Many of the top 18U, 16U & 14U teams in the nation were at the Triple Crown Colorado 4th of July from June 26-July 2 in Denver Metro Area. Here are some of Sunday’s highlights:
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ATHLETICS-MERCADO-SMITH WINS 18U TITLE AGAIN
Ole Miss-bound OF Alexa Rosales went 2 for 3 with a homer, two runs and five RBIs and Boise State-committed 2024 1B Makenzie Butt went 2 for 2 with two homers, three runs and two RBIs to help Athletics Mercado-Smith hold off Strykers National-Esparza, 7-6, in the 18U National Power Pool championship game on Sunday at Aurora Sports Park.
Athletics Mercado-Smith won the 18U Power Pool title for the second consecutive year.
Butt (.520 AVG, .600 OBP, 1.440 SLG, 2.400 OPS, 7 HRs, 13 RBIs, 11 runs), Rosales (.481 AVG, .500 OBP, 1.259 SLG, 1.759 OPS, 6 HRs, 17 RBIs, 11 runs) and Texas A&M-bound RHP Mya Perez (.464 AVG, .516 OBP, 1.107 SLG, 1.623 OPS, 6 HRs, 14 RBIs) led Athletics Mercado in offense throughout the tournament.
Athletics Mercado beat Nebraska Gold-Villotta, 10-0, Rogue FC-Kaye, 8-2, EC Bullets Gold-Schnute, 10-2, LTG Lions-Henderson, 8-4, Hotshots National-Jones, 17-3, and Strykers National-Esparza, 7-6, in bracket play.
VIRGINIA UNITY-JOHNSON/ROSS CRUISES TO 16U TITLE
Virginia Unity-Johnson/Ross defeated Oklahoma Athletics National 2024-Madden/Clemmer, 15-6, in the 16U National Power Pool championship game on Sunday at Aurora Sports Park. It was the first Triple Crown Colorado 4th of July title for Virginia Unity.
Texas A&M-committed 2024 IF Frankie Vrazel went 4 for 4 with three runs, Georgia-committed 2024 IF Esther White went 3 for 4 with a homer, two runs and three RBIs, 2025 OF Rylie Johnson went 2 for 3 with two runs and two RBIs, 2024-committed 2024 Ramsey Walker went 2 for 3 with two homers and three RBIs and LSU-committed 2024 LHP/UT Jayden Heavener went 2 for 3 with a homer and two RBIs to help Virginia Unity in the championship game.
The pitching staff, featuring Heavener, 2025 RHP Morgen Talley, North Carolina-committed 2024 Lilly Parrish and 2025 LHP Addysin Linton, was “lights out,” according to Unity coach Jay Ross. They had a .201 batting average against for the tournament. The offense had 111 total hits and 32 home runs for the tournament.
“And we did it with two kids breaking fingers this weekend, one took a scary ball to the head, one got a deep bruise on her forearm and one kid had to leave for a flight before (the) championship game,” Ross said. “Kids battled!!!! Bruised up and battled-tested.”
Virginia Unity beat Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2025-Kemp, 3-1, LTG Lions-Henderson, 11-1, EC Bullets-Cornett, 6-3, Firecrackers Premier-RTY, 5-4, Tampa Mustangs-Ray, 13-2, Power Surge-Berndes/Trammell, 11-2, and Athletics-Madden/Clemmer, 15-6, in bracket play.
OC BATBUSTERS-WHITE/HUDSON CLAIMS 14U TITLE
OC Batbusters-White/Hudson pulled out an 11-7 victory over Impact Gold 2K9 National, the reigning 12U Alliance national champion, in the 14U National Power Pool championship game on Sunday at Aurora Sports Park.
2027 1B Lindsay Hudson went 3 for 4 with three runs and two RBIs, 2026 MIF Madelyn Armendariz went 3 for 5 with a run and two RBIs, 2026 CF Reagan Beck went 3 for 5 with two runs and an RBI, 2026 MIF Gianna Garcia went 1 for 3 with two runs and two RBIs and 2026 1B/OF Lianna Ferrara and 2026 OF Piper Kawanaka each drove in two runs to power the Batbusters in the finals.
2026 MIF/UT Ashannalee Titalii (.629 AVG, .649 OBP, 10 RBIs), Armendariz (.600 AVG, ,618 OBP, 4 HRs, 19 RBIs) and Beck (.500 AVG, .500 OBP, 5 RBIs) were the Batbusters’ offensive leaders for the week.
The Batbusters defeated AP Gold 08-Bailey, 3-0, Finesse-Hool, 9-8, OC Batbusters-Fernandez, 19-11, Iowa Premier National, 9-6, Impact Gold National-Mendoza, 7-6, and Impact Gold 2K9 National, 11-7, in bracket games.
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TRIPLE CROWN COLORADO 4TH OF JULY
AT DENVER METRO AREA
(Sunday, July 2, Results)
NATIONAL POWER POOL
CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET
18U
QUARTERFINALS
- Athletics Mercado-Smith 8, LTG Lions-Henderson 4
- Hotshots National-Jones 2, Arizona Storm National-Mathis 1
- Strykers National-Esparza 7, Georgia Impact-Sampson/Gusaeff 4
- Lady Dukes-Lamar/Burgess 9, Top Gun National 6
SEMIFINALS
- Athletics Mercado-Smith 17, Hotshots National-Jones 3
- Strykers National-Esparza 10, Lady Dukes-Lamar/Burgess 2
CHAMPIONSHIP
- Athletics Mercado-Smith 7, Strykers National-Esparza 6
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16U
FIRST ROUND
- Oklahoma Athletics 2024 National-Madden/Clemmer 14, AL Sparks Elite-Stewart 8
- Iowa Premier National 6, Louisville Lady Sluggers-Wathen 4
- Texas Bombers Gold-Smith 14, Bombers Gold American 1
- Texas Glory-Naudin 7, Nebraska Gold 15U National 3
- Tampa Mustangs-Ray 8, Hotshots National-Nelson 6
- Virginia Unity-Johnson/Ross 5, Firecrackers Premier-RTY 4
- Power Surge-Berndes/Trammell 11, Arizona Storm National-Appel 3
- Select Fastpitch-Salazar/Chester 8, Georgia Impact Premier-Caymol 0
QUARTERFINALS
- Oklahoma Athletics 2024 National-Madden/Clemmer 8, Iowa Premier National 3
- Texas Glory-Naudin 10, Texas Bombers Gold-Smith 4
- Virginia Unity-Johnson/Ross 13, Tampa Mustangs-Ray 2
- Power Surge-Berndes/Trammell 13, Select Fastpitch-Salazar/Chester 3
SEMIFINALS
- Oklahoma Athletics 2024 National-Madden/Clemmer 15, Texas Glory-Naudin 5
- Virginia Unity-Johnson/Ross 11, Power Surge-Berndes/Trammell 2
CHAMPIONSHIP
- Virginia Unity-Johnson/Ross 15, Oklahoma Athletics 2024 National-Madden/Clemmer 6
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14U
QUARTERFINALS
- OC Batbusters-White/Hudson 9, Iowa Premier National 6
- Impact Gold National-Mendoza 5, USA Athletics 2026-RML 1
- Impact Gold 2K9 National 3, Lady Magic-Munoz 2
- Arizona Storm National-Hamel 17, Texas Glory 2026-Naudin 15
SEMIFINALS
- OC Batbusters-White/Hudson 7, Impact Gold National-Mendoza 6
- Impact Gold 2K9 National 10, Arizona Storm National-Hamel 9
CHAMPIONSHIP
- OC Batbusters-White/Hudson 11, Impact Gold 2K9 National 5
— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff)
