Sixteen of the nation's best 18-under teams are converging on Harvard Park in Irvine, CA, this weekend for the annual So Cal Athletics Invitational. The three-day preseason tournament, which begins Friday, June 16, features squads from eight different states and is showcasing some of the top high school talent in the country.



The tournament will open with bracket play on Friday and Saturday for seeding purposes, with all teams advancing to a single elimination tournament that will begin on Saturday night. Bracket play continues on Sunday.

"This tournament features the best of the best, so it would be hard to predict any favorites," So Cal Athletics Invitational tournament director Bruce Richardson said. "If I am not mistaken, all 16 teams are ranked in the top 30 in the nation in the preseason poll and the last two PGF National champions played in this tournament. I think it would be reasonable to think the same thing could happen again this year."

Beverly Bandits head coach Bill Conroy said his team is looking forward to the challenge: "All the best teams are going to be there, so it certainly will be a great measuring stick of where we stand heading into the summer season."

What To Watch For At So Cal A's Invitational

No. 1 Firecrackers Rico

When: See Schedule
Why: Tony Rico has a knack for getting his teams to peak at the right time, and this year was a perfect example of that. The team lost two outstanding grads in SS Nicole Bates (Washington), who was the MVP of the Louisville Slugger Hit Club, and her fellow Huskies signee OF Kaija Gibson, but the core of the squad returns including ace pitcher Brooke Vestal (Oklahoma), the FloSoftball No. 1-ranked player in the 2018 Hot 100. Vestal was a workhorse for the Firecrackers during PGF Nationals and elevated her game, especially the mental side. Backing her in the circle will be two Pac-12-bound hurlers: 2018 grad Alex Perez (Cal) and 2019 Lexi Campbell (Stanford). The positional lineup is loaded with depth, including returning seniors such as OF Jenna Keane (Arizona), who is one of the top leadoff slappers in the club scene, Mary Iakopo (Oregon), also one of the top defensive catchers in the nation, 1B Lou Allan (Michigan), a dangerous power hitter, and 3B Eliyah Flores (Oklahoma), also a threat with the bat. And the team has added several Hot 100 young players, too, including one of the top infielders at any age, 2018 shortstop Grace Lyons (Oklahoma), who is a top five player in her class, and 2019 IF Brooke Marquez (Notre Dame), who is one of three excellent future Irish signees, along with 2017 OF Riley Wester, Ali Wester's younger sister, and 2018 OF Emma Clark.

No. 2 OC Batbusters

When: See Schedule
Why: Mike Stith is excited about the young players who are competing hard and playing with a lot of energy. This weekend, the Batbusters will be without No. 1 Hot player Brianna Perez (UCLA) and No. 5 Hot player Taylon Snow (Auburn) because both players are on the junior national team. But you can expect to see SS/OF Maya Brady (2019, UCLA) or Ariana Quinones (2018, Washington) shine this weekend up the middle. Another future Bruin is 2018 C/1B Colleen Sullivan, who may share time behind the plate with 2019 C Sharlize Palcios (Arizona), one of the several super sophs who add fire to the Batbusters lineup. In the circle, Stith has added depth with P Farrah Steffany (Arizona), P Olivia Rains (Oklahoma), senior Natalie Lugo (Florida), and junior Vanessa Foreman (Arizona). Defintely watch 2018 C/DP Terra McGowan (Arizona State) and 2017 IF Jocelyn Alo (Oklahoma), two of the top mashers in the nation.

No. 3 All American Sports Academy (AASA)

When: See Schedule
Why: After a 2-2 start at Zoom into June and winning the PGF Ultimate Challenge, AASA has the depth to be a national championship-caliber team. This squad has strong pitching with Molly Millar (2018, Stanford), Holly Azevedo (2017, UCLA), and Julia Jensen (2017, UCLA), along with top position players such as 2020 OF Grace Guzman (Michigan) and 2018 3B Rachel Cid (Oregon). The team also has five Oregon State-bound players, including four in the 2018 class: C/3B Bailey McLaughlin, If/OF Izabella Owen, IF/OF Maia Rader, and 1B Frankie Hammoude. Also keep an eye on P/1B Molly Millar (Stanford '18), OF Grace Guzman (Michigan '20), SS/CF Sabrina Nunez (Cal '17), and SS/INF Rachel Cid (Oregon '17).

No. 4 Beverly Bandits

When: See Schedule
Why: Last year, the Bandits Premier 18U team finished fifth at the Boulder IDT and took seventh at PGF. This year's squad is solid and balanced across the board in every area with experienced seniors and juniors. The team looked dominant in the tournaments it played in the fall, including its own King of the Hill event. Pitcher Alexis Holloway (Notre Dame) is one of the top pitchers in the nation, and she's throwing to one of the elite catchers in Hannah Carson, a 2018 grad headed to Michigan. Offensively, OF Lauren Burke (Oregon) is one of the top hitters in the country and moves up from the title-winning 16U team. Seniors Kenna Wilkey (Northwestern) can pitch and play first, while Mackenzie Dunlap (Northwestern) is a great defender at short or third base. Another player to watch who can take over a game is 2018 C/OF Shelby Grimm. All in all, Coach Bill Conroy has a deep team with players who have, for the most part, come up through his system and have great chemistry together.

No. 5 California Cruisers

When: See Schedule
Why: Mel Sievers has been a fixture in the So Cal club softball scene for decades, and it all came together this summer as his team finished second at PGF Nationals and took 17th at Boulder IDT. The Cruisers surprised many with dominating pitching from Chloe Romero, a 2017 commit to Texas whose rise ball was all but untouchable, and timely hitting from a starting lineup that returns intact after adding Ava Fairbanks (2018, Texas), who replaces Jenna Cone. Leading the offensive charge will be Sievers' granddaughter, Jasmine Sievers, a 2018 sleek-fielding shortstop committed to Oregon, 2017 OF Brooke Cantillo (Mississippi State), and corner infielders Hunter Ava (1B, 2019, BYU) and Martha Epenesa (3B, 2017, BYU), who are a pair of underrated but talented players from Utah. New pickups included 2017 P Autumn Moffat (BYU), 2018 C/OF Makaela Mak (Hawaii), 2018 C/1B Chrisma Romero (Boston University), and 2017 P Delaney Hull (Utah State). Many in the club world wonder if the Cruisers just got hot at the right time at PGF, but there's too much talent and experience on this team to think it can't have as successful year in 2017 as it did in '16.

No. 6 So Cal Athletics

When: See Schedule
Why: Don't turn your backs on the A's as Bruce Richardson continues to field technically sound and efficient teams that usually make it to the last day of any given tournament. The Athletics won the prestigious Boulder IDT and finished fifth at PGF Nationals, which for most teams would be a huge accomplishment. Howeve, for a program that won the first four PGF 18U Premier Championships, nothing less than making it to the championship is a letdown. Great players such as P Autumn Storms (Arkansas), C Montana Dixon (Stanford), Mackenzie Boesel (South Carolina), and OF Jenna Holcomb (Tennessee) are now in college, but the A's still have standout pitching led by Maddy Dwyer (2017, Stanford) and Payton Tidd (2018, Notre Dame) and added speed at the top of the order with 2018 2B and leadoff hitter Toni Camarillo (Bryant) and 2018 OF Kelli Godin (UCLA), who went to state in the 100 meters. Other difference-makers who will drive in and score runs include one of the best 2019 players in the nation, OF Ciara Briggs (LSU), as well as 2018 OF Hannah McEwen (Arkansas), 2017 OF Taryn Young (Arizona), and 2017 3B Hannah "Peanut" Martinez (Arizona).

No. 7 Birmingham Thunderbolts

When: See Schedule
Why: Rocky Thompson's Premier 18U team has been knocking on the door for a couple years now, finishing third at PGF the last two years and being a force in just about every tournament the Bolts enter. Integrating several top players from Jay Roberson's 16U Bolts team that finished third the last two years as well, the Alabama powerhouse got stronger this year with pickups such as 2018 Grace Fagan (Mississippi State) and SS Kinsey Goelz (Mississippi State) to go with a strong returning core of SEC- and ACC-bound players. Two exceptions to that are a pair of standout Arizona natives: 2017 C/SS Shaye Bowden (Oregon) and 2017 IF DeNae Chatman (Arizona State). Key returners to watch from closer to home include seniors such as P Chardonnay Harris (Auburn), 3B Jenna Ergle (Boston College), OF Kendall Beth Sides (Alabama), SS Mary Katherine Tedder (Texas), and C/1B Abby Tissier (Auburn).

No. 8 Corona Angels

When: See Schedule
Why: Marty Tyson's team always has talent and place high in tournaments: The Angels were 4-0 at Zoom, and last summer they finished third at Boulder IDT and 17th at PGF. They certainly have the horses to go all the way, with a great mixture of seniors and juniors, several of whom -- such as 2018 P Megan Faraimo (UCLA) -- know what it takes to win a title as she shined on the PGF National Championship 14U squad that went the distance in 2015. Fariamo is a franchise pitcher and with 2017 P Mariah Mazon (Oregon State) give Tyson the bulk of the innings. The offense has great athletes and speed at the top with players such as UCLA commits Anna Vines (IF, 2018) and Kinsley Washington (IF/OF, 2017). Expected to drive in the runs will be dangerous power-hitters Camryn Ybarra, a 2017 3B going to Oregon State, and 2017 1B Noelle Hee, who is headed to Washington. Other players to watch include CC Caccamise (LSU '17), C Lynnsie Elam (Oklahoma '17), INF/OF Kinsley Washington (UCLA '17), and 1B Noelle Hee (Washington '17)

No. 11 So Cal Choppers

When: See Schedule
Why: Dean Fausett and his father, Gary, do as good of a job as any coaches in the club space at developing and maximizing their team's talent. Their younger teams in the Choppers organization have won national championships, and they've fostered a great pipeline of young players moving up to the 18U team. The Choppers 18U squad was 4-1 at Zoom and finished third at PGF Nationals and returns the pitchers who helped get it there, 2017 grad Brooke Yanez (UC Davis) and 2018 Shea O'Leary (Texas). The entire softball world is also rooting for the return of 2017 Taylor Dockins (Cal State Fullerton), who was diagnosed with liver cancer in Colorado this summer but is on happily on track to return to action later this fall. The Choppers lost a lot of talent in the field with the graduations of players such as Louisville Slugger Hit Club infielders Jessica Harper (Arizona) and Amanda Doyle (LSU), along with other Hot 100 players such as IF/OF Cayla Kessinger (Missouri) and OF Jacqui Prober (UCLA). But there are great players returning, including Gatorade Player of the Year P Taylor Dockins and one of the top catchers in the nation in Ally Shipman (2018, Tennessee), along with other standouts such as C/UT Makena Smith (Cal), 2018 OF Makenna Harper (Arizona State), 1B Emily Tinkham (Ohio State), and 3B/SS Sophie Medelin (Stanford).

No. 13 Texas Glory

When: See Schedule
Why: The Glory had a strong summer with a 13th-place finish at PGF Nationals and top five finishes at three other big tournaments: USSSA World Fastpitch Championships (second), DeMarini Invitational (third), and Colorado Fireworks/Sparklers (fifth). Kevin Shelton's 18U team lost Louisville Slugger Hit Club star Shannon Rhodes (Oregon) and four other Division I standouts but returns a strong core of seniors, including lefty pitcher Maddie MacGrandle (Texas A&M), who was the Texas Gatorade Player of the Year, OF Taryn Antoine (LSU), OF Brittany Jackson (Kansas), IF Camryn Woodall (Utah), IF/C Abby Smith (Texas A&M), and IF/OF Aralee Bogar (Iowa). Added to that strong half-dozen returners are standout 2018 infielders Audrie LaValley (Oklahoma) and Mady Lohman (Oklahoma State).

No. 14 Demarini Aces

When: See Schedule
Why: Last summer, the Aces finished ninth at PGF Nationals and finished 84-20 thanks to a potent offense that averaged .310 at the plate with more than 40 home runs. En route to a top 10 finish at Nationals, the Aces knocked off three teams that finished in the top 10 as well. The senior class is loaded with five Hot 100 players: P/1B Olivia Kinsey (Oregon), P Madison Preston (Alabama), 1B/OF Callie Martin (Missouri), C/MIF Nicole Duncan (Arkansas), and MIF Kendyll Bailey (Missouri). Newcomers to watch include 2018 C Kasey Shell (Baylor) and 2019 OF Lindsey Gilbert (2018, Baylor).

No. 16 So Cal Explosion

When: See Schedule
Why: Coaches Bret Denio and Jim Wilson continue to find top talent all over the West Coast; it doesn't hurt that they perennially play deep into the week at PGF Nationals. This summer, Explosion finished 17th at both PGF and Boulder IDT. Also the future is bright with players within the organization -- for example, Explosion-Greg won the 16U title at PGF Ultimate Challenge. The 18U team has great team speed, is balanced on offense, and has three diverse pitchers to keep opponents off-balance. Key returners include 2017 SS Alyssa Martinez (Ole Miss), a Hot 100 honoree and one of the best infielders in the senior class, 2018 3B Brittany Allen (Florida), another Hot 100 pick and dangerous power hitter, and 2017 OF Carmina Nicolas (Stanford), one of the fastest players in the country with true 2.6 speed. Newcomers to watch -- and there are a lot of them -- include the trio of pitchers: seniors Konner Dahlberg (San Diego State) and Yesenia Morrison (Grand Canyon) along with 2018 grad Jessica Ross (Ohio State). Two other senior Hot 100s of note: C Summer Hargett (Northwestern) and SS/UT Ashleigh Inae (East Carolina), and keep an eye on 2019 1B Candace Yingling (Cal) too.

No. 19 Georgia Impact

When: See Schedule
Why: Patrick Lewis's team went 58-9 last year and has a ton of returning talent -- out of 17 current players, there are 15 SEC commits and one player going to the Big Ten and another to the ACC -- but the coach admits, "We were young and it showed in crucial moments." With a year of experience under their belts, the players should be more big-game ready. There's certainly no doubt the Impact team can compete with the elite teams -- last year the Georgia team had wins over three top 20 teams in the FAB 50 18U rankings. Ashley Morgan (Tennessee) return from injuries, and the players added to the roster are a who's who of Hot 100 players: 2017 P Ava Tillmann (Ole Miss), 2017 1B Kyra Lockhart (Alabama), 2018 2B/OF Kloyee Anderson (Alabama), and 2018 OF Savannah Stewart (LSU). Impact will be without C Julia Cottrill (2019, Florida) and SS Hannah Adams (Florida) as they are competing with the USA JO team.

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