The final championship game of the 2025 PGF Nationals looked to be a great one with two of the top pitchers in the nation in the Beverly Bandits – Chow/Hardin ace Sophia Schlader and the Athletics Mercado – Tidd headline Destinee Hererra.

Both pitchers are considered two of the best in the Class of 2028—Line Drive ranked Schlader as No. 1 player in the class and Herrera No. 14 overall so it figured to be a pitcher’s duel and it was… until it wasn’t.

And that’s because of one simple reason: the A’s team is the preeminent team in the 14U age division with great pitching, hitting and defense.

Want proof?

Try a 41-5-1 over the summer of ’25 against the top competition in the country, plus the trifecta of winning the PGF Nationals, the Colorado Power Pool and Sparkler which has never been done before.

The offense was on fire all week long in Orange County, batting .350 as a unit, the defense was solid and Brian Tidd’s team rode “their workhorse,” Destinee Herrera, all Summer even though the pitcher is only two years removed from playing rec ball.

Both teams scored a run in the second inning with the first run of the game coming in the top of the second when Bandits third baseman Ash Hite lead off with a single to deep shortstop, went to second on a passed ball and went to third on a fielder’s choice. 1-0. She came around to score on a wild pitch and the Bandits were on the board.

The Athletics answered with a run in the bottom of the second inning as Nia Talataina walked and went to second on a sac bunt by Paityn Miller. Audrey Iwai lined a double to the left field wall to bring Talataina home to even the score at 1-1.

The pitcher’s dual materialized as both Schlader and Herrera went step for step although both teams had opportunities to capture the lead… in the bottom of the 3^rd, the Athletics loaded the bases on two hit batters and a walk, but Schlader got the third out on a strikeout.

Similarly, the Bandits loaded the bases and appeared to score the go-ahead run in the top of the 4^th inning, but offensive interference was called on the runner going to second and the call ended the inning still 1-1

Through the first three innings, Schlader had only given up one hit, but in the bottom of the 4^th, the roof caved in on the Bandits thanks to some timely hitting by the bottom of the order for the A’s and some uncharacteristic errors by the Bandits.

The Athletics loaded the bases on one-out singles by Laney Sweeney and Jasmine Estrada with a walk by Hailey Huerta.

KK Encinas, the leadoff hitter, had a key hit—a double up the middle plating Maddy Solis (a courtesy runner for Sweeney) and Estrada—and throwing error allowed Huerta and Encinas to come in making it an unusual four-run play putting the Athletics ahead 5-1.

Talataina hit a sac fly to center to bring home Kendra Nelsen home and shortly after DP Paityn Miller drove in the 7^th run on a double to the left center wall to score Sophioa Hernandez, who had reached via an infielder throwing error.

The Bandits would load the bases in the top of the 7^th and were able to plate two but Herrera closed the door to give the Athletics organization, it’s second PGF National Championship of the day after the Athletics Mercado – Romero captured the 14U Platinum title in the first of the three games played today at DeAnna Manning Stadium located in Bill Barber Park in Irvine, Calif.

Seven different batters had at lease one of the winning team’s nine hits led by Kendra Nelsen who went 2-for-3 with a run scored. KK Encinas drove in two on the eventful 4^th inning when the Athletics blew the game upon with six runs scored.

Herrera went the full seven innings giving up seven hits but only one earned (of the three the Bandits scored).

For the Bandits, shortstop Demi Lotus drove in two and Mags Aguinao went 2-for-3 but on this day, the breaks fell the Athletics way, and the only question was where the team would have its celebratory dinner.

The consensus pick? BJ’s Restaurant—presumably the one just a few miles away in Irvine–leading one coach to jokingly say: “We won a national championship and instead of saying, ‘I’m going to Disneyland!’ our team says: “I’m going to BJ’s!”

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball

Check out our highlight clips from today’s PGF 14U Premier championship game…