Day 1 at the Clearwater Fall Invitational featured the Who’s Who of the elite club teams from across the nation and didn’t disappoint with great games and individual performances.

The game of the day had to be the Mojo – Ramsey/Fisher vs. Firecrackers – Rico/Brashears back-and-forth slugfest in the 18U age division.

In the bottom of the 7^th, Morgan Bragg—a 2026 stepped to the plate with her team trailing 7-6 and hit a two-run walkoff to give the Mojo the thrilling win.

“I didn’t know it was a home run,” Morgan told Line Drive after the game.

“I lost it in the sun,” she admitted. “I just started running, my coaches were cheering and I just knew.”

Here’s a video of Morgan (right) with pitcher Bailey Shelton:

*****

Another home run hit during the game—actually in the same inning as Bragg’s walk-off above, was a bit eerie—at least for this amateur videographer (Brentt Eads of Line Drive).

I was taking photos of the at-bat by Kinley Pittman, a 2026 Ole Miss commit, when I got the impression in my head:

“Video this at-bat, she’s going to hit a home run.”

Sure enough, the very next pitch Kinley crushed a ball over the 225-foot fence in left field and I DID get it on video—albeit shooting through the backstop—with her circling the bases and being congratulated at home plate by her teammates.

Here’s that clip:

Now, I’m hoping I get an impression to pick the numbers that will in the lottery…

*****

Some other highlights from the day:

*** First stop of the day was at the 14U fields where I had a chance to check out the Georgia Impact – Cleghorn team which won its two games by scores of 7-4 and 11-6.

The team is loaded with talent including a very strong 2029 class which I had a chance to interview and that will be coming out this week.

One of those 2029’s is LG Goldin, the talented shortstop ranked No. 1 in the Line Drive HOT 100 for her class. Click HERE to read our spotlight on her from April of this year.

It’s been quite year for the standout from Georgia who plays for Buford High, the amazing prep team that just finished its season 36-0 and ranked No. 1 in the final NFCA Summer/Fall Top 25.

I caught up with her before the first game of the day and here’s what LG had to say:

*** Catch of the day had to go to Kennedy Bradley, a third baseman for Texas Glory.

In the 4 pm match-up against Arizona Rising, the 2026 grad headed to Florida dove to her left and speared a shot that looked like it was sure to get to the outfield.

The Gators are getting a heck of a defensive infielder next year…

*** Athletics Gold 14U – Tamborra/Olson had a balanced attack on the day highlighted by Allie Gautney being perfect at the plate going 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs Rebecca Cunane while went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs and Hartley Hurt hit a home run in Game 1.

Head Coach Janet Olson comments:

“This team is batting well. The top of my line-up – the first six in the order – are all batting over .400.”

The pitching has been strong too as Addison and Sophia combined to pitch eight innings and gave up only three runs.

*** Maliyah Lewis, the 2028 pitcher for the Texas Bombers 16U – Coleman/Graham team went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs to help her team go 2-0 on the day.

*** Speaking of the Bombers, the pitching was outstanding for the 16U team which only gave up one run in two games in a 4-0 win over a strong Birmingham Thunderbolts team and a 7-1 victory against another powerful squad, Firecrackers Select.

In the first game, 2028 right-handed pitcher Jessica Hinnant went four innings with three hits allowed with a walk and two strikeouts and the aforementioned Maliyah Lewis pitched an inning giving up a hit while striking out two.

*** Speaking of pitching, Lilly “Goose” Goodwin from Fountain Hills, Arizona is a lefty pitcher for Arizona Rising 18U – Appel with a great screwball and curveball while throwing heat in the mid-60s.

She was on the 18U team that won the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Championship on October 2 last month.

The Northwestern commit looked impressive today in a 5-3 win over the Texas Glory.

I sat next to her mom during the game and asked how the nickname “Goose” came to be. She said the nickname came at the time when the young athlete was playing on her first travel ball team.

Her family called her “Silly Goose” and it eventually became just “Goose” on the field.

*****

Here are all the scores from Friday’s action:

18U

16U

14U