By Carlos Arias

There could be some bad blood brewing at the Batbusters estate during 14U Premier PGF Nationals this week in Fountain Valley, Calif.

Watch select 14U Premier bracket games LIVE on FloSoftball August 3-August 5



It's more like a friendly rivalry, but Mark Campbell's OC Batbusters and Toni Mascarenas' OC Batbusters are two of the top contenders for the PGF 14U premier national title this week. Campbell's Batbusters are the defending 14U champions and Mascarenas' Batbusters are the reigning 12U champions.

"I think Mascarenas' team are a tough opponent and play very well together," Batbusters-Campbell ace Farrah Steffany said. "We have a friendly rivalry because we all practice and train together and are good friends off the field. We definitely root for each other when we are playing other teams, but we want to beat each other every time we play."

So Cal Athletics TO-Mercado are another top contender in the highly volatile 14U division.

"As a team, we are approaching the tournament with everything we have," Oklahoma-committed catcher Kinzie Hansen of So Cal A's said.

We are going in confident, but also giving 110 percent to accomplish what we've worked hard for all year. To be successful at PGF we must play one game at a time. We cannot look past any team. We must play as a team and for each other, have each other's backs and keep the energy up throughout the whole tournament.

Beverly Bandits Premier-Harms are one of the other top contenders in 14U.

"We're the Bandits," Notre Dame-commit Alex McManus of the Beverly Bandits said. "We prepare for PGF every day and because of that alone we end up with a target on our back. So our approach on the week is to really take it one game at a time, and have confidence in everything that we do."

The PGF 14U Premier Division appears to be up for grabs with many teams capable of challenging for the national title.

"There are many great teams competing in PGF, not only from California, but across the nation, such as Beverly Bandits, Georgia Impact, East Cobb Bullets and many others," Stanford-commit SS Sydnee Huff of Corona Angels-Marty Tyson said. "There will be tough battles, but I think our biggest competition is going to be ourselves. Marty Tyson has preached to us the Corona Angels philosophy and the mindset that is needed to be a next level ball player. All that matters is if and when we decide to use it. That is what will make or break us."

Bracket play begins on Tuesday, Aug. 2, and the championship game is Saturday, Aug. 6, at 4 p.m. at Deanna Manning Stadium at Bill Barber Park in Irvine.

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TEAMS TO WATCH FOR AT PGF 14U NATIONALS

No. 1 So Cal Athletics-Mercado/Smith

Why: The So Cal A's took fifth place at PGF Nationals last year, but this could be the year they make a run at a national championship. The So Cal A's are led by Oklahoma-committed C Kinze Hansen, the Cal-Hi Sports Freshman Player of the Year, and UCLA-committed P Lexi Sosa.

No. 2 OC Batbusters-Campbell

Why: With eight players in FloSoftball's Hot 100 for the class of 2019, the Batbusters have the potential to repeat as PGF 14U Premier national champions. The Batbusters have a deep pitching staff that features right-hander Farrah Steffany (No. 5 in Hot 100), who is conistently clocked in the mid-60s. Arizona-committed C/1B/3B Sharlize Palacios (No. 19 in Hot 100) and C Val Pero (No. 9 in Hot 100) are also top players to watch.

No. 3 So Cal Choppers-Fausett

Why: Arizona-commit Jesse Fontes, a 2020 right-hander, led the Choppers' 12U team a second place finish at PGF Nationals last year and this year she will try to help the 14U team make a run.

No. 4 Corona Angels-Marty Tyson

Why: The Corona Angels are looking for their second PGF 14U premier national title in three years. They have Michigan State-commit Sarah Ladd and Tessa Magnanimo in the circle. They also have Stanford-committed SS Sydnee Huff and picked up Auburn-committed P/OF Sarah Willis.

No. 5 Birmingham Thunderbolts 01-Dorsett 

Why: The Bolts have a Tennessee flavor with top hitter 1B/OF Maddie Webber.

No. 6 Georgia Impact-Stewart

Why: P/UT Chandler Dennis (No. 8 in Hot 100) is one of the many talented pitchers that should keep Georgia Impact in the mix for a national title.

No. 7 Firecrackers-Thornburg/Brashear

Why: Ashley Daugherty, Arizona State-commit Carley Brown and Lexi Berg give the Firecrackers a trio of talented pitchers as the look to challenge for a national title.

No. 8 Beverly Bandits Premier-Harms

Why: Notre Dame-committed pitcher Alex McManus should keep the Bandits in the hunt for he national title.

No. 9 Jacksonville Storm-Davis

Why: The Storm has three Hot 100 players, including Florida-committed 3B Baylee Goddard.

No. 10 Illinois Chill

Why: Kentucky-committed catcher Cassie Lindmark is one of the top pitchers that could help the Chill make a run. 

No. 11 Texas Glory-Naudin

Why: Catcher Hayden Brown is the kind of player that can help Texas Glory reach the ultimate finale.

No. 12 East Cobb Bullets-Caldwell

Why: The Bullets deep pitching staff, which features Tennessee-commit Logan Caymol and Kelly Lynch should keep the Bullets in the mix for the national title.

No. 20 OC Batbusters-Mascarenas

Why: The team that no one should sleep on is Toni Mascarenas' Batbusters who knocked off Mark Campbell's Batbusters at the USA Elite Select World Fastpitch Championships.