Many of the top 16U & 18U teams in the country were in Orange County, CA, from July 22-29 for the PGF Nationals. Here are some of Wednesday’s highlights:
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In 18U third-round games:
Missouri-bound C/1B/3B Abby Hay homered, Southern Illinois-bound MIF/OF Amanda Knutson had a big RBI in the 7th and Missouri-bound 3B/1B Madison Walker delivered a walk-off, two-run homer to help Select Fastpitch-Jones, the runner-up at the 2022 PGF 18U Premier Nationals, knock off Arizona Storm National-Mathis, 4-3.
“I think tonight was a great team win,” Walker said. “Going into PGF you know you are facing the best of the best and every game is going to be intense and close. We really needed that win under our belt and I think it can give us momentum we need in the next few days to propel ourselves farther in this tournament. It was a great win and, hopefully, we keep it up!” …
Florida State-bound LHP/CF/1B Ashtyn Danley gave up three hits, zero earned runs and struck out six for the complete game and she went 2 for 3 with two doubles at the plate, Florida State-bound 1B Angelee Bueno hit a two-run homer and Oklahoma State-bound SS Rose Davis homered as Tennessee Mojo-Danley/Fisher defeated So Cal Choppers-Ashley, 4-1.
“It feels good knowing we are going into Thursday undefeated with all of our pitchers fresh,” Danley said. “Today’s win was huge with it being a more challenging game setting us up for stronger competition for the rest of the week. Our team battles with timely hits and clutch defensive plays.” …
Oklahoma-bound OF Kassidi Pickering belted a three-run homer, Florida-bound C/UT Ariel Kowalewski went 2 for 3 with a run and two RBIs, Florida-bound OF Cassidy McClellan went 2 for 4 with a double and three runs, Florida State-bound 2B Isabella Torres went 2 for 4 with a run and two RBIs for Hotshots National-Nelson in a 14-5 win over Georgia Impact National-Caymol. …
South Carolina-bound RHP Sage Mardjetko pitched six scoreless innings, Virginia Tech-bound OF Lyla Blackwell went 3 for 3 with three runs scored, Florida International-bound OF Kelly Meredith went 2 for 2 with a walk and three runs scored and Florida-committed 2024 MIF Gabi Comia went 2 for 3 with a three-run homer as Beverly Bandits Premier-Conroy dispatched Wildcats Chicago, 6-0. …
2025 3B Desiree Trudel and Tennessee-bound SS Bella Faw homered and Maryland-committed 2024 RHP Sara Phillips pitched a one-hitter with six Ks in 5.0 innings as Atlanta Vipers-Tamborra took care of Team NC-Hinde, 6-0. …
Idaho State-bound RHP/SS Marley Goluskin (7 IP. 8 hits, 0 earmes runs, 2 BBs, 3 Ks) got the complete game win and Dee Ma’ae drove in two runs as Wildcats-Weil edged Cal Cruisers-Sievers, 3-2. …
Washington-committed 2024 RHP Morgan Reimer threw five shutout innings and Georgia-committed 2024 RHP Ella Troutt pitched the final two innings for the save as Georgia Impact-Sampson/Gusaeff defeated PA Chaos Gold-Spina, 5-2. …
Iowa State-committed P/2B Abby Huhn tossed a one-hitter with six strikeouts and uncommitted 2024 SS/UT Tiara Hill went 2 for 3 as Breakers Labs-Carter got by Athletics Jendro Premier, 1-0. …
Ohio State-bound 1B/3B Hailey Lang hit a two-run homer and 2025 RHP Berkley Zache allowed one hit, one run and struck out seven to lift Beverly Bandits Premier-Dorsey over New Lenox Lightning Gold, 7-1. …
Oregon-committed 2024 Rowan Thompson allowed one hit and fanned four in 5.0 innings and uncommitted 2024 RHP Payton Burnam, the Gatorade State Player of the Year for Oregon, threw two innings of relief for the save, and Burnham added a home run at the plate as NW Vandals-Vasas/Scott knocked off LLG DPS-Corn, 4-0. …
Montana-committed Rylee Rehbein recorded the shutout with seven strikeouts and Providence-committed Cameron Dunn had an RBI double as Washington Ladyhawks Gold-Miller defeated Strykers National-Esparza, 2-0. …
Tennessee-bound OF Gabby Leach went 2 for 3 with a run and Tarleton-committed 2024 P/CF/SS JJ Duke went 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI as Texas Sudden Impact-Leach beat Rick Gold-Garvey, 7-0. …
Arkansas-bound C/3B/1B Kennedy Miller went 2 for 3 with two homers as Lady Dukes-Lamar/Burgess beat So Cal Choppers-VC, 4-1. …
Cal State Fullerton-committed 2024 SS Sarah Coccillos went 2 for 3 with a homer, Cal Baptist-committed 2024 OF/2B Savannah Gatewood went 1 for 3 with an RBI, Utah State-committed 2024 3B Alex Garcia and 2025 C Jessica Ramos both went 1 for 3 and Hawaii-committed 2024 RHP Mattie Beliveau threw a complete game with six strikeouts as I-5 Softball-Snyder/Fitz defeated LTG Lions-Henderson, 1-0. …
*****
In 16U fourth-round games:
2025 C Madison “Madi” Sauni drove in the running run with a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning and Arizona Storm National-Appel held on for a 6-5 win over Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier-Kaplan at Fountain Valley Sports Park. 2026 RHP Goose Goodwin pitched all 11 innings, finishing with 13 strikeouts to record the victory for the Storm.
“I am very proud of my team,” Sauni said. “Every player showed grit and resilience to the end. This was an important game for us. Credit to Thunderbolts for a great game. Appreciate our coaches and Storm family. Looking forward to the next game.” …
2025 RHP Keira Crosby threw a one-hitter and hit a three-run home run in the 1st inning as Texas Sudden Impact-Jones, the 16U Longmont IDT champion, cruised to a 9-0 win over Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2024-Kaplan. …
2025 OF Alexis Camilleri went 2 for 3 with two RBIs as Tampa Mustangs-Seymour beat BSC Bengals-Briggs, 2-1. …
2025 1B Madilynn George drove in two runs, Texas A&M-committed 2024 3B/SS Larisa Perez went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and 2025 P Chloe Ellis homered as Texas Blaze United-Robertson knocked off Texas Riptide, 7-3, in a Lone Star State battle. …
Uncommitted 2024 C Alexia Carrasquillo went 2 for 3 with a double and two-run homer as Virginia Unity-Johnson/Ross took care of Sox Fastpitch National, 4-2. …
2025 SS/RHP Audri Youngblood went 2 for 4 with a double, 2025 MIF Marin Heller homered, Kansas-committed 2024 Bailey Amezcua had two doubles, Central Florida-committed 2024 3B/1B Kendall Yarnell had two homers and 2025 P/1B Peyton Hardenburger struck out 10 to lead Select Fastpitch-Salazar/McCoy past Illinois Chill Gold, 5-2. …
*****
PGF NATIONALS
AT ORANGE COUNTY, CA
(Wednesday, July 26, Results)
18U PREMIER
BRACKET A
WINNER’S BRACKET
THIRD ROUND
- NW Vandals-Vasas/Scott 4, LLG DPS-Corn 0
- Wildcats-Weil 3, Cal Cruisers-Sievers 2
- Tennessee Mojo-Danley/Fisher 4, So Cal Choppers-Ashley 1
- Georgia Impact-Sampson/Gusaeff 5, PA Chaos Gold-Spina 2
- Hotshots National-Nelson 14, Georgia Impact National-Caymol 5
- Beverly Bandits Premier-Conroy 6, Wildcats Chicago 0
- Atlanta Vipers-Tamborra 6, Team NC-Hinde 0
- Breakers Labs-Carter 1, Athletics Jendro Premier 0
LOSER’S BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
- Illinois Chill Gold 2, Prolific Fastpitch 0
- Alabama Thunderbolts 2023-Sherman/Burke 1
- Universal Fastpitch Gold-Tatro 6, Carolina Cardinals-Chandler 3
- Explosion Premier 7, Texas Blaze United 4
SECOND ROUND
- Arizona Suncats 4, Athletics Mercado SD-Kubiski/AJ 1
- Lady Magic-Boykin 3, Illinois Chill Gold 2
- Ohana Tigers-Quarles 3, Alabama Thunderbolts 2023-Sherman/Burke 1
- Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 8, Nemesis Elite Gold 0
- Breakers Labs-Bobby 7, Lady Dukes-Sergio 1
- So Cal Athletics-Richardson 5, Universal Fastpitch Gold-Tatro 4
- Explosion Premier 1, Sparks Softball 0
- Sorcerer-Gabales/Rodriguez 4, Jersey Intensity Premier-KOD 3
THIRD ROUND
- Athletics Jendro Premier 4, Arizona Suncats 1
- Lady Magic-Boykin, Team NC-Hinde
- Ohana Tigers-Quarles 2, Wildcats Chicago 1
- Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 6, Georgia Impact National-Caymol 4
- Breakers Labs-Bobby 5, PA Chaos Gold-Spina 2
- So Cal Athletics-Richardson 8, So Cal Choppers-Ashley 2
- Cal Cruisers-Sievers 2, Explosion Premier 0
- LLG DPS-Corn 3, Sorcerer-Gabales/Rodriguez 1
BRACKET B
WINNER’S BRACKET
THIRD ROUND
- Select Fastpitch-Jones 4, Arizona Storm National-Mathis 3
- Rock Gold-Manetta 7, LTG Lions-Henderson 3
- Georgia Bombers Gold-Lewis 3, AASA-Merrida 0
- Washington Ladyhawks Gold-Miller 2, Strykers National-Esparza 0
- Cal Nuggets-Woods 5, NW Bullets-Campos 0
- Beverly Bandits Premier-Dorsey 7, New Lenox Lightning Gold 1
- Lady Dukes-Lamar/Burgess 4, So Cal Choppers-VC 1
- Texas Sudden Impact-Leach 7, Rick Gold-Garvey 0
LOSER’S BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
- Georgia Impact Premier-Caymol 1, So Cal Choppers-Fausett 0
- USA Athletics Gold 8, Firecrackers-TJ 7
- BSC Bengals-Briggs 6, Sorcerer-Bigley/Everett 2
- Top Gun National 9, USA Athletics-Embrey/Mortensen 1
SECOND ROUND
- Unity National-Betsa/Hebert 11, Minnesota Renegades National 5
- Georgia Impact Premier-Caymol 7, BC Peppers-Wallace 5
- USA Athletics Gold 9, Minnesota Force-Powers 2
- Sorcerer-Ricks 3, AASA-Nelson/Mortimer 0
- Rhode Island Thunder Gold National-Lotti 10, Tri-State Thunder Gold 4
- BSC Bengals-Briggs 1, Nebraska Gold National 0
- Top Gun National 11, Carolina SC Elite National-Genovese 1
- Hotshots National-Jones 1, Select Fastpitch-Alvarado 0
*****
16U PREMIER
BRACKET A
WINNER’S BRACKET
FOURTH ROUND
- I-5 Softball-Snyder/Fitz 1, LTG Lions-Henderson 0
- Texas Sudden Impact-Jones 9, Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2024-Kaplan 0
- Texas Blaze United-Robertson 7, Texas Riptide 3
- Sorcerer-Gann 4, Universal Fastpitch-Macias 1
LOSER’S BRACKET
THIRD ROUND
- Beverly Bandits Futures-Page 4, California Grapettes 06-McNair 1
- Jersey Intensity-BOD 3, D1Vision Softball National 1
- Ohio Hawks National 2024-Joseforsky 9, Lady Magic 07-Walling 1
- Carolina SC Elite National-Fusetti 9, Unity-Smith 0
- Mojo 2024-Abernathy 4, LLG Elite-Corn 3
- Georgia Impact-Holcombe 1, Velocity National 0
- Wildcats-Holcomb/Knight/Kingery 3, BSC Bengals-Greene 1
- Sparks Premier-Harvey 5, Top Gun National-MC 1
FOURTH ROUND
- Jersey Intensity Premier-BOD 3, Beverly Bandits Futures-Page 0
- Carolina SC Elite National-Fusetti 4, Ohio Hawks National 2024-Joseforsky 3
- Georgia Impact-Holcombe 6, Mojo 2024-Abernathy 2
- Wildcats-Holcomb/Knight/Kingery 3, Sparks Premier-Harvey 2
BRACKET B
WINNER’S BRACKET
FOURTH ROUND
- Tampa Mustangs-Seymour 2, BSC Bengals-Briggs 1
- Virginia Unity-Johnson/Ross 4, Sox Fastpitch National 2
- Select fastpitch-Salazar/McCoy 5, Illinois Chill Gold 2
- Arizona Storm National-Appel 6, Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2025-Kemp 5 (11 innings)
LOSER’S BRACKET
SECOND ROUND
- Beverly Bandits Premier-Holloway 2, Firecrackers-Wallace 0
- Central Cal Dirtdogs-Vazquez 5, Texas Thunderbolts Premier-Whiddon 0
- LK Black Hawaii 8, 510 Pride Fastpitch 0
- Cal Nuggets-Woods 7, Arizona Storm Premier-Captain/Monte 1
- Power Surge-Berndes/Trammell 6, Titans-Buettner 0
- Atlanta Vipers Gold-Tamborra 4, Virginia Glory National-Mertz/Gaglardi 1
- Warrior Academy-Gutierrez 7, AASA-McCaffery/Novitske 6
- Mojo-Sherrill 3, So Cal Athletics Premier-Thomas/Grimm 1
THIRD ROUND
- Beverly Bandits Premier-Holloway 10, NW Bullets-Smith 0
- Empire Fastpitch Premier Elite 3, Central Cal Dirtdogs-Vazquez 1
- LK Black Hawaii 3, Hotshots National-Nelson 2
- Cal Nuggets-Woods 8, Georgia Impact Premier-Maher 6
- Beverly Bandits Premier-Moran 4, Power Surge-Berndes/Trammell 2
- Atlanta Vipers Gold-Tamborra 8, Wisconsin Lightning 2024 3
- Georgia Impact Premier-Caymol 4, Warrior Academy-Gutierrez 3
- Beverly Bandits Premier-Freeland 7, Mojo-Sherrill 0
FOURTH ROUND
- Beverly Bandits Premier-Holloway 4, Empire Fastpitch Premier Elite 0
- LK Black Hawaii 8, Cal Nuggets-Woods 0
— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff and Threads @los_stuff)
