Event Preview: The 7th Annual PGF Ultimate Challenge Features Many of the Best Club Teams in the West

Starting two weeks from today—Friday, October 20 to Sunday, October 22, the 7^th Annual PGF Ultimate Challenge, an invitation-only event will take place at the Salinas Sports Complex in Salinas, Calif. on the Central Coast of the Golden State (the tourney is located also close to the famous Monterey Bay area).

“Golden” always describes the talent of the teams at the Ultimate Challenge but this year the event—which historically has provided a PGF Nationals berth to the winners—is also awarding $5,000 to each of the winning teams in the 18U, 16U and 14U age divisions.

Last year, two of the three Ultimate Challenge 2022 titles were awarded to squads from the Lady Magic organization as the Lindsey Munoz-lead 14U and the Steve Walling coached 16U teams represented the California-based program well. The 18U championship was won by the LTG Lions – Henderson team.

“Last year our Lady Magic org had a great showing,” Coach Munoz, who herself was an All-Pac 10 catcher at Cal and also played for the U.S. National Team, “so we are hoping to repeat that success again this year!”

Other than getting to play top talent within the team’s state border, we asked Lindsey what has made the Ultimate Challenge a must-attend stop on their fall schedule.

“We look forward to this tournament every fall,” Munoz continued. “(Tournament Director) Bill Sparrey does a great job getting talented teams from all over the West Coast and there’s usually a great college coach turnout, too. Since it’s a competitive tournament-style showcase it brings out the best in the teams who attend.”

The 18U organization will especially be fun to watch with a favorite being from Oregon—the NW Bullets – Campos team coached by Tony Campos and managed by Dennis Muir. The Bullets team is led by last year’s No. 1 player in the 2024 Extra Elite 100, pitcher/outfielder Addisen Fisher who is committed to UCLA and also by middle infielder Tia Milloy, signed with Oklahoma and also ranked highly in the 2024 Extra Elite 100.

Of course, the defending champion LTG Lions will have something to say about that as will some other traditionally strong programs from Southern California such as the So Cal A’s – Richardson and Explosion Premier teams.

One final note: Bill Sparrey and those who are part of the Ultimate Challenge as well as our staff at Extra Inning Softball wish a speedy return to health for Armando Barragan, one of the tournament heads who has been hospitalized in the Stanford Medical Center for some time now.

— Brentt Eads / Extra Inning Softball

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Here is the complete list of teams that will playing in this year’s event:

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And here are the past winners of the prestigious event:

2022 ULTIMATE CHALLENGE CHAMPIONS

• 14U – Lady Magic Munoz
• 16U – Lady Magic Walling
• 18U – LTG Lions Henderson

2019 ULTIMATE CHALLENGE CHAMPIONS

• 14U – Universal Fastpitch Faulstich
• 16U – CA Breeze Birch
• 18U – NW Bullets Campos

2018 ULTIMATE CHALLENGE CHAMPIONS

• 14U – CA Breeze Fernald
• 16U – Athletics Mercado/Greg
• 18U – CA Suncats & NW Bullets

2017 ULTIMATE CHALLENGE CHAMPIONS

• 14U – Corona Angels Tyson
• 16U – CA Breeze Warren
• 18U – Corona Angels Tyson

2016 ULTIMATE CHALLENGE CHAMPIONS

• 14U – OC Batbusters Campbell
• 16U – Explosion Greg
• 18U – All American Sports Academy

2015 ULTIMATE CHALLENGE CHAMPIONS

• 14U – So Cal Choppers-Fausett
• 16U – So Cal A’s-McNee
• 18U – So Cal Choppers-Fausett

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