Newberry Show Me The Money Notebook
The Softball America staff shares its thoughts from the PGF Show Me the Money in Newberry, Florida.
The GA Impact Taylor team is as good as advertised. They have multiple elite next-level players throughout their lineup and several crafty options on the mound.
CeCe Springfield (2026) hit a monster home run vs. the TN Mojo. She is strong, powerful and will surely be a force in their lineup throughout the summer. Nina Carcone (2026) is a smooth middle infielder, showing incredible range on pop flies, a strong arm, and great footwork on defense- hit two home runs in the championship game to help her team win the tournament.
Addie Rackley (2026) demonstrated incredible power at the plate, barreling balls and clearing fences. She is a talented two-way player with the ability to pitch as well as play a solid corner on the infield. Mia Johnson (2026) is part of a powerful top of the order lineup showing power, strength, and the ability to hit in multiple parts of the strike zone.
Shayla Bahr (2026) is a prototype leadoff center fielder. She can hit for power, run faster than the wind, and cover a ton of range in the outfield. This team has the ability to make a lot of noise this summer.
There was a tremendous game back-and-forth between Top Gun 16 National and Athletics Gold Tamborra to send the winner to the semifinals of the Winner’s bracket.
Top Gun came away with the late 6-5 victory. Both shortstops showed out, Leah Byrd (2026) for the Athletics was 1-2 and Top Gun’s Liv Keiter (2026) went. Keiter is on our hot watch list and has family connections to Oklahoma, goes to Columbine High School in Colorado. Carmen Boxberger (2026/Top Gun) plays with a ton of energy, is a scrapper and fights to make things happen at the plate. She was 2-3 from the leadoff spot in this game. Kelsie Donaldson (2026/Top Gun) is a lefty pitcher who also hits for herself and her competitiveness, grit, and passion are contagious with her teammates. She is a bulldog on the mound. Donaldson hit a monster three-run home run to right center field.
There is a budding star in Evie Willemssen (2027) on the Texas Blaze 16U United Robertson team. This true lefty made an exciting diving catch on a pop foul between her and the catcher and has power at the plate, sending a base hit scorching back up the middle.
The 14U Championship game between Tampa Mustangs-Pynes and The Birmingham Thunderbolts did not disappoint. Lots of young superstars showing out with $10,000 on the line. The Tampa Mustangs broke the tie late in the game to come out on top. Yami Cordova, a young 2028 shortstop with a clutch base hit late in the game showed solid defensive prowess on the middle infield. Two solid 2027 infielders anchor the corner of her infield in Kamryn Wallisa and Sabrina Boyer. Both bring a ton of thunder in their bats. Madison Kokoszka showed off her talent on the mound and will be one to watch in the 2027 class.
The Thunderbolts are equally as talented with two-way pitcher Georgia Chancellor (2027) leading the way on the mound. She has several talented teammates supporting her defensively. Kennedy Cuthbert (2028) can deliver at the plate and has tremendous power potential. The Thunderbolts have multiple players on our hot watch lists and will help this team make a deep summer run.
Spotlight Players:
Maya Bagsby (2025/Uncommitted/Athletics Gold Tamborra-Freeman 16u) – Bagsby is a center fielder. She can run, good solid arm, and hit a couple base hits through the left side. She has great barrel control, can swing, slap and has the ability to be dangerous on the basepaths.
Aspen Boulware (2027/Rocky Thompson Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier team) – Boulware is a utility player who excels on the middle infield and hits for power. Her mom is Jessica van der Linden (now Boulware) who played at Florida State. (
Haylen Ayers (2027/Rocky Thompson’s Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier) – Possibly the No. 1 basketball recruit in the country, but she can play. Super athletic, great range, and power at the plate.
