Event News (UPDATED Sun AM): 2022 PGF Nationals Champions Crowned in Platinum; Finalists Set for Saturday in 14U, 12U & 10U Premier

Saturday was a big day at the PGF Nationals as champions were crowned in the 14U and 12U Platinum divisions and we learned who would play Sunday in the Premier 14U, 12U and 10U title games.

PGF 14U & 12U Platinum Championship Games

Interestingly, in the Platinum pair of championships played at Deanna Manning Stadium in Bill Barber Park in Irvine, California, the two games ended with the exact same 8-0 scores as Athletes – Mercado/Iwai topped the Arizona Storm Premier 2010 at 12U and Beverly Bandits – Norwood defeated I-5 Ventura at 14U.

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PGF 12U Platinum Championship: Athletes – Mercado/Iwai 8, Arizona Storm Premier 2019 0

Pitcher Kaylynn Lowman went the distance for Athletics – Mercado/Iwai as she scattered four hits over the five-inning run rule victory and didn’t give up a walk or run while striking out four.

The Athletics put up a run in the bottom of the first when infielder Leilei Salue, hitting in the 5-hole, doubled in the games first run. She went end up going 2-for-2 with a pair of RBIs.

The offense was also sparked by leadoff hitter and shortstop Sophia Hernandez, who walked three times and scored three runs, 2-hole hitter Makayla “KK” Encinas who went 3-for-4 with an RBI and cleanup hitter  and catcher Nylah Melendez who went 2-for-4 with four RBIs.

The A’s scored in every inning but one as they put up one in the first and third innings and then three in the bottom of the fourth and fifth to end it after five with the run rule in effect.

PGF 14U Platinum Championship: Beverly Bandits – Norwood 8, I-5 Ventura – Banbrook/Shea 0

How dominant was Scott Norwood’s Beverly Bandits team during it’s 14U Platinum title run?

The pitching gave up just five runs all week and just one earned run and that was the case again tonight as Sadie Binkley threw all five innings and just allowed two hits while striking out five in the 8-0 win over I-5 Ventrua Banbrook/Shea.

Her job was made much easier when the Bandits offense exploded for four runs in the bottom of the second inning and then four more in the fourth to make it a five-inning run-rule situation.

Catcher Adelle Metz and DP Kendall Brown each had two hits and drove in a run and the offensive output was balanced as the seven hitters at the top of the order all reached base via hit or walk and all scored at least one run.

Binkley closed out the game by striking out the side in the top of the 5th and here’s the final pitch and the team’s celebration:

Here’s what Coach Norwood had to say after the team finished off the championship in dominating form all tournament… and at the end GOT A BIG (WET) SURPRISE:

Finally, the winning pitcher Sadie Binkley and Coach Norwood talk about what they’re shooting for next:

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Sunday 14U Premier Matchups SET

At the Premier level, the finalists were set as follows (game times included; all three will be at Deanna Manning Stadium):

• 10U (9 am PST): Hustle National 2K11 vs. Beverly Bandits
• 12U (12:30 pm PST): Birmingham Thunderbolts – Alford vs. Lady Magic – Munoz
• 14U (4 pm PST): Birmingham Thunderbolts – Kemp vs. Beverly Bandits – Moran

Notice that both the Birmingham Thunderbolts and Beverly Bandits organizations are not only facing each other at the 14U Premier level on Sunday, but both programs could walk away by the end of the weekend with another pair of national championships.

And another note of interest at 14U: Chad Moran’s Bandits team had to come from the Loser’s Bracket but did it by winning a pair of games including the IF game on Saturday. And who put them in the Loser’s Bracket? The same team they’ll face on Sunday: the Bolts – Kemp team which topped them Saturday morning by a score of 7-0.

Will that make any difference a day later? We’ll soon find out!

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How the Beverly Bandits made it to the PGF Premier 14U Title Game

One thing you come away with after watching Chad Moran’s Bandits team is the fact they never give up. Friday night the team came back from being down 2-1 when Grace King hit a two-run homer over the Texas Riptide to help the Bandits continue in the Winner’s Bracket.

That all ended when the Bolts knocked them to the Loser’s bracket Saturday morning by a score of 7-0 and forced the team to play several more games.

The result?

Another 3-2 win over the very talented Riptide team to knock them out and then being forced to have to beat the Hotshots National 08 team twice, which they did 9-4 and 11-3 back-to-back in 2:45 pm and 5 pm games.

“We’re chasing those happy tears,” Coach Moran said after the big wins, alluding to his team advancing to being within one more win of taking home the PGF Premier 14U trophy. “Right now, it’s all hands on deck.”

How the Birmingham Thunderbolts made it to the PGF Premier 14U Title Game

The Bolts team came straight through the Winner’s Bracket and is 6-0 in bracket play and has ridden on the back of pitcheer KG Favors, who has been outstanding and pitched four straight games at one point.

The key to winning on Sunday, however, for the Bandits will be slowing down the powerful offense of the Bolts which has scored 47 runs in its six wins or an average of 7.8 runs per game!

Here’s what Coach Brandon Kemp thinks about his team heading to the title game noting that his players have the “highest energy” they’ve had all season and also pinpoints the reason (hint: person) the Thunderbolts organization is so successful:

Below is a fun video involving the Bolts; after the win on Saturday to put them in the title game, Brandon Kemp’s team continued a new tradition they’ve started doing at this week’s PGF tournament – doing a line dance to the song “Cotton Eye Joe!”

Where did that come from? We asked Coach Kemp and he explained:

“After the 18U team won PGF Premier Nationals last week, they did the dance and our team has picked it up too.”

Below it he 14U team showing some nifty dance moves which you know they’d love to repeat on Sunday if they can win one more game and capture the championship!

— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball

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Below are all the scores from Saturday’s action at PGF Nationals Week 2; games marked with an asterix (*) are IF games that weren’t played as the Winning Bracket team took the initial game of the two possibles…