RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
COLLEGE
ABOUT
Beginning with games last Sunday—June 20 (Father’s Day)—through the championship contests held Friday, June 25, 2021 in Columbus, Georgia, the USA Softball JO Cup featured 63 teams across the age divisions of 18U, 16U and 14U.
A pinnacle event for USA Softball’s Junior Olympic play, participating teams were invited based off a resume reviewed by a committee of coaches. Double-elimination bracket play began on Tuesday and continued through Thursday, with Championship play held on Friday and Saturday.
As described by USA Softball: “Created in 2015, the USA Softball JO Cup serves as an opportunity for evaluation by the USA Softball coaching staff and the Women’s National Team Selection Committee. Since its inaugural year, the JO Cup has grown to include three age groups and has crowned 14 champions in its six years.”
Below are photos and recap stories released by USA Softball highlighting key action throughout the week…
A WILD week of softball comes to an end here in Columbus, Georgia 🥎
Thank you to all participating teams and congratulations to the 14-Under, 16-Under and 18-Under 2021 #USASoftball #JOCup Champions! 🏆
RECAP » https://t.co/S9FjLiV98r pic.twitter.com/69CnEL0CgS
— USA Softball (@USASoftball) June 25, 2021
*****
Sunday, June 20, 2021: Day 1 Recap
Despite a rainy start to the opening day of the 2021 USA Softball Junior Olympic (JO) Cup, a total of 34 games across the 14-Under, 16-Under and 18-Under divisions took place on Sunday afternoon and were packed full of action. Due to the weather, the remaining Day One pool play games have been rescheduled for Monday, June 21.
In all five 14-Under games played on Day One, the losing team did not score over three runs as strong pitching dominated the day. Louisiana Blazers Elite 06, LLG Futures, Florida Impact Gold Ladd 06 and Tampa Mustangs picked up their first wins of the tournament, while Clearwater Bullets 07 and Firecrackers Arkansas 14U-Lemley ended their first game in a 2-2 tie.
At the plate, Audrey Mitchem (LA Blazers Elite 06) led all 14-Under teams with three hits on the day. Angelia Discenza (Florida Impact Gold Ladd 06) and Brook Karpinkski (LA Blazers Elite 060) knocked the day’s only triples while Jalyn Sharkey (Florida Impact Gold Ladd 06) and Kameran Kent (LA Blazers Elite 06) each recorded two doubles in their wins.
In the circle, Molly Conner (Finesse 15U Dreher/Langlois) struck out 14 in a complete game win, the only 14-U pitcher with double-digit strikeouts on Day One.
The 16-Under division had a busy Sunday as all 25 teams took to the field to battle in pool play. In the 17 games that were played, there were 34 runs scored, averaging only two runs per game despite the teams’ accumulation of 192 hits.
The pitchers took care of business in the circle with 118 total strikeouts. Three teams had pitchers that threw nine strikeouts including the Santa Fe Inferno Patterson/Hobbs 04, Impact – Byrd, and Atlanta Vipers – Hudson.
In the 18-Under division, offense was on full display as three teams scored double-digit runs on opening day. Finesse 18U Dreher/Curry picked up a 12-4 win over Clearwater Bullets-Klinefelter, while Ohio Hawks National 18U took down Team NC 18U-Huss 10-5 and Gold Coast Hurricanes-Cooper-Hammond recorded a 12-6 victory over Florida Storm Premier Ralph.
Five players went yard on Day One while Morgan McMillian (Gold Coast Hurricanes-Cooper-Hammond) led the way with three doubles and four RBIs. In the circle, Lainee Bailey (Louisiana Blazers Elite) led all 18-U pitchers with 11 strikeouts in six innings of work.
*****
Monday, June 21, 2021: Day 2 Recap
The second day of pool play at the 2021 USA Softball Junior Olympic (JO) Cup featured all 63 teams who took to the field to compete in a total of 64 games. Head-to-head battles took place throughout all divisions as pool play wrapped up and brackets were set for Day Three.
In the 14-Under division, teams were eager to get on the dirt for their first full day of games. Tennessee Mojo 2025 Gregory, Mojo 2024-Bridger and Hotshots Premier 2025 started off the tournament in the win column. Tennessee Mojo 2025 Gregory picked up the day’s biggest win with a 17-2 victory over Clearwater Bullets 07 after a two-hit, four RBI performance from Jade Carnahan (Tennessee Mojo 2025 Gregory).
In the first two days of competition, the 14-U competing teams racked up a total of 277 hits, led by Mojo 2024-Ross with 43, followed by Tennessee Mojo 2025 Gregory with 31 and Louisiana Blazers with 25. Riley Bennett (Louisiana Blazers Elite 06) paces the division with seven hits. In the circle, the 14-Under division recorded 143 total strikeouts, with Molly Conner (Finesse 14U Dreher/Langlois) leading the way with 25 K’s in 13 innings of work.
The 16-Under division kept the bats hot on the second day of play by increasing their hit total to 317. The Clearwater Bullets lead with 39 hits, followed by Mojo Lunsford with 28. In the last two days there have been 14 long balls and 281 RBIs. Five teams came up big on Day Two by scoring double digits in their Monday matchups.
Cassidy Stouffer (Miami Stingrays Gold Gator) leads the 16-Under division with seven hits while Ava Lunsford (MOJO Lunsford) leads in the RBI column after driving in six runs. In the circle, Jolee Camp (Santa Fe Inferno Hobbs/Patterson) and Jasmine Francik (Atlanta Vipers-Hudson) each recorded 13 strikeouts throughout pool play.
In the 18-Under division, competition tightened as eight games were decided by two runs or less. The same cannot be said for the Tampa Mustangs TJ’s offense, however, as the team unloaded in a 20-0 victory over Carolina Elite National-Maddaluna. The shutout win was led by Jillian Herbst (Tampa Mustangs TJ) with three hits and three RBIs and Kylah Berry (Tampa Mustangs TJ) with eight strikeouts in just three innings. Florida Storm Premier Ralph and Florida Select Davis also picked up double-digit victories on the final day of pool play.
In total, the 18-Under division posted 313 hits in the first two days of competition, led by Emily Chiarella (Tampa Mustangs TJ) with eight. In the circle, Katie Arrambide (Chicago Cheetahs) dished out 15 strikeouts in her 11 innings on the mound.
*****
Tuesday, June 22, 2021: Day 3 Recap
Today’s action-packed competition initiated the pursuit for the championship title in the first day of bracket play at the 2021 USA Softball Junior Olympic (JO) Cup.
The winner’s bracket holds the eight remaining teams in the 16-Under and 18-Under divisions while the 14-Under division winner’s bracket holds four teams. The loser’s bracket will fight to stay alive on Day Four for a shot at the trophy.
The 14-Under division winner’s bracket saw Atlanta Vipers 14U Gold-Harris, Finesse 14U Dreher/Langlois, Tampa Mustangs Bell and Florida Impact Gold Ladd 06 advance after going undefeated in the first day of bracket play.
Finesse 14U Dreher/Langlois picked up the biggest win in the 14-U A bracket, with a 12-0 shutout victory over Lady Hammerheads 14U. Madison Anson (Finesse 14U Dreher/Langlois) led the way going 3-for-3 – just shy of hitting for the cycle with a single, a double, and a triple in the win.
Molly Conner (Finesse 14U Dreher/Langlois) continued her dominance in the circle, registering 10 strikeouts in six innings. Atlanta Vipers 14U Gold-Harris also had an impressive day at the plate, outscoring their opponents 15-1 in their two victories.
In the 14-U B bracket, Florida Impact Gold Ladd 06 sparked a seventh-inning rally to extend their one-run lead to nine in their last at-bat. Makenna Sturgis (Florida Impact Gold Ladd 06 ) went 4-for-4 with six RBIs, including a three-RBI single in the top of the seventh. Tampa Mustangs Bell also secured a 7-3 victory over LA Blazers 06 to advance in the winner’s bracket.
It was the Atlanta Vipers Hudson, Finesse 16U Dreher/ Lesko, Miami Stingrays Gold Gator, Santa Fe Inferno – Patterson/ Hobbs, Hotshots Premier 2022 Alabama, LLG Elite Corn, Impact – Byrd, Missouri Stealth KC 05 Gold, and GA Power 2004 Tunon who recorded wins in the first round of 16-U bracket play.
In the fight to remain in the winner’s bracket, Atlanta Vipers Hudson, Florida Impact 16U Affrunti/ Hoopes, Miami Stingrays Gold Gator, Hotshots Premier 2022 Alabama, Lady Gators Jackson 16U, Florida Impact Feldman – 04, Ohio Hawks 16U National, and Atlanta Vipers Hutto came out on top, claiming their spots in the four winner’s bracket matchup sets on Day Four.
In the 16-U A bracket, Atlanta Vipers Hudson put six runs on the board against Virginia Unity – Parker. Jasmine Francik (Atlanta Vipers Hudson) got the win and threw a shutout, giving up a measly two hits and firing seven strikeouts.
In the 16-U B bracket, Atlanta Vipers – Hutto also put up a shutout in bracket play. Atlanta Vipers – Hutto’s offense accumulated 14 hits against GA Power 2004 Tunon, supplying their pitchers with ample run support. Cassie Reasner (Atlanta Vipers -Hutto) went 3-for-3 at the plate and scored two of the Atlanta Vipers – Hutto’s runs.
After the first day of 18-U bracket play, Louisiana Blazers Elite, Atlanta Vipers Gold Holbrook, Windermere Wildfire 18U-Paulson, Tampa Mustangs TJ, Prospex Gold 18U, Lady Gators Jackson, LLG DPS Corn 18U and Florida Impact 18U Affrunti/Hoopes advanced undefeated in the winner’s bracket.
Tampa Mustangs TJ opened the day with the biggest win, a 15-0, three inning victory over Florida Select Davis. Four players registered multiple hits for Tampa Mustangs TJ while Grace Hogie (Tampa Mustangs TJ) struck out eight batters.
In the 18-U A bracket, Atlanta Vipers Gold 18U-Holbrook put up nine runs as a trio of pitchers put together a four-hit shutout performance against Carolina Elite National-Maddaluna. Louisiana Blazers Elite used a three-run seventh inning to secure a comeback win over Florida Storm Premier Ralph. I
n the 18-U B Bracket, Prospex Gold 18U’s three runs in the top of the fifth proved to be enough as they defeated Ohio Hawks National 18U 3-2. A complete game from Madison Pleasents (LLG DPS Corn) led LLG DPS Corn to a 7-2 victory over Gold Coast Hurricanes-Cooper-Hammond.
*****
Wednesday, June 23, 2021: Day 4 Recap
Stakes were high on the second day of bracket play at the 2021 USA Softball Junior Olympic (JO) Cup as teams faced elimination and battled it out to continue the quest for a Championship title.
Only six 14-U teams remain as over half of the 14-Under division was eliminated in bracket play today. However, the competition continues for Atlanta Vipers 14U Gold-Harris, Finesse 14U Dreher/Langlois, Tampa Mustangs Bell, Florida Impact Gold Ladd 06, Hotshots Premier 2025, and Mojo Abernathy.
Atlanta Vipers 14U Gold-Harris went undefeated to advance to the 14-Under A bracket finals by picking up a 9-1 victory over Mojo 2024 Bridger and a 10-3 win over Finesse 14U Dreher/Langlois. Florida Impact Gold Ladd 06 flexed its offensive muscles, posting double-digit runs in both its victories. Both teams will face off in their respective bracket finales at 2:30 p.m. ET on Day Five for a chance to move onto the Championship on Friday.
Hotshots Premier emerged from the 14-Under A loser’s bracket, scorching their opponents and outscoring them 27-1 in their two games on the day. In the 14-Under B loser’s bracket, Mojo 2024 Abernathy got gritty, picking up two one-run wins to stay alive.
The 16-Under division had another exciting day at South Commons Complex as four teams scored over 10 runs in their matchups. Louisiana Blazers Elite scored an impressive 16 runs on nine hits in their 16-4 win over LLG Elite Corn.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, seven teams scraped a win by one run including Lady Dukes National 22/23 – Rabitsch, MOJO Lunsford, Hotshots Premier 2022 Alabama, VA Unity – Parker, Ohio Hawks 16U National, Florida Impact Feldman – 04, and Pro Impact 16U Houston McCool.
Four teams stand undefeated in the 16-U division thus far, including Florida Impact 16U Affrunti/ Hoopes, Hotshots Premier 2022 Alabama, Florida Impact Feldman – 04, and Ohio Hawks 16U National.
12 teams remain in the 18-Under division, including Atlanta Vipers Gold 18U-Holbrook, Tampa Mustangs TJ, Windermere Wildfire 18U-Paulson, Hanover Lady Hornets, Louisiana Blazers Elite, GA Power Gold Berkhiser/Pisciotta, Prospex Gold 18U, Lady Gators Jackson, Florida Impact 18U Affrunti/Hoopes, LLG DPS Corn, Ohio Hawks National 18U and Clearwater Bullets-Klinefelter.
Atlanta Vipers Gold 18U-Holbrook dominated the top-half of the 18-Under A bracket on Day Four, posting a 9-0 win over Carolina Elite National-Maddaluna and a 12-1 win over Louisiana Blazers Elite to remain undefeated in bracket play. In the bottom half of the bracket, Tampa Mustangs TJ picked up the day’s biggest win with a 15-0 shutout over Florida Select-Davis before battling through two more games to advance to the bracket semifinals.
Prospex 18U fought in two tightly contested games before ending the day with a shutout win over Lady Gators-Jackson to remain undefeated in the 18-Under B bracket. Highlighting LLG DPS Corn’s undefeated day was a defensive battle and a narrow 2-1 victory over Florida Impact 18U Affrunti/Hoopes.
Hanover Lady Hornets used a three-run fourth inning to secure a come-from-behind victory over Florida Select-Davis to avoid elimination in the 18-Under A loser’s bracket. GA Power Gold-Berkhiser/Pisciotta will also move on in the bracket after recording two wins on the day. In the 18-Under B loser’s bracket, Ohio Hawks National 18U and Clearwater Bullets-Klinefelter fought to stay alive and will face another win-or-go-home situation on Day Five of the tournament.
*****
Thursday, June 24, 2021: Day 5 Recap
After four days of fierce competition, the Championships are set for the 2021 USA Softball Junior Olympic (JO) Cup as 28 teams battled it out today for the chance to earn their respective division’s coveted USA Softball JO Cup title.
A long and exciting day for many teams left two finalists in each of the 14-Under, 16-Under and 18-Under divisions who will compete in Championship games.
Friday’s Championships will include Atlanta Vipers 14U Gold Harris and Florida Impact Gold Ladd 06 in the 14-Under division, Ohio Hawks 16U National and Hotshots Premier 2022 Alabama in the 16-Under division and LLG DPS Corn and Atlanta Vipers 18U-Holbrook in the 18-Under division who will all vie for the USA Softball JO Cup trophy.
Atlanta Vipers 14U Gold Harris was the first team to secure a spot in a Championship game after going undefeated in the 14-Under A bracket. A 4-0 shutout victory over Hotshots Premier 2025, highlighted by a home run from Desiree Trudel (Atlanta Vipers 14U Gold Harris), clinched their spot in tomorrow’s title game.
In the 14-Under B bracket, Florida Impact Gold Ladd 06’s exciting game against Mojo 2024 Abernathy climaxed when Lyric Pittman (Florida Impact Gold Ladd 06) singled with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh to give her team the 4-3 victory and remain undefeated in bracket play. Florida Impact Gold Ladd 06 will face off against Atlanta Vipers 14U Gold Harris tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. ET in the 14-Under Championship game.
Ten 16-Under teams fought for the chance to be the last two standing in their division on Day Five. The four teams that made it to the semi-finals were Ohio Hawks 16U National, Florida Impact Feldman-04, Hotshots Premier 2022 Alabama and Florida Impact 16U Affrunti/ Hoopes. Each game was intense, and no one went down without a fight as both teams in the loser’s bracket forced “if-necessary” games.
Ohio Hawks 16U National squared off against Florida Impact Feldman-04. Florida Impact Feldman-04 unleashed the heat, securing their win 10-2. In the second game against Ohio Hawks 16U, Florida Impact Feldman-04 took an early 3-0 lead, but Ohio Hawks 16U made an epic comeback in the sixth and came out on top with 10 runs and eight hits.
Florida Impact 16U Affrunti/Hoopes had an admirable performance against the undefeated Hotshots Premier 2022 Alabama. The two teams went into extra innings until Tenly Grisham (Hotshots Premier 2022 Alabama) hit a walk-off that resulted in Hotshots Premier 2022 Alabama’s 5-4 win to punch their ticket to the 16-Under Championship game against Ohio Hawks 16U, slated for tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. ET.
Twelve teams in the 18-Under division began the day with the chance of going to the Championship. The playing field narrowed to four as Tampa Mustangs TJ, Atlanta Vipers Gold 18U – Holbrook, LLG DPS Corn 18U, and Ohio Hawks National 18U started the day strong and made it to the semi-finals. LLG DPS Corn 18U faced off against Ohio Hawks National 18U in a thrilling 3-0 win.
Led by Madison Pleasents (LLG DPS Corn 18U) in the circle with seven strikeouts, LLG DPS Corn 18U is coming out of the B Bracket into the winner-take-all Championship undefeated.
Tampa Mustangs TJ also came into their game undefeated from the winner’s bracket, while the Atlanta Vipers 18U-Holbrook worked their way up from the loser’s bracket.
The two teams battled back-and-forth in an incredible contest that extended into extra innings. It was Reece Holbrook (Atlanta Vipers 18U-Holbrook) who called game and smacked a sacrifice fly to give Atlanta Vipers-18U Holbrook a 5-4 win and force an “if-necessary” game.
In the deciding contest, Atlanta Vipers 18U-Holbrook dominated from the start. Jaydyn Goodwin (Atlanta Vipers 18U-Holbrook) led the way going 4-for-4 and sealing a 9-1 run-rule victory and a berth to the 18-Under Championship game against LLG DPS Corn 18U tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. ET.
*****
Friday, June 25, 2021: Championship Day Recap
Sixty-three teams battled all throughout the week, narrowing the playing field to two final teams per division on the final day of the 2021 USA Softball Junior Olympic (JO) Cup.
After three thrilling Championship matchups, a 14-Under, 16-Under and 18-Under Champion raised their trophies at South Commons Complex.
The Championship games kicked off this morning with the 14-Under finalists taking the field. Atlanta Vipers 14U Harris took the trophy with a 3-0 shutout win over Florida Impact Gold Ladd 06. In the 16-Under division, Hotshots Premier 2022 Alabama got down early but fought back to defeat Ohio Hawks 16U National, 5-3. The final game of the week ended in dramatic fashion as LLG DPS Corn rallied from behind to clinch a 6-5 victory over Atlanta Vipers 18U-Holbrook, securing their second consecutive USA Softball JO Cup Championship.
14-Under: Atlanta Vipers 14U Harris vs. Impact Gold Ladd 06
Atlanta Vipers 14U Gold Harris struck first and never looked back. After a dropped third strike, Jordan Williams (Atlanta Vipers 14U Gold Harris) took off and reached first base before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt from Avery Callaway (Atlanta Vipers 14U Gold Harris). Williams scored the first run of the game on a single from Desiree Trudel (Atlanta Vipers 14U Gold Harris).
Both teams were quiet in the second inning as solid defense retired each side in order. Kaitlyn Everson (Florida Impact Gold Ladd 06) singled in the top of the third, but Hannah Cole (Atlanta Vipers 14U Gold Harris) took care of business in the circle and worked out of the inning without allowing a run.
Izzy Carlyle (Atlanta Vipers 14U Gold Harris) drew a walk to start off the bottom of the frame for Atlanta Vipers and advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Williams. A single from Trudel plated Carlyle, extending the Vipers lead to 2-0.
Florida Impact got on base after Neveah Hayes (Florida Impact Gold Ladd 06) singled to left field to start the fourth. A sacrifice bunt and a single moved Hayes to third before Makenna Sturgis (Florida Impact Gold Ladd 06) was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Once again, Cole took back control and found a way out of the jam, leaving the inning unscathed.
The Vipers put two on with no outs in the bottom of the fifth after a single from Carlyle and Williams reaching on an error. In the circle for Florida Impact, Reese Gill (Florida Impact Gold Ladd 06) fired back with a strikeout and a fly out to end the inning.
A no-doubt, leadoff home run from Cadence Alberty (Atlanta Vipers 14U Gold Harris) gave the Vipers a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Cole retired Florida Impact in order to secure the Vipers 3-0 victory and the coveted title of 2021 USA Softball JO Cup 14-Under Champion.
🤩 Your new 2021 #USASoftball #JOCup 14-Under Champions 🏆
Atlanta Vipers 14U Gold Harris!Congratulations to both teams for a fantastic tournament! 👏 pic.twitter.com/BsrFADiNgJ
— USA Softball (@USASoftball) June 25, 2021
16-Under: Ohio Hawks 16U National vs. Hotshots Premier 2022 Alabama
Ohio Hawks 16U National started the game hot, getting an early 2-0 lead on Hotshots Premier 2022 Alabama in the second inning.
Hotshots Premier fired back in the third with a rally that was sparked by back-to-back base knocks. Emmorie Burke (Hotshots Premier) crushed a double that one-hopped the left field fence, resulting in two runs to tie the contest. Hotshots Premier continued to chip away at the Ohio Hawks defense, tacking on two more runs in the fourth when Tenly Grisham (Hotshots Premier) laced a double to the outfield.
The Ohio Hawks put up a run in the bottom of the sixth to bring the score to 5-3, but were unable to produce anything else. Hotshots Premier’s defense once again shut down Ohio Hawks in the seventh to win the game and the title of the 2021 USA Softball JO Cup 16-Under Champion.
The 16-Under Champions of the 2021 #USASoftball #JOCup 🏆 Hotshots Premier 2022 Alabama!
Round of 👏 to both teams for an incredible tournament! pic.twitter.com/hxdqUY4Vre
— USA Softball (@USASoftball) June 25, 2021
18-Under: Atlanta Vipers 18U – Holbrook vs. LLG DPS Corn 18U
Tyesha Williams (LLG DPS Corn) drew a walk to start the game for LLG before advancing to third on a ground ball hit by Malaka Lanette (LLG DPS Corn) followed by an error. A single from Elisa Smith (LLG DPS Corn) brought both Williams and Lanette in to score, putting LLG up early, 2-0.
Jaydyn Goodwin (Atlanta Vipers 18U-Holbrook) knocked a single in her first at-bat for Atlanta Vipers 18U-Holbrook as did Makenna Segal (Atlanta Vipers 18U-Holbrook), but Lauren Wills (LLG DPS Corn) ended their rally by forcing a groundout to get out of the inning without a run scored.
LLG posted another run in the top of the second when Reagan Hartley (LLG DPS Corn) scored on a passed ball, extending their lead to 3-0. The Vipers answered back in a hurry, forcing two LLG errors in the bottom of the fifth that led to one run. The Vipers continued their tear, tying things up two plays later when Goodwin reached on an error to score two more runs. The rally was ended by a groundout, but not before the Vipers took the lead 5-3.
In the top of the sixth, LLG found their stride and put runners on base. LLG put even more pressure on the defense when Karlee Mae (LLG DPS Corn) stole home to bring her team within one run. A walk and a wild pitch to follow would put LLG up 6-5 going into the final inning.
The Vipers wouldn’t go down without a fight as Lauren Flanders (Atlanta Vipers 18U-Holbrook) singled in the bottom of the seventh to put a runner on base. However, Lauren Wiles (LLG DPS Corn) remained calm under pressure and forced a fly out to end the game and secure LLG’s second consecutive USA Softball JO Cup title.
🥁 Congratulations to @LadyLightningG2 ⚡️
The 18-Under 2021 #USASoftball #JOCup Champions 🏆
Shoutout to both teams for a stellar tournament‼️ 🤩 pic.twitter.com/b7DGxtHlf9
— USA Softball (@USASoftball) June 25, 2021