By: Carlos Arias

The top 18U softball teams in the nation will be in Orange County, California, from July 23-29 to determine the PGF 18U Premier Division National Championship.



All eyes will be on OC Batbusters-Stith, which has won the past two national championships.

"Going for a three-peat is going to take on-point defense, offense and pitching," Florida-committed OC Batbusters pitcher Natalie Lugo said. "One mindset and a common goal! We are approaching it ready to get to work and play some great games one game at a time."

OC Batbusters, ranked No. 1 in the nation by FloSoftball, just claimed the USA Select Elite World Fastpitch Championships 18U title in Kansas City on July 15, but No. 2 So Cal Athletics-Richardson, which won PGF national titles from 2010-13, won the prestigious 2016 Boulder IDT title.

No. 5 Firecrackers-Rico has one of the best teams on paper, but they had mixed results this summer. Still, the Firecrackers have the talent to make a run at PGF.

"Well, the team and I are very excited for PGF," Notre Dame-commit Riley Wester of the Firecrackers said. "There are currently five out-of-state girls and many from all over California, so we haven't had many practices and games all together. Unfortunately, we have not been victorious in any of our previous tournaments but they all have been great practice for us leading up to PGF. In order to be successful in this tournament, it is imperative for us to play not only as a team but for one another. This team has been working very hard this whole summer putting each and every single little piece together getting ready for this huge tournament. The practices this week are for us to get dialed in and ready to go. We are a very talented team with the best coaches and we just need to figure out how to apply it all in every game we play. We are looking forward to giving it all."

No. 6 Corona Angels-Tyson are always one of the top contenders at PGF and they shared the So Cal A's Invitational title with Firecrackers-Rico early in the summer, so they should be a factor once again.

"Well, I know that we are ready to take on PGF and I'm confident that we will win it for our first time," said Oregon State-bound Camryn Ybarra of the Corona Angels, who was the OC Sidelines Player of the Year. "We are such a close and talented team that we would do anything to win this tournament. Our success will count on our amazing pitchers, our killer defense and our consistent offense."

No. 28 Ohana Tigers finished in third place at the PGF 16U Premier Nationals last year and this year they are one of the teams that could create problems in the 18U Premier Division.

"PGF is always a very tough tournament," UCLA-bound infielder Malia Quarles of Ohana Tigers said. "We're a little beat up with injuries right now, but we're pumped to compete against great teams. The keys to our success are good defense, timely hitting and a little bit of luck."

No. 3 Beverly Bandits-Tyrrell/Conroy is another team capable of making noise at PGF Nationals.

"I just believe that it's going to take a lot of heart and determination," said Oregon-bound Miranda Elish of the Beverly Bandits, the three-time Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year. "We have to take it one game at a time, stay in the moment and step off the field knowing each and every one of us gave it our best. If we do that, then we will make a great run at PGF."

This is the final year at PGF for many of these 18U players, who will be heading off to college in the fall.

"Heading to PGF this year is going to be a lot different," said Oregon-bound pitcher Maggie Balint of PA Chaos Gold, who is the three-time Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year. "We have a lot of seniors. It also is our seniors last time in a Chaos uniform and that means a lot to us. That we are going on our new journey no matter where that is or who we will be playing with in a matter of month we as a team will also know what it takes to be a top team: working together, respecting each other and being open to new ideas. We as a team want to make an impact. This is our last ride of the season. Any game can be our last, so we're thinking that at any time the game can change, so put it all out there!"

The top teams have all been playing each other all summer, so there should be few surprises.

"I'm personally extremely excited," Oregon State-commit Mariah Mazon of Corona Angels-Tyson said. "Our team is really strong this year. We just need to come together and play Corona Angels softball. It doesn't matter who's in the other dugout across the field. We are going out to fight and win it."

"We have a very competitive team and have done well against many of the teams that will be at PGF," TN Fury cach Jody Parrott said. "We have played many of them at the D9 Sun Classic, the Colorado IDT, the Atlanta Legacy and the Scenic City 16s, so I know we can compete. We actually just had a shutout win against the team that finished third at PGF last year. For us to be successful, we will have to come ready to play our best every game and minimize mistakes for the entire week."

WHAT TO WATCH FOR AT PGF 18U PREMIER NATIONALS

Who: No. 1 OC Batbusters-Stith

Why: The two-time defending PGF champs have a lot of new players on the roster, but they are still loaded with talent. The Batbusters had a breakthrough when they beat Texas Glory, 5-0, for the USA Elite Select World Fastpitch 18U title on July 15. Florida-commit Natalie Lugo and Oklahoma-bound Mariah Lopez give the Batbusters two dominant pitchers.

Who: No. 2 So Cal Athletics-Richardson

Why: The So Cal A's took the prestigious 2016 Boulder IDT title and look ready to make a run at another PGF championship after winning PGF titles from 2010-13. Keep an eye on LSU-committed OF Ciara Briggs, who is a big-time playmaker on offense and defense.

Who: No. 3 Beverly Bandits-Tyrrell/Conroy

Why: The Bandits can rely on Oregon-bound Miranda Elish, the three-time Indiana Gatorade Player of the year, and Notre Dame-commit Alexis Holloway in the circle.

Who: No. 4 Birmingham Thunderbolts

Why: The Bolts are a team capable of doing damage at PGF with Auburn-bound Ashlee Swindle, the Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year, in the circle and Auburn-bound speedster KK Crocker leading the offense.

Who: No. 5 Firecrackers-Rico

Why: The Firecrackers are loaded with talent, but can they put all the pieces together with five out-of-state players and many from all over California? Oklahoma-committed pitcher Brooke Vestal can be a dominant force in the circle.

Who: No. 6 Corona Angels-Tyson

Why: Corona Angels have the fastest lineups at PGF and can wreak havoc on the bases and then you have UCLA-commit Megan Faraimo, Oregon State-commit Mariah Mazon and Washington-bound Sam Manti in the circle.

Who: No. 7 All American Sports Academy

Why: Syracuse-committed infielder Hope Brandner leads the offense and AASA will count on Oregon State-bound pitcher Nerissa Eason in the circle.

Who: No. 8 PA Chaos Gold

Why: Chaos Gold has some serious firepower with Oregon-bound right-hander Maggie Balint, a three-time Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year, and Pitt-bound Hannah Edwards, who is a FloSoftball and PGF All-American.

Who: No. 10 Explosion-Denio/Wilson

Why: Explosion is always a dangerous team at PGF and they have the players to scare teams once again. Arizona State-bound pitcher Alyssa Loza has proven herself in pressure-packed situations and should be a key figure for Explosion.

Who: No. 11 Sorcerers

Why: UCLA-commited SS Brianna Perez is a power slapper with speed and excellent defensive skills that can lead the Sorcerers deep into the PGF tournament.

Who: No. 12 Northwest Bullets-Campos

Why: Boise State-bound Kelsey Broadus and Cal-bound Bradie Fillmore form the nucleus in the circle for the Bullets.

Who: No. 14U Texas Blaze Gold

Why: The Texas team to watch at PGF is without a doubt John Carpenter's Texas Blaze Gold who finished second at IDT Boulder and won TC/USA Nationals knocking out No. 5 Firecrackers Rico. Missy Zoch (Depaul) is the soldier in the circle logging in a ton of innings with a ton of wins. They step on the field with a number of weapons on offense and defense with Chelsea Seggern (Tennessee) at third, Taylor Ellsworth (Texas) behind the plate, and Blake-Ann Frtisch (Texas A&M) at the lead off.

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