Sixteen top organizations from around the country brought their top 18U, 16U and 14U teams to compete in the inaugural Patriot Games Thursday-Saturday, June 22-24, in Windsor, CO. Here are some of Saturday’s highlights:
HOTSHOTS NATIONAL-NELSON CLAIMS 18U CROWN
Some of the top organizations in the country descended upon the inaugural Patriot Games in Windsor, CO, this past week and Hotshots National-Jones came away with a 5-4 victory over Impact Gold-Jackson in the 18U championship game on Saturday at Future Legends Complex.
“I think this tournament really brought us together as a team,” Florida-bound RHP/1B Ava Brown of Hotshots National-Nelson said. “We faced some adversity at the beginning of our summer and even in our pool games, but we found a way to play together. Our team chemistry is better now than it ever has been and it’s really hard to carry a team full of great teammates, but with us it feels so easy.”
Nathan Nelson’s Hotshots club beat Georgia Bombers Gold-Lewis, 6-0, lost to Aces Fastpitch Club, 13-10, and beat Athletics Mercado-Smith, 6-5, in pool play games, then defeated Texas Glory, 19-2, and Impact Gold-Jackson, 5-4, in bracket play on Saturday.
“I thought this event was a valuable start to our summer season.” Florida-bound C/UT Ariel Kowalewski of Hotshots National-Nelson said. “It gave us a great opportunity to play some of the top teams. We look forward to competing this summer.”
ATHLETICS MERCADO-HOVERMALE WINS 16U TITLE
Athletics Mercado-Hovermale went undefeated en route to the 16U title at the Patriot Game, beating Impact Gold-Jazz, 8-6, in the championship game on Saturday at Future Legends Complex.
Athletics Mercado-Hovermale defeated Hotshots National-Nelson, 12-4, Aces Fastpitch Club, 12-8, and Texas Glory-Naudin, 8-3, in pool play games, then beat Texas Bombers Gold-Smith, 8-0, and Impact Gold-Jazz, 8-6, in bracket play on Saturday.
“Couldn’t have done it without my team nor coaches,” Athletics Mercado-Hovermale 2026 MIF/CF/3B/UT Ki’ele Ho-Ching said. “I absolutely love showing up to the fields every single day knowing that I have THE BEST team out there.
“Going into this tournament, I knew that my teammates were ready to come out and ball out. We’ve been waiting all season for Colorado and it’s just truly a blessing and an honor to be able to play at such a high stage of softball with my girls. Everyone did their job and I’m so proud of everyone for holding it down and backing each other up. The tournament couldn’t have been won without every single person in our dugout and I wouldn’t wanna win it (with) anyone else.”
2025 3B/1B Sinalei Talataina (.750 AVG, .778 OBP, 2.653 OPS, 2 HRs, 12 RBIs), 2025 CF/OF Dakota Potter (.500 AVG, .667 OBP, 1.667 OPS, 1 HR, 5 RBIs) and 2024 C/OF Alexa Brunetti (.571 AVG, .750 OBP, 1.893 OPS, 1 HR, 4 RBIs) were Athletics Mercado-Hovermale’s offensive leaders for the tournament.
“(2026 P) Mia Valbuena and (2025 P) Kimmy Neal carried the pitching duties all week,” Athletics Mercado coach Rick Hovermale said. “Our Hitter made adjustments pitch by pitch and it showed. We hammered balls this week. Everyone chipped in but the big three were Sina Talataina, Dakota Potter (and) Alexa Brunetti.”
TEXAS GLORY-NAUDIN KNOCKS OFF ATHLETICS MERCADO-TIDD IN 14U FINAL
Texas Glory-Naudin went undefeated in the Patriot Games, beating Athletics Mercado 08-Tidd, 5-3, in the 14U championship game on Saturday at Future Legends Complex.
Texas Glory-Naudin defeated Corona Angels-Tyson, 10-2, Lady Dukes-Lamar, 12-4, and Aces Fastpitch, 9-2, in pool play games, then beat Atlanta Vipers-Tamborra, 7-1, and Athletics Mercado 08-Tidd, 5-3, in bracket play on Saturday.
Texas Glory-Naudin outscored its opponents 43-12 for the tournament and hit eight home runs (2026 1B/OF/UT Sydona Meiser 2, 2026 P/OF Madelyn Doty 2, 2026 RHP/OF Avery Howerton 2, 2027 2B Lillie Gaudio 1 and 2026 1B/3B Ava Cook 1).
Doty (faced 66 batters, 27 Ks, 3 wins, batted .500 with 2 HRs), Meiser (.667 AVG, 2 HRs, 9 RBIs) and Howerton (.818 AVG, 2 HRs 4 RBIs) were Texas Glory-Naudin’s leaders for the tournament.
“This tournament was very well (run) and a great tournament for college exposure, Doty said. “Winning this tournament for us as a team means a lot for us to have been able to come out here (to) face great competition and pitching. It was a great start for our first big tournament of the season.”
*****
PATRIOT GAMES
AT WINDSOR, CO
(Saturday, June 24, Results)
18U
BRACKET A 1ST PLACE TEAMS
SEMIFINALS
- Hotshots National-Nelson 19, Texas Glory 2
- Impact Gold-Jackson 9, Atlanta Vipers-Tamborra 2
THIRD PLACE
- Texas Glory 16, Atlanta Vipers-Tamborra, 3
CHAMPIONSHIP
- Hotshots National-Nelson 5, Impact Gold-Jackson 4
BRACKET B 2ND PLACE TEAMS
SEMIFINALS
- Athletics Mercado-Smith 12, Corona Angels-Tyson 7
- Iowa Premier National-Dickel 5, Texas Bombers Gold-Smith 2
THIRD PLACE
- Texas Bombers Gold-Smith 1, Corona Angels-Tyson 0
CHAMPIONSHIP
- Iowa Premier National-Dickel 5, Athletics Mercado-Smith 2
BRACKET C 3RD PLACE TEAMS
SEMIFINALS
- Aces Fastpitch Club 9, Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2
- Firecrackers-Rico 10, Firecrackers Brashear 2
THIRD PLACE
- Firecrackers Brashear 1, Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 0
CHAMPIONSHIP
- Aces Fastpitch Club 7, Firecrackers-Rico 3
BRACKET D 4TH PLACE TEAMS
SEMIFINALS
- Georgia Bombers Gold-Lewis 4, Rogue FC-Kaye 2
- Warrior Academy-R. McDonald 11, Lady Dukes-Hurtado 4
THIRD PLACE
- Lady Dukes-Hurtado 8, Rogue FC-Kaye 4
CHAMPIONSHIP
- Georgia Bombers Gold-Lewis 6, Warrior Academy-R. McDonald 1
*****
16U
BRACKET A 1ST PLACE TEAMS
SEMIFINALS
- Impact Gold-Jazz 6, Firecrackers Brashear 2
- Athletics Mercado-Hovermale 8, Texas Bombers Gold-Smith 0
THIRD PLACE
- Texas Bombers Gold-Smith 8, Firecrackers Brashear 2
CHAMPIONSHIP
- Athletics Mercado-Hovermale 8, Impact Gold-Jazz 6
BRACKET B 2ND PLACE TEAMS
SEMIFINALS
- Bombers Gold American 3, Iowa Premier National-Dickel 1
- Aces Fastpitch Club 7, Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2024-Kaplan 6
THIRD PLACE
- Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2024-Kaplan 7, Iowa Premier National-Dickel 4
CHAMPIONSHIP
- Aces Fastpitch Club 4, Bombers Gold American 3
BRACKET C 3RD PLACE TEAMS
SEMIFINALS
- Corona Angels-Slye 5, Rogue FC 25/26-Kaye 4
- Hotshots National-Nelson 11, Warrior Academy-Jimenez 6
THIRD PLACE
- Warrior Academy-Jimenez 16, Rogue FC 25/26-Kaye 4
CHAMPIONSHIP
- Corona Angels-Slye 8, Hotshots National-Nelson 6
BRACKET D 4RH PLACE TEAMS
SEMIFINALS
- Atlanta Vipers-Tamborra 16, Lady Dukes-Vega/Show/Lamar 0
- Texas Glory-Naudin 4, Firecrackers-Rico/Miller 1
THIRD PLACE
- Firecrackers-Rico/Miller 6, Lady Dukes-Vega/Show/Lamar 3
CHAMPIONSHIP
- Texas Glory-Naudin 5, Atlanta Vipers-Tamborra 1
*****
14U
BRACKET A 1ST PLACE TEAMS
SEMIFINALS
- Texas Glory-Naudin 7, Atlanta Vipers-Tamborra 1
- Athletics Mercado 08-Tidd 3, Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2026-Thompson 2
THIRD PLACE
- Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2026-Thompson 6, Atlanta Vipers-Tamborra 4
CHAMPIONSHIP
- Texas Glory-Naudin 5, Athletics Mercado 08-Tidd 3
BRACKET B 2ND PLACE TEAMS
SEMIFINALS
- Corona Angels-Tyson 4, Texas Bombers Gold-Malpass 3
- Hotshots National-Galloway 10, Impact Gold-Mendoza 3
THIRD PLACE
- Texas Bombers Gold-Malpass 11, Impact Gold-Mendoza 6
CHAMPIONSHIP
- Corona Angels-Tyson 13, Hotshots National-Galloway 4
BRACKET C 3RD PLACE TEAMS
SEMIFINALS
- Aces Fastpitch 10, Warrior Academy-K. McDonald 2
- Iowa Premier National 5, Rogue FC-Kaye 2
THIRD PLACE
- Warrior Academy-K. McDonald 8, Rogue FC-Kaye 1
CHAMPIONSHIP
- Iowa Premier National 13, Aces Fastpitch 4
BRACKET D 4TH PLACE TEAMS
SEMIFINALS
- Lady Dukes-Lamar 11, Firecrackers-Rico/Gale 2
- Georgia Bombers 08 Gold-Latham 13, Firecrackers Brashear 7
THIRD PLACE
- Firecrackers-Rico/Gale 7, Firecrackers Brashear 0
CHAMPIONSHIP
- Lady Dukes-Lamar 3, Georgia Bombers 08 Gold-Latham 2
— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff)
