Event Recap: Texas Bombers Capture First AFCS 18U National Title (July 28, 2024)

By Carlos Arias

July 28, 2024

Event Recap: Texas Bombers Capture First AFCS 18U National Title (July 28, 2024)

The Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series (AFCS) is being held all week in Kokomo, IN (All rankings are Line Drive Hot 50 Club National Rankings):

In 18U:

#6 Texas Bombers Gold-Smith swept Corona Angels-Tyson, 4-0 and 4-0, in the best-of-3 Alliance 18U Tier 1 national championship series on Sunday at Kokomo High Stadium on Sunday in Indiana.

The Bombers captured their first 18U Tier 1 Alliance national championship after reaching the 18U Tier 1 national title game in 2022 and 2021.

“The fight that this group displayed the entire week was incredible!” Bombers coach Scott Smith said. “We faced elimination eight different times in this event and that to me is what I will remember most! Then you add that we faced two of the best offenses in the country each twice in Impact Gold and Corona Angels-Tyson and our pitching staff and defense shut them out all four times!!!”

Arizona State-bound RHP Cambree Creager of the Texas Bombers and Ohio State-bound RHP Kassandra Gewecke of the Corona Angels pitched very effectively to keep the game scoreless through four innings. But the Bombers broke through in the top of the 5th inning as 2026 IF Brooklyn Gidley delivered a three-run triple and Tennessee-committed 2025 C/IF Elsa Morrison drove in Gidley with a sacrifice fly to give the Bombers a 4-0 lead.

After a rain/lighting delay, the Bombers struck again in the top of the 6th inning as Gidley had an RBI single and Morrison drove in two more runs with a double to extend the lead to 7-0. Houston-bound IF Madison Hartley and Thomas had RBI singles and Morrison had a three-run double to make it 12-0 in the top of the 7th inning.

Creager pitched 6.2 innings, allowed five hits and struck out four to earn the win. Texas Tech-bound LHP Brenlee Gonzales recorded the final out to secure the victory. It was the fourth consecutive shutout for the Bombers.

“”I mean, it was absolutely amazing,” Gidley said. “With us facing elimination eight times in one tournament, no one expected us to step up and make it to the national championship, much less win it. With our coaches always pushing us to be our very best, we knew we had what it took. Every single person on the team had a role to play and it all showed the past two days. I’m just very thankful I got to play with such a talented group of girls and win on the biggest stage.”

Morrison went 3 for 4 with two doubles and six RBIs, Gidley went 3 for 4 with a double, a triple three runs and four RBIs, Thomas went 2 for 2 with three runs and and RBI and was HBP’d three times and Hartley went 1 for 3 with three runs and an RBI.

Louisville Lady Sluggers-Wathen and Texas Glory-Shelton were 16U co-national champions of the 2024 AFCS. Photo provided by Shannon Wathen.

In 16U:

2026 SS McLaine Hudson went 2 for 3 with a triple, two runs and an RBI and uncommitted 2025 RHP Tori Payne pitched a four-hitter with two strikeouts to lead #34 Louisville Lady Sluggers-Wathen to a 5-0 victory over #20 Texas Glory-Shelton in Game 2, forcing a Game 3 in the 16U Tier 1 national championship series.

Game 3 was canceled due to rain, so Louisville Lady Sluggers-Wathen and Texas Glory-Shelton finish as 16U Tier 1 co-national champions.

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ALLIANCE FASTPITCH CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (AFCS)

AT KOKOMO, IN, JULY 28

18U TIER 1