Many of the top 16U & 18U teams in the country were in So Cal from July 23-30 for Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series 3. Here are some of Friday’s highlights:
*****
In 18U Elite 8 games:
Aces Fastpitch Club picked up victories over Fury Platinum X-Higdon, 4-1, and Texas Glory, 14-8, in the 18U Elite 8 on Friday at Big League Dreams in Chino Hills.
2025 MIF Lexi McDaniel hit a grand slam and A Parker allowed four hits, one run and struck out five to get the complete game win as the Aces knocked off Fury Platinum X.
2025 OF/1B Sidney Forrester hit two home runs and drove in three runs, McDaniel homered and drove in three runs, South Alabama-bound 3B Olivia Branstetter went 2 for 3 with two RBIs as the Aces outslugged Texas Glory in the second game.
“Obviously, those two teams that we played today were made up of talented players that we knew were gonna be tough to get past,” Forrester said. “Everybody in the lineup and on the field contributed one way or another for us to have these wins today. I am surrounded by extremely talented players, which makes each of us better within itself.
“Moving forward, we know it won’t be easy, but we have all the tools that are needed to make a run for the championship. Each girl on this team knows the other has their back no matter.” …
Kentucky-bound SS/3B Emory Donaldson hit a solo homer in the top of the 7th inning, helping Fury Platinum X-Higdon to a 2-1 victory over Impact Gold-Jackson in the loser’s bracket. Fury Platinum X-Higdon beat Corona Angels-Tyson, 5-3, and faces Aces Fastpitch Club on Saturday at 9 a.m. …
OC Batbusters-Stith, the Top Club Nationals and Boulder IDT champions, took out two of the biggest teams in So Cal, beating Firecrackers-Rico, 6-3, and Corona Angels-Tyson, 7-4, in the 16U Elite 8.
BYU-committed 2024 LHP Jada Villegas was solid for 4 innings and Arizona-bound LHP Ryan Maddox closed it out, Jade Berry hit a first inning home run, Oklahoma-bound SS Gabby Garcia had a two-run single, 2026 C Tessa Cowsill had an RBI, Florida-committed 2024 OF Taylor Shumaker once again drove in a run and 2025 OF Kai Minor had two hits for the Batbusters against the Firecrackers.
2025 RHP Sophia Bordi threw a complete game win and hit a three-run home run, Shumaker added a two-run home run, but the game-changing moment was uncommitted 2024 RHP/OF Jade Berry’s two-out double after an intentional walk to Oklahoma-bound LHP/OF Ella Parker, as the Batbusters defeated the Corona Angels.
Iowa Premier National-Dickel defeated Texas Glory, 6-4, in the loser’s bracket and faces OC Batbusters-Stith on Saturday at 9 a.m. …
*****
In 16U Elite 8 games:
Texas Glory-Naudin rallied to beat Corona Angels-Slye, 8-5, and took care of Fyry Platinum X-Hutchins, 11-3, in 16U Elite 8 games on Friday at Rosetta Canyon Sports Park.
Houston-committed 2024 RHP/1B Brooke Wells hits a grand slam in the bottom of the 9th inning to give Texas Glory-Naudin an walk-off win over Corona Angels-Slye in eight innings.
“The walk-off grand slam was exciting,” Wells said. “I just wanted to do whatever I could to help my team secure the win. Moving forward, we just need to stay focused, keep up our energy and keep the momentum into tomorrow.”
2025 OF/UT Aundrea “Drea” Wilson hit two home runs and drove in four runs as Texas Glory-Naudin defeated Fury Platinum X-Hutchins in the second game.
“We handled business on both sides of the ball,” Wilson said. “Everyone of us came in clutch. We just kept fighting! We trusted our coaches with the game plan and I feel like we executed! I’m so proud of us!
“Moving forward, nothing changes. We’re just gonna stick to the plan and keep fighting for each other and leave it all out there on the field! #nofearjustfaith.” …
The Iowa Premier National vs. Firecrackers Brashear winner faces Texas Glory-Naudin on Saturday at 9 a.m. …
Texas Bombers Gold-Smith outslugged Oklahoma Athletics National 2024-Madden/Clemmer, 10-7, and Iowa Premier National-Dickel, 3-2, in 16U Elite 8 games.
2025 3B/MIF Isabel Cruz went 3 for 3, 2025 CF Kinley Keller went 2 for 3, 2025 2B Caigan Crabtree went 1 for 3 with an RBI and 2025 RHP London Park and 2025 RHP Aubrey Flores combined on the victory in the circle as the Bombers knocked off Iowa Premier National-Dickel in the second game.
“Todays wins were huge for us,” Crabtree said. “Both teams beat us in the fall, so we were going in with a ‘whatever it takes’ mindset. Our team competed until the very end and never backed down no matter the score.
“Going forward, we are just going to have to rely on each other and keep fighting. All gas no breaks! We have to keep our energy up, play clean softball and stick to the plan our coaches set for us. The bond we have as a team is something special and we are like a big family. We will compete hard tomorrow and toughest team always wins!” …
Impact Gold-Jazz beat Fury Platinum X-Hutchins, 2-1, in the loser’s bracket and faces Texas Bombers Gold-Smith on Saturday at 9 a.m. …
*****
AFCS 3
AT BLD CHINO HILLS
(Friday, July 28, Results)
18U
ELITE 8
BRACKET A
FIRST ROUND
- OC Batbusters-Stith 6, Firecrackers-Rico 3
- Corona Angels-Tyson 6, Iowa Premier National-Dickel 1
SECOND ROUND
- OC Batbusters-Stith 7, Corona Angels-Tyson 4
LOSER’S BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
- Iowa Premier National-Dickel 5, Firecrackers-Rico 4
SECOND ROUND
- Iowa Premier National-Dickel 6, Texas Glory 4
BRACKET B
WINNER’S BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
- Aces Fastpitch Club 4, Fury Platinum X-Higdon 1
- Texas Glory 9, Impact Gold-Jackson 2
SECOND ROUND
- Aces Fastpitch Club 13, Texas Glory 8
LOSER’S BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
- Fury Platinum X-Higdon 2, Impact Gold-Jackson 1
SECOND ROUND
- Fury Platinum X-Higdon 5, Corona Angels-Tyson 3
*****
16U
AT ROSETTA CANYON SPORTS PARK
(Friday, July 28, Results)
ELITE 8
BRACKET A
WINNER’S BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
- Texas Bombers Gold-Smith 10, Oklahoma Athletics National 2024-Madden/Clemmer 7
- Iowa Premier National-Dickel 5, Impact Gold-Jazz 4 (9 innings)
SECOND ROUND
- Texas Bombers Gold-Smith 3, Iowa Premier National-Dickel 2
LOSER’S BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
- Impact Gold-Jazz 4, Oklahoma Athletics National 2024-Madden/Clemmer 2
SECOND ROUND
- Impact Gold-Jazz 2, Fury Platinum X-Hutchins 1
BRACKET B
WINNER’S BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
- Texas Glory-Naudin 8, Corona Angels-Slye 5 (9 innings)
- Fury Platinum X-Hutchins 7, Firecrackers Brashear 0
SECOND ROUND
Texas Glory-Naudin 11, Fury Platinum X-Hutchins 3
LOSER’S BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
- Firecrackers Brashear 5, Corona Angels-Slye 2
SECOND ROUND
- Iowa Premier National-Dickel 7, Firecrackers Brashear 1
— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff and Threads @los_stuff)
