The 18U teams take center stage this week at the Champions Cup from Wednesday-Sunday in Irvine, Calif.

Marty Tyson’s Corona Angels (Calif.) are the overwhelming favorites at the Champions Cup once again. The Angels made it to the Round of 16 at the Boulder IDT two weeks ago before losing a controversial 3-2 decision in 9 innings to All American Sports Academy (Calif.).

The Angels have a loaded lineup and solid pitching, which will make them hard to take down.

KG Hitters-Kiko (Calif.), Case Batbusters (Calif.), Central Cal Dirt Dogs (Calif.), American Pastime Gold (Calif.) and The Next Level (Calif.) have the potential to make a run.

Sorcerer-Williams (Calif.) and San Diego Power Surge-Berndes (Calif.) are two 16U teams moving up with the potential to do some damage in the 18U Champions Cup.

Al the games will be played at Bill Barber Park and Harvard Park in Irvine, Calif. Pool play games will be played Wednesday-Friday and single-elimination bracket games are on Saturday and Sunday. The championship game is Sunday at 5:30 p.m. at Deanna Manning Stadium at Bill Barber Park.

FIVE TEAMS TO WATCH

Corona Angels-Tyson (Calif.): The Angels loaded lineup features Tennessee-bound Abby Lockman, Oklahoma-bound Shay Knighten and UCLA-commit Aaliyah Jordan while 2018 right-hander Megan Faraimo supplies the firepower in the circle.

KG Hitters-Kiko (Calif.): The KG Hitters are led by the Blair sisters, Taylor and Sierra, who are both headed to Arizona State. Taylor is a 2015 pitcher/first baseman and Sierra is a 2016 catcher/third baseman.

Sorcerer-Williams (Calif.): This is Sorcerer’s 16U team moving up to the 18U division and they will be hard to handle. Sorcerer has Missouri-commit Danille Williams, a 2018 pitcher who was named Cal-Hi Sports’ Freshman Ms. Softball State Player of the Year after leading Amador Valley High of Pleasanton to the CIF North Coast Section Division I title.

San Diego Power Surge Gold-Berndes (Calif.): Here’s another 16U team stepping up to compete at 18U at the Champions Cup. The Power Surge is led by LSU-committed catcher/third baseman/first baseman Cristiona “CC” Caccamise, Northwestern-committed catcher Summer Hargett and San Diego State-committed pitcher/first baseman Konner Dahlberg.

Case Batbusters (Calif.): The Batbusters went 5-1 in pool play before being bounced in the first round of bracket play at the Boulder IDT. Isabelle Mejia, who had offers from all across the country but is headed to Eastern Arizona College because of grades, is a legit power hitter and a very good pitcher with command of her backdoor curve, rise and change. Humboldt State-bound third baseman Rachel Barker gives the Batbusters doubles hitter with home run power. The Batbusters have the potential to make a run at the Champions Cup if they can put it all together.

FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Abby Lockman, Corona Angels (Calif.): The Tennessee-signee was one of the most prolific power hitters in Riverside County history and she was named the Riverside Press Enterprise’s Position Player of the Year after leading Norco High, Calif., to a CIF Southern Section Division I title. She has continued to pound the ball for the Corona Angels this summer.

Ciera Schick, Cal Thunder (Calif.): Schick had an outstanding year pitching for her high school team, Los Osos, but the Arizona State-signee will play infield in college.

Molly Sturdivant, So Cal Filly’s (Calif.): The San Diego State-bound catcher/third baseman batted .573 with eight homers and 50 RBI for her high school team, El Modena of Orange, Calif., during her senior year.

Amber and Autumn Bishop, Courage (Calif.): The Liberty University-bound twins concluded their high school careers at Murrieta Valley High, Calif., with huge senior years. Amber hit .602 with 12 homers and 51 RBI and Autumn batted .505 with seven homers, 28 RBI and 44 runs.

Kaitlyn Jennings, American Pastime Gold (Calif.): The Fresno State-signee batted .400 with 36 runs and 24 stolen bases during her senior season at Los Osos High of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

18U TEAMS IN CHAMPIONS CUP

ARIZONA

• AZ Cats Gold, Tucson
• AZ Desert Thunder-Noland, Oro Valley
• AZ Hotshots-Purdy, Gilbert
• AZ Lil Saints Gold, Anthem
• AZ Thundercats, Sahuarita

CALIFORNIA

• CA American Pastime Gold, Upland
• CA American Pastime-Garcia, LaVerne
• CA American Pastime-SGV, San Dimas
• CA Batbusters-Jackson, Rancho Cucamonga
• CA Bears Gold, Concord
• CA Corona Angels-Tyson, Corona
• CA Breeze-Mashburn, Sacramento
• CA Destroyers, Clovis
• CA FP 18G, Livermore
• CA Grapette-TC, Ceres
• CA Rage Gold, Glendora
• CA Riptide Gold, San Jose
• CA Waves, Simi Valley
• CA CaComet-Ceo, Auburn
• CA Cal A’s Blue, El Monte
• CA Cal A’s Paula, Tustin
• CA Cal A’s White, Cerritos
• CA Cal Badgers, Manteca
• CA Cal Thunder, San Dimas
• CA Case Batbusters, West Hills
• CA CenCal Krush, Fresno
• CA Courage, Corona
• CA Dirt Dogs-Mizuno/Harger, Hanford
• CA Easton Elite-Ludlow, Petaluma
• CA Firecrackers-Manzo, Sacramento
• CA Firecrackers-Kevin 18G, Rossmoor
• CA Firecrackers-Lucero, Murrieta
• CA Firecrackers-Snyder, La Palma
• CA Firecrackers-Young, Rancho Cucamonga
• CA Foothill G-Stinson/Niccum, Cameron Park
• CA Fury-Goodacre, Temecula
• CA Hype Fastpitch, Rocklin
• CA IE Dynasty, Riverside
• CA KG Hitters-Kiko, Concord
• CA L Hustle-Marshall, Pleasanton
• CA Lady Wolfpack-Alkire, Fremont
• CA Lady Wolfpack-Barron, Antelope
• CA Lakewood Firecrackers-BP, San Pedro
• CA Mize FP Diamond, Los Gatos
• CA South Bay Diamond Girls, Carson
• CA Nemesis Elite-TH, Downey
• CA Nor Cal Diehards, Antioch
• CA Nor Cal Impact, Petaluma
• CA OC Batbusters-Alvarez, Whittier
• CA OC Batbusters-Lara, La Puente
• CA San Diego Power Surge-Berndes, San Diego
• CA Pacific Coast Predators, Thousand Oaks
• CA Quakes Gold, Fontana
• CA Runnin Rebel Gold, Stockton
• CA So Cal Dynasty-Lilly, Riverside
• CA San Diego Elite ’97, El Cajon
• CA San Diego Rebels-Hill, Carlsbad
• CA San Diego Rowdies Gold, San Diego
• CA San Diego Rowdies-Alan, San Diego
• CA San Diego Legacy, Marina del Rey
• CA San Jose Sting Gold, San Jose
• CA So Cal A’s-Marinakis, Chula Vista
• CA So Cal Breakers-Labs, San Marcos
• CA So Cal Rebels, Corona
• CA SOC Storm, Lake Forest
• CA So Cal Filly’s, Mira Loma
• CA So Cal Pumas, Newbury Park
• CA So Cal Strikkers, Westminster
• CA Sorcerer-Williams, Pleasanton
• CA Stealth Fast Pitch-Adams, Lancaster
• CA Team California, Roseville
• CA Team Easton-NP, Redlands
• CA Teamsmith-KC, Ontario
• CA The Next Level, Temecula
• CA Teamsmith-Silva/Hotetz, San Bernardino
• CA Valley Stompers-JC, Danville

COLORADO

• CO Stars 18G, Thornton
• CO Colorado ICE, Littleton

CONNECTICUT

• CT Mass Rapids Gold, N. Grosvenordale

HAWAII

• HI Ekahi Softball, Aiea
• HI Guava Jam, Mililani
• HI Kaikamahine Girls, Aiea
• HI Mililani Prep, Mililani
• HI Na Wahine, Honolulu
• HI RR Gold-Hawaii, Ewa Beach

IDAHO

• ID North Idaho Xtreme, Dalton

MASSACHUSETTS

• MA Polar Crush Gold, Arlington

NEVADA

• NV Las Vegas Blast, Las Vegas
• NV Las Vegas Rage Gold-Mizuno, Las Vegas

NEW YORK

• NY Long Island Bandits Gold, East Northport

OREGON

• OR Panther Gold, Keizer
• OR Racers Fastpitch, Portland

UTAH

• UT Salt Lake Pegasus, Centerville

WASHINGTON

• WA Acer-Anderton, Kent
• WA Illusion-Gray, Kelso
• WA Illusion-Harris, Kelso
• WA Illusion-Mendez, Castle Rock
• WA NW Lady Sharks Gold, Kirkland

Click here for Champions Cup Pool Play Schedule.

Click here for Champions Cup Bracket Schedule.

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