The Scenic City Fall Top 25 was held Nov. 6-8 in Dalton/Rocky Face, GA:

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18U: FURY PLATINUM X-HIGDON VS. TEAM NC-HINDE

Fury Platinum X-Higdon and Team NC-Hinde both reached the 18U championship game of the Scenic City Fall Top 25 and decided not to play final, finishing as 18U co-champions on Sunday at Edwards Park in Whitfield County, GA.

Fury Platinum X-Higdon was led by Chattanooga-bound MIF/OF Ainsley Pickett (1.819 OPS, 8 RBIs, 6 runs, 3 HRs), Murray State-committed 2028 MIF Ellie Nguyen (1.436 OPS, 7 runs, 5 RBIs), College of Charleston-bound CF Brooklyn Jones (.529 AVG, .556 OBP), Florida State-bound P/1B/3B Harleigh Price (16 IP, 1.68 ERA) and Coastal Carolina-bound P/1B Zoie Shiflett (10 IP, 1.45 ERA).

“I was very happy to see this group really come together as a team for the first time,” Fury Platinum coach Jeremy Higdon said. “You never know how things are going to go putting new pieces together in the fall. They had an absolute blast and created a great foundation for some success down the road.”

Team NC-Hinde’s top players were Clemson-committed 2028 C Cressley Patterson (.500 AVG, 1.569 OPS, .944 SLG, 7 RBIs, 1 HR), Charlotte-committed 2028 SS Zoey Woodruff (.333 AVG, 1.106 OPS, .714 SLG, 7 RBIs, 2 HRs), UNC Greensboro-bound C/OF/1B/3B Jackie Knol (.222 AVG, 1.306 OPS, .889 SLG, 6 RBIs, 2 HRs), Jacksonville-bound P Paisley Dixon (1-0, 13.1 IP, 11 Ks), Charlotte-committed 2028 LHP Riley Sutton (2-0, 12 IP, 15 Ks), North Carolina-committed 2028 RHP Savannah Frisbee (1-1, 1 save, 10.2 IP, 16 Ks) and North Carolina-bound RHP Caycee Wilson (2-0, 1 save, 4.2 IP, 4 Ks).

“Connect Sports Scenic City Top 25 is one of the most competitive fall events drawing top teams from all over the country,” Team NC coach Kevin Hinde said. “Being selected as a Top 25 team is a win itself and we don’t take that for granted. I’m really proud of this team for their grit and never-give-up attitudes. Winning six straight games against this level of competition is impressive and proves that they can compete at the highest level. A healthy team culture is key to staying competitive; especially rallying from behind. The growth of this team has impressed our coaching staff and I’m excited to watch them continue to get better and better in preparation to compete at the collegiate level.”

Fury Platinum X-Higdon defeated Athletics Mercado-Potter/Hovermale, 12-5, Tampa Mustangs-Rene 7-6, Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier, 11-4, Louisville Lady Sluggers-Huecker/Norwood, 5-0, and DNP’d Team NC-Hinde in bracket games.

Team NC Hinde beat Rhode Island Thunder National-Lotti, 4-2, Arizona Storm National-Mathis, 11-10, Select Fastpitch-Jones, 6-4, Tampa Mustangs-Fowler, 3-0, Georgia Impact Premier-Vallery, 2-0, and DNP’d Fury Platinum X-Higdon in bracket games.

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16U: USA PRIME NATIONAL-HALSTEAD VS. RHODE ISLAND THUNDER NATIONAL-LOTTI

USA Prime National-Halstead and Rhode Island Thunder National-Lotti reached the 16U championship game of the Scenic City Fall Top 25, but both teams decided not to play the final and finished as 16U co-champions on Sunday at Heritage Point in Hampton, GA.

2028 OF/UT Remi Rosado (.348 AVG, 1.139 OPS, 3 HRs, 10 RBIs), 2028 IF Gianna DeLorenzo (.450 AVG, .538 OBP, 4 doubles, 5 RBIs), Syracuse-committed 2028 IF/OF Gemma DeJoseph (.417 AVG, .500 OBP, 10 hits, 1 HR), 2028 OF/P Mia Kiskurno (.440 AVG, 11 hits), 2028 C/OF Reagan Schenzer (caught all 9 games, .412 OBP, 1 HR, 2 RBIs), Coastal Carolina-committed 2028 RHP Mary Saunders (3-0, 12 Ks, 14.1 IP, .226 BAA), Rutgers-committed 2028 P Lydia Rocky (2.02 ERA, 22 Ks, 17.1 IP, 1.04 WHIP) and 2028 P/OF Bailey Cassin (2.57 ERA, 15 Ks, 16.1 IP, .158 BNAA) were the standouts for Rhode Island Thunder.

“I’m incredibly proud of this group,” Rhode Island Thunder coach Frank Lieto said. “This is one of the most talented teams I have ever coached and for sure the deepest with still a lot of uncommitted talent. This team has really come together over the past few weeks. We went undefeated at the Ray Seymour Invitational last weekend before rain and travel ended our Sunday and we carried that right into Dalton.”

USA Prime National-Halstead defeated Louisville Lady Sluggers-Peyton, 4-1, Beverly Bandits Premier-Chow, 15-2, LTG 2029-Henderson/Buck, 5-3, Firecrackers Select RTY 2029, 9-2, Athletics mercado-Walker/Hovermale, 4-2, and DNP’d Rhode Island Thunder National-Lotti in bracket games.

“This T25 was one of the most loaded events we have ever played and for us to navigate the gauntlet as a first year 16U team, it just shows we are capable of competing with some of the best teams in the country,” USA Prime coach Jeff Halstead said. “What an incredible field of talented teams and it was just an honor to compete alongside some of the best talent in the nation in the 16U age division. Our girls are just grateful for the opportunity to showcase their skills in front of so many college coaches and it is an honor that so many of them took time from their busy schedules to come watch our team play.”

Rhode Island Thunder Nation al-Lotti defeated Team San Diego-Vidano, 5-4, EC Bullets-Lyons, 10-2, Athletics Mercado-Cook/Drew, 4-1, Wisconsin Lightning 2029/30-Sturino, 5-4, Tampa Mustangs Rene-Daddis, 9-0, and DNP’d USA Prime National-Halstead in bracket games.

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14U: BIRMINGHAM THUNDERBOLTS PREMIER 2030-WILKERSON 11, LLG FUTURES 10

Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2030-Wilkerson, the reigning PGF 14U Platinum national champion, pulled out an 11-10 victory over LLG Futures in the 14U championship game of Scenic City Fall Top 25 on Sunday at Riverbend in Irwin County, GA.

2030 SS/OF/RHP Abby Bethea, 2031 OF Heidi Harrison, 2030 UT Jazlynn Skanes, 2030 OF/2B/3B Emersyn Haney and 2030 2B/UT Ansley Wilkerson all hit over .300 for the Bolts, 2030 C Ella Chester had a team-high three homers and Bethea and Skanes had a team-high seven RBIs. 2030 P Rayelee Johnson (12 Ks, .230 BAA) led the pitching staff.

“Winning one of the biggest tournaments of the fall is very special and I’m so happy for these players,” Bolts coach Jeff Wilkerson said. “It’s a reflection of the hard work, growth and resilience this team has shown all season. Coming off a PGF National Championship, we got off to a slower start this fall, but the girls never lost sight of what they were capable of. Fast forward to now, and we’re bringing home a championship at the Top 25 Scenic City! As the girls are finally hitting their groove, with college coaches coming out in numbers to watch us compete, they continue to prove that adversity doesn’t define us — how we respond to it does.

“Through the ups and downs, injuries, challenges and everything in between, this team continues to find a way. I couldn’t be prouder of this group and the fight, commitment and character they’ve shown. I ask a lot of them. They are a special group of young ladies and I just appreciate the opportunity to coach them while they chase their dreams of playing softball in college.”

Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2030-Wilkerson defeated Athletics Mercado-Greg, 9-6, Beverly Bandits Premier-Hutch/Carmicheal, 4-1, Beverly Bandits Premier-Bauer, 7-1, and LLG Futures, 11-10, in bracket games.

LLG Futures beat Beverly Bandits Premier-Moran, 9-8, Select Fastpitch-Jones/Adams, 7-4, Tampa Mustangs Rene 2031-Pontbriant, 8-1, and lost to Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2030-Wilkerson, 11-10, in bracket games.

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