14U and 16U Pool Play Day 1: PGF Nationals
Pool play started on Sunday for the 14U and 16U divisions at the PGF Nationals in Huntington Beach, California. It will continue Monday morning before opening ceremonies. Each team will play three pool games before the opening ceremonies Monday afternoon. Bracket play follows, starting on Tuesday for all teams.
Tampa Mustangs TJ vs. Beverly Bandits Premier Tyrrell
The Tampa Mustangs TJ and Beverly Bandits Premier Tyrrell took the field for a 16U pool play game on Sunday morning. The Bandits grabbed a quick lead and would go on to win 3-2.
The Bandits went with Regan Krause in the circle. Krause showed a smooth delivery and a mixture of speeds to keep her batters off balance. The second was a big inning for the Bandits, scoring all of their runs in that inning. Abby Doerr started it off with a base hit through the infield, and Ashley Schultz did the same to put Doerr into scoring position. Taylor Minnick stepped up to the plate to produce a two-RBI triple to right to make it 2-0. Minnick then scored herself to give the Bandits their third and final run of the contest.
The Tampa Mustangs had Brooklyn Lucero in the circle. Lucero brings the hit and knows how to spin the ball. Payton Kinney came in relief in the fourth, keeping her team close. In the third, Hermariya Stephens led off with a single. Then Katelyn Kistler had a hard hit to right center to advance her teammate to third and stole second on the next pitch. Stephens scored on a pass ball; however, those two runs are all that they could put together.
OC Batbusters Campbell vs. EC Bullets Biele/Heath
In the 14U pool play, the OC Batbusters Campbell and EC Bullets Biele/Heath came together on Sunday afternoon with the Batbusters grabbing the Pool win.
The Batbusters had Olivia Gigante start the game in the circle. Maddie Erickson then came in, giving up two runs in two innings. Lacie Ham and Reina Castillo came in for relief to close out the game. Starting their rally at the plate in the third, Bella Flexen knocked in two with a hit to right field. Directly after, Kaylah Nelson doubled to center adding another run to give her team three. They would add a few later to cruise to a 7-3 win.
Madeline Latta started for the EC Bullets, keeping her team as close as she could with one strikeout and no walks. Back to back doubles by the EC Bullets helped them score two in the third but they would come up short.
Beverly Bandits DeMarini vs. OC Batbusters Campbell
Only getting through five and a half innings, the Batbusters shut out the Beverly Bandits in their second game of the day in the 14U pool play. Olivia Gigante threw a shutout holding her opponents to one hit and no runs while striking out one. Desiree Marin led the Batbusters with three hits, while Alexis Ramirez tallied four RBI’s for the day. Both Ramirez and Reagan Walsh sent shots over the fence.
Isabelle Harrison was in the circle for the Bandits. She gave up four runs and six hits but managed to strike out three. Helping herself at the plate, Harrison went 1-1 with a single. Committing no errors in the field, the Bandits couldn’t string together hits off of the OC Batbusters’ pitching.
