Event Recap: Athletics Mercado, Arizona Storm Win at AZ Power 48 ’22 (Feb. 21, 2022)

12-U

So Cal-based Athletics Mercado and NorCal-based Lady Magic have two of the premier softball organizations in the country, so it was no surprise the 12U final at AZ Power 48 ’22 in Queen Creek, AZ, went down to Athletics Mercado 2027-Bustamante and Lady Magic-Munoz.

Athletics Mercado came away with a 5-1 victory in the championship game.

Arriana Romero, #1 in the 2027 Extra Elite 100, had a huge tournament and and she pitched two complete game wins for the Athletics on Monday. She struck out 20 in 14 innings and gave up one earned run.

3B/1B Maya Matthies, #6 in the 2027 Extra Elite 100, hit a solo bomb in the first inning of the championship game and she went 4 for 6 on th day.

“Definitely looked like a battle of the top two teams in the age division,” Lady Magic co-coach Lindsey Munoz said, “and I can see it being a battle for years to come.”

2028 SS Kate McCartney went 3 for 3 and RHP Kamryn Brannon, #40 in the 2027 Extra Elite 100, had four strikeouts in 2.1 innings for the Lady Magic.

*****

14-U

ThunderCats NXT came back from a 3-0 deficit, but Arizona Storm-Spring/Appel pulled out a 4-3 victory in eight innings (ITB) in the 14U final.

In ITB, Amanda Benites sacrificed Goose Godwin to third with a bunt. Nina Montenegro delivered an RBI single for the go-ahead run for the Storm.

2026 C Natalie Holzer and 2026 1B Bella Corona hit solo homers and 2026 OF Aniyah Jaiman had an RBI single for the Thundercats, who are coached by Laura Espinoza-Watson, a former standout at Arizona, during their comeback.

Benites went 3 for 4 with a run, Montenegro went 1 for 4 with  a run, Taylor Hampton went 1 for 3 with a run and three RBIs and Godwin went 2 for 3 with a  run for Arizona Storm

*****

POWER 48 ’22
AT BELL BANK PARK
AT QUEEN CREEK, AZ

12U

CONSOLATION FIFTH ROUND

• Hotshots National 09-Nelson 5, So Cal Choppers 09-Giordano 3
• Arizona Storm Premier-Kobasew 5, Team Hustle 09-LaDrigue 3

CONSOLATION SIXTH ROUND

• Athletics Mercado-Nelsen 11, Hotshots National 09-Nelson 1
• Lady Magic-Munoz 4, Arizona Storm Premier-Kobasew 1

CONSOLATION FINAL

• Lady Magic-Munoz 3, Athletics Mercado-Nelsen 2

SEMIFINALS

• Athletics Mercado 2027-Bustamante 2, Corona Angels-Kam 2009 0
• Lady Magic-Munoz 10, Corona Angles-Kam 2009 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

• Athletics Mercado 2027-Bustamante 5, Lady Magic-Munoz 1

*****

14U

CONSOLATION SIXTH ROUND

• Rogue FC-Mabrey 6, So Cal Athletics VC/Richardson 5
• OC Batbusters-Fernandez 15, USA Athletics-Ding/Uyeda 0

CONSOLATION SEVENTH ROUND

• So Cal Athletics Kim/Adame 4, Rogue FC-Mabrey 3
• OC Batbusters-Fernandez 9, Arizona Storm-Mendez 1

SEMIFINAL

• ThunderCats NXT 9, OC Babusters-Fernandez 2

CHAMPIONSHIP

• Arizona Storm-Spring/Appel 4, ThunderCats NXT 3 (ITB)

—Carlos Arias, Extra Inning Softball (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff)