The second year of the Patriot Games held in Windsor, Colo. was a big success as it wrapped up with the championships on Saturday, June 29, 2024, crowing champions in the 18U, 16U and 14U age divisions

Here are some highlights from the title matches – click HERE to see all the event’s scores.

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18U: Athletics – Mercado 7, Texas Bombers – Smith 3

The A’s 18U team coached by Dave Mercado jumped out to a 7-0 lead by the end of the third inning and the game was effectively over in the first inning when Ki’ele Ho-Ching smashed a grand slam.

Click HERE to see the interview I did with Ki’ele after the championship win.

Ho-Ching, a 2026 infielder who batted sixth in the order, went 2-for-2 and scored two runs. In the second inning, 2024 Ole Miss-bound pitcher/duo standout Persy Llamas slugged a home run as part of her 3-for-4, two-RBI day.

In the circle, 2024 grad Cambria (“Cam”) Salmon who is headed to Texas was the winning pitcher as she gave up just three hits and no earned over four innings with five strikeouts.

There was a controversial play in the bottom of the 3^rd inning when Bombers 2025 middle infielder Caigan Crabtree, a Texas commit, hit a ball deep to the outfield and the A’s centerfielder caught the ball but fell over the temporary fence.

The dispute came as to whether the deep fly ball was caught prior to—or after—the Athletics outfielder crashed through the fence. Eventually, the call was a two-run home run which put the score at 7-3 Athletics and that would be the final score and the title for the SoCal-based team.

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16U: Texas Bombers Gold – Serie 6, Impact Gold – Jazz 4

In the 16U finale, Dale Serie’s 16U team jumped out to a 6-0 lead after three complete innings only to see the Impact Gold squad make a furious comeback before losing 6-4.

The Bombers scored two in the bottom of the 1^st as a double by 2025 catcher Tessie Harrison, a Louisiana – Monroe commit, plated two runs. The other offensive star for the Bombers was 2026 outfielder Josie Busceme who went 3-for-3 and drove in a run.

After the big win, Coach Serie sat his players down in a circle and praised their performances.

“I told the girls: ‘It’s important to understand your role,’” Coach Serie answered. “We’ve seen and played this team before and today were more confident in ourselves… that was the difference.”

Pitching instructor Brooke Vestal emphasized that the pitching was a huge difference in the

“Our pitchers had great energy,” Vestal said,” and were truly having fun. That really made a difference.”

Here’s an interview with Josie after she was given the Game Ball by her coaching staff, which includes Brooke Vestale, the pitching instructor and former Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Texas A&M pitcher who will be a graduate assistant for the Aggies next year:

Cali Deal, an LSU committed 2025 pitcher, got it done in the circle as she allowed six hits and three earned runs in five innings.

For the Jazz, 2026 leftfielder Madalyn Davis went 3-for-3 and 2025 catcher Kaiya Fabela, committed to BYU, had a run-scoring triple in the losing cause.

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14U: Athletics – Mercado/Tidd 5, Texas Bombers Gold 3

Similar to the 16U championship, the youngest age division at the event saw the winning team jump out to an early only to see the losing squad make it close at the end.

Brian Tidd’s Athletics team got on the scoreboard first after a scoreless four and a half innings as 2027 catcher Charlize Massingale homered to spark a five-run inning. Also in the critical bottom of the fourth, 2027 infielder Maya Matthies hit a two-run double and 2027 middle infielder Hayden Huerta singled home a run.

Pitcher Daniella Boccanfusa, a 2027 grad like all her A’s teammates except two 2028 grads, took the win as she gave up nine hits but only two earned runs in 5.1 innings. She was praised by her coaches and teammates who supported her on and off the field as this video right after the game demonstrates:

Championship Video Clip: How Daniella Boccanfuso Helped Athletics – Tidd Win The Patriot Games 14U Title “All as A Team Together” In This Hilarious Interview

The Bombers made it a game with a run scored in the top of the fifth inning and two more in the sixth, but the Athletics organization won its second championship of the day thanks to 2027 pitcher Ava Phillips’ relief pitching as she came in with one out in the top of the sixth inning and gave up one hit before sealing the victory.

Here’s an interview recorded with Athletics – Tidd Head Coach Brian Tidd right after the trophy-winning game:

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball

Continue reading below for some of my thoughts on the Patriot Games…