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A unique event brought to Florida, the PGF Show Me the Money tournament drew over 80 fastpitch travel teams to Champions Park over the weekend, including several of the top national brands and teams from around the country.
The tournament dished out nearly $40,000 in cash prizes in three divisions – 14U, 16U and 18U.
“This is the first one that I know of in Florida,” Florida PGF State Director Bill Hoopes said.
It was also the first event for college coaches to get out to in over 15 months due to the COVID-19 influenced dead period.
While they weren’t able to get out until Friday because the Women’s College World Series was pushed back to finish Thursday, coaches from across the country littered nearly every backstop across the park.
“We didn’t advertise it as a showcase,” PGF East Coast Tournament Director Jason Gusaeff said. “But we knew with the level of teams that they would be here.”
Sure enough, they did. Florida head coach Tim Walton made the short drive from neighboring Gainesville and made his rounds on Sunday, while coaches from Tennessee, Ole Miss, Louisville, Ohio State, UCF, among many others from all levels took in the action.
In all, there were nearly 100 coaches that walked around Champions Park, including over 40 from Division I programs and 25 from Power Five programs.
“They loved the 16-field complex,” Hoopes said. “You go to a typical showcase, everybody is there first day, second day, half the third day and then they start to fade off and go home. We have changed the game a little bit where these coaches are paying attention at midnight and on Sunday, because what’s left are the top programs in the country and kids that are already playing for them and watching them or finding others.”
While the talent pool was impeccable across the board, the 14U division might have been the strongest.
“It was probably one of the best you’re going to see this summer,” Gusaeff said.
The tournament showcased 15 teams in the Extra Inning Softball’s Top 50 and had a bevy of competitive games on Saturday and Sunday.
On Sunday, Birmingham Thunderbolts – Burns (6-1) outlasted a rain delay and took first place in the 14U division. Beverley Bandits Premier – Chow (6-3) took second and Tampa Mustangs – Seymour (7-2) rounded out the top three spots in the youngest division.
The second place Bandits avenged a 1-2 start in Pool E play to take down the third-place Mustangs to get into Sunday’s championship game, which ultimately was never played due to rain in the Gainesville area in the afternoon.
Birmingham Thunderbolts’ lone loss came in Pool F play against EC Bullets – Cornett, 9-7, then rattled off five straight.
In 16U, Beverly Bandits Premier C/B (5-2) and DeMarini Aces 16 (7-0) took the Co-Championship, and both took home $5,750 as a result.
That was the final game to be called due to rain, and for good reason. The Bandits and undefeated Aces were tied 2-2 in the ninth inning of an ITB when everything got put in a delay and held out as long as possible before ultimately splitting the championship pot.
*** Scroll down to read about the PGF Show Me the Money tournament and who impressed!