Event Recap: Thursday Bracket Results from USA Softball Gold Nationals in Salem, Virginia

The USA Softball Gold Nationals moved one step closer to the Championship contests for both divisions, which will take place on Saturday, July 24 at 3 p.m ET (with the “if-necessary” games at 5 p.m). ET.

The 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).

Live stats and video coverage will be available all week long at USASoftball.com.​

Thursday competition saw all teams fight to remain in the running for the Championship title on the fourth day of the 2021 USA Softball GOLD Nationals. The stakes were high as squads from both the 16-Under and 18-Under divisions battled to secure their spots and make it one step closer to the trophy.

16U

Four 16-Under teams remain in the winner’s bracket going into Friday:

• Finesse 16U Dreher/Lesko
• Turnin2 Pezz
• Carolina Elite SC – Fusetti
• Atlanta Vipers 04 Palazzo

Ava Bradshaw and Brooklyn Patchen led Turnin2 Pezz to a victory with a combined 5-0 shutout win against Georgia Impact-Janney to help their team advance. Carolina Elite SC – Fusetti also claimed a shutout win over Alabama Elite to move on in the tournament. Maddie Drerup (Carolina Elite SC – Fusetti) dominated in the circle, tossing the complete game and firing nine strikeouts.

The 16-Under division saw eight teams claw their way through the loser’s bracket to earn their ticket to compete on Friday:

• NJ Gators 16U National
• Rock Gold National
• Ohio Lasers Red 04
• Georgia Impact-Janney
• Ohio Hawks 16U National Hutchinson
• Alabama Elite
• Florida Gold John
• Ohio Hawks 16U-Irwin

18U

Eight teams in the 18-Under division came out strong on Day Four and maintained their position in the winner’s bracket:

• NJ Gators – Biasi
• Sarasota Heat
• Windermere Wildfire 18U – Paulson
• Florida Storm National-Shepherd
• Lady Lightning Gold Elite Jones
• Outlaws Premier 18U
• Virginia Unity 18U Linder
• Rock Gold – Waye

They will take the field tomorrow at 9 a.m. ET in hopes of keeping their winning streak alive.

Five out of the eight games played in the 18U winner’s bracket were won by a narrow one run including NJ Gators Biasi who had seven hits in an exciting 6-5 win over Louisiana VooDoo 18 Gold.

Adriana Romano (NJ Gators Biasi) was efficient on the rubber, successfully keeping Louisiana VooDoo off balance in the box. Romano threw 11 strikeouts and held the VooDoo to six hits in seven innings of work.

After a long, hard-fought day on the dirt, eight teams came out on top and will advance in the 18-Under loser’s bracket:

• Gold Coast Hurricanes SAC – National
• NJ Fight Delgado
• Clearwater Lady Bombers Mason – Gold
• Orion Hunter Elite Murphy/Inman National
• Louisiana Voodoo 18 Gold
• Turnin2 – Robeson/ Long
• Oregon Red Heat

These tems will continue the fight to stay alive as bracket play continues tomorrow.

The 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).

After four days of play, double-elimination games will continue on Friday for both the 16-Under and 18-Under divisions.

*****

Here’s more info on the event as provided by USA Softball:

––––––––––––––