IRVINE One team with Orange County players shouted “West Coast! Best Coast!” after its all-star game victory.
Another squad with county players captured the highest division in arguably the toughest tournament in the nation.
Orange County softball was indeed well-represented in the two spotlight games hosted by Premier Girls Fastpitch at Deanna Manning Stadium on Saturday.
Former Orange Lutheran center fielder Ciara Briggs went 2 for 3 and scored the first run of the pivotal third inning to help the West defeat the East 6-3 in the fourth PGF High School All-American Game.
The OC offensive POY @ciarabriggs6 w/ a well-placed single in 3rd, could be 2 for 2 but was robbed of single in 1st @ocvarsity
pic.twitter.com/VUVdqq1PlK
— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) July 28, 2019
Earlier on Saturday, the Temecula-based Athletics Mercado, featuring Beckman senior utility player Madi Simon among other county players, edged Georgia Impact 1-0 in the 18-and-under final in Premier Division of the 10th annual PGF national championships.
“If you make it that game, you have to be considered the two top teams in the country,” PGF president Dan Hay said of the 18-and-under final. “You had to beat every strong organization in the United States to get there. There’s no doubt (who’s the best).”
The West all-stars started former Huntington Beach star Jadelyn Allchin in left fielder and batted her leadoff.
Briggs batted second and played center fielder.
Yes @ciarabriggs6 @jadelynallchin in the starting lineup for the West @ocvarsity
— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) July 27, 2019
After Allchin drew a one-out walk in the third, Briggs followed with a single to right and later scored the first run of the game on a two-out bases-loaded walk.
The West scored four more times with two outs to open a 5-0 lead and added another run in the seventh. The East scored three times in the fifth on a two-out error.
“It was amazing,” the LSU-bound Briggs said of the all-star game. “Being able to come out with the top players on the West Coast, getting to know each other and play together, it was really fun before college.”
Briggs, The Register’s reigning offensive player of the year, also singled down the field field line in the fourth inning.
She almost went 3 for 3 but her sinking liner to right in the first inning was snagged just before hitting the grass by Oklahoma-bound Rylie Boone.
West third baseman Jazmine Hill from Gahr was selected the game’s first MVP. The Arizona State-bound Hill had a single and double and played sparkling defense.
Orange Lutheran pitcher/infielder Miranda Stoddard didn’t play in the all-star game because of a sprained thumb from the Colorado tournament but enjoyed a memorable day.
She and Edison pitcher Jenna Bloom (Arkansas) were also on the Athletics-Mercado team with Simon. Stoddard served as a pinch-runner for the team, which went 10-0 in the tournament.
“It’s still an honor,” the Kentucky-bound Stoddard said of the all-star game. “I scored a few runs (for Athletics-Mercado). Not going to lie.”
Allchin decided to play the all-star game as she continues to prep for the under-19 World Cup next month here with the U.S. junior national team.
“I was really excited to play one more time back over here,” the Washington-bound Allchin said. “This was something … to stay in the grove of things.”
Simon, a Duke commit, served a pinch-hitter in the final. Athletics-Mercado won 1-0 behind one-hitter with 14 strikeouts by Allison Royalty.
“It was crazy,” Simon said of the final. “Just mind-blowing. The whole team came together.”
Simon, Stoddard and Bloom were first-year players with Athletics-Mercado, joining after playing for Explosion.
Simon had two hits and stole a base in the semifinals against the Tampa Mustangs.
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