We’re deep in bracket play at the PGF Nationals in Huntington Beach and after three games in pool play starting Saturday, today was when it got serious with the first full day of bracket play.

It’s double elimination and some pretty darn good teams, such as the Texas Glory-Naudin and the Sorcerers-Schroll squards in 16U, lost their second game and are done.

It’s tough to climb back from the loser’s bracket and some other notable programs have a loss and face a long road to the title game – in some cases as many as nine games including an “if” game if they reach the championship.

Some of those who are in the category in 16U Premier and have the talent to make it include Firecrackers-DFW Rosales, Gold Coast Hurricanes-Acuri, OC Batbusters-Smith, Lady Lightning Gold Elite, EC Bullets-Legere, Illinois Chill Gold and Texas Sudden Impact.

But it will very, very tough to make it this way so you have to think those in the winner’s bracket will mostly likely be rested more and have the momentum.

Early in bracket play, there have been some great performances… here are three that are noteworthy from today and last night (when bracket play started):

• Saria Niu of the So Cal A’s-Myers/McNee is a 2015 infielder headed to Cal State Fullerton. She’s hitting the cover off the ball and in three games is 3-for-8 with three homers (one in each game) and 10 RBI.
• The pitching performance of the day was turned in by Brooke Vestal (2018, Oklahoma) who struck out 19 batters in a one-hitter over seven innings and every bit was needed as her Texas Bombers HTX team squeaked by the Birmingham Bolts 99 team 1-0. Counting pool play, Brooke has 35 K’s in three games and hasn’t allowed an earned run in 15 innings.
• Megan Holmes of Explosion-Greg helped her team win its second game when she hit a clutch home run in the 8-5 win this afternoon over the Firecrackers-Rosales team. Holmes is 4-for-7 (.571 average) and has six RBI so far.

A fun game tomorrow around noon will be this Explosion team vs. the So Cal A’s-Myers/McNee team.

Finally, congrats to those still undefeated in each age group… here they are as of Tuesday at 10 pm PST:

 

16U Premier

Corona Angels Dena	3	0
So Cal Athletics-Myers/McNee	3	0
So Cal Choppers -Shipman/Ziese	2	0
Outlaws Premier	2	0
Reno Heat	2	0
Beverly Bandits Demarini	2	0
EC Bullets-Bass	2	0
Atlanta Vipers-Kates	2	0
Beverly Bandits Premier 16U	2	0
Birmingham Thunderbolts ‘97	2	0
Explosion-Greg	2	0
Firecrackers-Brashear	2	0
Georgia Elite-Hoover	2	0
Irvine Sting	2	0
Jersey Intensity-Hannigan	2	0
Carolina Elite-Fusetti-Genovese	2	0
Lady Magic-Havey	1	0

 

14U Premier

 

Texas Bombers – HTX	3	0
Firecrackers-Lutterloh	2	0
Corona Angels Tyson	2	0
OC Batbusters Briggs	2	0
Sorcerer Williams	2	0
OCBatbusters-Campbell	2	0
AZ Suncats	2	0
Corona Angels Perez	1	0
Texas Glory Y2K	1	0
So Cal Athletics Quarles	1	0
Beverly Bandits Premier 14U	1	0
So Cal Pumas Black	1	0
OC Batbusters Marinacci	1	0
OC Batbusters Lastrapes-McGowan	1	0
OC Batbusters Granado	1	0
Nor Cal Firecrackers Miller	1	0
Lil Rebels 99-RC	1	0
Lady Magic	1	0
Irvine Sting 2000	1	0
Georgia Impact – Jeffreys	1	0
So Cal Athletics Natividad	1	0

 

 

16U Platinum

 

California Cruisers-AE	2	0
Texas Blaze-Bonola	2	0
NW Bullets – Evenson	2	0
Dirt Dogs-Team Mizuno	2	0
Pure Fastpitch – Walker	1	0
SD Power Surge- Martinez	1	0
NM Sundancers	1	0
Team Mizuno – Impulse	1	0
Washington Acers	1	0
OC Batbusters-Mizuno Alvarez	1	0
Cen Cal Dirtdogs-Kubo	1	0
Firecrackers Ted	1	0

 

 

14U Platinum

 

Las Vegas Blast – Blue	2	0
Firecrackers – Chavez	2	0
San Jose Sting	1	0
The Next Level 14 Gold	1	0
TeamSmith 00 Carroll	1	0
Pure Fastpitch-Jackson	1	0
OC Batbusters Ramos	1	0
Nor Cal Firecrackers 2K	1	0
CV Synergy	1	0
Central Cal Dirt Dogs – Wallace	1	0
Cal Raiders Bruder – 14U	1	0
CA Kryptonite – HS	1	0