STRYKERS NATIONAL-ESPARZA CLAIMS 16U TITLE
Strykers National-Esparza continued its strong run through the summer by beating VSA Lady Lions 25/26, 6-4, in the 16U championship game of the USA Softball Junior Olympic Cup on Sunday at Florida Southern in Lakeland, FL.
2025 UT Carissa Anaya had a two-run double during a four-run rally in the bottom of the 1st to help the Strykers rally from a 2-0 deficit and take a 4-2 lead over the VSA Lady Lions.
Anaya went 3 for 3 with two doubles and three RBIs in the championship game.
Anaya (.737 AVG, 8 RBIs) and 2025 MIF Kailey Monsef (.463 AVG) were the Strykers ‘ offensive leaders for the tournament. 2025 RHP Bri Fontenot (2.333 ERA, 8 Ks), 2025 RHP Rylee Church (1.585 ERA, 14 Ks) and 2024 RHP Jordyn Stuessy (2.625, 8 Ks) were the leaders in the circle.
Strykers National-Esparza beat Tampa Mustangs 09-Pynes, 7-3, Bullets 2025/2026-Patton, 13-2, Tampa Mustangs 09-Pynes, 7-0, and VSA Lady Lions, 6-4, in bracket play.
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STRYKERS, MUSTANGS CO-CHAMPS IN 18U
The 18U championship game pf the JO Cup between Strykers National-Esparza and Tampa Mustangs-Torres was canceled due to weather and both teams were named co-champions.
Texas Tech-committed 2024 RHP/3B/UT Bailey Lindemuth carried the Strykers on both sides off the ball, batting .667 to go along with a 0.48 ERA in the circle. North Texas-committed 2024 RHP/UT Matti Matthews (.579 AVG), Wisconsin-committed 2024 OF/2B Emma King (.565 AVG), 2025 C/3B Charleigh Esparza (.526 AVG) and 2025 2B/3B Mia Estrella (.471 AVG) were some of the other offensive leaders for the Strykers throughout the tournament. McNeese State-committed RHP Kadence Williams (0.60 ERA) and Texas State-committed 2024 RHP Savannah Carter (1.00 ERA) were some of the other top pitchers for the Strykers.
Appalachia State-committed 2024 CF/MIF Julia Girk (.500 AVG, 9 runs, 5 SBs), Saint Leo-bound UT/C Lexi Barber (.421 AVG, 1 double, 5 RBIs) and Florida Southern-bound RHP/3B Ella Torres (.421 AVG, 4 doubles, 1 HR, 9 RBIs, 3-0, 1.70 ERA) were some of the top players for the Mustangs in the tournament.
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USA SOFTBALL JUNIOR OLYMPIC CUP
AT LAKELAND/WINTER HAVEN, FL
(Friday-Tuesday, June 7-11, Results)
18U
BRACKET A
WINNER’S BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
- Strykers National-Esparza 5, Florida Select-Davis 0
- Clearwater Lady Bombers-Mason 5, Santa Fe Inferno-Nowling 4
SECOND ROUND
- Strykers National-Esparza 5, Rock Gold-Manetta/Perantoni 2
- Clearwater Lady Bombers-Mason 8, Atlanta Vipers-Hargrave 0
THIRD ROUND
- Strykers National-Esparza 7, Clearwater Lady Bombers-Mason 1
FOURTH ROUND
- Strykers National-Esparza def. Clearwater Lady Bombers-Mason
LOSER’S BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
- Florida Select-Davis 7, Santa Fe Inferno-Nowling 1
- Rock Gold-Manetta/Perantoni 8, Atlanta Vipers-Hargrave 3
SECOND ROUND
- Florida Select-Davis 4, Rock Gold-Manetta/Peratoni 3
THIRD ROUND
- Clearwater Lady Bombers-Mason, Florida Select-Davis
BRACKET B
WINNER’S BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
- Florida Bandits Select 9, Gold Coast Hurricanes National-Hammonds 1
- Tampa Mustangs-Torres 6, Clearwater Bullets-Klinefelter 4
- Florida Power Black-Kaser 9, New Jersey Gators Premier-Biasi/Coroneos 1
SECOND ROUND
- Hanover Hornets National 2023/2024 11, Florida Bandits Select 1
- Tampa Mustangs-Torres 2, Florida Power Black-Kaser 1
THIRD ROUND
- Tampa Mustangs-Torres 7, Hanover Hornets National 2023/2024 6
FOURTH ROUND
- Tampa Mustangs-Torres 7, Hanover Hornets National 2023/2024 6
LOSER’S BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
- Clearwater Bullets-Klinefelter 11, New Jersey Hators Premier-Biasi/Coroneos 4
SECOND ROUND
- Clearwater Bullets-Klinefelter 8, Florida Bandits Select 7
- Florida Power Black-Kaser 10, Gold Coast Hurricanes National-Hammonds 2
THIRD ROUND
- Florida Power Black-Kaser 8, Clearwater Bullets-Klinefelter 2
FOURTH ROUND
- Hanover Hornets National 2023/2024 16, Florida Power Black-Kaser 10
CHAMPIONSHIP
- Strykers National-Esparza vs. Tampa Mustangs-Torres (championship game canceled due to weather)
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16U
BRACKET A
WINNER’S BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
- VSA Lady Lions 25/26 3, Rock Gold National 1
SECOND ROUND
- Rock Gold-Conrad 7, Santa Fe Inferno-Strickland 3
- VSA Lady Lions 25/26 5, Tampa Mustangs-Langston 0
THIRD ROUND
- VSA Lady Lions 25/26 13, Rock Gold-Conrad 8
FOURTH ROUND
- VSA Lady Lions 25/26 11, Rock Gold National 7
LOSER’S BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
- Rock Gold National 3, Santa Fe Inferno-Strickland 1
SECOND ROUND
- Rock Gold National 6, Tampa Mustangs-Langston 1
THIRD ROUND
- Rock Gold National 5, Rock Gold-Conrad 0
BRACKET B
WINNER’S BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
- Santa Fe Inferno 09-Donalson 3, Rock Gold SFL-Manetta/Gabriele 2
- Tampa Mustans 09-Pynes 9, Epic Premier 25/26 0
SECOND ROUND
- Bullets 2025/2026-Patton 11, Santa Fe Inferno 09-Donalson 1
- Strykers National-Esparza 7, Tampa Mustangs 09-Pynes 3
THIRD ROUND
- Strykers National-Esparza 13, Bullets 2025/2026-Patton 2
FOURTH ROUND
- Strykers National-Esparza 7, Tampa Mustangs 09-Pynes 0
LOSER’S BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
- Santa Fe Inferno 09-Donalson 8, Epic Premier 25/26 0
- Tampa Mustangs 09-Pynes 9, Rock Gold SFL-Maneyya/Gabriele 1
SECOND ROUND
- Tampa Mustangs 09-Pynes 4, Santa Fe Inferno 09-Donalson –
THIRD ROUND
- Tampa Mustangs 09-Pynes 4, Bullets 2025/2026-Patton 0
CHAMPIONSHIP
- Strykers National-Esparza 6, VSA Lady Lions 25/26 4
— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff and Threads @los_stuff)
