And then there were two… in the PGF 16U National Championship winner’s bracket that is.

The Beverly Bandits from Chicago, Ill. took the Bracket A game by beating Georgia Impact Medlam 5-0 while the OC Batbusters-Martinson/Myers team topped the Minnesota Sting 4-1 in games played Thursday afternoon in Huntington Beach, Calf.

The two teams will now play squads from the Loser’s Bracket (teams TBD as of when this was posted).  The title game will be played 7:30 PST at Cal State Fullerton and be tape delayed on TV and streamed live on radio.

Here are recaps of both games which, you could say, resulted in the top seeds in each bracket

 

OC Batbusters – Martinson/Myers 4, Minnesota Sting 1

The OC Batbusters, playing only about 20 minutes from their home base of Anaheim, were nonetheless the visitors against the “home team” Minnesota Sting and played patiently and nearly flawlessly while the Sting cost themselves the deciding runs on misplays.

In the top of the third, infielder Chloe Melanson (2015) singled and then scored when she stole second as the throw from the catcher went not only to the outfield, but rolled to the fence allowing Melanson to easily touch home plate without a throw.

The next inning a passed ball allowed another Batbuster run to give them the only runs they’d need as pitcher Julie McDonald (San Diego State, 2015) pitched 5 2/3 innings scattering five hits with four strikeouts before Sarah Costlow (George Washington, 2014) closed the door on the final four outs.

The Sting did stay close, pulling to within 2-1 on a Justus Perry (Arizona State, 2016) RBI single in the fourth, but two runs in the top of the sixth by the Batbusters courtesy of a RBI single from Taylor Cairns (UIC, 2014) and a sac fly by Cassidy Clough (Ohio State, 2014) put the game out of reach.

“We’ve played progressively better all week long,” said Coach Jesse Martinson after the game.  “We started out a bit shaky, but everyone on the team has stepped up and these have been team victories.”

“There were contributions all through the lineup, we had the bottom of the lineup contribute and get some runs.  Pitching, we had a pitcher (Julie McDonald) with a sore hand who gave us 5 plus great innings and Sarah came in in closing it.  We’re in a good place, a bit tired, but in a good place.”

Coach Doug Meyers added, “When one person has struggled another has been there to pick it up.  We can be a bit sharper in our base running—that’s probably the one area we can improve.”

Interestingly, the Batbusters will face the Bandits who they lost to in the Boulder tournament.

“We played them in the championship in Colorado and know they are a great team.  They can hit the ball.”

 Click here to see the OC Batbusters / Minnesota Sting boxscore

 

Beverly Bandits 5, Georgia Impact Medlam 0

The Bandits were led by a stellar pitching performance by Miranda Elish (Oregon, 2016) who didn’t allow a hit with seven strikeouts and only two walks.

With Elish shutting down the Impact hitters, the Bandits were able to cruise comfortably after putting five runs up in the first two innings.

The infield for the Bandits provided the pop as Alexis Mack (South Carolina, 2015) and Jenny Behan (James Madison, 2015) each had a pair of hits and knocked in two runs on extra base hits, a double and home run respectively.

Click here to see the Beverly Bandits / Georgia Impact Medlam boxscore