The 2024 travel ball season is well underway and really hits its peak November including one of the top events of the fall season on the West Coast: the 9^th annual PGF Ultimate Challenge in Salinas, Calif. to run Friday evening, November 1^st through Sunday, Nov. 3^rd.

The weekend event features 36 top invited teams with 12 each in the age divisions of 14U, 16U and 18U and will take place at the six-field Salinas Sports Complex, which is one of the big draws to those in attendance.

“The complex is set up perfectly for the college coaches who attend,” says Event Director Bill Sparrey, “because it’s just a short walk to each field to watch teams in each age group.”

Many out of the area will fly into the San Jose airport and there’s a lot to do nearby when there’s down time—the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Fisherman’s Wharf are 25 miles from Salinas and the beautiful Pebble Beach area is only 15 minutes away.

But it’s the softball event that is the main draw this first weekend in November.

The representation of teams includes many of the best in the West, from the NW Bullets out of Washington down the California coast to include programs like the Sorcerers and Suncats in the Northern and Central parts to the So Cal Athletics in So Cal.

The teams to beat, however, could be the Lady Magic squads led by Ernie and Lindsey Munoz, which last year won the 14U title and, more recently, won each of the championship games at last month’s PGF Organizational Challenge as their three age division teams at 14U, 16U and 18U went a collective 18-0!

Coach Ernie is looking forward to the challenge of the Ultimate Challenge, so to speak.

“The Ultimate Challenge always brings in a competitive group of teams,” he begins. “With the fall being primarily ‘showcase season,’ this tournament gives us the best of both worlds in terms of great college exposure as well as a championship-style tournament.”

“It’s always nice to play in elimination-type events this time of year,” Munoz continues. “It really sets the tone for the year and gives us things to work on headed into summer.

“As always, we expect all our Magic teams to be competitive and in the mix for a championship on Sunday. This is the standard for the program from top to bottom and I’m looking forward to seeing the girls out on the dirt!”

The 2023 winners of the 18U division, the NW Bullets, also return and look loaded again and are led by senior pitcher Maddie Milhorn.

*** Click HERE to see our previous article including past winners of the PGF Ultimate Challenge

Milhorn, who is headed to Oregon and has a good chance to be rated in the Top 10 of the just launched 2025 Line Drive HOT 100, is following in the footsteps of another elite pitcher, Addie Fisher, who was the No. 1 ranked player in the 2024 class, the Gatorade National Player of the Year and is now a freshman at UCLA.

“We’ve had some great teams over the years attending the event,” Coach Sparrey continues, “and this year will be no different.”

The advantages and benefits to attending the PGF Ultimate Challenge are many—from the strong level of competition to the chance to quality for next summer’s PGF Nationals to the prize money, which is $5,500 for each age group championship team as well as custom made PGF Ultimate Challenge rings for the winners.

Runners-up in the 14U, 16U and 18U age divisions will also receive $2,500.

There’s even a hospitality lunch from 11 am to 2 pm on Saturday for all college and club coaches (nicely fulfilling the prophecy that, “If you feed them, they will come.”).

Each of the 36 teams will play a game Friday night and then compete in one of three pools Saturday into Sunday’s championships.

Click HERE to see individual team schedules; below are each of the pools in the age divisions.

On a personal note, my new wife Shannon and I will be at the PGF Ultimate Challenge so if you see us, come up and say hi!

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball

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2024 PGF Ultimate Challenge – 18U Teams

Pool A:

• So Cal A’s – Richardson
• LTG Lions – Henderson
• Firecrackers – Wallace
• Warrior Academy – McDonald

Pool B:

• NW Bullets – Campos
• Sorcerer – Gables/Rodriguez
• Suncats – Jimenez
• CA Grapettes – Merrida 

Pool C:

• CA Storm – Troy
• Cal Nuggets – Woods
• Lady Magic – Walling
• Firecrackers – RTY

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2024 PGF Ultimate Challenge – 16U Teams

Pool A:

• Lady Magic – Munoz
• So Cal A’s – Colon
• Extreme – Rios
• Warrior Academy – McDonald

 Pool B:

• LTG Lions – Carda
• NW Bullets – Muir/Hornback
• Sorcerer – T/K
• CA Storm – Guzman

 Pool C:

• CA Grapettes – Flores
• Cal Nuggets – Woods
• Firecrackers Select – RTY
• Suncats – Jimenez

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2024 PGF Ultimate Challenge – 14U Teams

Pool A:

• Lady Magic – Munoz/Asia
• CA Storm – Shay/Bramers
• Extreme – Rios/Woofter
• So Cal Choppers – Ibarra/Barbara

Pool B:

• NW Bullets – Campos/Jackson
• Warrior Academy – McDonald
• LTG Lions – Buck
• CA Grapettes – Cook

Pool C:

• Suncats – Jimenez
• Firecrackers RTY – Rich
• Cal Nuggets – Woods
• Sorcerer – Hamilton