Ever wonder why Pacifica and other Southern California high school teams are so competitive?
These players are being coached by some of the top club coaches and facing the toughest competition in the United States all with one goal in mind — competing in and winning the PGF “Premier Girls Fastpitch” National Championship.
At the end of the week-long event, there are only two teams standing in each of the three age divisions – 14 and under, 16 and under and 18-high school – and several local softball players left their mark in each of the events.
In the 14U division, the So Cal Athletics started Pacifica pitcher Katya Duvall.
Katya made a name for herself on the undefeated 28-0 junior varsity squad finishing the season with less than a 0.25 ERA and was moved up to varsity for both the Carew Classic Tournament and CIF.
Although the Athletics fell short in a 3 to 2 loss, Duvall finished the tournament strong with two shutout victories, allowing 19 hits and two walks, with a 0.75 ERA and 39 strikeouts.
Duvall has amazing spin and movement on her pitches and could be an asset to an already strong varsity bullpen, providing an entirely different look..
In 18HS division, Faith Canfield and the So Cal Athletics faced off against OC Varsity Sophomore of the Year and All American infielder Nicole DeWitt and the Worth Firecrackers.
In a battle to the end, the Athletics pulled out a 5-4 victory to claim the championship for the third straight year.
Canfield had six RBIs including an RBI single and a run scored in the championship while DeWitt scored 15 runs, had 14 hits with five doubles and three stolen bases throughout the tournament, including a double and game-tying run in the 6th inning during the championship game.
In the 16U division, Team Mizuno with the two-headed monster in the circle reared its head again as All-State pitcher Kaylee Carlson and freshman All American pitcher Kaley Winegarner tag-teamed against the Corona Angels Knighten in a 5 -1 championship victory.
Brooke Marquez, Pacifica’s star second baseman batted .333 with 4 runs scored and six RBIs and as usual played excellent defense; Winegarner had three wins (including the championship) and one pool play loss with one shut-out allowing 15 hits, six walks with 18 strikeouts and a 1.17 ERA while Kaylee Carlson posted three shut-out victories and one championship save, allowing just seven hits, no walks with 27 strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA for the tournament.
All-County catcher, Jenavee Peres (Garden Grove High) and the Firecrackers 16U team also competed in the tournament finishing in third place batting .414 with 14 hits, two doubles, one home run and six RBIs.
The games were played at locations in Fountain Valley, Irvine and Huntington Beach.
All three games were videotaped and will air on Fox Sports West on Saturday, Aug. 11.
National fastpitch champs
