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Day 6 of PGF Nationals saw the Winner’s Bracket Semifinals and Finals across the 16 and 18U Premier Divisions between Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach Sports Complexes, respectively.
A number of pitching duels highlighted the Winner’s Bracket Finals as well as a memorable comeback from a former national champion.
Here’s some of the key big games you may have missed from Thursday afternoon…
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18U Premier Bracket A / Winner’s Bracket Final:
Lady Dukes – Lamar 3, Beverly Bandits 18U Premier 2
Every run in this one was scored in the first inning before it turned into a pitcher’s duel late.
Pittsburgh signee Haylie Brunson smacked a two-run single to score Kentucky commit Chelsea Mack and fellow Pittsburgh signee Kylie Griggs, giving the Bandits a 2-0 lead.
It didn’t last long.
Northwestern commit Lillan Vallimont singled in Aminah Vega to make it 2-1, then Jaila Lassiter grounded to first to bring in the second run of the inning. Duke commit Jada Baker finished things off with an RBI single of her own that would be credited as the game-winner.
Extra Innings Softball National High School Player of the Year Keagan Rothrock picked up a four-inning save and allowed just one hit in the relief outing, striking out seven Bandits on 61 pitches.
The most important pair came in the seventh with the Bandits threatening with two-on and one-out – Rothrock got back-to-back strikeouts to push the Lady Dukes to the Winner’s Bracket Championship.
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18U Premier Bracket B / Winner’s Bracket Final:
Tampa Mustangs – TJ 6, Birmingham Thunderbolts 18U Premier 5 in 8 innings
In what could go down as an instant classic, Tampa Mustangs – TJ came back from a 5-0 deficit in the sixth inning to finish off Day 6 play at the Huntington Beach Sports Complex.
One would’ve thought there was no chance with the way that the Thunderbolts controlled the action in the first few innings. Taylor McKinney got the ‘Bolts on the board with a sacrifice fly in the first, then Nelia Peralta made it 2-0 with an RBI groundout to score Tallen Edwards.
The Thunderbolts would tack on a third run in the third on McKinney’s RBI double and two more in the fourth on Lauren Brock’s two-run single to score Leah Jarnac and Jana Lee.
Tampa Mustangs’ answer in the fifth? Strand a pair in the top fifth when Kenna Raye Dark got Madi Frye to strike out on four pitches.
*** Scroll down to see more from the big day of competition at PGF Nationals as we get ready for the Saturday Premier Championships and All-Star Games…