The PGF Shootout was held Oct. 24-26 in Orange County, CA:

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18U: ATHLETICS MERCADO-SMITH 8, LTG-HENDERSON/CARDA 0

Athletics Mercado-Smith cruised to an 8-0 victory over LTG-Henderson/Carda in the 18U championship game on Sunday at Huntington Beach Sports Complex.

Athletics Mercado-Smith received $5,500 for 1st place and LTG-Henderson/Carda received $2,500 for 2nd place.

“(It was a) great team win, even though we were missing three really good players, (but we) still got it done,” Athletics coach Mark Smith said. “Our pitching staff, (in my opinion), is the best, most complete staff in the nation.

“Offensively, every single player played important innings and contributed to each and every win, beating some really good teams along the way, including a very good (Arizona) Rising(-Appel) team with (UCLA-committed 2027 P) Coral Williams throwing a two-hit, one-run complete game in the semifinals and (Texas Tech-committed 2027 C) Hollynn Gentry hitting a go-ahead, three-run HR in the semifinal.”

Athletics Mercado-Smith defeated The Vault-Howard, 5-0, Cal Nuggets-Woods, 5-3, Washington Ladyhawks-Simpson, 11-3, Arizona Rising-Appel, 4-1, and LTG-Henderson/Carda, 8-0, in bracket games.

LTG-Henderson/Carda defeated So Cal Sting-UNO, 5-4, Extreme-Rios, 6-2, BSC Bengals-Briggs, 6-5, Breakers Labs Gold-Bobby, 6-5, and lost to Athletics Mercado-Smith, 8-0, in bracket games.

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16U: IOWA PREMIER NATIONAL-DICKEL/SHANNON VS. LK BLACK HAWAII

Iowa Premier National-Dickel/Shannon and LK Black Hawaii both reached the final and decided not to play the championship game, sharing the 16U title on Sunday at Fountain Valley Sports Park.

Both teams received $4,000 apiece in prize money.

Iowa Premier National’s pitching leaders were 2027 Curin Oberman (18 IP, 1 ER, 13 Ks, 0.39 ERA, .182 BAA) and North Carolina State-committed 2027 Daylyn Osborne (23.1 IP, 4 ER, 23 Ks, 1.20 ERA, .200 BAA).

2027 C Alexis Lorrenij (.500 AVG, 1.087 OPS, 11 hits, caught 43.1 innings and only 1 PB), 2028 MIF/3B/IF Tommi Ewing (.444 AVG, 1.085 OPS, 10 RBIs), 2027 OF Jaelynn Wilhelm (.471 AVG, 8 hits, 5 runs, 3 diving catches, 1.000 FPCT), Louisiana Monroe-committed 2027 SS Kylee Wyman (.320 AVG, 8 hits, 5 RBIs, 1.000 FPCT) and Southern Illinois-committed 2027 3B/C/UT Lanie Rosner (.333 AVG, 5 hits, 2 doubles, .444 OBP) were the offensive leaders for Iowa Premier.

“It was good to be back in Southern California this weekend,” Iowa Premier coach Greg Dickel said. “This team continues to impress this fall. We played well and beat some great opponents this weekend here. This group showed some grit and fight this weekend by playing as a team and working until the final pitch of the game. We continue to look for top level opportunities to get better and maintain our national footprint as an organization and events like this allow us to do that.”

LK Black Hawaii was led by our Cal-committed 2027 P/1B/OF Hinano Bautista, Washington-committed 2027 MIF/C/IF/OF Kahiau Aina and Hawaii-committed 2027 MIF/OF Reyni Hiraoka.

2028 C/UT Phoenix Lumabao brought the power, hitting .485 with three home runs and 14 RBIs. Also, 2028 SS Alia Anzai batted .467. 2029 P Presley Gibson led the way on the mound going 4-0 with a 1.85 ERA and only giving up five runs total.

“This is huge for our LK Black HI program,” LK Black Hawaii coach Josh Danz said. “(It was) huge for our girls and families. (It wa) huge for the state of Hawaii when it comes to softball. We are a different team from past years. We have a lot of speed and can still swing it. We give all the glory to the man above without whom this would not be possible.”

Iowa Premier National-Dickel/Shannon defeated Breakers Labs-Guzman/Vega, 12-0, Warrior Academy-McDonald/Mullins, 10-5, Sorcerer Gold-T/K, 9-8, The Vault-Howard, 5-2, and DNP’d LK Black Hawaii in bracket games.

LK Black Hawaii defeated Watson Wolfpack Premier, 9-2, CalNuggets-Woods, 4-2, Explosion-Kim/Saunders, 5-4, NW Vandals Premier-Terry, 13-5, and DNP’d Iowa Premier National-Dickel/Shannon in bracket games.

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14U: ATHLETICS MERCADO 2011-TIDD, 11, LTG LIONS 2029-HENDERSON/BUCK 2

Athletics Mercado 2011-Tidd rolled to an 11-2 victory over LTG Lions 2029-Henderson/Buck in the 14U championship game on Sunday at Yorba Regional Park.

Athletics Mercado 2011-Tidd received $5,500 prize money for 1st place and LTG Lions 2029-Henderson/Buck received $2,500 for 2nd place.

2030 SS/P Lola Braun went 3 for 3 with a grand slam, 2029 RHP/UT Jaiah Romero went 2 for 3 with a two-run home run and got the win pitching the last three innings and 2029 SS Aaliyah Zamano and 2029 OF/UT Kendall Vickers each had two hits and RBIs for the Athletics in the final.

“New team with new athletes that are getting better and better each week this fall,” Athletics coach Brian Tidd said. “It is a beginning that will continue to get tougher and more challenging for this team as we are playing in 16s the next four weeks against some of the best teams in the country.

“We have a great pitching staff and our defense is really good. This weekend our offense started to click and our entire roster produced when called upon. Lady Magic and LTG both have very good teams with pitching and hitters and our team had to come back after they both took the lead on us. Enjoyed to see the grind from the girls to win it all.”

Athletics Mercado 2011-Tidd defeated Suncats Jimenez-Lopez, 12-1, I-5 Softball-Mark/Snyder, 13-1, Lady Magic-Allen, 3-2, and LTG Lions 2029-Henderson/Buck, 11-2, in bracket games.

LTG Lions 2029-Henderson/Buck defeated Breakers Labs-Andrade/Roberts, 10-0, Firecrackers RTY Black, 13-9, BSC Bengals-R. Briggs, 6-0, and lost to Athletics Mercado 2011-Tidd, 11-2, in bracket games.

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