Cal A's-Jackson 14-Under team's inaugural appearance in the Premiere Girls Fastpitch National Championships proves brief as their season comes to an end
Cal A's-Jackson 14-Under Travel Softball Team Eliminated Early from PGF National Championships
The Cal A's-Jackson 14-Under travel softball team's journey at the Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) National Championships came to an end earlier than expected. The team, which qualified for the Platinum Division by winning three straight games in the losers bracket at the PGF Southern California qualifier on June 14, was eliminated in the playoffs.
The team's early exit was a disappointing turn of events, especially considering their strong performance at the USA Softball Champions Cup before the PGF National Championships. However, nerves and pressure from the high-profile National Championships appeared to affect the team's performance.
In the playoffs, the Cal A's-Jackson team was defeated 15-0 by the Athletics Mercado-MG on July 30 and then eliminated with an 11-3 loss to the Explosion-Kim/Salazar on August 1. Their offense, which had been strong in the qualifying tournament, went quiet during the playoffs, leading to lopsided defeats.
Key players such as center fielder Edie Montano and catcher Rylee Jackson, who had impressive batting averages of .288 and .478 respectively, struggled to make an impact. In the game against the Garden Grove Athletics Mercado-MG on July 30, Montano was the only player to get a hit, while six of the 15 runs were earned.
The team's pitching also struggled, with pitchers combining to walk 25 batters and strikeout nine while giving up 37 hits and 32 earned runs. Head coach Jennifer Jackson attributed the team's poor performance to nerves and pressure, stating that the team had the talent to succeed.
Despite the early exit, there were a few bright spots for area softball players. Other area players saw their teams make early exits in the Premier Girls Fastpitch National Championships, but some players had early success with their hot bats.
The Cal A's-Jackson 14-Under travel softball team participated in several tournaments before the PGF National Championships, including the Zoom into June showcase tournament and the USA Softball Champions Cup. The team will look to regroup and come back stronger in future tournaments.
[1] Source: Orange County Register, August 2, 2025.
Local sports fans in the community were disappointed to hear about the Cal A's-Jackson 14-Under travel softball team's early exit from the Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) National Championships. Despite their strong performance in events such as the USA Softball Champions Cup, the team struggled under the pressure of the high-profile National Championships. The plays of key players like center fielder Edie Montano and catcher Rylee Jackson, who had impressive batting averages in previous tournaments, went quiet during the playoffs. Future European-leagues and premier-league tournaments might provide an opportunity for the team to regroup and return stronger.
