By Manny Alvarez

UCLA-commit Lexi Sosa led the way with her arm and her bat to help So Cal Athletics-Mercado/Smith (Corona, Calif.) to a 6-0 victory over the rival Corona Angels-Marty (Corona, Calif.) to take the 2016 PGF 14U Premier National Championship on Saturday at Bill Barber Park's Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine, Calif.


Sosa threw six shutout innings, while giving up seven hits. She also contributed with her bat with a monstrous solo home run to left-center field in the fourth inning. Ole Miss-commit Paige Smith followed Sosa's shot with another monster blast to center field. Smith ended up 2 for 3 with two RBI, Raeleen Gutierrez went 2 for 3 and Alyssa Garcia went 2 for 3 with a double and a two-run blast to right in the first inning.


(Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports)

"I know that they're a really good hitting team," Sosa said. "We have faced a lot of good teams this year. We just came and wanted to be the first ones to score some runs. We jumped on them early. I just went up with a game plan and did my very best in every situation. I did my job on the plate and on the circle. This feels great. I'm going to celebrate with my girls."

Taylor Pack went 2 for 3 for the Angels. Pitcher Tessa Magnanimo had been lights out all week for the Angels, who were missing injured star pitcher Sarah Ladd. Magnanimo finally ran out of gas with only three innings pitched on seven hits with earned runs on two strikeouts. The Angels used a total of three pitchers before the game was called after six innings due to the mercy rule.


(Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports)

"We didn't stay in our game plan," Angels coach Marty Tyson said. "We didn't put pressure on their defense, making them make plays. We popped up a lot. We eliminated putting ourselves in position to score runs. They hit the ball well too. Just coming into this, Tessa was a little gassed. She pitched and went 6-0 this week. I was going to go as far as we can go with her and we did. We went as long as we can go with her. It is what it is. Our kids had so much heart. In the last inning, we were coming up banging the balls. That's what I'm proud of. We had a lot of fight. I wish this would've been a better game, but man, that's a great team over there."

With the A's up 6-0 in the sixth inning, the Angels gave it one more big push with a lead off single to left by Pack, followed by a single to right by Bella Rocco. With Kalena Burns up and no outs, Pack got picked off at second base by Oklahoma-committed catcher Kinzie Hansen with an incredible throw. Maddy Gurgian singled with two outs, but pinch hitter Payton Lincavage struck out to end the game and complete a terrific week by Sosa.

"She's incredible," A's coach Dave Mercado said. "She paced herself early. She didn't throw a lot early in the tournament. When we called upon her, she stepped up and did exactly what she needed to do. She was very effective. Obviously, dominant pitching wins this sport. We were fortunate to have her step up this week. No doubt about it."


(Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports)

Despite the loss, the Angels run to the finals featured one of the greatest games in PGF history, a 21-15 victory over the Tampa Mustangs in eight innings in the semifinals on Friday.

"It's been amazing," Tyson said. "This is going to help the kids in the future with their confidence and all the things that it takes to win. I think they're going to embrace that now in the future. I coach the ninth grade team and I coached the 18U Gold team, so I can get the ninth graders when they come up. This is our future."

Many are starting to ask if Mercado has a dynasty on his hands. Regardless, it's another PGF National Championship for the So Cal A's. They also have city bragging rights in the city of Corona.

"This is outstanding," Mercado said. "Three in four years. This never gets old."


(Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports)