Triple Crown Nationals was held July 14-17 in Chesterfield. MO (All rankings are Line Drive Hot 50 Club National Rankings):
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18U: TOP GUN NATIONAL-TURNER 4, HOTSHOTS NAUDIN NATIONAL-VILLEGAS 2
#16 Top Gun National-Turner pulled out a 4-2 victory over Nebraska Gold 2011s in the 18U championship game on Thursday at Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex.
It concluded a very successful week for the Top Gun organization. Top Gun National-Sciara, Top Gun National-Kim and Top Gun National-Shanks/Mazzola all finished in the top-10 in 16U and Top Gun National Turner finished top-5 in 14U.
South Dakota State-bound OF Macelyn Morrow went 2 for 2 with an RBI, North Carolina State-committed 2026 LHP Kelsie Donaldson went 1 for 3 with an RBI, uncommitted 2026 C Ryanne Pozza went 1 for 3 with a homer and 2027 MIF/OF Bryli Seifert went 1 for 2 with a homer for Top Gun in the final.
Iowa-bound 1B McKenzie Leitgen (.640 AVG, .690 OBP, 2.210 OPS, 6 HRs, 4 doubles, 16 RBIs, 12 runs), Jacksonville State-committed 2026 OF Mikayla Deville (.652 AVG, 6 RBIs, 8 runs), Seifert (.560 AVG, .621 OBP, 3 HRs, 2, doubles, 14 RBIs, 13 runs), Alabama-committed 2026 MIF Olivia Keiter (.414 AVG, .469 OBP), Maryland-bound IF Sage Rodmyre (.462 AVG, 7 doubles, 1 HR, 11 RBIs, 6 runs) and Florida Atlantic-committed 2026 OF Olivia Bennett (.400 AVG) were some of the offensive leaders for Top Gun for the tournament.
Donaldson and Jacksonville State-bound RHP Makenna Moore led the pitching staff, combining for 57 strikeouts in 38 innings.
“It always means a great deal to have your team compete well in big events and this one is the pinnacle of all the Triple Crown National Championships.,” Top Gun coach Bob Turner said. “This team has had a special run over the last five years and has graduated so many special players, but this group has gelled tremendously fast and is peaking at the right time.
“We went a perfect 10-0 last year to win the Triple Crown National Power Pool at 18U and now have gone a perfect 8-0 to claim the Triple Crown national championship. It only happens when your kids genuinely enjoy playing with one another and appreciate what it means to compete. This group of kids embodies what it means to be a team and I am honored to have the opportunity to coach them.”
Top Gun defeated Carolina Elite National-Fusetti, 12-9, Indiana Magic Gold-Green, 11-9, Iowa Premier National-Yegge/Anthony, 11-3, and Hotshots Naudin National-Villegas, 4-2, in championship bracket games.
Hotshots Naudin defeated Washington Ladyhawks-Seeley/Haney, 7-0, #13 Unity-Johnson/Ricks, 12-7, Velocity National-Scheibe, 7-4, and lost to Top Gun National-Turner, 4-2, in championship bracket games.
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16U: INDIANA MAGIC GOLD-MOORE/CARMICHAEL 4, STARZ GOLD NATIONAL-BUNN 0
Indiana Magic Gold-Moore/Carmichael blanked #38 Starz Gold National-Bunn, 4-0, in the 14U championship game on Thursday at Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex.
Kentucky-committed 2026 1B/3B Kennedy Christopher went 3 for 3 with two runs and uncommitted 2026 3B/RHP Payton Morris went 2 for 3 with an RBI for IMG in the final.
Ball State-committed 2026 RHP Jaden Kiser pitched a seven-hitter with three strikeouts to record the shutout in the championship game.
Eastern Kentucky-committed 2026 MIF/OF Kenna Streeval (.522 AVG, 3 HRs, 13 RBIs) and 2027 CF/2B Harper Moore (.519 AVG, 14 hits, 9 RBIs) were some of IMG’s leaders for the tournament. Moore was named MVP of the tournament and Kiser, Indiana-committed 2026 RHP/CF Leah Helton, Penn State-committed 2026 C/1B Lily Duffel, Streeval and Moore made the All-Tournament team.
“Winning this event with this group is an amazing accomplishment,” IMG coach Andrew Moore said. “Every single player on this roster contributed to this championship during our undefeated 8-0 run this week.
“I’ve been coaching this group since 8U and we’ve been close several times, to finally get it done with this special group is a memory I will cherish forever. This is an extremely talented group, who are extreme competitors, who are as gritty as they come!!”
IMG-Moore/Carmichael defeated Top Gun National STL, 8-6, #43 Nebraska Gold 09 National, 6-5, Unity 2026-Johnson, 4-3, and Starz Gold National-Bunn, 4-0, in championship bracket games.
Starz Gold National-Bunn defeated Iowa Premier National-Shannon/Paz, 13-5, Louisville Lady Sluggers-Burt, 10-2, #50 Iowa Premier National-Dickel/Shannon, 9-5, and lost to IMG-Moore/Carmichael, 4-0, in championship bracket games.
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14U: FURY PLATINUM X-HIGDON/HUCKABAY 12, NEBRASKA GOLD 2011S 3
Fury Platinum X-Higdon/Huckabay cruised to a 12-3 victory over Nebraska Gold 2011s in the 14U championship game on Thursday at Warrenton Athletic Complex.
2029 RHP Braley Stewart (.647 AVG, 2 HRs/0.88 ERA, 16 IP) was named the MVP of the tournament and 2028 IF/OF Carleigh Allen (.562 AVG, .667 OBP, 5 SBs), 2028 3B/OF Adrianna Reyes (.429 AVG, .600 OBP, 5 SBs), 2028 LHP/OF Jaeda Tucker (.500 AVG, .636 OBP, 1.00 fielding percentage), 2028 C/IF Kat Johnson (.381 AVG, .458 OBP, 5 doubles) and 2028 RHP/UT Addi Smith (.312 AVG, .476 OBP, .964 fielding percentage) were some of the other standouts for Fury Platinum X-Higdon/Huckabay.
“After two weeks off and a great run at Patriot Games, it was great to see us pick up where we left off,” Fury Platinum coach Crosby Huckabay said. “Anytime you can win a national championship it’s really special for all that are involved. I’m so proud of our team and we hope to carry this momentum into Alliance Nationals next week.”
Fury Platinum X-Higdon/Huckabay defeated Beverly Bandits Futures-Robles/Santiago, 6-2, Louisville Lady Sluggers 2010-Velotta/Hatfield, 8-1, and Nebraska Gold 2011s, 12-3, in championship bracket games.
Nebraska Gold 2011s defeated Ohio Lasers Blue 2010, 10-0, #20 Iowa Premier National-Dickel/Paz, 15-9, and lost to Fury Platinum X-Higdon/Huckabay, 12-3, in championship bracket games.
— Carlos Arias, Line Drive Media (Follow Carlos on Twitter @los_stuff)
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