The heat wasn’t just on the turf in Westfield, Indiana this week. It was in the dugouts, at the plate, and spinning off the fingertips of every ace with a Tier One ticket on the line.

The Regional round of the 2025 Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series delivered everything we’ve come to expect and more. Powerhouses held their ground. Dark horses rose.

And by Sunday, 16 teams stood tall, each with a seat at the Tier One table and a chance to make a real run at the summer’s biggest crown.

Courtesy of our friends at Florida Fastpitch here’s a recap of each of the 16 regions highlighting which teams are hot and look like the ones to beat…

*****

Region 1

Let’s start in Region 1, where the Texas Bombers 16U squad did what Texas Bombers teams tend to do in July: they showed up prepared, polished, and not particularly interested in close games.

A 5-0 shutout over EC Bullets-Schnute/Bilz set the tone, with Peyton Phillips tossing a gem, a one-hit, 10 strikeouts, zero stress performance. Game 2 brought a little more offense and a few long balls as the Bombers beat Epic National Smith 16U by an 8-2 margin. Nia De Luna and Shug Bradford each launched home runs and the entire roster played like they had a plane to catch and no interest in extra innings.

This is a group that’s not just dangerous, they’re dialed in.

Region 2

Region 2 saw the Louisville Lady Sluggers Huecker/Norwood squad put on a quiet clinic. No headline-grabbing moments, just fundamentally sound softball.

Over the course of two games, they outscored their opponents 15 to 1, never giving up momentum and rarely looking uncomfortable. Their defense was clean, their pitching crisp, and their offensive approach measured but effective.

There’s something about this team that suggests they’ll be just as dangerous in the late innings of a Super Regional as they are in the early ones. They’re not flashy, but they win. And in this tournament, that’s the only metric that matters.

Region 3

Out of Region 3 came Impact Gold Jazz 16U, another team that looked like it had been here before. Two games, two wins, and very few mistakes. They were especially strong in the circle, limiting damage and controlling tempo from the first pitch to the last. While other teams leaned on slugging or speed, this group relied on execution.

They didn’t need crooked numbers or dramatic rallies. They just played solid softball and forced their opponents to make the first mistake. Most of them did.

Region 4

Texas Glory 16U advanced from Region 4, and if there was an award for best offensive weekend, they’d be at the top of the list.

Over two games, they scored a combined 17 runs, taking care of EC Bullets Cornett and Oklahoma Athletics Madden/Brown in impressive fashion. It wasn’t just one or two hitters doing the damage either. The entire lineup looked locked in, from top to bottom. Extra-base hits, smart baserunning, well-executed situational play—it was all there. I

If they keep swinging it like this, they’re going to be a problem.

Region 5

Empire State Huskies National Porcelli earned their Tier One berth the hard way in Region 5, going 3-0 and beating three strong clubs along the way.

Their opening 5-0 win over Bombers NTX 08 set the tone, but it was the 2-1 grind-it-out win over Unity TJ 2027 that really showed what this team is made of: gritty, tough, and unafraid of pressure. They wrapped the weekend with a 4-2 win over Iowa Premier Dickel/Shannon.

This is a Northeast group with toughness and tenacity, and their 3-0 record reflects it.

Region 6

Region 6 belonged to Outlaws National Wolff/Leggins, who looked sharp in a 7-1 win over Firecrackers RTY Select 16U. That score only tells part of the story.

The Outlaws controlled the game from pitch one, with dominant pitching and relentless pressure on offense. Their ability to stay aggressive without getting sloppy is what sets them apart.

They play with pace, and they don’t flinch. It wasn’t a long weekend for them, but it was an impressive one.

Region 7

Then there’s Region 7, where Impact Gold Vaughn/Jazz 16U took care of business with a pair of wins that showed just how balanced they are.

First, they ran up 11 on Midwest Speed 15U Hall/Mills. Then, they shut out Aces Fastpitch 16U with a composed and clean 5-0 victory. This group brings the full package: power, pitching, and polish.

There’s something about the way they play that suggests they aren’t even close to peaking. That’s bad news for everyone else.

Region 8

Region 8 featured a dominant showing from Team North Carolina Bowman, and nobody had a better weekend at the plate than Savannah Coln.

In the opening 2-0 win over Stars National Scott, Coln homered and helped drive the offense early. In Game 2, an 8-0 run-rule over the Corona Angels FTS, she went 3-for-4 with a single, double, and another home run. Her bat was loud, but the whole team was humming. The pitching was just as effective, and the defense was spotless.

It was a complete effort from a team that clearly came ready.

Region 9

The home-state crowd had plenty to cheer about in Region 9, where Indiana Magic Gold Bennett/Goddard 16U put together two convincing wins.

Game 1 was a 6-0 shutout of VA Glory Garza behind a lights-out performance from Grace Swedarsky, who struck out nine. Game two brought the fireworks, as Haley Schatko and Jenna Mannon each homered in a 10-2 rout of Team PA Hall.

The Magic didn’t just win. They looked like a team built for the long haul, one that can adjust and respond to whatever style of game gets thrown their way.

Region 10

Fury Platinum X Hutchins took Region 10 with a clutch, hard-fought win over Turnin2 Pezz/King. It wasn’t the flashiest win of the weekend, but it might’ve been one of the most important.

These kinds of tight, late-inning games are what define championship runs. Fury Platinum kept their composure, executed when it mattered, and left the field with the W.

In a tournament full of high scores and blowouts, there’s real value in a group that can win the close ones.

Region 11

OC Batbusters Fernandez came out of Region 11 looking like a team with unfinished business. They beat Iowa Premier Carroll 5-2 and did so with the kind of calm, calculated execution you expect from the Batbusters brand.

It’s not always loud, but it’s always effective. They don’t need crooked innings. They just need a lead and a few innings to protect it. That’s exactly what they got.

Region 12

In Region 12, Unity Torres/McHale turned their games into a power showcase. They edged Gators Premier 8-7 in a slugfest, then took care of Bombers Gold Jacoby 7-4.

The long ball was the story here. Elizabeth Yanni and Kylie Folkwein each homered in Game 1, but they weren’t done. Game two saw four different players go deep: Folkwein again, along with Leah English, Rachel Gurczeski-Fariello, and Gabby Bryce.

That kind of production doesn’t happen by accident. These hitters were dialed in and dangerous from the first pitch of the weekend to the last.

Region 13

Down in Region 13, Tampa Mustangs Pynes/Rene did everything you want a Tier One qualifier to do. They scored runs, they prevented runs, and they made it all look fairly routine with 13 runs for, zero runs allowed.

Grace Needle and Emma Pynes each left the yard, and the pitching staff didn’t give up much of anything.

That’s the recipe for a long stay in the tournament. Strong pitching, timely hitting, and the confidence to know you’ve got both.

Region 14

The Atlanta Vipers Gold 09 Crenshaw team emerged from Region 14 with little fanfare but a lot of control. No full stat lines or blowouts needed. Just consistent, pressure-tested softball and strong pitching when it mattered.

They might not have been loud, but they were efficient. And in this format, that can go a long way.

Region 15

Buzz 16U Gold had a full weekend in Region 15, taking down three solid teams in Nationals Batts/Garner, Firecrackers Leles, and Indiana Magic Gold Moore.

It wasn’t just the volume of wins, but the quality. Each opponent brought a different challenge, and Buzz passed each test with poise.

They’re playing with confidence and swagger right now. That’s dangerous.

Region 16

Rounding things out in Region 16 were the AI Bandits Breer, who earned their way into Tier One with a pair of gritty wins.

They beat Finesse Munoz 4-1 and then edged Fury Platinum Pickett 2-1. Joie Cunningham played the role of offensive catalyst, going 3-for-4 with four runs batted in across the two games.

There was nothing fancy about the Bandits’ weekend, just steady execution and a belief in their system. That kind of approach tends to age well in bracket play.

*****

Now with the Regional round in the books, 16 teams are moving on with Tier One dreams and championship aspirations.

Some rode hot bats. Others leaned on dominant arms or mistake-free defense. But all of them earned their spot. The Super Regionals are up next, and with this group, every inning will be a battle.

Grab your seat and bring your best. The real show is just getting started.