PGF Nationals 18U: A Great Pitcher’s Duel Between Georgia Impact & A’s – Mercado/Smith Decided by a Lucky Bounce

Allison Royalty (2020, Arizona State) ended the PGF 18U Premier National Championship game at Bill Barber Park In Irvine, California on Saturday the same way she started it: with a strikeout.

In between she had 12 others as she averaged two per inning and gave up just one hit, a fifth inning blooper in front of the second baseman, as her A’s – Mercado/Smith won 1-0 over the Georgia Impact-Lewis team in an outstanding pitcher’s duel between Royalty and the Impact’s Alex Salter (2020, Alabama).

Royalty, who was chosen as the PGF 18U Tournament MVP by Extra Inning Softball, used primarily one pitch—a riseball that she moved up and down in the zone and, by altering the speed and hitting her spots, had the Impact players off-balance all afternoon long.

Salter, for her part, gave up just three hits but the one that was the game-changer came in the bottom of the 6^th inning when the only run of the game was scored.

It was a lucky break for the A’s that determined the national championship game.

In the bottom half of the inning, Quincee Lilio (2021, Oklahoma) stroked a flair over shortstop’s glove into the grass into shallow left field.

Presleigh Pilon (2019, LSU) bunted “Q” (Lilio) over to second and, with one out, Paige Smith (2019, Ole Miss) hit a hard grounder that hit the third base bag and bounced high into shallow left field for a double, allowing Lilio to score what would be the winning run.

There was some debate that if the ball had rolled cleanly into left field, Lilio would have likely stayed not attempted to score with one just one out.

In any case, Smith once again came up big on the Deanna Manning Stadium field where she’s had such great success in the past, winning CIF-Southern Section titles with Norco (Calif.) High and several with the A’s – Mercado team, which she’s been on since she was nine-years-old.

The A’s – Mercado/Smith team has progressed winningly from 10U up through 18U and the So Cal-based team has finished an amazing first or second at each age division: 2^nd at 10U, 1^st at 12U and 14U, 2^nd at 16U and 1^st in 18U today.

Royalty, a Texas-native who joined the team last fall, was appreciative for the opportunity to play with the A’s.

“It’s just a dream come true for me,” Royalty said after the game. “I’ve always dreamt of playing on a team this good. This team is crazy, honestly, and there’s nothing like it. All these girls are special and they have a special bond, it’s just amazing to come in here and work with them.”

Smith said the win was a “surreal moment for me, having Coach Dave (Mercado) as my coach since I was little (age 9) and winning CIF this year it’s heart-warming because I’m going to college and it’s all I’ve known. It’s just a great feeling.”

Her voice break as she became emotional, recognizing all the great moments she’s had with the team and on the championship field where her big double proved to be the difference today.

Royalty struck out the side in the first and third innings and always seemed to be in control even as her offense looked for the big break that would ultimately come in the sixth.

She recognized the significance of beating the defending 18U National Champs in the Georgia Impact.

“It’s a great team, for sure, and every team out here has been great. It just comes down to focusing on each pitch. I’m confidence in myself, confident in my team, and that’s all it comes down to. It doesn’t matter who’s on the other side, it doesn’t matter who we’re playing, I have confidence I can beat them and confidence my team can hit off of anyone out here.”

The star pitcher will be back next year but for now she’s going to stay in Southern California with her family to enjoy some down time.

“I like going to the beach and relaxing,” she said as she walked off the field where she was so impressive on Saturday. Asked if she would be checking out Disneyland, she replied, “No, I’d rather go to the beach. Plus, it’s cheaper.”