Saturday at the So Cal Athletics Invitational at Los Alamitos (Calif.) High saw much of the same elite level of play as Friday and set the table for the start of single-game elimination Sunday morning.

With pool play ending we have the seeding in Groups A and B and the only disappointing thing now will be that if the So Cal A’s survive their first round game they’ll face the dominating OC Batbusters in the second round at 11:30 am and it won’t be one of the three games to be streamed.

That being said, the tournament continues to be a softball fan’s dream—as one of the coaches involved said, “There are no gimme games. Every contest is a battle as there are no weak teams here.”

Here are a few highlights of the games and action I saw Saturday morning and afternoon…

 

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— The best part of the tournament this weekend, besides the quality of teams, is there are only two fields to cover. Still, I can’t be in two places at once and I miss some games and players so my perspectives aren’t totally representative.

For example, I haven’t seen the Wichita Mustangs or Corona Angels play more than 2-3 innings as I’ve wanted to see the Gold Coast Hurricanes more since they are traveling home Sunday morning and won’t be playing after tonight,

Still, I’m like a kid in the candy store with this event and have seen some great performances. For example…

 

— My unofficial Offensive MVP of the day would be Denver Keller, the junior/first baseman for the Gold Coast Hurricanes.

She hit a walk-off grand slam in the 6-5 win over the So Cal Choppers and it was a blast over center field. She’s carrying a 3.9 GPA and is currently uncommitted and will be a steal for someone.

Speaking of steals… the Hurricanes have a talented pitcher in junior Jenna Goodrich who also has great grades (3.9 GPA, 1710 SAT). She has an outstanding change-up and will make some college coach look very smart for picking her up.

 

— My defensive MVP would be an outfielder who made two fantastic defensive plays in right field—Jules Cavazos of Explosion.

The senior going to Cal State Bakersfield made a running catch that saved a home run and took her through the portable wall and then shortly after made a diving stop charging in.

According to one Explosion coach, she’s really come on in the last six months and when you add her defensive skills to the others I mentioned yesterday: catcher Paige Halstead (UCLA), middle infielder Vanessa Shippey (Oklahoma State) and centerfielder Carly Thomas (Illinois) you have one of the best defensive lineups in club ball.

Also, Halstead had a two run homer — she is going to be a dynamic player for UCLA in the future, only question is where to play her as she’s adept at many positions — and 1B Sydney Lahners (2014, Pacific) had a blast as well so it’s definitely not small ball only for Bret Denio’s team.

 

— The Explosion needed those defensive gems from Cavazos because their opponents, the Texas Sudden Impact, came charging back from a 9-0 deficit to make it interesting in the 9-7 loss.

They left the tying runs on-base but I love this team and the fans/families were loud, vocal and into it.

Watch out for Glenn Bennett and Tim Dutton’s team over the next few years—there is a strong core of 2015’s and ‘16’s that can make some noise including Nicole Mendes, the pitcher/outfielder who is headed to Oklahoma.

Like her a lot and had a chance to interview her afterwards… interesting story as she’s home schooled and doesn’t play high school ball, but she is a player. The video clip will come out later in the week and you’ll see what a dynamic personality she has too.

 

— Fear the Batbusters.

Saturday the team scored 17 runs and allowed zero. The team is clicking on all cylinders and can beat you in so many ways, obviously.

Aviu Falepolima (2015, Oklahoma) had a nice home run today and third baseman Tannon Snow (2015, Washington) is having a nice tournament as well… she’s impressed me on defense as well as at the plate.

Pitchers Kaylee Carlson (2014, North Carolina), Gatorade National Player of the Year Taylor McQuillin (2015, Arizona) and Mariah Lopez (2016, Oklahoma) are all No. 1 pitchers… nice problem for Coach Mike Stith to have!

 

— It started off rough for the Texas Glory as Kevin Shelton’s team got blanked 9-0 by the Batbusters but he was playing a lot of young players who he wanted to get some big-game experience.

They bounced back nicely in the second game and for the first time in history, he said, they beat the A’s.

I was really impressed with junior infielder Taylor Lynch today, she’s a dynamic player who brings passion the game and will do great at Oklahoma State.

Baylor-bound Maddison Kettler clinched a spot in the 2016 Hot 100 list too; she went 3-for-3 in one game and showed a lot.

 

— Others who impressed me today:

• P/1B Shelby McGlaun (2016, Baylor)
• 2B/OF Aubrey Leach (2015, Tennessee)
• 3B Lauren Lindvall (2014, Oregon)
• P Haley Snyder (2014, Stanford)
• P Katya Duvall (2015, Ohio State)
• 1B Sydney Lahners (2014, Pacific)
• SS Demi Turner (2014, Alabama)
• 3B Tori Vidales (2014, Texas A&M)

 

— The championship is decided tomorrow but a lot of softball to play first. Going to be a lot of fun! — Brentt Eads

 

Saturday’s Results

OC Batbusters 8, Gold Coast Hurricanes 0

East Cobb Bullets 11, Wichita Mustangs 4

So Cal A’s 2, Wichita Mustangs 1

East Cobb Bullets 3, So Cal Choppers 0

OC Batbusters 9, Texas Glory 0

Gold Coast Hurricanes 6, So Cal Choppers 5

Texas Glory 4, So Cal A’s 3

Firecrackers 4, Texas Impact Gold 1

Beverly Bandits 6, Texas Impact Gold 3

Explosion 9, Texas Suddent Impact 7

Firecrackers TBD, New Jersey Intensity TBD

Corona Angels TBD, Explosion TBD

Beverly Bandits 1, Corona Angels 1

Texas Sudden Impact 11, New Jersey Intensity 1

 

Group A Seedings:

1. OC Batbusters

2. East Cobb Bullets

3. Texas Glory

4. Wichita Mustangs

5. So Cal A’s

6. So Cal A’s – Quarles

7. So Cal Choppers

 

Group B Seedings:

1. Texas Sudden Impact

2. Firecrackers

3. Corona Angels

4. Beverly Bandits

5. Explosion

6. Impact Gold

7. Jersey Intensity

 

Bandits vs. A’s at 8 am with winner playing OC Batbusters