A family rivalry unfolded when So Cal Athletics Richardson and So Cal Athletics Briggs faced off at PGF 18U Premier Nationals on Tuesday afternoon at Huntington Beach Sports Complex in California.



That game proved to be emotionally draining on a number of levels when So Cal A's-Richardson pulled off a thrilling 6-5 win over its sister program, So Cal A's-Briggs, in the third round of the winner's bracket.

Utah State commit Kenzie Bolin delivered the decisive blow with a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh to clinch the victory for So Cal A's-Richardson and send So Cal A's Briggs into the loser's bracket of the double-elimination tournament.

"I was really nervous," said Bolin, who came off the bench to deliver the pinch-hit, game-winning single. "It was definitely a tough situation to be in, but in order to come out with that I had to stay focused and my team was cheering me on the whole way."

Both teams train together on a regular basis as part of the So Cal A's organization, and LSU commit Ciara Briggs of So Cal A's-Richardson went up against her parents, Ken and Roseann Briggs, in the game. Briggs and her father embraced after the game.

"I cried after the game," said the younger Briggs, who went 1 for 3 with a stolen base and is batting .400 at the PGF Nationals. "It was really hard for me to go against my parents, especially because how they taught me my entire life. It was intense, but it was also fun. It was pretty hard."

I had to block it out, especially when I was hitting because I knew my dad knows all my weaknesses. That's why I tried to block it all out and focus on the game.

So Cal A's-Richardson jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, but So Cal A's-Briggs rallied to tie it, 5-5, with two runs in the top of the seventh.

UCLA commit Kelli Godin went 3 for 4 with two runs and two steals, Syracuse-bound Neli Casares-Maher went 1 for 3 with two runs and an RBI, Cal-bound Lauren Espalin went 1 for 2 with an RBI, and Army-commit Bianca Gonzalez went 2 for 3 with two RBIs for So Cal A's-Richardson, which faces Beverly Bandits-Conroy in the fourth round on Wednesday at 8 AM.

Noel Dominguez went 2 for 4 with a double, a run and three RBI, Alondra Vicary went 2 for 2 with a run, Bobbi Aguirre went 1 for 4 with a double and an RBI, and Brittany Vicary went 1 for 3 with a double and a run for So Cal A's-Briggs, which faces Lady Lightning-Corn in the third-round of the loser's bracket on Wednesday at 10:15 AM.

In other PGF 18U Premier Nationals games:

San Jose Sting 2, Firecrackers-Rico 0
Nebraska commit Lindsey Walljasper, the sister of LSU standout Allie Walljasper, helped the Sting pull off the biggest upset of the day, going 2 for 3 with a home run; she combined with Jesselle Lewis to shut out the defending PGF 18U national champion Firecrackers in the third round of the winner's bracket.

"This game definitely gave us a boost of confidence," Walljasper said. "Knowing that we're able to hang with the best of the best is a great feeling. Going forward into the tournament, we're just going to keep doing what we've been doing and fight till the very last out."

Sting coach Joe Gron said the biggest play of the game came in the fifth when the Firecrackers had runners on first and third with one out. The Firecrackers popped out on a bunt attempt and 3B Sara Gayer doubled up the runner at first to end the threat. Lauren Lopez and Julie Davis also made two great running catches in the outfield in key spots for the Sting.

The Sting faces Georgia Impact Premier-Lewis in the fourth round on Wednesday at 8 AM. The Firecrackers faces Firecrackers-AZ in the third round of the loser's bracket on Wednesday at 10:15 AM.

Lil Rebels-RC 10, Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 6
Kentucky commit Tatum Spangler helped Lil Rebels deliver the other big stunner of the day, going 3 for 3 with three home runs to upset the Bolts in the third round of the winner's bracket.

Kiana Tate went 3 for 3 with a homer, two runs and two RBIs, Grace Chavez went 1 for 3 with a double, a run and two RBIs, and Gianna Carosone went 2 for 4 with a double and two runs to help Spangler in the Rebels' 11-hit assault.



Georgia Impact Premier-Lewis 4, AASA-Merrida 1
Gabby Sprang and Ava Tillman combined on a two-hitter and Karly Heath went 2 for 3 with two doubles, a run and an RBI to lead the Impact. AASA faces Texas Impact-Jackson in the third round of the loser's bracket on Wednesday at 10:15 AM.

Beverly Bandits-Conroy 3, Jersey Intensity-KOD 1
Loyola commit Madison Ebeling stole home on a funky first-and-third play in the top of the third for the tying run and DePaul commit Nicole Cuchran homered to lead the Bandits past the Intensity in a winner's bracket third round game.

"It was crazy," Ebeling said. "I was at third and Casey Skeens was at first. We do our first and third where they try to get to second and draw a throw, so we can score. They just kept walking her back to first and it got to a point where she (the Intensity pitcher) turned away from me and threw the ball and it worked out for the best of us. It's huge. Our speed is the best thing we have on our team."

So Cal Pumas-Black 1, Beverly Bandits-Alvelo 0
Danielle East tossed a two-hitter with 12 strikeouts to help the Pumas advance to the fourth round of the winner's bracket.

Cal Cruisers-Sievers 3, Mizuno Impulse 2
BYU-bound Autumn Moffat allowed eight hits and two runs, and she struck out eight in 6.1 innings to pick up the win. Texas-bound Chloe Romero picked up the save to help the Cruisers advance to the fourth round of the winner's bracket where they will face the Texas Bombers on Wednesday at 8 AM.

Corona Angels-Tyson 3, Alabama Southern Force 0
UCLA commit Megan Faraimo tossed a one-hitter with two walks and strikeouts to lead the Corona Angels, who face face OC Batbusters-Stith in the fourth round on Wednesday at 8 AM.

OC Batbusters-Stith 3, Nebraska Gold 2
UCLA commit Maya Brady went 3 for 4 with three stolen bases and a run, Oklahoma-bound Jocelyn Alo went 2 for 3 with a run, and UCLA commit Colleen Sullivan went 2 for 4 to lead the Batbusters.

Follow Carlos Arias on Twitter @SoCalSidelines.

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