The Triple Crown Players Classic was held Nov. 16-17 in Hemet/Lake Elsinore/Perris, CA:

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18U: ATHLETICS MERCADO-SMITH VS. OC BATBUSTERS-STITH/MAROON

Athletics Mercado-Smith rallied for seven runs in the top of the 6th inning to beat Athletics Mercado-Cook, 13-7, in the 18U semifinals of the Triple Crown Players Classic on Sunday at Rosetta Canyon.

Athletics Mercado-Smith and OC Batbusters-Stith/Maroon both decided not to play the 18U championship game and finished as co-champions.

“Players Classic (had) good games (and was) a well-ran event,” Athletics coach Mark Smith said.

Tennessee-bound 2025 OF Taelyn Holley (.667 AVG, .713 OBP, 2.270 OPs, 1.556 SLG, 5 HRs, 10 runs, 14 RBIs), Oklahoma-committed 2026 MIF/OF Ki’ele Ho-Ching (.600 AVG, .619 OBP, 1.619 OPS, 1.000 SLG, 2 doubles, 2 HRs, 5 runs, 8 RBIs), Kentucky-committed 2026 MIF Cheri Thompson (.571 AVG, 1.643 OPS, 1.071 SLG, 10 RBIs), Ole Miss-committed 2026 1B/OF Charli Calas (.538 AVG, .571 OBP, 1.341 OPS), Arizona-bound 2025 1B Sina Talataina (.467 AVG, .526 OBP, 1.393 OPS, .867 SLG, 2 HRs, 5 runs, 6 RBIS) and Oregon State-bound 2025 OF Amaya Harrison (.417 AVG, .462 OBP, .878 SLG, 6 runs) were the leaders for Athletics Mercado-Smith.

Athletics Mercado-Smith defeated Corona Angeld-Howard, 11-1, BSC Bengals-Briggs, 9-6, and Athletics Mercado-Cook, 13-7, in bracket games.

Cal-bound 2025 1B/3B Nina Peyton-Johnson (10 for 14, 3 HRs, 11 RBIs), uncommitted 2026 2B/IF/C/OF Jayden Tamura (9 for 15, 2 HRs, 9 runs) and George Washington-bound 2025 1B/3B Veronica Esparza (7 for 12, 2 HRs) were the Batbusters’ leaders for the tournament.

OC Batbusters-Stith/Maroon beat Batbusters-Ching, 11-4, OC Batbusters-Stith/Maroon (2), 8-3, in bracket games.

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16U: ATHLETICS MERCADO-HOVERMALE VS. ATHLETICS MERCADO-TIDD

Athletics Mercado-Hovermale and Athletics Mercado-Tidd are Athletics Mercado’s top teams in the 16U and 14U divisions, respectively, and both reached the 16U championship game of the Triple Crown Players Classic on Sunday at Rosetta Canyon.

Because they are in the same organization, they decided not to play the final and finish as co-champions.

Athletics Mercado-Hovermale defeated Athletics Mercado-N. Walker, 8-0, OC Batbusters-Stith/AG, 12-3, and LTG Lions 2027-Henderson/Buck, 5-1, in bracket games.

Athletics Mercado-Tidd beat LTG-Carda, 8-5, Athletics Mercado-Hovermale/Tidd, 8-3, and Firecrackers Select RTY, 3-2, in bracket games.

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14U: FIRECRACKERS RTY-GALICIA 5, LTG LIONS 2029-BUCK 4

Firecrackers RTY-Galicia knocked off LTG Lions 2029-Buck, 5-4, in the 14U championship game of the Triple Crown Players Classic on Sunday at Diamond Field.

“Defense wins championships,” Firecrackers coach Mo Galicia said. “Our girls played stellar defense all weekend. Along with great pitching performances by (2028 P/OF Charlotte) ‘Lotte’ Shelton and home run hitting by (2028 OF) Rylie Cregut, (2028 C/1B) Riley Rasbach and (2028 OF) Ally De Alba.”

2028 IF/OF/UT Hazel Anglo (.765 AVG), 2028 MIF/3B Haley Maldonado (.667 AVG), 2028 OF Julissa “Juju” Gradilla (.600 AVG) and 2028 P/OF Charlotte “Lotte” Shelton (0.94 ERA) were the top players for Firecrackers RTY throughout the tournament.

Firecrackers RTY defeated Athletics Mercado 2K11-Romero, 4-0, Batbusters-Biggs, 8-0, and LTG Lions in bracket games.

“This means a lot to our team as it is our first championship of the fall season,” Galicia said, “with many more to come with the way this team continues to make adjustments and get better every week.”

LTG Lions beat OC Batbusters-Vidano, 10-7, Athletics Mercado 2010-Baca, 8-7, and lost to Firecrackers RTY in bracket games.

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