Club Event Update: USA Elite Select World Fastpitch Championships 18U/16U  

The 18U/16U USA Elite Select World Fastpitch Championships are taking place this week in Viera, Florida at the Space Complex with the bracket finals taking place today and the semis and finals on Saturday.

Below are the four brackets left in each of the two age divisions (and very cool how they’re named after four greats of the game!).

As we publish this, the brackets are down to the final dozen or so… here’s a spotlight on one of the teams that has made it into today’s action…

*****

WFC TEAM SPOTLIGHT: Batbuster Gomes 18U

Dennis Gomes’ team has consistently been one of the top teams for the last four years in Northern California and  has produced many college athletes such as Gia Radoni (Baylor), Maddi and Kindra Hackbarth (Arizona State), Kiwi McDaniel (UConn) and the 2019 Big 12 Freshman of the year Grace Green (Oklahoma) among others.The team this year is “loaded with talent and could be one of the best teams in years,” according to Coach Gomes.

There is “tons of speed” in the outfield led by Kelsey Hall (Fresno State), a player who can hit for power and who is one of the fastest players Gomes says “I’ve ever coached.” Hall and is one of the captains of the team.

The player the coaches feel has been overlooked is P/UT Lexi Webb (Fresno State), one of the top power hitters in the country.

“She has traits of Crystal Bustos at times and can also hit 69 on the gun in the circle,” the coach continues.  “Lexi is one of the players who hasn’t gotten the recognition that she deserves and she should because she is good for the sport.”

Others of note that round out the pitching staff include Janessa Jasso (Iowa State) and Marissa Bertuccio (Sacramento State).

Finally, there are only four players left to get committed on the team and “they should done by the end off the summer.”

*****

And speaking of the Batbusters, check out this well done video by USA Elite Select with Mike Stith, head of the OC Batbusters organization, mic’d up during a workout….

https://www.facebook.com/usaeliteselect/videos/758211721260407/

BRACKET RESULTS (as of Friday am)

18U BRACKET

Bracket A – Caitlin Lowe

Bracket B – Cat Osterman

Bracket C – Natasha Watley

Bracket D – Megan Willis

*****

16U BRACKET

Bracket A – Caitlin Lowe

Bracket B – Cat Osterman

Bracket C – Natasha Watley

Bracket D – Megan Willis