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An all-Tennessee Mojo showdown highlighted 16U play on the final day of the Atlanta Legacy Showcase, as one Mojo squad showcased a large amount of power on the way to the 16U Invitational Championship.
Only one other 16U Division was able to finish its tournament due to rain, while one other had a pair of co-champions in Atlanta.
Here’s a look at the action from Sunday at the 16U Atlanta Legacy Invitational title run…*****Games were slightly shortened across the Lost Mountain fields in preparation for any additional rain in the Atlanta metro area, causing for even faster, tight play as bracket play progressed.
SEMI-FINALS
Tennessee Mojo – Lunsford exploded offensively in the final two games, working a 13-0 win over Atlanta Vipers – Palazzo 16U in the semifinal. There, Caroline Patterson, a 2024 catcher from Georgia, smacked a pair of home runs and drove in five, while Samantha Minish had one of her own with four driven in.
After jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the first on Minish’s solo shot and the first of Patterson’s two, Mojo – Lunsford hung a nine-spot on the board in the home third that included another Patterson homer, an RBI single from AJ Kramer, a bases clearing triple from Minish and a two-run double from Ava Lunsford.
Righty pitchers Julia Couzzo and Megan Gable combined for a four-inning no-hitter and Couzzo struck out four in three innings on 41 pitches.
In the other semifinal between Tennessee Mojo ’04 – Carter and Team NC – Hinde, an RBI groundout from Myleah Hardy to the pitcher got Mojo on the board in the first, and Mojo ’04 version would never look back.
Hardy’s RBI single in the third started a four-run inning to put Mojo – Carter up 5-0, which was helped by a bases clearing RBI double from Taelor Chang.
Audrey Wilson smoked a homer to right to give Team NC – Hinde its lone tally, but still it ultimately was a great weekend for Kevin Hinde’s squad, reaching the Final 4 in 16U’s most competitive division at the Atlanta Legacy.
FINAL
With Tennessee Mojo ’04 – Carter’s 6-1 win behind them, they’d face Tennessee Mojo – Lunsford in a battle of nearly identical jerseys.
For the second consecutive game, Mojo ’04 – Carter got out to a good start with an RBI groundout from Hardy to shortstop to go up one. Unlike the semi-final, Hardy’s side would be unable to hold onto the lead.
Kennedy Harp hit four home runs on Saturday and stayed hot with her fifth, a two-run bomb to center field to drive in Minish, who doubled with one out to start the rally.
Harp, Peachtree Ridge’s (Ga.) offensive MVP during last high school season, was spectacular after going 6-for-9 on Saturday – she’d add another single in the third in a 2-for-3 performance in the invitational championship.
Fast forward to the third inning, where Minish sent a softball into orbit for a two-run home run (f there was one thing Mojo – Lunsford did in Atlanta, it was hit bombs).
Lunsford’s team hit 22 home runs in eight games across the Lost Mountain fields over the weekend and Minish’s was nothing but an exclamation point to the power display they showed.
Ava Lunsford contributed with a two-run single, three batters later, then Kramer had one of her own to put Mojo – Lunsford out to a commanding 8-1 lead.
Selynna Metcalfe cut the lead to 8-4 on a three-run homer to right that led off the fourth, it just wouldn’t be enough to deny Mojo – Lunsford a tournament championship in the 16U Invitational Division.
*****
OTHER DIVISIONS:
In the 16U Showcase Divisions, there was plenty of unfinished business due to impending inclement weather across Atlanta.
At Twins Creek, competition was unable to get past the quarterfinals, but those quarter-finalists were
- Georgia Impact Premier – Caymol,
- Athletics – Nielsen 2022,
- Lady Dukes National 16U – Rabitsch,
- EC Bullets – Glenn 16U Orange,
- Alabama Twisters ’04 – Barnett,
- Team Kentucky Asa Gold – Bowles ’04,
- GAP ’04 – Russell
- Georgia Impact 2022 – Schroyer.
At the 16U Showcase Hobgood/Patriots fields, play was called before the finals could be played.
Fusion 16U ’05 Premier – Hunt was set to take on EC Bullets – Montgomery in the upper bracket final, while the other was set between Carolina Elite 16U – Press/Genovese and Lady Lightning Gold – McGowan 2023 in the lower bracket final.
In both cases, they were named Co-Champions.
And finally, at the Sequoyah Fields, Florida Gold 16U – Torres took home trophies after defeating Firecrackers – Brogdon / Kierce in two innings of play, 4-1.
Mackenzie Thompson scored on a sacrifice fly hit by Giovanna Khoury to put Florida Gold up 1-0 after an inning, which was quickly answered by an RBI triple in the home second.
Megan Villazon smacked an RBI single to score Gabby David, then Thompson hit an RBI single of her own to help Florida Gold out to a three-spot in the inning and an ultimate 4-1 victory when play was called in the second.
— Will Turner, Extra Inning Softball