Many of the country’s top 14U & 12U teams are at AFCS 3 July 31-Aug. 6 in Kokomo, IN. Here are some of Saturday’s highlights:
*****
In 14U games:
Indiana Magic Gold-Bennett/Goddard, which won the Triple Crown Nationals title last month in Georgia, found itself in serious danger after losing the first game against Oklahoma Athletics National-Madden/Davis, 6-2, to force a deciding “if” game on Saturday night.
In fact, Indiana Magic Gold needed a two-run double from 2026 3B/UT Hadley West in the bottom of the 11th and 2026 P Grace Swedarsky’s 20 Ks in a 5-4 win over Impact Gold 2K9 National, the defending 12U Alliance national champion, in the second round of the winner’s bracket in the Elite 8.
But IMG avenged the loss to the Athletics with a 6-3 victory to earn a spot in Sunday’s best-of-3 14U Alliance national championship series.
“Capping off a summer to remember,” IMG coach Jeff Goddard said. “The kids have showed up and given their all and have epitomized Team>Me. The grit these kids compete with is immeasurable — it is truly enjoyable to just watch them play. They are amazing softball players, but they are even better people with supportive families and a love for the game. They have worked incredibly hard to develop their skills and it is fun to see them rewarded for their effort.”
2026 OF Makayla Watson went 3 for 4 with a double, a run and two RBIs, 2026 OF Kayla Benthall went 2 for 3 with a run, 2027 2B Ellie Goddard went 2 for 3 with two RBIs, 2027 P Jenna Mannon had four Ks in 4.1 innings and Swedarsky had six Ks in 2.2 innings in the second game against the Athletics.
“For us to win, they just need to be in every pitch of every game,” Goddard said. “Make timely adjustments in the box, be aggressive on the bases and play D behind our great pitchers. If they keep a slow heartbeat and have fun, the rest will work itself out.” …
OC Batbusters-K. Stith/Black, which won the Top Club Nationals title earlier this summer, rolled to a 9-1 win over Impact Gold 2K9 National to earn the other spot in Sunday’s best-of-3 national championship series.
2026 CF Kale’a Tindal went 2 for 3 with two triples, a run and three RBIs and 2026 P Liliana Escobar allowed two hits, no earned runs and struck out five in 5.0 innings to get the win over Impact Gold. …
*****
In 12U games:
OC Batbusters-Stith/Juarez beat Midwest Firecrackers, 3-2, to earn a spot in Sunday’s 12U championship series.
“This was our third time playing Midwest Firecrackers,” Batbusters coach Jamee Juarez said. “They beat us in pool play, so we knew we couldn’t let our guard down. They are tough team that never gives up.
2028 SS Kyla Abad had an RBI single in the top of the 8th inning to pull out the win over Midwest Firecrackers.
2029 Lucy Reis started for Batbusters-Stith/Juarez and worked 4.0 innings, allowing four hits and one earned run. 2029 P Jali Brooks pitched 4.0 innings of relief, allowing five hits, one run and striking out two to earn the victory.
“Going into the championship series pitchers need to work ahead,” Juarez said. “Defense needs to make plays. We have to have each other’s backs and fight till the end. OK Athletics is a good squad and we need to compete every inning. It’s going to take all 16 of my players to get the job done.” …
Oklahoma Athletics 2010-Madden avenged a 10-7 loss with an 8-5 win over Batbusters AG in an “if” game to earn the other spot in Sunday’s best-of-3 12U Alliance national championship series.
2028 LF Teagan Duehning went 2 for 4 with a double, two runs and three RBIs for the Athletics in the second game against Batbusters AG.
*****
AFCS
AT KOKOMO, IN
(Saturday, Aug. 5, Results)
14U
ELITE 8
BRACKET A
WINNER’S BRACKET
SECOND ROUND
- Indiana Magic Gold-Bennett/Goddard 5, Impact Gold 2K9 National 4
LOSER’S BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
- Oklahoma Athletics National-Madden/Davis 11, Lady Dukes Gold-McHale 3
SECOND ROUND
- Oklahoma Athletics National-Madden/Davis 3, Corona Angels-Tyson 2
BRACKET FINAL
- Oklahoma Athletics National-Madden/Davis 6, Indiana Magic Gold-Bennett/Goddard 2
- Indiana Magic Gold-Bennett/Goddard 6, Oklahoma Athletics National-Madden/Davis 3
BRACKET B
WINNER’S BRACKET
- OC Batbusters-K. Stith/Black 5, Corona Angels-Tyson 1
LOSER’S BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
- Athletics Mercado 2027-Tidd/Bustamante 5, Indiana Magic Gold National-Moore 4
SECOND ROUND
- Impact Gold 2K9 National 6, Athletics Mercado 2027-Tidd/Bustamante 4
BRACKET FINAL
- OC Batbusters-K. Stith/Black 9, Impact Gold 2K9 National 1
*****
12U
ELITE 8
BRACKET A
WINNER’S BRACKET
SECOND ROUND
- Oklahoma Athletics 2010-Madden 1, Corona Angels-May/Smith 0
LOSER’S BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
- Athletics Mercado-Lopez 6, EC Bullets-Vallery 2
SECOND ROUND
- Batbusters AG 6, Athletics Mercado-Lopez 5
BRACKET FINAL
- Batbusters AG 10, Oklahoma Athletics 2010-Madden 7
- Oklahoma Athletics 2010-Madden 8, Batbusters AG 5
BRACKET B
WINNER’S BRACKET
SECOND ROUND
- OC Batbusters-Stith/Juarez 5, Batbudters AG 4
LOSER’S BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
- Midwest Firecrackers 8, Batbusters-Neff/Horton 1
SECOND ROUND
- Midwest Firecrackers 3, Corona Angels-May/Smith 0
BRACKET FINAL
- OC Batbusters-Stith/Juarez 3, Midwest Firecrackers 2
–— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff and Threads @los_stuff)
