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 16U games:

2028 SS Makenzie Thomas and 2028 1B/UT Khloe Williams homered to pace #3 Impact Gold-Jazz past #31 Fury Platinum X-Pickett, 11-3, to qualify for the Elite 8.

“For us to be successful, we have to continue playing together and trusting our preparation,” Impact Gold coach Jazz Jackson Vesely said. “These young women have practiced and put in the work since August and it’s paying off. I’m proud of the way we’re beginning to peak at the right time. Now, it’s about staying together, trusting each other and playing the game the way we know we can.” …

2028 C Ryann Harris went 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs to propel #25 Texas Bombers Gold-Serie past #19 Armor Elite Premier 27/28-Fox, 8-0, and into the Elite 8.

“Today was important for our group for many reasons, one, being last year we were eliminated in the same position we were in today,” Texas Bombers coach Dale Serie said. “The girls, knowing that and wanting to embrace that challenge, let’s us know exactly where they are mentally and ready to compete the remainder of the tournament.” …

2028 LHP Jaeda Tucker allowed two hits, one run and struck out four in five innings to lead Fury Platinum X-Higdon/Carr past Indiana Magic Gold National-Hoggatt, 3-1, to advance to the Elite 8.

“We feel like this is a really a big accomplishment for a true first-year 16U team,” Fury Platinum X coach Brandon Carr said. “We’re proud of the way they’ve competed this week and can’t wait to see what the next few days have in store.” …

2028 CF Paityn Donaldson went 3 for 3 with two doubles. a home run and four RBIs, South Florida-committed 2027 3B/2B Kam Pickering hit a grand slam and 2028 OF/1B Sam Otano went 2 for 2 with two runs and two RBIs to help #20 Santa Fe Inferno-Nowling beat #32 Impact Gold-Vaughn/Jazz, 12-0, and advance to the Elite 8.

“Great pitching, solid defense and timely hitting have helped us get to this point,” Santa Fe Inferno coach Jason Nowling said. “If we keep that up, we have a chance.” …

Rock Valley College-committed 2027 OF/UT Maddie Nordahl delivered a walk-off single to drive in the winning run in the bottom of the 7th inning as Indiana Magic Gold-Carroll beat Tampa Mustangs-Rene, 6-5, to advance to the Elite 8.

“We are super proud of all of the hard work these girls have put into themselves and each other all week,” IMG coach Brent Carroll said. “AFCS is tough and without the buy in from all 14 of them, we wouldn’t be here. Every team that we have run into has been the best competition we’ve seen all year, but they’ve shown up to compete and have earned their spot in the Elite 8. Special thanks to Brian Green for allowing us to be a part of the IMG family.” …

Empire State Huskies National-Porcelli/Roberts came out of the loser’s bracket, beating St. Louis Chaos 2010 National-Gill, 6-5, and, 6-4, to advance to the Elite 8. …

Oklahoma Athletics 2010 National-Madden edged #33 Aces Fastpitch, 5-4, to advance to the Elite 8.

“(We need to) keep pitching and hitting good, stay focused and continue to play our way,” Oklahoma Athletics coach Nickie Madden said. …

Turnin2-Pezz bounced back from a 6-5 loss to defeat #2 Warrior Academy-McDonald/Mullins, 14-13, in the IF game to reach the Elite 8. …

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In 18U games:

Texas State-committed 2027 C/3B/1B Morgan Sanchez went 2 for 4 with three RBIs as #5 Texas Bombers Gold-Smith took care of Turnin2-Robeson/Long, 9-4, to advance to the Elite 8.

“I am beyond proud of this young group advancing to the Elite 8 for the fifth time in six years,” Texas Bombers coach Scott Smith said. “We give ourselves a chance at a national championship and that is always the goal! The poise they showed today really highlights the hard work they have put in all year!” …

Western Kentucky-bound RHP Kaylor West pitched four hitless/scoreless innings with two strikeouts to lead #45 Fury Platinum X-Higdon over #14 Corona Angels-Tyson, 10-0, to advance to the Elite 8.

“I’m really proud of our players to come out on top of such a storied club and 18U program in such a big game,” Fury Platinum X coach Jeremy Higdon said. “We have a lot of work left to do this week.” …

Kentucky-bound OF/SS Brynley Erb went 3 for 3 with two home runs and three RBIs, Western Kentucky-bound RHP/1B Layla Ogden went 2 for 3 with a home run, Florida State-bound MIF McLaine Hudson went 2 for 4 with a double and a triple, Liberty-bound OF/IF Molly Hancock hit a home run and drove in two runs and Kentucky-committed 2027 RHP Courtney Norwood went the distance and pitched a shutout as #19 Louisville Lady Sluggers-Huecker/Norwood defeated Colorado Batbusters National-Smith, 8-0, to advance to the Elite 8.

“Offensively, we’ve done a great job this week,” Lady Sluggers coach Scott Norwood said. “Defensively, we’ve been playing about as clean as you can ask and that’s been a huge part of our success. Our pitching staff has really locked things down this week and given us a chance to win every time we’ve taken the field. You don’t always get another opportunity with a group like this. We want to make sure that when we walk off the field for the last time together (and) we know we gave each other everything we had.” …

2028 RHP/MIF Sydney Root pitched 5.2 innings for the win and Florida-bound RHP Liliana Escobar picked up the save as #7 OC Batbusters-Stith picked up an 8-3 win over #2 Aces Fastpitch, the reigning 18U Alliance national champion, to advance to the Elite 8 for the seventh straight year.

“(We’re) sticking to the basics of what makes us good,” OC Batbusters coach Mike Stith said. “People try and change and fix stuff, now, when what will always matter is keeping things simple and doing the things we do, we’ll (be) great.” …

Nebraska-committed 2027 OF Nadia Jeffries had three hits, Texas Tech-committed 2027 IF/UT Londyn Bond had two RBIs and Oklahoma-bound P/OF Keegan Baker allowed seven hits, a run and struck out six in seven innings to lead Oklahoma Athletics National 26/27-Madden/Brown past NJ Pride-Stern, 3-1, in the IF game to advance to the Elite 8. …

Texas Glory came out of the loser’s bracket to beat Oklahoma Athletics-Madden/Davis, 9-1, and, 8-3, to advance to the Elite 8. …

Impact Gold-Jackson came out of the loser’s bracket to beat Tampa Mustangs-Fowler, 7-3, and, 16-2, to advance to the Elite 8. …

OC Batbusters-Black/AG took care of Team NC-Bowman, 12-4, to advance to the Elite 8. …

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