Triple Crown Nationals is July 14-16 in Chesterfield, MO (All rankings are Line Drive’s Club National Rankings):

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18U: UNITY-JOHNSON/VB VS. UNITY-TORRES/MCHALE

Unity-Torres/McHale and #13 Unity-Johnson/VB both reached the 18U championship, but they were unable to play the final due to weather and finished as co-champions on Thursday at Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex.

Unity-Johnson/VB lost its opening game to Unity-Torres/McHale, then won six consecutive games to reach the 18U championship game and force a rematch against Unity-Torres/McHale.

Texas-bound MIF/CF Jordynn Booe (.577 AVG, 2 HRs, 10 RBIs, 12 runs), 2028 SS/UT Kylie Holden (.500 AVG, 4 HRs, 13 RBIs, 15 runs), Alabama-committed 2027 OF Morgan Waln (.500 AVG, 3 HRs, 15 RBIs) and Missouri-bound OF Hadley Borders (.500 AVG, 9 BBs) were the offensive leaders for Unity-Johnson/VB.

Michigan State-bound RHP Violet Flynn (16.1 IP, 2.14 ERA, 15 Ks) and Ohio State-committed 2027 RHP Brennan Reichmann (14.0 IP, 23 Ks) led the way in the circle for Unity-Johnson/VB.

“This was a complete team effort,” Unity coach Ashley VanBoxmeer said, “and we’re incredibly proud of the way this group competed. The offense was relentless, the pitching was steady and the defense continued to make the routine plays. Most importantly, this team is playing its best softball at the right time.”

2027 3B Leah English (.560 AVG, 6 HRs), Louisville-committed 2027 OF/UT Kaliana Ray (.476 AVG, 10 hits), Merrimack-boun OF Rachael Gurczeski-Fariello (.435 AVG, 10 hits), Boston University-committed 2027 OF Mia Favato (.409 AVG), Monmouth-bound SS/IF Leanna Chow (.400 AVG, 3 HRs, 10 RBIs) and Syracuse-bound C/OF/SS/UT Kylie Folkwein (.383 AVG, 3 HRs).

Villanova-bound P/MIF Riley Bobrowski recorded a huge 7-inning victory, Boston University-bound P Claire Shupe shut down a loaded team in 5 innings of relief, Charleston Southern-bound P/UT Emily Gaudio went 11.2 innings with a 0.00 ERA and Princeton-committed 2027 P/3B Riley Smith was dominant over 12 innings with a 2.33 ERA to pace Unity-Torres/McHale’s pitching.

“Overall, the entire team stepped up when needed (them to) as girls were struggling with heat exhaustion, others stepped in and produced,” Unity coach Shawn McHale said. “We are a selfless group playing for each other. It was a great week for the team and the organization. Looking forward to Indiana.”

#13 Unity-Johnson/VB lost to Unity-Torres/McHale, 7-4, and defeated Epic Premier STL, 16-0, Colorado Angels-Quimby/Becker, 13-0, Indiana Magic Gold 2026-Green, 10-1, Indiana Magic Gold-Bennett/Goddard, 11-1, Colorado Batbusters National-Smith, 14-0, #17 Top Gun National-Turner, 14-4, and DNP’d Unity-Torres/McHale in bracket games.

Unity-Torres/McHale defeated #13 Unity-Johnson/VB, 7-4, Indiana Magic Gold 2026-Green, 11-10, Heartland Havoc 08 Premier-Nelson, 7-0, #19 Louisville Lady Sluggers-Huecker/Norwood, 6-4, Indiana Magic Gold-Moore, 6-1, and DNP’d #13 Unity-Johnson/VB in bracket games.

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16U: UNITY 2028-TORRES VS. TOP GUN NATIONAL-SCIARA

#49 Unity 2028-Torres and #6 Top Gun National-Sciara both reached the 16U championship, but they were unable to play the final due to weather and finished as co-champions on Thursday at Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex.

2028 MIF/C/IF/OF Ariana Lee (.615 AVG, All-Tournament), 2028 OF/1B/P Erin Murphy (.593 AVG, 4 HRs, 17 RBIs, All-Tournament), 2028 P/3B/OF/SS/1B/UT Cailyn Centeno (.556 AVG, 4 HRs, 12 RBIs, All-Tournament), 2028 MIF Juliana Mena (.409 AVG, 5 RBIs), 2028 C/3B/UT Olivia Lombardi (.379 AVG, 1 HR, 8 RBIs) and 2027 3B/UT Kaelyn Brown (.517 AVG, 5 HRs, 18 RBIs, All-Tournament) were the leaders for Unity 2028-Torres. 2028 OF/P Maddie Falvey (4 wins, 1.83 ERA) o Unity 2028-Torres was named Defensive Player of the Tournament.

“This team got better as the summer went on,” Unity coach Juan Torres said. “Our success is definitely from the players cohesiveness and every player playing for each other. The plays this team made defensively showed they wanted to win. They took on every challenge with something to prove. I’m extremely proud of every player on this team and cannot wait until the fall to have this team at 16U again.”

2028 MIF Reese Randall of Top Gun National-Sciara was the tournament’s Offensive MVP. She hit .579 in 21 plate appearances with seven singles, two doubles, a triple and a HR. Randall had 6 RBIs and 10 runs scored. She finished with a .938 fielding percentage.

2028 1B Kennedy Griffin was also an integral part for Top Gun. The lefty hit .421 on the week, including three doubles, two HRs, eight RBIs and seven runs. 2028 3B Mia West (.455 AVG, 6 doubles, 1 HR) and Clemson-committed 2027 OF Zariya Mabion (.429 AVG, a double, 2 HRs) were also standout for Top Gun.

North Carolina-committed 2027 P Molly Munson (19.1 IP, 15 Ks), Ohio State-committed 2027 P Lily Brewer (11.1 IP, 7 Ks) and 2028 P Lauren Schellhammer (14.1 IP, 25 Ks) led Top Gun in the circle.

#49 Unity 2028-Torres defeated Colorado Angels-Becker, 19-2, Indiana Magic Gold National-Langlois/DePaulis, 9-1, lost to Oklahoma Ultimate Gold, 5-2, and beat Arkansas Thunder-Knight, 19-11, Select Fastpitch-Jones/Carr, 4-1, Peppers-Wallace, 9-5, Miami Stingrays-Gator, 7-5, and DNP’d #6 Top Gun National-Sciara in bracket games.

#6 Top Gun National-Sciara defeated TN Mojo-Grip/Mobley, 10-0, St. Louis Chaos 2010 National-Gill, 5-4, Turnin2-Pezz, 7-2, Top Gun 2028 National-Sciara, 7-5, #19 Armor Elite Premier 27/28-Fox, 8-7, and DNP’d #49 Unity 2028-Torres in bracket games.

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14U: TOP GUN NATIONAL-KIM 14U VS. TOP GUN NATIONAL-KIM 13U

#24 Top Gun National-Kim 14U and Top Gun 13U National-Kim both reached the 14U championship game, but did not play the final and finished as co-champions at Triple Crown Nationals on Thursday at Warrenton Athletics Complex.

“We preach about the culture at Top Gun Fastpitch,” Top Gun coach Stephanie Kim said. “My role is to build that across both our 14u teams in our national program. Both teams won their way into the championship bracket. Wednesday delivered it: our 2030 team battled through a ten-inning walk-off win over Nebraska Gold. This morning, our 14s beat Iowa Premier and refused to leave the park while their sisters played. The 2030’s rallied from down 4-0 in the bottom of the 7th to beat Arizona Storm-Mathis in the semifinal with our 14 national team cheering them on from the fence the entire game.

“When our final run sealed the comeback, both teams flooded the field together — one program, one family, celebrating a moment that belonged to all of them. It’s been a long summer developing two rosters and pushing both groups to compete at the highest level, and watching that work culminate in both teams standing together as champions, celebrating each other’s success, is the truest reflection of who we are as an organization.”

#24 Top Gun National-Kim 14U defeated Lady Dukes 29/30-Clark/Lamar, 12-0, Select Fastpitch 2011-Louis, 7-0, Beverly Bandits Futures 2012-Mercer/Carmichael, 6-4, #39 Iowa Premier National-Dickel/Paz, 5-2, and DNP’d Top Gun National-Kim 13U in bracket games.

Top Gun National-Kim 13U lost to Illinois Sluggers 2029/2030-Long, 8-7, and beat BRW Blast-MM, 14-2, Lady Dukes 29/30-Clark/Lamar, 9-3, Illinois Sluggers 2029/2030-Long, 5-1, Select Fastpitch 2011-Louis, 13-0, Nebraska Gold 2011s. 6-5, Arizona Storm National-Mathis, 5-4, and DNP’d #24 Top Gun National-Kim 14U in bracket games.

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