Cal A's-Jackson 14-Under's inaugural outing in the season-ending Premier Girls Fastpitch National Championships ends prematurely
Cal A's-Jackson 14-Under Softball Team Falters at PGF National Championships
The Cal A's-Jackson 14-Under travel softball team made a valiant effort at the 2025 Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) National Championships, advancing to the Platinum Division after a strong showing in the losers bracket at the Southern California qualifier in June. However, the team's debut at the Nationals was marred by offensive struggles, resulting in an early exit.
The team, led by head coach Jennifer Jackson, started off the tournament with two losses in their opening pool play games. They were defeated by the Garden Grove Athletics Mercado-MG 15-0 and the Tustin Explosion-Kim/Salazar 11-3.
Coach Jackson attributed the team's difficulties to nerves and the pressure of the big stage, stating that the "lights were a little bit too bright" for the young players despite their talent. The team struggled defensively, with 17 defensive errors in five games, which led to several unearned runs against them.
Being a first-year team with many young players, including Jackson's daughter, the team is still developing cohesion and experience at a high competitive level. Their earlier success came largely from a resilient offense demonstrated in the qualifiers, enabling them to advance despite early losses. However, maintaining that consistency at Nationals proved challenging.
Meanwhile, several other area travel softball players for their respective 18-Under teams competed in the 22nd annual Champions Cup. Despite their best efforts, a trio of these players fell short of playing for a PGF title in the 15th annual Premier Girls Fastpitch National Championships.
The Cal A's-Jackson 14-Under team participated in the USA Softball Champions Cup before the PGF National Championships. They also took part in the Zoom into June showcase tournament and the USA Softball Champions Cup, aiming to prepare for the competition by playing against the right teams.
Notably, center fielder Edie Montano finished the season with a .288 batting average, while catcher Rylee Jackson had the highest average on the team at .478. The team's pitching staff consisted of only two pitchers, Brooklyn Brush and Liliana Larios, who combined for nearly 141 innings throughout the season.
As the Premier Girls Fastpitch National Championships tournament nears its end, it's clear that the Cal A's-Jackson 14-Under team, despite their promising performances in qualifiers and other tournaments, still have areas for growth, especially handling pressure and defensive consistency.
[1] The Orange County Register [2] The Los Angeles Times [3] The San Diego Union-Tribune [4] The San Francisco Chronicle [5] The Sacramento Bee
- "In next week's community news, keep an eye out for an update on the Cal A's-Jackson 14-Under Softball Team's struggles at the Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) National Championships, including their defensive woes and the pressure of the big stage."
- "Local sports enthusiasts will be interested to know that, despite their valiant effort at the PGF National Championships, the Cal A's-Jackson 14-Under Travel Softball Team have been absent from the Platinum Division due to early exits, forcing them to focus on improving their defense and handling pressure for next season's events."
