Warrior Academy, Aces Fastpitch win Tier 1 AFCS titles
AFCS 16U Tier 1
Warrior Academy McDonald 5, Impact Gold Jazz 4
Warrior Academy McDonald 6, Impact Gold Jazz 2
Warrior Academy McDonald took home the AFCS Tier 1 from Kokomo after coming into the tournament as the 20-seed. Lila McLeod (2027) tossed two complete games, allowing eight total hits over both games. McLeod was very efficient against the talented Impact Gold Jazz lineup in Sunday’s championship-clinching game. The Danville, California native carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning until Kierstyn Lambeth (2027) beat out a slow roller. Five of the six runs McLeod allowed were unearned. She used her dropball very well,
The Warrior Academy did enough in both games against Impact Gold Jazz’s great pitching duo of Emma Escamilla (2027) and Macie Bryant (2027). Shortstop Gia Ryan (2028) homered in the first game on Saturday and had a pair of hits on Sunday. Ariella Henriquez (2028) went 4-for-4 in Sunday’s win.
AJ Tatum (2028) and Skylar Loo (2026) were very good at the top of the lineup. Both players drove in runs in Warrior Academy’s six-run second inning that propelled them to the win.
Sydney Hatch (2026-UCLA) had a great tournament for Impact Gold Jazz and had a hit in both games of the championship series.
AFCS 18U Tier 1
Aces Fastpitch 15, Texas Bombers 9 (F/6)
Aces Fastpitch 5, Texas Bombers 3
The Kansas City-based organization took down the reigning AFCS 18U Tier 1 champions behind two great performances from Kali Bogart (2026) and Allyssa Parker (2025-Oklahoma). Bogart collected 10 RBIs across the two wins. She fell a home run short of the cycle in the first game, where she drove in six runs.
She found the longball on Sunday to help clinch the championship. After hitting a single earlier in the game, Bogart blasted a grand slam off Bombers starter Hailey Nutter (2025-Kentucky), providing the offense for the Aces. Sidney Forrester (Missouri-2026) also drove in a run in the first.
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Parker did her damage first as a hitter in the first game with a two-run single and a two-run homer. She came in relief for Cyarah Dotts (2027) to help calm down the slugfest. Parker 2.2 innings, allowing four hits and one earned run.
She tossed a complete game on Sunday, controlling the zone especially to right-handed hitters, down and in with her dropball. While the Bombers put the tying run in scoring position in the seventh, Abreya Perry (2026-Texas A&M) grabbed a line drive off the bat of Avery Tucker (2026-Ole Miss.
The Aces lineup proved to be too strong overall against the Bombers’ strong pitching staff of Nutter, Caroline Stanton (2026-Florida), Riese Flood (2026-Arizona State) Eva Lantagne (2026-Duke) and Jada Savage (2026-Ole Miss). Although Nutter pitched very well outside of the grand slam, throwing five straight scoreless innings.
The Bomber bats had highlights as well. Elsa Morrison (2025-Tennessee) hit two, two-run home runs in Saturday’s contest, displaying her unreal power. Josie Busceme (2026-Texas) had a two-run inside-the-park home run, showing her speed off.
Annie Abdullah (2026-Texas), Softball America’s second-ranked recruit in her class, belted a home run off of Parker, maybe sparking their future Red River Rivalry. The Aces represented the Midwest well, becoming the first Heart of America representative to win the 18U Tier 1 title.
More from Softball America:
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2027 Recruiting Rankings
