Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series (AFCS) Is July 20-26 at Westfield/Kokomo, IN (All rankings are Line Drive’s Club National Rankings):

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In the 18U Tier 1 National Championship Series:

Ole Miss-bound OF/3B/1B/C Abby Lynch-Buxton provided the dramatics and the firepower as #5 Texas Bombers Gold-Smith outlasted #7 OC Batbusters-Sith, 6-4, in Game 1 of the AFCS 18U Tier 1 national championship series on Saturday at Kokomo High Stadium in Indiana.

“I’m super stoked!!!” Lynch-Buxton said. “It was a great battle until the end and we followed through with our plan to win.”

Lynch-Buxton connected on a two-run home run in the bottom of the 2nd inning to give the Bombers a 2-0 lead.

Oklahoma-committed 2027 C/3B Riley Hilliard drilled a three-run homer in the top of the 3rd inning to give the Batbusters a 3-2 lead.

Lynch-Buxton came through with an RBI double in the bottom of the 4th inning as the Bombers tied it, 3-3.

Washington-committed 2027 RHP Abby Ford got out of a bass-loaded, no-out situation with back-to-back strikeouts and a flyout to get the Batbusters out of the bottom of the 5th inning.

2028 1B/LHP Tulutulelei Elodia Salue led off the top of the 6th inning with a double for the Batbusters. With runners on first and third, an E-5 by Bombers 3B Michaela Landers on a squeeze attempt allowed the Batbusters to take a 4-3 lead. The officials overruled the call after a replay, so the score remained tied, 3-3.

The Batbusters picked up a run on a fielder’s choice for a 4-3 lead in the top of the 8th inning.

Lynch-Buxton solidified the comeback with a walk-off, three-run bomb to center field to give the Bombers a 6-4 win over the Batbusters in Game 1. That was six RBIs for Lynch-Buxton.

“That was a war,” Bombers coach Scott Smith said. “And we were very fortunate to come out on top. We showed a lot of poise when they took the lead and did not panic. That type of fight is something we have done all year and it was great to see it show up in the biggest moments.”

#7 OC Batbusters-Stith defeated #45 Fury Platinum X-Higdon, 6-5, and #5 Texas Bombers Gold-Smith beat Oklahoma Athletics National 26/27-Madden/Brown, 6-4, to reach the national championship series.

Game 2 and 3 of the national championship series will be played on Sunday at 9 a.m. PT and 11:15 a.m. PT.

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In the 16U Tier 1 National Championship Series:

Texas Bombers Gold-Serie moved a step closer to a national championship by beating Turnin2-Pezz, 10-2, in Game 1 of the AFCS 16U Tier 1 national championship series on Saturday at Kokomo High Stadium in Indiana.

“Our girls came out and picked up where they left off from today,” Bombers coach Dale Serie said. “We are excited about the position we are in and how we are playing.”

2028 C/3B/IF Ryann Harris belted a three-run homer and 2028 MIF Ainsley Morvan added an RBI single in the top of the 5th inning to give Texas Bombers Gold-Serie a 5-1 advantage.

2028 3B/2B/OF/UT Joley Bennett delivered a three-run double in the top of the 6th inning to give the Bombers an 8-1 lead.

2028 RHP Jessica Hinnant allowed four hits, two runs and struck out five in seven innings to record the complete game victory for the Bombers.

#25 Texas Bombers Gold-Serie beat #20 Santa Fe Inferno-Nowling twice, 7-1, and, 10-2, to advance to the national championship series.

Turnin2-Pezz came out of the loser’s bracket and beat Empire State Huskies National-Porcelli/Roberts twice, 10-1, and 4-2, to reach the national championship series.

Game 2 and 3 of the national championship series will be played on Sunday at 6 a.m. PT and 2 p.m. PT.

“Biggest takeaway is they are really, really good,” Turnin2 coach Ron Pezzoni said. “We know we have to play clean to stay in the game with those guys and we didn’t. We’ll come back in the morning fresh and ready to play and see what happens.”

— Carlos Arias, Line Drive Media (Follow Carlos on Instagram @los_stuff)