The Scenic City Fall Top 25 was held Nov. 1-3 in Dalton/Rocky Face, GA:
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18U: TENNESSEE MOJO-RAMSEY/FISHER AND ATHLETICS MERCADO-SMITH SHARE TITLE
Tennessee Mojo-Ramsey/Fisher and Athletics Mercado-Smith, the PGF 18U Premier Nationals runner-up last summer, did not play the championship game and finished as co-champions in the 18U division of the Scenic City Fall Top 25 on Sunday at Edwards Park in Dalton, GA.
“We just met these kids and to accomplish something like this is pretty special,” Mojo coach Ramsey Harkness said.
Mojo-Ramsey/Fisher defeated Top Gun National 18U, 5-0, Tampa Mustangs-Rene, 6-5, Fury Platimun X-Higdon, 3-2, Aces Fastpitch Club, 6-5, and didn’t play Athletics Mercado-Smith in bracket games.
Mojo-Ramsey/Fisher went 5-1 on the weekend and had three walk-off wins on Sunday to advance to the championship game. Alabama-committed 2025 OF Ana Roman had a two-run single to walk it off against Tampa Mustangs-Rene, Florida State-committed 2025 C Danika Spinogatti delivered a two-run homer in the bottom of the 7th for the walk-off win over Fury Platinum X-Higdon and Jacksonville-committed 2025 C/IF Maci Burkhart, who hit a two-run homer earlier in the game, drove in the winning run in a walk-off against Aces Fastpitch Club.
Athletics Mercado-Smith beat Starz Gold National-Bunn, 9-6, Illinois Chill Gold, 10-0, Louisville Lady Sluggers-Huecker, 5=2, Texas Blaze United-Robertson, 7-2, and didn’t play Mojo-Ramsey/Fisher in bracket games.
“Really a team effort all weekend,” Athletics Mercado coach Mark Smith said. “(Michigan-committed 2026 P) Mia Valbuena (and) (2027 P) Coral Williams led us in the circle and pitched great. Both catchers — (2027 C) Hollynn Gentry and (2025 C) Jordyn Madrigal — played great behind the dish. (We) had three senior (outfielders) on their official visits, so (we) had three (infielders) play OF all weekend. (Georgia-committed 2026) Taylor Johns held down CF, (2026) Kylie Tafua and (2026) Cheri Thompson played great corner OF. And our entire infield played like they do. (We) turned it on starting bracket. Great tournament, played great teams all weekend and are happy to be back-to-back Top 25 co-champs.”
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16U: BEVERLY BANDITS PREMIER-MORAN/OTTO 8, ATHLETICS MERCADO-HOVERMALE 7
Beverly Bandits Premier-Moran/Otto picked up a major victory over Athletics Mercado-Hovermale/Tidd, 8-7, in the 16U championship game of the Scenic City Fall Top 25 on Sunday at Edwards Park in Dalton, GA.
Athletics Mercado-Hovermale/Tidd has a number of players from Athletics Mercado-Tidd, which won the PGF 14U Premier national championship last summer.
“Winning top 25 just means more with the divide between PGF and Alliance, it’s a great tournament because we get to play great teams from both,” Bandits coach Chad Moran said. “Colleges flock to this tournament, so it’s something we circle on our fall schedule (kind of) like Nationals and Colorado.
“The Bandits are lucky to win it back-to-back years.”
Bandits-Moran/Otto jumped out to an 8-2 lead and held on for the victory. 2027 LF Bre Meracle went 2 for 3 with a double and two runs, 2027 SS Kaylee Heberer went 1 for 4 with a double and two RBIs, 2027 1B Kendall Fakes went 2 for 3 with a run and two RBIs and uncommitted 2026 CF Colleen Fitzpatrick went 2 for 3 with a double, a home run and two RBIs to help Bandits-Moran/Otto in the finals.
“Pitching led the way with (North Carolina State-committed 2026 RHP) Thea (Staten) and (Louisville-committed 2026 RHP) Sophie (Klawitter) carrying the load on the final day,” Moran said.
“Offense was lead by (2027 SS/UT Kaylee) ‘KK’ (Heberer), (2027 OF) Bre (Meracle) and (uncommitted 2026 RHP/UT) Cali Craig, but overall it was a great weekend for most our Bandits on offense. … (2027 SS/3B) Nola (Tylke) was great this weekend as well.”
Bandits-Moran/Otto defeated Fury Platinum X-Pickett, 5-1, Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2027-Alford/Rocky, 5-2, Select Fastpitch-Alvarado, 7-3, Ohio Outlaws National-Shepherd/Abraham, 7-4, and Athletics Mercado-Hovermale/Tidd in bracket games.
Athletics Mercado-Hovermale/Tidd beat Louisville Lady Sluggers-Burt/VB, 3-2, OC Batbusters-Lara, 5-2, Impact Gold National-Siegel, 3-0, Athletics Mercado-Hovermale, 11-2, and lost to Bandits-Otto/Moran in bracket games.
— Carlos Arias, Line Drive Media (Follow Carlos on Twitter @los_stuff)
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