By Manny Alvarez

So Cal 3D Shut the Door on Batbusters Campbell

Ava Justman mowed down batters left and right, striking out 10 to record a two-hit shutout to lead So Cal 3D-Hernandez (Sylmar, Calif.) to a big 1-0 upset victory over OC Batbusters-Campbell (Cypress, Calif.) in the opening round of the PGF 14U Premier Nationals on Tuesday at the Fountain Valley Sports Complex in Fountain Valley, Calif.

Maya Brady and Valeria Pero were the only Batbusters to get hits off of Justman, who was in control the entire game in So Cal 3D's win over the Batbusters, who are ranked No. 2 in the nation by FloSoftball.

"I just had to hit my spots," Justman said. "I had to focus and made sure I didn't let down my team.

I was definitely nervous, but I wasn't trying to let it get to me. I just had to block it out.

So Cal 3D only managed to get two hits from Miranda Lopez and Rozelyn Carrillo, who led off the bottom of the third inning with a single and advanced to second on an error. Carrillo moved to third on a ground out to third and scored on a Melissa Paz's grounder to second. That was all the offense Justman needed.

"We just didn't go up there and have good approaches to the plate," Batbusters coach Mark Campbell said. "She threw a great game, but it wasn't anything that we haven't seen before. We got caught looking away too many times. We looked completely out of place for some reason. I'm not sure what it was, but I'll give her credit. She threw a good game. We need to adjust. We have a long way to go now." 

The Batbusters threatened in the fourth inning when Brady led off with a single. She stole second and third, but Justman painted the corner and caught two batters on called third strikes to get out of trouble.

"We did a good job charting," So Cal 3D coach Chris Hernandez said. "We knew everyone's tendencies from watching them play in pool games. We had a game plan. We went over our game plan with our pitchers and it was executed well on pitch location."

The Batbusters have their backs against the wall in the double-elimination tournament when they play Sorcerer at 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday. 

"We have to have a lot better at-bats," Campbell said. "We have the depth to do it, but it has to be a different team to show up offensively from this point on."

So Cal 3D will carry huge momentum to the next round on Wednesday when it takes on the East Cobb Bullets Biele (Loganville, Ga.), a 3-2 winner over Sorcerer (Benicia, Calif.), at 5:30 p.m. 

"We just have to take it one game at a time," Hernandez said. "We can't think ahead, don't think backwards. Just one game at a time and keep the wins going."

Beverly Bandits Future-Stephens (Orland Park, Ill.) 3, OC Batbusters-Mascarenas (Lake Forest, Calif.) 1

Florence Crawford came through with a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth to give the Bandits the lead and pitcher Madilynn Elish threw a complete game to lead the Bandits to the upset over the Batbusters, ranked No. 20 in the nation. Cassidy Grimm went 2 for 2 for the Bandits.

"The key was the pitching of Madilynn Elish," Beverly Bandits coach Kevin Stephens said. "She did a great job and stayed ahead of the count most of the day. The defense made the possible plays they could make and kept the ball in front of them. We fought at the plate. With 6 to 7 foul balls, we walked a couple of times, we had a couple key hits. We battled. They're scrappers and you got to love them for that. Their small, but mighty. They just fight."

Hanna Delgado went 3 for 4 while Isabella Dawley and Jessica Acosta two hits apiece for the Batbusters, who will move to the loser's bracket and face Diamond Sports Hotshots Gold-Dumezich (Spring, Tex.) at 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday. The Bandits face Oklahoma Gametime Stars at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Firecrackers-TJ (Cerritos, Calif.) 3, So Cal A's-Briggs (Yorba Linda, Calif.) 2 (10 innings)

With the bases loaded and no outs, Hailey Smith hit a grounder to short to get runner Elianna Reyes out at home, but an overthrow at first scored Carlli Kloss to give the Firecrackers the extra inning win in a play-in game. Megan Berger went 2 for 4, Emily Ruhl had a two-run single to left in the second inning and Amanda Johnson got the win in 5.1 innings of relief work.

"The defense was outstanding," Johnson said. "The outfield made diving catches. The defense was great. We have to keep that momentum going. We have to make sure that we keep making plays."

Marissa Burke went 3 for 4, while McKayla Jordan and Rilee Ruvalcaba each drove in a run for the A's, who went on to beat PA Strikers, 9-0, in five innings in a loser's bracket game to stay alive thanks to Paloma Usquiano's three RBI and Isabella Hanson's two RBI. They play Dirtdogs-Lee on Wednesday morning at 8:30 a.m.

"The team that won (the PGF) 16U (Premier national title last year) lost the play-in game," So Cal A's coach Ken Briggs said. "They went on to win 10 or 12 in a row. That's what I just told the girls. We beat that team twice last year. They lost the first game last year, came back to knock us out and kept on winning. It can be done. It's like a basketball series when you are down 3-0 and come back and win it 4-3. That's what we are going to try and do. We are just going to go out there and have fun. We'll throw balls on the field and see what happens."

The Firecrackers got no-hit by Shelby Lowe in an 8-0 loss to Birmingham Thunderbolts-Dorsett (Trussville, Ala.) in their next game. Lowe struck out six in five innings and Madison Webber drove in four runs. The Firecrackers move into the loser's bracket and playWednesday morning at 8:30 a.m. 

"We just have to limit the mistakes," Firecrackers coach TJ Houshmandzadeh said. "We have to get timely hits. We do those two things and we'll be fine." 

Team Seattle (Seattle, Wash.) 5, Beverly Bandits DeMarini (Orland Park, Ill.) 1

Brooke Nelson threw a complete game four-hitter while driving in two runs in the seventh inning to lead Team Seattle over the Bandits. Kiki Milloy went 2 for 3 with a walk, Charity Sevaaetasi went 2 for 4 and Paetynn Lopez, Hannah Hvitved and Hailey Van Lith each drove in a run for the Bandits.

"We just worked together," Nelson said. "We kept the energy hot in the dugout. Our bats have been a little flat, so we were working hard on coming out, seeing the pitch we want and driving it. We are going to need everyone in that dugout tomorrow. Whether it's hitting like Paetynn Lopez when she came in and took the lead with her RBI hit or someone coming up in the field. We need everyone in that dugout."

Hope Straight threw 6.2 innings, while striking out four to get the loss. Alexis Carver drove in the only run for the Bandits, who move into the loser's bracket and play Oklahoma Ultimate 02 (Oklahoma City, Okla.) on Wednesday morning at 8:30 a.m. Team Seattle plays Illinois Chill (Northbrook, Ill.) in the winner's bracket Wednesday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. 

Ohana Tigers-Quarles (Cerritos, Calif.) 6, Texas Impact Gold-Mata (Santa Fe., Tex.) 2

The Ohana Tigers had a five-run first inning and cruised to victory over Texas Impact-Gold. Johanna Rodriguez went 3 for 4 with two RBI, Kayla Gutierrez went 3 for 4 with an RBI and Grace Jackson got the win for the Tigers.

"It was the fundamentals," Rodriguez said. "We just had to stay together and stay with our game plan. We did really well in the first inning by getting a lot of runs and we backed it up with the pitching. It was awesome. We need our hitting to keep it coming. We need to score some more runs early, that way our defense can play with no pressure. Hitting is the key."

Ryleigh Mata went 3 for 4, Turiya Coleman went 2 for 3 with a walk and an RBI, Kennedy Reynolds went 1 for 2 with an RBI and two walks and Raelin Chaffin threw a complete game with five strikeouts in the loss. Texas Impact Gold plays Wednesday morning against Texas Aces Express (League City, Tex.) at 8:30 a.m. in the loser's bracket. The Tigers play LGT Lions (Elk Grove, Calif.) Wednesday afternoon at 3:15 p.m.

Texas Blaze-Bonola (San Antonio, Tex.) 4, Atlanta Vipers-Jiles (Acworth, Ga.) 0

Kamryn Caldwell went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI and struck out five to get the shutout for Texas Blaze. Brooke Diaz went 3 for 3 with two RBI and Genesis Rodriguez went 2 for 4 for the Blaze. 

"We just had to do what we do," Caldwell said. "We just kept hitting the ball. We took it pitch by pitch, inning by inning and just do our thing. We have to keep the energy high. We have to stay close and have fun. We have to do what we do."

Kristen Davis threw six innings in the loss for the Vipers, while Hannah Patridge hit a double as the they move to the loser's bracket and play Wednesday morning at 10:45 am against Firecrackers-Brasher/Thornburg (West Covina, Calif.) The Blaze take on the So Cal Choppers-Fausett (Valencia, Calif.) at 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday.

So Cal A's-Mercado/Smith (Corona, Calif.) 8, Firecrackers-Vidal (La Puente, Calif.) 0

The A's, ranked No. 1 in the nation by FloSoftball shut out the Firecrackers. The A's play on Wednesday at 1 p.m. against Birmingham Thunderbolts-Roberson.

The double-elimination PGF Nationals concludes with the 14U Premier national championship game on Saturday, Aug. 6, at 4 p.m. at Deanna Manning Stadium at Bill Barber Park in Irvine, Calif. There will also be national title games for 16U Platinum, 14U Premier and 14U Platinum on Saturday.

PGF NATIONALS SCOREBOARD

TUESDAY, AUG. 2, RESULTS

14U PREMIER DIVISION FIRST ROUND

BRACKET A

Southern Force 8, West Bay Warriors 1
Tampa Mustangs 9, OV Suncats 5
Cal Grapettes 9, Lady Lightning 5
Cal Breeze 6, Texas Blaze NTX 0
Texas Glory 12, PA Strikers 6
(Play-n game) Firecrackers-TJ 3, So Cal A's-Briggs 2
Birmingham Thunderbolts-Dorsett 8, Firecrackers-TJ 0
Team Seattle 5, Beverly Bandits Demarini 1
Illinois Chill 7, Oklahoma Ultimate 2
So Cal A's-Mercado/Smith 8, Firecrackers-Vidal 0
Birmingham Thunderbolts-Roberson 7, AZ Thundercats 1
(Play-in game) Firecrackers-Young 10, Carolina Elite 1
Firecrackers-Young 2, Firecrackers DFW 0
Firecrackers-Ryono 4, Houston Power Futures 2
Ohio Hawks 3, Illinois Lincoln Way Storm 0
Bevery Bandits Premier 7, Cal Cruisers 1
Ohana Tigers 6, Texas Impact 2
LTG Lions 2, Texas Aces Express 0

BRACKET B

Texas Mizuno Impulse 5, Cal Nuggets 4
Georgia Impact 10, Texas Bombers 2
So Cal Choppers 2, Firecrackers-Brashear/Thornburg 0
Texas Blaze-Bonola 4, Atlanta Vipers 0
So Cal Breakers 4, Irvine Sting 0
Huntsville Sparks 10, Dirt Dogs-Heffley4
Texas Sudden Impact 12, San Diego Renegades 2
TX Intensity 10, Chicago Cheetahs 5
Corona Angels-Marty 4, FL Gainesville Gold 2
Universal Fastpitch 2, Cal Suncats 1
Corona Angels-Dom vs. Dirt Dogs-Lee
FL Jacksonville 7, Firecrackers Georgia 5
Beverly Bandits Futures 3, OC Batbusters-Mascarenas 1
OK Gametime Stars 7, Diamond Sports Hotshots 3
EC Bullets 3, Sorcerer 2
So Cal 3D 1, OC Batbusters-Campbell 0