Over the past eight years, PGF Nationals has developed into the premier event on the club circuit for softball and the crown jewel of the event is the 18U Premier Division.

The tournament returns for its 2018 edition from July 23-27 in Orange County, CA, and there are many familiar faces from So Cal that are expected to be top contenders once again. Bill Conroy's Beverly Bandits are back to defend their national championship and Greg Schnute's East Cobb Bullets return to PGF Nationals after taking a hiatus while playing in alternative national tournaments.

If this summer's results are any indication, the 2018 PGF 18U Premier national title appears to be up for grabs with no clear-cut favorite.

Beverly Bandits - Conroy

Obviously, the Beverly Bandits are one of the top contenders. With their speed and aggressive brand of softball, expect them to apply constant pressure on opposing defenses, which will make them hard to beat.

"For us to repeat a national title, it'll take putting all the right pieces together every game and a little bit of luck that the ball bounces our way," said Bandits pitcher Sydney Supple, who has committed to Northwestern. 

"Our speed will always be there. We work to put pressure on the defense every inning, finding ways to score and then driving them in with our bigger sticks. As a pitching staff, (Syracuse-bound) Peyton (Schnackenberg) and I will work really hard this week for preparation to keep the hitters off balance and off plane. It'll take our defense to make all the plays they're capable of making. Most importantly it will take heart, effort, and endurance from every one of our girls on our team. If we do all the little things right, we are capable of a repeat."

Corona Angels

Marty Tyson's Corona Angels will be a factor once again with UCLA-bound right-hander Megan Faraimo, arguably the most dominant pitcher in the nation, in the circle. Faraimo, the Gatorade National Player of the Year, led the Angels to the finals last season and will seek redemption. 

The Angels have a strong ace to back up Faraimo in Washington-bound Sarah Willis, who logged in quite a few innings for CIF Champions Norco. Willis is not only a force in the circle but also a beast at the plate, batting at the top half of the order for the Angels.

Texas Glory

Kevin Shelton's Texas Glory squad heads into the PGF Nationals with a lot of momentum after beating Mike Stith's OC Batbusters to win the WFC championship in Kansas City. Last season, Glory finished in the top five. The squad is currently comprised of a great blend of young and veteran athletes such as Lindsay Edwards (2018, LA Tech), Mattie Boyd (2019, Oklahoma State), Hayden Brown (2020, LSU), and 2020 Hot 100 No. 1 player Jayda Coleman (Oklahoma).

East Cobb Bullets - Schnute

Greg Schnute's East Cobb Bullets dominated at the TC/USA Nationals in Georgia, run-ruling the Texas Bombers in the finale. This team is explosive on offense when they string hits together, starting with leadoff Notre Dame-bound Leea Hanks and Baylor-bound Kassidy Krupit, who drove in four runs in the championship game. With Alabama-bound Lexi Kilfoyl on the mound, the Bullets are always in business and they are certainly poised to make a serious run at a PGF National Championship.

"I think if we continue to play at a high level of intensity, we will make it to the top," said Krupit, a senior infielder. "We just need to play hard and capitalize in any situation, especially at a competitive tournament like PGF."

"My team never gives up. We've been down 6-0 (in) the first inning and came back to win it 10-6 in a game this past week. Regardless of the score, we keep the intensity up and trust each other. But most importantly, we have fun."

So Cal Athletics - Richardson

Bruce Richardson's So Cal Athletics won the first four PGF national titles and have never finished below fifth place. The So Cal A's have another competitive squad this year.

"Our goal as a team throughout the entire year is to get better every time we step onto the field, so by the time PGF comes we are ready," Stanford-committed middle infielder Sydney Steele said. "We face the toughest teams week in and week out to get the best out of our games. Even though I wasn’t with the team when they one a national title ... it is expected. We have what is called the 'championship gene' that is passed down from year to year. And the key for never getting lower than fifth place isn’t by chance. It’s because each and everyone on the field works as hard as they can."

So Cal Choppers

Dean Fausett's So Cal Choppers are another top contender from So Cal. Texas-bound right-hander Shea O'Leary has been out all summer with an ankle injury, but she will be back for PGF to help the Choppers make a run.

"I am extremely excited for Nationals and all of the competition that awaits," O'Leary said. "Health-wise I am doing really good, the ankle hasn't given me any problems. In order for the Choppers to make a run for the title, we need to come together as a complete team. We need to have defense, offense, and pitching on at the same time."

Georgia Impact National - Lewis

Patrick Lewis' Georgia Impact has had some solid showings all summer and should end up in the mix at PGF.

"This summer has been one for the books no doubt," said Impact shortstop/outfielder Skylar Wallace, who is headed to Alabama. "My team as a whole has grown as one and matured all together allowing us to play the game intelligent. We have all learned to play the game with intensity, aggressiveness, heart, and determination throughout this season. We have connected with each other on and off the field tremendously that has allowed us to know what one another is thinking in certain situations. All of this gives us a great opportunity to compete and finish well at PGF this year."

Firecrackers - Rico

Oklahoma-bound Brooke Vestal got hot and helped Tony Rico's Firecrackers capture the PGF 18U Premier national title in 2016. The 2018 right-hander is capable of doing the same for the Firecrackers at this year's PGF.

The 10U Premier, 12U Premier, 12U Platinum, and 18U Platinum championships will also be contested on the first week of the PGF Nationals.

More Notable Teams To Watch For

OC Batbusters-Stith

Infielder Maya Brady (UCLA commit), Kinzie Hansen (Oklahoma), and third baseman Zaida Puni (Oklahoma) are some of the big bats in the Batbusters' lineup.

Cal Cruisers-Sievers

The Cruisers are led by a quartet of Oregon-bound players in shortstop Jasmine Sievers, third baseman Rachel Cid, utility Alyssa Pinto, and outfielder Deijah Pangilian. Sievers and Cid were selected PGF High School All-Americans. 

Athletics-Mercado/TO

This team features four players, including So Cal Sidelines' San Diego and So Cal Player of the Year Payton Tidd, from San Marcos High School, which won the CIF-SDS Open Division title and was crowned the No. 1 team in the FAB 50 High School Rankings.

Jersey Intensity-KOD

Missouri commit Joley Mitchell made a name for herself this summer with her big stick, speed, and defensive skills at third base.

DeMarini Aces

Oregon-committed pitcher/outfielder Makenna Kliethermes and Oklahoma-committed middle infielder Mackenzie Donihoo are two of the top players for the Aces, who are battle-tested after a strong summer season.

Explosion-Denio/Jackson

Explosion's lineup features PGF High School All-Americans Brittany Allen, a Florida signee, and Larissa Cesena, who is headed to Arkansas.

Firecrackers-Brashear

BYU commit Megan Delgadillo and San Diego State-bound Paige Barth are two of the top hitters for the Firecrackers.

All American Sports Academy (AASA)-Merrida

San Diego State-committed pitcher/first baseman Karina Faasisila and Stanford-bound pitcher Molly Millar are two of AASA's key players.

So Cal Breakers-Beddow

The Breakers have Northwestern-bound Lauren Dvorak on the hill.

Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier

Mississippi State-bound P Kayla Boseman is one of the Bolts top players.

Louisville Lady Sluggers - Huecker

Kentucky-bound infielders Hannah Davis and Emmy Blane make up one of the best left sides in the country. With the addition of Wisconsin-bound Abby Herbst and Ohio State commit Ashley Prange, this Lady Slugger team has yet to peak. Keep an eye on rising star Nijaree Canady. 

PGF NATIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP LINEAGE

2017

• PGF HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICAN GAME - East def. West, 7-4
• 18U PREMIER: Beverly Bandits-Conroy def. Corona Angels-Tyson, 2-0
• 18U PLATINUM: Salinas Storm-Heen def. Batbusters-Gomes/Clark, 5-4
• 16U PREMIER: Beverly Bandits-Ketelhut def. Athletics-Mercado/Smith, 10-1
• 16U PLATINUM: Firecrackers UT-Rollin def. Birmingham Thunderbolts 01, 7-4
• 14U PREMIER: Texas Dirt Divas def. OC Batbusters-Campbell 03, 4-3
• 14U PLATINUM: Firecrackers-Brashear/Oakes def. Birmingham Thunderbolts 2003, 8-1
• 12U PREMIER: Diamond Sports Hotshots Gold def. Georgia Impact-Langston, 5-1
• 10U PREMIER: Fury 2024 def. Birmingham Thunderbolts 06, 12-5

2016

• PGF HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICAN GAME: West def. East, 2-0
• 18U PREMIER: Firecrackers-Rico def. California Cruisers-Sievers, 2-0
• 18U PLATINUM: Iowa Premier def. USA Athletics Gold, 2-0
• 16U PREMIER: Beverly Bandits-Conroy def. South Dakota Renegades, 3-2
• 16U PLATINUM: Firecrackers-Brashear def. Midwest Speed, 3-2
• 14U PREMIER: So Cal Athletics-Mercado/Smith def. Corona Angels-Tyson, 6-0
• 14U PLATINUM: Grapettes-Guevara def. Birmingham Thunderbolts-Dorsett, 2-0
• 12U PREMIER: Texas Sudden Impact def. Texas Impact Gold-Esparza, 6-1
• 10U PREMIER: Tennessee Mojo 2023 def. Intensity South TX, 11-3

2015

• 18U PREMIER: OC Batbusters-Stith/Haning def. So Cal Athletics-Richardson, 7-0
• 18U PLATINUM: Firecrackers-Pasco def. Iowa Premier Gold, 3-2
• 16U PREMIER: Tampa Mustangs-TJ def. Beverly Bandits/Team DeMarini, 1-0
• 16U PLATINUM: Sparks Premier def. KC Peppers-Clinton, 5-3
• 14U PREMIER: OC Batbusters-Campbell def. Georgia Impact-Lewis, 7-4
• 14U PLATINUM: Cal Nuggets Gold def. Nor Cal Dirt Dogs-Ybarra, 6-4
• 12U PREMIER: OC Batbusters-Mascarenas def. So Cal Choppers 02-Gibson, 2-1
• 10U PREMIER: Diamond Sports Hotshots Gold def. Texas Chaos, 8-5

2014

• 18U PREMIER: OC Batbusters-Stith/Haning def. Corona Angels-Tyson, 3-0
• 18U PLATINUM: OC Batbusters-Briggs def. Illinois Stars, 5-0
• 16U PREMIER: So Cal Athletics-Myers/McNee def. Beverly Bandits-Tyrrell, 2-1
• 16U PLATINUM: California Cruisers-Evans def. OC Batbusters-Alvarez, 11-3
• 14U PREMIER: Corona Angels-Tyson def. So Cal Athletics-Quarles, 7-1
• 14U PLATINUM: Courage-Weaver def. Cal Cruisers-Sievers, 9-1
• 12U PREMIER: So Cal Athletics-Mercado def. DirecTV Genies, 4-3

2013

• 18U PREMIER: So Cal Athletics-Richardson def. Team Mizuno-Stith, 3-2
• 18U PLATINUM: Strike Force-Guerra def. Central California Dirt Dogs, 10-0
• 16U PREMIER: Beverly Bandits-Tyrrell def. OC Batbusters-Myers, 2-0
• 14U PREMIER: Team Mizuno-Campbell def. OC Batbusters-McNee, 5-4
• 12U PREMIER: So Cal Athletics-Tidd/Ornelas def. AZ Suncats, 9-0

2012

• 18U PREMIER: So Cal Athletics-Richardson def. Worth Firecrackers, 5-4
• 16U PREMIER: Team Mizuno-Stith def. Corona Angels-Knighten, 5-1
• 14U PREMIER: Atlanta Vipers def. So Cal Athletics-Marinacci, 3-2
• 12U PREMIER: Firecrackers-Quarles def. Firecrackers-Roman, 8-2

2011

• 18U PREMIER: So Cal Athletics-Richardson def. Worth Firecrackers, 8-7
• 16U PREMIER: Firecrackers-Blanco def. Texas Glory-Naudin, 5-0
• 14U PREMIER: OC Batbusters-McNee def. Corona Angels-Knighten, 3-0

2010

• 18U PREMIER: So Ca Athletics-Richardson def. Texas Impact Gold, 4-2
• 16U PREMIER: OC Batbusters-Myers def. Corona Angels-Howard, 6-4

Follow Carlos Arias on Twitter @SoCalSidelines.