Year after year, Beverly Bandits continue to develop nationally competitive teams in every age group but they really own the 16U Premier Division. The Bandits organization have sent a team to the PGF 16U Premier National Title game the past five years, winning three of them.

PGF 16U Premier Nationals | Watch Guide

Four teams from the Bandits organization will be competing in the 16U Premier Division at PGF Nationals this week at Fountain Valley Sports Park.

Coach Jen Tyrrell, who led the Bandits to a PGF national championship in 2013 leads the top Bandit team this year, which includes top-tier prospects such as Washington-commit third baseman/second baseman Stormy Kotzelnick, Florida State-commit utility Hallie Wacaser, Auburn-commit utility Jaylin Calvert, Alabama-commit middle infielder Bailey Dowling and Northwestern-commit pitcher/infielder Lauren Boyd.

"Our goal is to win this tournament," Tyrrell said, "and we will give it our best to win every day. We have a tough draw, but we have won once, finished second once and finished top 10 multiple times, but we have the best team we have ever brought here."

Athletics-Mercado is another top contender that landed in the same bracket as Tyrrell's Bandits.

"This team will be led by (2020, LMU) Shannyn Bustamante, (2020, Ole Miss) Landyn Bruce and (2020, Ole Miss) Aynslie Furbush in the circle," Athletics-Mercado coach Mark Smith said. "Bustamante is coming off back-to-back national championship runs with Athletics-Mercado/Smith."

Bustamante’s experience pitching at the 18U level will come in handy for the Athletics, who have Minnesota-commit catcher Sara Kinch behind the dish and hitting in the middle of the lineup. Ole Miss-commit Jessica Acosta, Oklahoma-commit Alex Whitman, and Ole Miss-commit Kelly Glenn will also provide offense for the Athletics.

The Birmingham Thunderbolts organization is strong in 16U with Keith Dorsett's Bolts and Jay Roberson's Bolts. Dorsett's Bolts feature pitcher Shelby Lowe, outfielder/first baseman Maddie Majors and middle infielder Carlee McCondichie, who have all committed to Auburn, Army-committed pitcher/outfielder Alicyn Grete and Mississippi State-committed outfielder Brylie St. Clair.

Roberson's Bolts are led by Jaala Torrence (2020, Alabama), middle infielder/pitcher Annabelle Widra (2021, Oklahoma State), catcher/first baseman Aubrie Lisenby (2021, Auburn), first baseman/catcher Gracie Price (2020, Central Florida), middle infielder/outfielder Kaylen Madrey (2021, LSU), center fielder Lilly Agan (2020, Washington), pitcher/first baseman Madison Harris (2020, Virginia), outfielder Natalie Hurdle (2020, Dartmouth) and third baseman/shortstop Taylor Middlebrook (2020, Mississippi State).

Dena Slye's Corona Angels have all of the components to be a PGF contender with the big bats of Arizona State-commit Cydney Sanders and Fresno State-commit Keahilele Mattson, the speed of Caliyah Thompson and Rylie West, who have both committed to Tennessee, and UCLA-committed pitcher Savannah Hooks.

Former NFL player TJ Houshmandzadeh's Firecrackers are an interesting team that could surprise people. TJ's team features LSU-committed speedster Kennedi Houshmandzadeh, power-hitting catcher/third baseman Rachel Allen, who has committed to Notre Dame, powerful Lauryn Carter and Michigan-commit Ryleigh Carricaburu.  

Sean Brashear led his Firecrackers to a third-place finish in the PGF 18U Premier Nationals last week and he has another contender in 16U. The Firecrackers are led by Oregon State-committed pitcher Sierra Tufts, Cal State Northridge-commit third baseman Shayla Thomas and corner America Ramirez and outfielder/first baseman Bailey Wallace, who have both committed to Cal State Fullerton.

"Our teams will need to be able to handle this environment and if we get quality innings from the rotations," said Brashear, who also has teams playing the 14U Premier Division this week. "We have some very good offensive talent on these teams."

So Cal Athletics-Briggs have had a strong summer and will be a team to be reckoned with. The A's are led by Arizona State-commit outfielder Brenna Begin, Pacifica-commit pitcher Amiyah Aponte, UC Riverside-commit shortstop Marissa Burk, Colorado State-commit pitcher/first baseman Sydney Hornbuckle, Maryland-commit center fielder Megan Mikami and Mercer-commit first baseman Sarah Taylor.

Tennessee Fury Platinum could be a team that makes some noise. The Fury's roster features LSU-commit ace Sydney Berzon, Florida State-commit catcher/shortstop Kalei Harding, Alabama-commit center fielder Jenna Johnson, Tennessee-committed shortstop/catcher Josie Willingham and corner Kyah Keller-Smith and left-fielder Alia Logoleo, who both committed to Clemson.

Iowa Premier brings a solid team with Auburn-commit catcher/shortstop Jesse Blaine, Creighton-commit pitcher/first baseman Jena Lawrence, Michigan-commit shortstop/utility Ella McVey and Drake-commit pitcher/outfielder Emma Richards.

After a strong run at PGF 18U Premier Nationals last week, Jersey Intensity-KOD's 16U team will try to get something going this week. Jersey Intensity is led by Boston College-commit pitcher Jessica Rooney, Notre Dame-commit catcher/second baseman Mikayla Laplaca, and Fordham-commit corner Julia Petrovich.

2018 PGF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• 14U Platinum championship at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine, CA, Saturday, Aug. 4, 9:30 AM(streamed live on FloSoftball)
• 16U Platinum championship at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine, CA, Saturday, Aug. 4, 12 PM (streamed live on FloSoftball)
• 14U Premier championship at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine, CA, Saturday, Aug. 4, at 3 PM (streamed live on FloSoftball and tape delayed on Fox Sports West Prime Ticket and Comcast)
• 16 U Premier championship at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine, CA, Saturday, Aug. 4, at 5:30 PM (streamed live on FloSoftball and tape delayed on Fox Sports West Prime Ticket and Comcast)

PGF NATIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP LINEAGE

2018

PGF HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICAN GAME: West def. East, 4-2

18U PREMIER: Georgia Impact-Lewis def. OC Batbusters-Stith, 6-4

12U PREMIER: Tennessee Mojo-Danley def. Diamond Sports Hotshots-Jones, 1-0

10U PREMIER: Impact Gold National-Smith def. Beverly Bandits-Trackwell, 7-3

18U PLATINUM: Firecrackers North-Thomas, USA Athletics Gold, 7-0

12U PLATINUM: Cal Cruisers-Caouette def. OC Batbusters-Garcia, 5-4

2017

PGF HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICAN GAME: East def. West, 7-4

18U PREMIER: Beverly Bandits-Conroy def. Corona Angels-Tyson, 2-0

18U PLATINUM: Salinas Storm-Heen def. Batbusters-Gomes/Clark, 5-4

16U PREMIER: Beverly Bandits-Ketelhut def. Athletics-Mercado/Smith, 10-1

16U PLATINUM: Firecrackers UT-Rollin def. Birmingham Thunderbolts 01, 7-4

14U PREMIER: Texas Dirt Divas def. OC Batbusters-Campbell 03, 4-3

14U PLATINUM: Firecrackers-Brashear/Oakes def. Birmingham Thunderbolts 2003, 8-1

12U PREMIER: Diamond Sports Hotshots Gold def. Georgia Impact-Langston, 5-1

10U PREMIER: Fury 2024 def. Birmingham Thunderbolts 06, 12-5

2016

PGF HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICAN GAME: West def. East, 2-0

18U PREMIER: Firecrackers-Rico def. California Cruisers-Sievers, 2-0

18U PLATINUM: Iowa Premier def. USA Athletics Gold, 2-0

16U PREMIER: Beverly Bandits-Conroy def. South Dakota Renegades, 3-2

16U PLATINUM: Firecrackers-Brashear def. Midwest Speed, 3-2

14U PREMIER: So Cal Athletics-Mercado/Smith def. Corona Angels-Tyson, 6-0

14U PLATINUM: Grapettes-Guevara def. Birmingham Thunderbolts-Dorsett, 2-0

12U PREMIER: Texas Sudden Impact def. Texas Impact Gold-Esparza, 6-1

10U PREMIER: Tennessee Mojo 2023 def. Intensity South TX, 11-3

2015

18U PREMIER: OC Batbusters-Stith/Haning def. So Cal Athletics-Richardson, 7-0

18U PLATINUM: Firecrackers-Pasco def. Iowa Premier Gold, 3-2

16U PREMIER: Tampa Mustangs-TJ def. Beverly Bandits/Team DeMarini, 1-0

16U PLATINUM: Sparks Premier def. KC Peppers-Clinton, 5-3

14U PREMIER: OC Batbusters-Campbell def. Georgia Impact-Lewis, 7-4

14U PLATINUM: Cal Nuggets Gold def. Nor Cal Dirt Dogs-Ybarra, 6-4

12U PREMIER: OC Batbusters-Mascarenas def. So Cal Choppers 02-Gibson, 2-1

10U PREMIER: Diamond Sports Hotshots Gold def. Texas Chaos, 8-5

2014

18U PREMIER: OC Batbusters-Stith/Haning def. Corona Angels-Tyson, 3-0

18U PLATINUM: OC Batbusters-Briggs def. Illinois Stars, 5-0

16U PREMIER: So Cal Athletics-Myers/McNee def. Beverly Bandits-Tyrrell, 2-1

16U PLATINUM: California Cruisers-Evans def. OC Batbusters-Alvarez, 11-3

14U PREMIER: Corona Angels-Tyson def. So Cal Athletics-Quarles, 7-1

14U PLATINUM: Courage-Weaver def. Cal Cruisers-Sievers, 9-1

12U PREMIER: So Cal Athletics-Mercado def. DirecTV Genies, 4-3

2013

18U PREMIER: So Cal Athletics-Richardson def. Team Mizuno-Stith, 3-2

18U PLATINUM: Strike Force-Guerra def. Central California Dirt Dogs, 10-0

16U PREMIER: Beverly Bandits-Tyrrell def. OC Batbusters-Myers, 2-0

14U PREMIER: Team Mizuno-Campbell def. OC Batbusters-McNee, 5-4

12U PREMIER: So Cal Athletics-Tidd/Ornelas def. AZ Suncats, 9-0

2012

18U PREMIER: So Cal Athletics-Richardson def. Worth Firecrackers, 5-4

16U PREMIER: Team Mizuno-Stith def. Corona Angels-Knighten, 5-1

14U PREMIER: Atlanta Vipers def. So Cal Athletics-Marinacci, 3-2

12U PREMIER: Firecrackers-Quarles def. Firecrackers-Roman, 8-2

2011

18U PREMIER: So Cal Athletics-Richardson def. Worth Firecrackers, 8-7

16U PREMIER: Firecrackers-Blanco def. Texas Glory-Naudin, 5-0

14U PREMIER: OC Batbusters-McNee def. Corona Angels-Knighten, 3-0

2010

18U PREMIER: So Cal Athletics-Richardson def. Texas Impact Gold, 4-2

16U PREMIER: OC Batbusters-Myers def. Corona Angels-Howard, 6-4