The wait is over for PGF Nationals. From July 25-29, 18U and 12U PGF Premier Nationals will stream LIVE on FloSoftball from Huntington Beach Sports Complex and Harvard Park in Irvine, California.



The top club teams from across the country have grinded all summer in hopes of making it to the final day at PGF. Many of the top club coaches have commented that this year's PGF is "anybody's game."

Will we surprised again by the final two teams? The key to staying alive in PGF is to stay in the winner's bracket but that's easier said then done. If you're going to take a loss, it's better later than sooner.

The usual suspects have used tournaments like So Cal Athletics Invitational, IDT Boulder, and DeMarini Invitational to sharpen up and stack themselves up against potential bracket foes.   

Prepare yourself to see some damn good softball. Players bound for the SEC, Pac 12, Big 12, ACC, Big Ten will all be in attendance and PGF will be a glimpse of future All-Americans and WCWS contenders.

Simply put, "If you want to be the best, you play the best. That's why we keep coming back." Mel Sievers said when asked about PGF Nationals.

Dan Hay, CEO of Premier added, "PGF brings in the top players in the club world following in the footsteps of those now playing in the NPF, in the Women's College World Series and soon the Olympic Games. For the next few years, our partnership with FloSoftball will allow everyone the unparalleled opportunity to see elite players battling for a PGF National Championship and, very soon, will be the next generation of stars on the college and international fastpitch stages."  

18U PGF Premier Champions

2016 - Firecrackers Rico
2015 - OC Batbusters Stith
2014 - OC Batbusters Stith
2013 - So Cal Athletics Richardson
2012 - So Cal Athletics Richardson
2011 - So Cal Athletics Richardson
2010 - So Cal Athletics Richardson

What To Watch For At 18U PGF Premier Nationals

Firecrackers Rico

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 core of the squad returns including ace pitcher Brooke Vestal (Oklahoma), the FloSoftball No. 1 ranked player in the 2018 Hot 100. Vestal was the workhorse for the Firecrackers during PGF Nationals and elevated her game pitching her way to a national titles in 2016. 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 returning seniors like OF Jenna Kean (Arizona), who is one of the top lead-off slappers in the club scene The Firecrackers will be without  C Mary Iakopo (Oregon), who is valued as one of the top defensive catchers in the nation and 1B Lou Allan (Michigan), a dangerous power-hitter. Allan and Iakopo are competing this summer with the USA JO team. This will be a great opportunity for senior Eliyah Flores (Oklahoma) to take the reigns as the veteran on Rico's squad. 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 5 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.

OC Batbusters - Stith

After winning back-to-back USA Elite Select's World Fastpitch Championships, the Batbusters look to be hitting on all cylinders. Losing seniors Bri Perez, Taylon Snow, and Natalie Lugo this summer to the USA Junior Olympic team shook up the offense and defense. Young guns P Olivia Rains (2019, Oklahoma), Janelle Meono (2019, Arizona), Maya Brady (2019, UCLA), Sharlize Palacios (2019, Arizona) added tremendous depth and athleticism to Mike Stith's roster. One key addition to Stith's team is Arizona-bound Ivy Davis who has locked down third base and is steady in the two-hole. Jocelyn Alo (2017, Oklahoma) and Colleen Sullivan (2018, UCLA) have been strong in the 3-4 spot with potential to go yard in any given at-bat.

All-American Sports Academy

AASA shared the championship at IDT Boulder with Corona Angels and been dangerous all year. Julia Jensen (2017, UCLA) along with top position players like 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.

Corona Angels

Marty Tyson's team always have talent and place high in tournaments: this summer they finished 3rd at Boulder IDT and 17th at PGF. The Corona Angels have the horses to go all the way with a great blend of seniors and juniors, several of whom--like 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 like 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 headed to Washington. Ybarra was recently named to the Louisville Slugger Hit Club.

Beverly Bandits Conroy

The Bandits 18U team this past year was coached by Jenn Tyrrell and organization head Bill Conroy coached the 16U team, which won the PGF 16U National Championship. This year, Conroy and Tyrrell are switching places as he has taken the reigns of the 18U team and she is now leading the talented 16U squad. The Bandits Premier 18U team finished 5th at the Boulder IDT and took 7th at PGF. They are solid and balanced across the board in every area with experienced seniors and juniors. FloSoftball High School Player of the Year 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, Louisville Slugger Hit Clubber OF Lauren Burke (Oregon) is one of the most dynamic 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 Conroy has a deep team with players who have, for the most part, come up through his system and have great chemistry together.

California Cruisers

Mel Sievers has been a fixture in the So Cal club softball scene for the last 20 years and it all came together last summer as his team finished 2nd at PGF Nationals. Last year, Texas-bound pitcher Chloe Romero caught fire at the right time shutting down the Bolts, Blaze, So Cal Athletics, and the Choppers in thrilling upsets. Their lineup will be missing one of their most productive hitters, Jenna Cone who went on to be one of the nations leading RBI producers as a freshman. Leading the offensive charge this PGF will be Coach 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, uncommitted) and Martha Epenesa (3B, 2017, BYU) who are a pair of underrated but talented players from Utah. New pick-ups 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.

So Cal Athletics

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. They finished 5th at PGF Nationals, which for most teams would be a huge accomplishment but for a program that won the first four PGF 18U Premier Championships, nothing less than making it to the championship is a letdown. The A's still have standout pitching led by Maddy Dwyer (2017, Stanford) 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 set to state record 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), 2018 OF Hannah McEwen (Arkansas), 2017 OF Taryn Young (Arizona) and 2017 3B Hannah "Peanut" Martinez (Arizona).

Birmingham Thunderbolts

Rocky Thompson's Premier 18U team has been knocking on the door for a couple years now, finishing 3rd 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 3rd the last two years as well, the Alabama powerhouse got stronger this year with pickups like 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 like 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).

So Cal Choppers

Dean Fausett and his father Gary do as good of a job as any coaches in the club space at developing talent and maximizing what they have. Their younger teams in the Choppers organization have won National Championships and they've developed a great pipeline of young players moving up to the 18U team. The Choppers 18U squad finished 3rd at PGF Nationals and return the pitchers they helped get them there, 2017 grad Brooke Yanez (UC Davis) and 2018 Shea O'Leary (Texas) and the entire softball world is rooting for the return of 2017 Taylor Dockins (Cal State Fullerton), who had an amazing senior campaign in the mists of battling liver cancer. Key returners include 2018 top catcher Ally Shipman (2018, Tennessee) along with other standouts like C/UT Makena Smith (Cal), 2018 OF Makenna Harper (Arizona State), 1B Emily Tinkham (Ohio State) and 3B/SS Sophie Medellin (Stanford).

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