Hold on to your bats, folks, because we’ve got some tournament highlights that’ll make your head spin faster than a curveball from Clayton Kershaw. Let’s start off with the USSSA CF Success is Earned event, where the high school division saw Firecrakers FL – Hughes 16U come out on top like a boss. They dominated the Lady Dukes Warren/Arguelles, handing them a 12-2 loss in the final.
Reese Cianciarulo, the superstar of the day, went a blistering 3-for-4 with a double, triple, and a whopping 3 RBI. That’s what you call a stat line that would make even Babe Ruth do a double-take. And let’s not forget about Addy Morford, who also chipped in with 3 RBI of her own. But it wasn’t just the offense that was on fire, folks. Cianciarulo also showed off her pitching skills, allowing just two runs on four hits to secure the championship. Talk about a true MVP performance.
Now, let’s slide into the PGF Bownet Gold Cup, where the 14U division played out exactly as we expected. The Clearwater Bullets 14U Schultheis walked off the Bombers Gold 14U with a 4-3 victory, claiming not only the tournament win but also their brand-spanking new Bownets. Talk about a double win, folks. The hero of the day was none other than Karaline Oglialoro, who delivered a clutch single to bring home the winning run in the fifth inning. Six different Bullet players got in on the hitting action, while Adriana Layne and Jessilyn Vera did their best to keep the Bombers in the game with two hits each. Vera even had the audacity to hit a double and a triple. Impressive, but not enough to snatch the victory away from the Bullets.
In the High School Division, it was Wagner’s 18U Janata who took the crown by storm, defeating Firecrakers Stockton/Amato 4-1. These girls were hotter than a firecracker on the Fourth of July, posting an impressive 8-1 record throughout the tournament. Colby Reish, the designated slugger, went 2-for-2 with a double and accounted for a mind-boggling 3 out of the 4 RBI. Now, that’s what I call a one-woman wrecking crew. And let’s not forget about Ava Millspaugh, who shut down the opposition like a traffic cop on a mission. She allowed zero earned runs and only surrendered one measly hit. Talk about a pitching clinic, folks.
Last but not least, let’s take a peek at the Clearwater Classic National Showcase, where the 14U division saw the Batbusters 09 put on an offensive spectacle. They made a statement with a resounding 14-2 victory, led by the incredible Karina Lozada, who went 3-for-3 with a double, triple, and 3 RBI. Talk about a hitting extravaganza. Addison Post and Gigi Alvarez also got in on the action, unleashing their own triples to add to the Batbusters’ highlight reel.
In the 16U bracket, the VA Thunderbolts 2026 – Cassedy pulled off a thrilling 7-5 win over Rock Gold Conrad. It was a tale of inverses, folks, as Rock Gold had more hits (7) than the Thunderbolts (5), but it was the Thunderbolts who came out on top. Arianna Pitts stepped up big time for the Thunderbolts, driving in two crucial runs to secure the victory. It just goes to show that it’s not always about quantity but about quality.
And finally, in the high school division, the Clearwater Bullets – Klinefelter took home the trophy with a 5-3 win over the Lake County Tigers. Camryn Nolte was the star of the show, going 2-for-2 with a double and 2 RBI. These girls were on fire, folks, and they proved that bullets do indeed fly straight and true.
So there you have it, folks, a rundown of some of the action-packed tournaments that had coaches drooling and fans on the edge of their seats. Florida sure knows how to bring the heat, and these teams brought it like a five-alarm fire. Until next time, keep your eyes glued to the diamond, because you never know when the next softball sensation will take the stage and leave you awestruck.
