Championship play is underway at PGF Nationals in Southern California as the two winners at the Platinum 18U and 16U levels were decided Friday in action at Bill Barber Parker in Irvine, Calif. We also know now the teams who will face each other for the Premier titles games on Saturday.
First, a recap of the two championships held today:
16U Platinum Recap
In the early game, the Utah Freakz faced the Fusion National team from Kentucky and the green-clad Fusion took a 2-0 lead after one and never trailed, scoring in every inning except the second.
The Fusion – Unruh/Hunt squad, led by Coach Jennifer Hunt and featuring players from Kentucky and Indiana, put another run on the board in the 3rd with two more in the 4th inning and blew the game open with two more runs the bottom of the 5th on a two-out triple by 2024 infielder/outfielder Nora Epley to put the score at 7-1.
Lefty pitcher Amelia Kiegel started and gave up eight hits and a run in the top of the second but worked out of several jams and was aided by her defense which turned a 4-6-3 double play in the top of the 4th.
The Freakz scored two in the top of the 6th inning as 2024 middle infielder Maycee Madsen hit a two-out single to left field plating two runs and advanced to second on the throw home to narrow the lead to 7-3 heading into the bottom of the 6th.
The Fusion threatened again in the bottom of the 6th but Freakz shortstop Brielle Sandoval caught a line drive for the out and doubled up a runner at first.
Still, the Freakz went down in the 7th to give the Fusion the 7-3 national championship victory but that was only part of the story.
Our 16U National #GirlsInGreen are @PGFnetwork NATTY CHAMPS! 💚 Proud is an understatement from the entire #FusionFamily! #LLAP 🩷@FusionSB_16Nat @ExtraInningSB @FloSoftball pic.twitter.com/awKRPybBzv
— Fusion (@FusionSB_) July 29, 2023
In February of 2023, the team lost Indiana State commit Ashton Pryor in a car accident and it was an emotional team after this afternoon’s win as the Fusion squad, including Ashton’s sister Randi Jo Pryor, an assistant coach, and 2025 catcher Peyton Pryor, won the title for their “angel in heaven.”
You can read this heart-rendering story by clicking HERE.
It was a powerful moment when Ashton’s parents Brandon and Jamie Pryor were also to come onto the field and hug their children after the National Championship win.
We will have much more on the Fusion win and how they did it for their missing teammate coming up this week.
PGF NATIONAL CHAMPS!! This moment is huge and I am overjoyed to have been a part of this team. We always played for something bigger than ourselves, whether that was for Ash or for our Fusion Family back home. Thank you to each of my teammates and my coaches I love you all💚 pic.twitter.com/x0vUseyoDP
— Aubrie Wright (@_aubriewright_) July 29, 2023
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18U Platinum Recap
In the older age division, the Atlanta Vipers 18U team led by Head Coach Allen Wiggins faced off against the Colorado Stars coached by Scott Sakamoto.
The Vipers started the game off getting runners on second and third as Elyse Kresho doubled and Bayleigh Rouse walked but a two-out error on an infield grounder by Ava Moon allowed two runs to cross the plate giving the visiting Vipers the early lead.
In the bottom of the first, Peyton Raley led off for the Stars with a slap single down the left field line but was thrown out at third after a Meredith Barnhart single to right field was fielded and thrown on a rope for the assist by Kyla Harley.
In the top of the 2nd the Vipers threatened again when, with two outs, runners reached second and first but a fly out to right ended the threat.
The Vipers threatened again in the Top of the 3rd as the leadoff hitter walked and went to second on an infield ground out. Ava Moon reached first on a bunt moving Bayleigh Rouse to third with just one out but an obstruction call on Moon running to second prevented a run from scoring.
However, with two outs Natalie Maleitzke drilled a shot up the middle and into centerfield allowing Rouse to score to push the lead to 3-0 and the Vipers extended the lead the next inning when Kacie Wiggins reached on a two-strike leadoff single to right field.
She was erased on a fielder’s choice but a two-out triple by Bayleigh Rouse plated the runner all the way from first to push the lead to 4-0 halfway through the 4th inning.
The Vipers were able to extend their lead to 6-0 thanks to an RBI double by Elyse “Duck” Kresho, a 2o24 centerfielder committed to Oregon, who drove in speedy leadoff hitter and right-fielder Kyla Harley, who had singled, stole second and went to third on the errant throw down to second base. Rouse would single in the 6th inning and eventually would be driven home by a one-out fielder’s choice hit by Karlie Gutierrez.
Meanwhile, the Vipers’ started Anslie Pettit gave up just three hits through the first four innings and finished the game with a total of six hits total as the Stars were able to score a pair of runs and put runners of second and third before the Georgia Southern-bound pitcher closed the game with her seventh strikeout of the game to make the final 6-2.
Here’s the final play of the game as the Viper players swarm their pitcher:
Coach Wiggins told Extra Inning Softball after the game that his team players did it for each other.
“I’m very excited for the kids,” the winning coach began. “The amazing part is how they were locked in all week in trying to execute their goals. It’s something they’ve been trying to do all season and they play like they practice. That’s what we embody and it’s something not everyone wants to practice that way but we do and everyone on our team supports each other which helps to make them better.
The title-winning coach was proud of Pettit’s pitching in the title game, but was complimentary of his entire staff.
“Every pitcher on the team was that dominant this week in all the games,” Coach Wiggins said. “I’m proud of them as a pitching staff and Anslie did a great job, it just happened to be her turn and it worked out the way that it was and she was on throughout the entire game. She executed her pitches and I can say that for every pitcher on our staff.
Making the run this week even more impressive was that the Vipers did it with just 11 players as two outfielders and two pitchers were either unable to make the tripe, forced out due to injury, college prep or other reasons.
“These girls tonight came to play and I’m very proud of the ones who did.”
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18U Premier Preview
For the Premier championship games to be played Saturday morning, both the Beverly Bandits – Conroy and Rock Gold – Manetta finished their undefeated march through the 18U division in impressive fashion.
The Rock team out of Florida won the 2023 PGF 18U Platinum title last year and now has a chance to make it two titles in two years.
Their opponent will be the Beverly Bandits – Conroy team led by pitcher Sage Mardjetko who pitched another great game in the 4-2 over the Arizona Storm – Mathis squad to send the Midwest team to the final .
Both teams went undefeated and, thus, there were no IF games needed Friday.
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16U Premier Preview
The younger game features the Select 16U – Salazar/McCoy team out of Texas and the Sorcerer 16U – Gann from Calif.
The Sorcerers topped the Texas Sudden Impact -Jones team 3-2 earlier Friday to advance to Championship Saturday and Select defeated the Birmingham Thunderbolts – Kaplan team 6-5.
Saturday Schedule
— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball
