If you’re wondering why there’s only been one story today and it’s been almost a half day from the PGF Nationals preview to this one, well… I’m sorry for the delay but let me explain.

I spent a perfect softball day watching two great championship games in Irvine, Calif. as the PGF 14U Premier Nationals took place at 11 am PST and the 16U Premier Nationals followed at 2 pm.

Usually, I try to update as I go along in addition to shooting video (game action + interviews with winning pitchers on both teams) and photos (over 100 between the two title games) and today I had an hour break between the two but I didn’t jump in for one single reason.

I took my eight-year-old son, Kailen, to be with me and we hit his favorite sandwich place, Subway, between games!

And afterwards, for being my little helper and not complaining at all, we got ice cream before coming home.

But let’s talk softball… some observations:

 

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* the thing I’ll remember from the Corona Angels-Tyson win over the So Cal A’s-Quarles team in the 14U championship, a 7-1 game that ended after six innings, is that it was a 1-1 game until the Angels exploded for six runs in the 5^th inning and I believe all but one run came with two outs.

Two hit batters and a wild pitch were part of the misery that plagued the A’s, but both both teams are talent laden and should feel proud of the great season. It just goes to show that there’s a very fine razor’s edge between getting out of a jam and everything impoloding.

 

* in the 16U game, a 2-1 thrilling win by the So Cal A’s-Myers/McNee over Beverly Bandits Pemier, it looked like it could easily get out of hand as three of the first four Bandits batters got singles and a run was pushed through.

However Makayla Martin (2015, Auburn) pitched a masterpiece after that, giving up only one more hit the entire game. Her settling down was the key to the win.

 

* Coach Marty Tyson said something that several of us were talking about—he complemented the A’s and said to not hang their heads, “I finished second 11 times and never thought I’d get through to the championship.”

Obviously, he did today and his 18U team is one of the favorites to win it all next week at PGF 18U Nationals.

 

* Someday soon I’m going to compile a list of why I love softball and one of the main reasons why will be the “passion.”

I saw that today in the winners and the losers.

In the 16U game, catcher Amber Nelson (2015, Colorado State) was emotional and shed tears as she hugged family after the win. I saw A’s players just staring at the scoreboard, soaking it in.

And then I saw losing pitcher Alexis Holloway (2017, Notre Dame) emotional being on the other side, but she had blurry eyes because she’s a competitor, a fighter who laid it all out and came up short. She’s exactly the type of battler I’d want to lead my team any time, any where.

 

* Speaking of Holloway, she only came three hits and both runs by the A’s came on fluke plays: the first came with two outs when an infielder bobbled the ball and the second one came when Pricilia Martinez (2016, uncommitted) of the A’s stole second and the throw down boinked off her helmet and rolled into left center allowing her to come all the way around to score.

That was how the A’s won the championship—in fact they had as many hits (3) as the Bandits had errors.

But the difference came down to Martin’s drop ball clicking and her striking out nine Bandits.

 

* Finally, for now, hats off to Megan Faraimo (2018, uncommitted) of the Angels-Tyson champs. As the Coach Tyson said, “Megan carried us on her back all week” and he gave her the National Championship trophy!

Along with Sarai Niu, the 2015 first baseman on the A’s 16U team, I don’t know of anyone who’s launched themselves more this week than Megan who will have every major program looking at her yesterday, if they haven’t already.

In fact, college coaches like Mike Candrea of Arizona and Kelly Inouye-Perez of UCLA were right behind me watching the 14U game and I’m sure they were impressed like I was with Megan and many other players on the field.

 

* And if you saw a guy in the row right behind the backstop juggling two cameras, wearing a blue stripped shirt, sweating profusely because there is no breeze down that low and occasionally scratching his son’s back or applying sunscreen to his neck… that would be me.

… stay tuned very soon for game reports and photo galleries!

Til then, go check out OCSidelines.com and my friend, Carlos Arias’s great info…