Event News: Recap from Day 4 at the USA Softball GOLD Nationals… Down to 12 at 16U; 16 in 18U!

The following information was provided by USA Softball…

Only 12 teams remain in the 16-Under division and 16 teams remain in the 18-Under division at the 2020 USA Softball GOLD National Championships.

Here’s a look at each of the divisions:

16U Recap:

In the 16-Under division, it was clear from the box scores that teams were in the hunt for the title, with 13 of the 32 contests being decided by one run with only nine contests seeing double-digit scores.

In the winner’s bracket, Gametime 16U Gold – Self squeaked out a pair of one-run wins, including a 10-inning thriller in their first contest of the day while TX Bombers Gold 16U – Burgess also picked up two wins.

Also earning a pair of one-run victories was Tulsa Elite 2021, while California Breeze – Birch continued their hot-hitting ways in a shutout win in their first contest of the day before posting a come-from-behind win in their final contest of the day.

The Breeze’s Jayla Castro hit a three-run bomb to tie the ballgame, earning her a place atop the leaderboard for home runs in the 16-Under Division. The TX Bombers Gold 16U – Burgess lead the tournament with eight total home runs through their six games played.

In the loser’s bracket, Oklahoma 16U Athletics Premier – Madden and Hotshots Premier – Nelson both survived to tomorrow’s action after posting a pair of run-rule victories. Joining those two after battling through the loser’s bracket are Top Gun National 16U and Oklahoma Force 03.

Team remaining in the 16-Under Division: Aces Fastpitch, California Breeze Birch, Gametime 16U Gold – Self, Glory Gold Adkins 16U, Hotshots Premier- Nelson, OK Athletics Premier – Madden, Oklahoma Force 03, Select Fastpitch 16U, St. Louis Stix 03, Top Gun National 16U, Tulsa Elite 2021 and TX Bombers Gold 16U – Burgess.

18U Recap:

In the 18-Under division, Nebraska Thunder Gold picked up two wins in the Winner’s Bracket, including an extra-inning 3-2 victory over Bandits 18U.

The Bandits took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first while keeping the Thunder quiet through four complete innings. Emma Rosonke broke the silence for the Thunder in the bottom of the fifth inning with a solo homerun that was later followed by a two-out rally courtesy of an Ariyana Crafton single and Mia Jarecki triple, evening the score 2-2. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Crafton scored from second base on an infield error, sealing the 3-2 win for the Thunder.

Also remaining undefeated through two games today was Batbusters Stith, scoring a combined total of 24 runs while limiting their opponents to five runs. Advancing in the Winner’s Bracket with one win apiece is the Corona Angels, Tampa Mustangs TJ, SoCal Athletics Richardson, Prospex Gold, Hotshots Premier Dumezich and Birmingham Thunderbolts, who will be matched up with each other in 8 a.m. CT contests tomorrow, Friday, July 24 at USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex.

Teams showing they still have what it takes and battling back through the Losers Bracket include Firecrackers TJ, Impact Gold National, Impact Gold National Jackson, Nebraska Gold National, OK Athletics Premier Madden, Select Fastpitch, Texas Bombers Gold, and Texas Glory who face off in 10 a.m. matchups also at USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex.

Teams in the Losers Bracket posted a total of 12 shutouts while a number of contests weren’t determined until late in the game. Closing out the evening in Mustang, Okla. at Wildhorse Park was Iowa Premier and Oklahoma Athletics Premier who had a tied 1-1 ballgame heading into the eighth inning, each of the team’s run having been scored via a solo homerun. Oklahoma Athletic Premier finished on top following a walk off three-run home run to seal the 4-1 victory.

Fans at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex stayed until the lights came on, watching late evening games that included Firecrackers TJ’s 6-4 win over Aces Fastpitch in addition to Select Fastpitch’s 6-5 victory over the Washington Ladyhawks Gold Miller.

Participating teams earned a berth to their respective GOLD National Championship through a network of qualifying tournaments and through berths awarded by USA Softball’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The Championship contests will take place on Saturday, July 25 with the 16-Under division taking place at 11 a.m. CT and the “if-necessary” game at 1 p.m. CT. The 18-Under division will crown a champion at 12 p.m. CT with the “if-necessary” game at 2 p.m. CT.