Event Recap: Tampa Mustangs, Gold Coast Hurricanes Claim USA Elite Select WFC Titles

TAMPA MUSTANGS-TJ COMES THROUGH AT WFC 18U FINALS

Tampa Mustangs-TJ, #4 in the Extra Elite Eighty 18U Club Rankings, finished their undefeated run at the USA Elite Select WFC with a 12-2 win over Gainesville Gold-McFadyen in the 18U finals on Saturday at USSSA Space Coast Complex in Viera, FL.

“Over the past four years at the World Fastpitch Championship, the Tampa Mustangs-TJ squad has finished runner-up, third twice and fifth once,” Mustangs coach TJ Goelz said. “But this year, the final year of travel ball for many of the 2020 graduates, was the year for them to win it all.”

Tampa went 9-0 and outscored its opponents 83-7 on the week.

Gainesville Gold took an early lead when Florida State-commit Chloe Culp delivered a two-run single in the bottom of the third.

The Mustangs answered in the top of the fourth. Future Gators Avery Goelz and Kali Reis led off with singles. Missouri-commit Jenna Laird drove in Goelz with a single and Reis scored on Duke-commit Claire Davdison’s single. After a pair of walks, Clemson-commit McKenzie Clark added a three-run triple to clear the bases and put the Mustangs up 6-2.

Clark added a two-run homer and Florida-commit Katie Kistler had a three-run triple to blow the game open in the top of the sixth.

Jacksonville-commit Alissa Humphrey threw 3.1 innings of scoreless relief to pick up the victory for the Mustangs, while Murray State-commit Rachel Monroe pitched the final inning to get the save.

Clark was named the MVP, Kistler was selected the Offensive MVP and Taylor Krapf was named the Defensive MVP.

GOLD COAST HURRICANES KNOCK OFF STARS NATIONAL

Ainsley Grimes scored from second base on an error by the catcher, giving Gold Coast Hurricanes-Hammonds a 3-2 walk-off win over Stars National-Belfield in the bottom of the eighth in the 16U finals of the USA Elite Select WFC.

Mercer-commit Hannah Pitts tossed a complete game, allowing seven hits, one earned run, a walk and five strikeouts in 8.0 innings to record the victory for the Hurricanes, #14 in the Extra Elite Eighty 16U Club Rankings.

Lauren Bevis went 2 for 3 with a double, a run scored and an RBI to lead Gold Coast’s offense.

Pitts was named the MVP of the tournament and SS Amaya Ross was selected the Defensive MVP.

Kaylyn Belfield went 3 for 4 with a double for the #45 Stars.

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