By: Madison Feldhahn
Top Gun Events is headed to Peoria, IL to kick off the fall season with the Top Gun IL College Prospect Series. This unique event features twenty 16u and 18u teams from 4 states. During this event, players will have the opportunity to be coached by college coaches. While in pool play, both college and travel ball coaches will be in the dugout, giving the athletes a firsthand look at being instructed by college coaches.
Gate Fees:
Children – $7 Daily Wristband or $12 Two Day Pass
Adults – $12 Daily Wristband or $20 Two Day Pass
Pool play will start at 9 AM on Saturday for both 16u and 18u. The 16u pool play will wrap up at 5 PM with the 18u’s last game starting at 7 PM. Bracket play is pre-determined and will begin at 9 AM on Sunday.
Take a look at some of the teams joining us below!
16u
Iowa Aries 14u CE Fire
Coaching Staff: Coach Ashley Blackburn
Team Social Media Handles: @Iowa_Aries (X) & Iowa Aries Fastpitch (Facebook)
2024 Summer Successes: This team consists of many players that will play for their respective high schools. Teams and players had tremendous success in club programs prior to joining Iowa Aries for college exposure program.
Key Players: Dylan Caniglia (’29) is a high-level player that will impress. Pitchers Aurora Widlund (’29) and Kourtney Dowding (’29) are top performers that should be watched. Averi Bachman (’29) is a young catcher with a great arm and lots of talent. Bailey Parton (’29) is a pure hitter that can put on a show.
Expectations for 2024 Fall Season: This team will play at the highest level for 14u this fall in our program. It consists of many of the top players and will compete in a number of showcase and exposure events across the Midwest.
Iowa Aries 16u CE Fire
Coaching Staff:
Team Social Media Handles: @Iowa_Aries (X) & Iowa Aries Fastpitch (Facebook)
2024 Summer Successes: The team consists of many players that played for their respective high schools. Teams and players had tremendous success this high school season.
Key Players: Leela Appeldorn (’28) has an excellent bad that can hit for power or slap. She is an extremely versatile player that can play multiple positions at a high level. Leah Clark (’29) is a young catcher with a great arm, solid bat, and a ton of potential. The pitching core consists of Lily Black (’27), who is a strike out artist, Estella Bowman (’29), who is a young talent, and left Maddison Zlomke (’27), who spins the ball very well.
Expectations for 2024 Fall Season: This team consists of many of the top players from central Iowa and will compete in a number of showcase and exposure events across the Midwest.
Iowa Aries National
Coaching Staff: Brian Ohorilko and Kari Price
Team Social Media Handles: @Iowa_Aries (X) & Iowa Aries Fastpitch (Facebook)
2024 Summer Successes: This team consist of many players that played varsity as underclassmen for their respective high schools. Teams and players had tremendous success this high school season with some playing in the high school state tournament and being named to All-Tournament teams.
Key Players: Karter Price (’27) and Riley Miller (’27) will highlight this roster from the circle. Ivy Ohorilko (’28) and Ilsa Hervey (’27) have big bats and are high level catchers. Kaylen Pray (’27) is a true shortstop with great skills and an excellent bat. Alexa Guyer (’27) and Danae Epps (’27) will dominate the outfield with tremendous speed. They will both be a tough out at the plate.
Expectations for 2024 Fall Season: This team is coming off of a 1st place finish last weekend and will play at the highest level in our program, competing in a number of showcase and exposure events across the Midwest.
18u
GenuWin Reign Slavicek
Coaching Staff: Ken Slavicek & Chris Ignasak
Team Social Media Handles: @Slavicekken (X) & GenuWin Reign 18u KS (Facebook)
2024 Summer Successes: We have new athletes for the 24/25 season.
Key Players: All athletes are looking for the next level.
Expectations for 2024 Fall Season: As a newer team, we are looking to compete at the higher levels in the fall.
Hitting Center Hazard
Coaching Staff: Kevin Hazard, Joe Cascio, Mark Schudel
Team Social Media Handles: Hitting Center 07 Fastpitch (Facebook) & @HittingCenter07 (X)
2024 Summer Successes: Play 5 showcases in 5 different states: Badger Sumer Showcase, Capital City Showcase, USA STL Summer Showcase, Midwest Firecracker Showcase, North American All Sanctioned World Series. Won the USA STL Summer Showcase. Finished 24-7-1. The majority of this team has been together for 6+ years and this summer they played the best as a team that I have ever seen them play!
Key Players: Summer Clark (2025, RHP/OF), Terilynn Timmerman (2027, SS/3B/OF), Eleanor Schudel (2025, 2B/C), Mollie Cascio (2025, MIF/3B)
Expectations for 2024 Fall Season: Increase exposure for the remaining 2025 girls who are wanting to play in college. We have some very talented girls and we want to get them as much exposure as possible!
Lady Expos Hefel
Coaching Staff: Ben Roth & Terra Strohmeyer
Team Social Media Handles: @ExposLady (X)
Key Players: Most players are juniors (all uncommitted) – Julia Roth (P/SS), Ruth Tauber (OF), Mal Tomkins (OF-Slapper), Annie Hefel (1B/OF), Jolee Strohmeyer (3B/P), Ella Simon (1B/2B/3B/P/OF), Lauren Vaske (P), Sadie Schultz (IF/OF). Sophomore Sophia Gratton (IF)
Expectations for 2024 Fall Season: Play some games; go to some camps
Select Fastpitch Singleton
Coaching Staff: Sydeny Singleton (head coach/recruiting coordinator), Traci Pleckham (assistant coach), Cori Kennedy (assistant coach), Dan Rivera (assistant coach) and Mike Grohar (assistant coach)
Team Social Media Handles: @SelectFP18u_SS (X) & selectfastpitch18u.ss (Instagram)
2024 Summer Successes: Made it to semi finals of 6/7 summer 2024 tournaments. We had 2 players selected to participate in the Showtime Sports Showcase. We had 2 players (now seniors) commit to a college!
Key Players: Kyli Dunn (2025, RHP/OF), Jessica Pleckham (2025/OF) slapper with speed, Natalie Muellner (2025, OF/3B) power hitter, Kylie Mannis (2026, C/SS) power hitter & Ella Urbasek (2026, OF) amazing speed
Expectations for 2024 Fall Season: We expect to compete on every tournament we play from fall through summer. The goal for the fall season is to have the seniors signed by the end of the year!
Southeast Iowa Allstars Gold Miller 18u
Coaching Staff: Merle Miller
2024 Summer Successes: We won all of our games at the Perfect Game Showcase this past weekend in Iowa City. The top five hitters in the entire tournament play on my Southeast IA Allstars 18u Gold Miller team.
Key Players: Kennah Sandovall (3B/SS), Abby Mecklenburg (CF), Pearson Hall (SS/2B), Braylon Conlon (LHP/CF), Katie Pilcher (C/3B)
Texas Glory Steward
Coaching Staff: Brian Steward & Josh Knowles
Team Social Media: @07_texasilred
2024 Summer Successes: 2nd at Top Gun Showcase, T-3rd at Top Gun Patriot
Key Players: Jenna Flessner, Mackenzie Knowles, Ana Kanemaru, Lauren Shuey, Rachel McMullen, Taylor Cuchra, Danni Hovey
Expectations for 2024 Fall Season: Have a highly competitive fall and winter and get the rest of the team committed!
Good luck to all of the teams competing in Peoria this weekend!
