It’s Championship Weekend of Week 1 of the PGF Nationals.

The Platinum championships at 18U and 16U were played Friday evening in exciting games that saw one team lead before the other came back to capture the title in late-inning heroics.

Premier 16U and 18U championship games will be played Saturday at 9 am and noon respectively and noon followed by the two All-Star Games – Sophs vs. Juniors – and Seniors vs. Seniors).

Here are the results from Friday night’s title thrillers and what to expect for Saturday… we’ll have much more on these games over the next week, but here are the basics for now…

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FRIDAY NIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS

• 18U Platinum

  • Bracket A: Athletics Mercado – Sabo (CHAMPS)
  • Bracket B: Unity Meadows – Johnson (CHAMPS)
  • CHAMPIONSHIP: UNITY Meadows-Johnson 8, Athletics Mercado – Sabo 6
    • TIME: 7 PM PST… Friday, July 25, 2025
    • LOCATION: Deanna Manning Stadium in Bill Barber Park, Irvine, Calif.

GAME STORY:  After Twice Trailing By Four Runs, Unity Meadows-Johnson Explodes for Four Runs in Bottom 6 To Seal 8-6 Comeback Win Over A’s Mercado-Sabo

In a back-and-forth game worthy of the PGF National Championship stage, Unity came from behind to stun Mercado in a dramatic 8-6 win in Irvine, California second game of two Friday night in the Platinum Championship series.

Athletics Mercado 0abo struck early and often against Unity-Meadows, building a 4-0 lead by the third inning with aggressive baserunning and disciplined at-bats.

The scoring opened in the top of the second when Emily Lew led off with a triple and was brought home on a sac fly by Sammy Gehler.

A bunt from Lauren Farace (#8, 2025, Hamilton commit) led to a miscue at first, allowing her to reach safely and steal second. Ellery Housand (#21, 2026, Univ. of Ohio commit)followed with a deep sacrifice fly that plated another run.

In the top of the third, Mercado extended the lead. Rachel Millan (#28, 2025, Rutgeers) reached on a two-base error and eventually scored on a perfectly placed bunt by Gehler, which also brought in another run to give Mercado a 4-0 cushion.

Unity, however, showed resilience that defines championship teams.

In the bottom of the fourth, they struck back. With one out, Makena Meadows (#1, 2025, St. Johns) delivered a clutch double over second base to drive in two runs, and later stole third to ignite the dugout.

While Mercado ended the inning on a fielder’s choice bunt from Paisley Williamson (#6, 2025, College of Central Florida), the momentum had begun to shift.

By the top of the fifth, Mercado looked to reassert control. Coach Paul Sabo’s squad, which had battled through 13 games after a first-round loss to another A’s team, showed its trademark toughness.

Housand came through again, driving a two-out single over second to score two more, pushing the Mercado lead to 6-2.

But Unity refused to back down.

In the bottom half, Makayla Deleon (#2, 2025, Miami Dade commit) was hit by a pitch. Elle Hildreth (#11, 2025, Middle Tennessee State)—Unity’s two-way standout — laced a triple and brought Deleon home, trimming the lead to 6-4.

Unity’s defense dug in behind pitcher McKenna Hawley (#22, 2026, Central Florida) in the sixth. Deleon made a highlight-reel grab in the outfield, robbing Mercado of a would-be triple and keeping the deficit at two runs.

The bottom of the sixth was where Unity flipped the script.

Meadows led off with a single, and Leyani Viruet (#4, 2025, Miami Dade College) followed with another base hit to put runners on the corners.

What followed was a game-altering sequence—a throwing error during a rundown allowed two runs to score and tie the game. Then, with runners still threatening, Unity pulled ahead on another errant throw, making it 7-6. Hildreth next hit a sacrifice pop fly to bring in one more insurance run and cap off a four-run inning.

In the top of the seventh, Hawley stayed composed, pounding the zone with help from her defense to secure the final three outs.

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• 16U Platinum

  • Bracket A: Tennessee Mojo – Pardue (CHAMPS)
  • Bracket B: Valley Waves – Lindvall/Platt (CHAMPS)
  • CHAMPIONSHIP: Tennessee Mojo – Pardue 4, Valley Waves – Lindvall/Platt 2
    • TIME: 5 PM PST… Friday, July 25, 2025
    • LOCATION: Deanna Manning Stadium in Bill Barber Park, Irvine, Calif.

GAME STORY: MOJO Rallies Late to Win PGF National Championship 4-2 Over Valley Waves

In a dramatic back-and-forth battle worthy of the PGF National Championship, MOJO stormed back with a four-run seventh inning to defeat Valley Waves 4-2 and capture the 2024 PGF National Championship in Irvine, California.

For six innings, it was the Waves riding the momentum, but in the 7^th inning it was all MOJO.

The Valley Waves struck first in the bottom of the opening frame behind some aggressive baserunning and capitalizing on wildness from the circle.

With runners on second and third and no outs, MOJO starter Millie Purdue (#21, 2027) buckled down with two huge strikeouts. But with two outs and the bases loaded, a wild pitch brought home Penelope Yeomans (#99, 2027), and moments later, a second wild pitch gave the Waves a 2-0 edge

Credit Olivia Tirsch (#85) with setting the tone early—her clutch double to the gap set the table for the chaos to come.

The middle innings were a showcase of top-tier defense. In the top of the sixth, MOJO threatened to blow the game wide open with two on and nobody out, but Kayla Carpenter (#24) tagged third for the force, then fired a laser to Lily Barrett (#18) at first, who made a slick scoop to complete a double play.

One pitch away from bases loaded with no outs, the Waves flipped the script and escaped the jam unscathed.

MOJO’s Krimson Calhoun (#17, 2028)—a rising middle infielder from West Blocton, Alabama—flashed the leather as well, showing a cannon arm that cut down potential Waves rallies in the second and fourth innings.

Down 2-0 entering the final frame, MOJO showed they were far from being finished.

A leadoff walk followed by a single loaded the bases with no outs. A fielder’s choice plated the first run to make it 2-1, and then Kenzie White (#9) delivered the dagger—her base hit with two outs and two strikes brought home the tying and go-ahead runs, giving MOJO a 3-2 lead.

A fourth run came in on a defensive miscue, and just like that, MOJO held a 4-2 advantage.

After the go-ahead MOJO rally, Presley Watters came in to pitch for the Waves, with a loud ovation for starter Finley Suppan (#37)—daughter of former MLB player Jeff Suppan–who gave the Waves everything she had on the mound.

In the bottom half of the seventh, MOJO’s defense wrapped up the big win and stormed the field winners after coming behind in the final inning.

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SATURDAY CHAMPIONSHIPS

• 18U Premier

  • Bracket A: Arizona Rising
  • Bracket B: Lady Dukes
  • CHAMPIONSHIP:
    • TIME: 12:00 PM PST… Saturday, July 26, 2025
    • LOCATION: Deanna Manning Stadium in Bill Barber Park, Irvine, Calif.

• 16U Premier

  • Bracket A: Hotshots – Galloway
  • Bracket B: Athletics Mercado – Hovermale/Tidd
  • CHAMPIONSHIP:
    • TIME: 9 AM PST… Saturday, July 26, 2025
    • LOCATION: Deanna Manning Stadium in Bill Barber Park, Irvine, Calif.

SATURDAY ALL-STAR GAMES

• PGF High School (Futures) All American Game

  • 3 PM PST, Deanna Manning Stadium in Bill Barber Park, Irvine, Calif.

• PGF High School (Senior) All American Game

  • 7 PM PST, Deanna Manning Stadium in Bill Barber Park, Irvine, Calif.

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball