-hour day of bracket play, it came down to Wisconsin Lightning 2022 and Nebraska Gold 319-Berning. Behind strong pitching and power hitting, Wisconsin took the championship with a 4-1 win.

Ellie Giles (2022, Chicago, Ill.) was awarded the tournament MV-Pitcher trophy. Giles, a Belmont University commit, pitched 11 innings, recording an unbelievable 32 punchouts while only allowing one earned run on three hits this weekend for the Wisconsin Lightning 2022. Giles, a right-hander, stands 5-foot-11 and utilizes that length to generate pitches consistently at 61 mph, while occasionally touching 63. Giles was able to work both sides of the plate with ease, showing great movement and a riseball that was unhittable, exploding through the top of the zone.

Tournament MVP was awarded to Hailey Conger (2022, Gurnee, Ill.), who is not your prototypical catcher, as she is left-handed and has speed. Conger, a Butler University commit, also bats left-handed and leads off for the Lightning. At the plate, Conger collected seven hits, including two home runs, brought in eight, scored 11 runs and swiped six bases. Conger is as equally comfortable laying down a bunt or soft slap as she is driving the ball to the opposite field with power. Behind the plate, Conger possesses all the tools to be successful. She has a great setup, receives the ball well, works pitches that are off the plate or low back into the zone smoothly and is that vocal leader that is needed on the field.

Lightning teammate Anna Frafjord, (2022, Sussex, Wis.), a Lewis University commit, is a 5-foot-10 corner infielder with power. Frafjord hits from a firm, wide stance and generates power with a solid lower half turn. A short, compact swing, plus bat speed, and a high finish allows Frafjord to get the barrel to the ball at the front of the zone creating an angle for getting the ball in the air.

Nebraska Gold 319-Berning’s Anna Streff (2022, Marion, Iowa) was at the top of the list of defensive players. The University Of Iowa shortstop commit displayed great range, a plus arm, soft hands, and great footwork. Streff showed the ability to deliver the ball accurately from varied arm slots, even while on the move, and always seemed to be in the right position during game situations. At the plate, Streff collected four hits, including a home run and knocked in four.

One of the top pitchers of the weekend was Ryleigh Owens (2022, Edwardsville, Ill.), who led the weekend with 18 innings pitched for Illinois Esprit '04. The left-handed Parkland CC commit recorded 26 punchouts and gave up one earned run on the weekend. Owens displayed a curve that ran in hard on right-handers, leading to several weak handle jobs. Owens also showed good defense in getting out of the circle to make several plays on balls in front of the plate. Owens' swing-and-miss pitch was her drop curve. Right-handed batters found themselves swinging over the top of the ball as it dove down-and-in.

Quick Hits

Jordyn Beck (2023, Marion, Iowa) is an uncommitted RHP sitting 61-62 mph, touched 64 mph. Nine innings pitched, recorded 16 strikeouts

Maddy McDermott (2023, Walcott, Iowa) is a uncommitted RHP/1B. Hit 3 home runs and recorded 20 strikeouts in nine innings of work, topping out at 63 mph

-Dave Durbala

PERFECTGAME.TV

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