After getting jammed in her first two at-bats, Aaliyah Ortiz was prepared for her third at-bat

With the game tied in the fifth inning and two runners on, Ortiz came through in the clutch with a three-run home run to left field to lead Texas Bombers-Jones to a 4-1 victory over Corona Angels-Slye in the semifinals of the PGF 16U Premier Nationals on Friday afternoon at the Fountain Valley Sports Complex.

The victory sent the Bombers to the PGF 16U Premier national championship game against Beverly Bandits-Conroy, a 2-0 winner over Indiana Magic-Rudd, on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at Bill Barber Park in Irvine, CA.

“We just had to stay disciplined,” Ortiz said. “We had to stick to the game plan, see the ball down and put the ball in play. When you put the ball in play, good things happen. To be honest, I was just in the zone. I knew where she was going to pitch the ball because she jammed me twice already. I just sat on that pitch and took it to left.”

Ortiz also knocked in the first run of the game in the first inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Avery Hodge. Ortiz went 1 for 3 with all four RBIs, including the three-run shot.

“She’s been that good since she was 11 years old. Not everyone has recognized that. She is as good as there is in the country. Love her. Great kid, great human being and unbelievable ballplayer.”

- Bill Jones, Bombers Head Coach

The Corona Angels tied the game in the second inning thanks to an RBI single to center field by Iowa State-commit Camille Marin that scored Marissa Gonzalez.

The Angels tried to add another run in the fourth inning with an infield single by Marin, but Oregon-commit Paige Sinicki was tagged out at the plate.

Louisville-commit Korbe Otis and Sinicki each went 2 for 4, while Marin also went 2 for 4 with the second inning RBI for the Angels, who left seven runners on base.

Cal-commit Jordin King threw five innings while giving up five hits and four runs for the Angels, who despite losing in the semifinals, made a great showing after the PGF 14U Premier national title last year.

“I think Jordin King did an amazing job,” Corona Angels coach Dena Slye said. “We missed the foul ball, which kept their inning going. It was little things like that hit us, but this is the returning team from 14U. They battled in their first year in 16U as the last California team standing. Most of them are sophomores, so I’m excited about the future. We have unfinished business for next year.”

Grace Sparks threw 3.2 innings of relief work to get the win for the Bombers.

“All our bats are going to have to come together,” Sparks said. “We need to be solid on defense. If we keep doing the things we are doing, we can pull it together and have fun.”

In the other 16U Premier semifinal:

Beverly Bandits-Conroy 2, Indiana Magic-Rudd 0

If you ever score a run off of Regan Krause, keep the ball.

Krause struck out six en route to a one-hit shutout to lead the Bandits-Conroy to a victory over Indiana Magic in the semifinals of the PGF 16U Premier Nationals.

The victory sends the Bandits to the PGF national championship game where they will take on Texas Bombers-Jones, a 4-1 winner over Corona Angels-Slye, on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at Bill Barber Park.

Krause has not given up a run in the 31 innings she has thrown in at the PGF Nationals.

“My defense has had my back the whole time,” Krause said. “They have made my job easy. All I have to do is get them ground balls because I know they’re going to get the out.”

Krause had herself a pitching duel against Tennessee-commit Amber Linton, who threw a complete game for Indiana Magic and kept the Bandits off the scoreboard for the first four innings.

The Bandits got the offense going in the fifth inning thanks to a lead-off single by Haley Panfill and a walk by Taylor Minnick. Gabby Altobelli’s groundout sent Panfill home for the game's first run. Minnick scored on a single by Taylor Pagan. The two runs were more than enough for the Bandits' defense, who ended the game on a double play.

“Our whole defense has had her back,” Bandits coach Bill Conroy said. “The whole team has been incredibly balanced. They have made all the plays. It was a fitting ending with the double play.”

Kentucky-commit Erin Coffel broke up Krause's no-hit bid in the sixth inning. Illinois-commit Grace Lorsung drew three walks for the Magic. Panfill, Paige Geraghty and Lillian Vallimont each got a hit for the Bandits, who will look to take home the national championship.

“We’re hungry,” Krause said. “We want it, I want it. We just have to play our game.”

In other 16U Premier games:

Texas Bombers-Jones 2, Iowa Premier 0

Ashlee Larue knocked in the Bombers only run with an RBI double to help lead the Bombers to victory. Larue went 1 for 3, while Aaliyah Ortiz knocked in a run on a sacrifice fly. Sophia Simpson threw five innings to get the win for the Bombers.

“We had to stay within the defense,” Simpson said. “We had to hit our stride and spots. We made sure not to miss our spots. We had to stay cool, calm and collected. We just had to keep on hitting.”

Jordy Bahl threw a complete game one-hitter while striking out eight, and Margaret Tobias, who has drawn a ton of interest from DI coaches this week, and Avery Carnahan each went 2 for 3 for Iowa Premier.

Beverly Bandits-Conroy 4, Athletics Mercado-Greg 0

Krause struck out five and continued her scoreless innings streak to 24 at PGF to lead the Bandits to victory.

Taylor Minnick went 1 for 3 with a two-run double, Cassidy Grimm went 2 for 3 with an RBI double and Easton Lotus went 3 for 4 for the Bandits.

“We had to play our game,” Krause said, "Cassidy came with the clutch hit and Taylor driving the two insurance runs. That was amazing. We made a lot of great defensive plays out there. It makes my job so easy.”

Corona Angels-Slye 7, Athletics Mercado-Greg 0

Arizona State-commit Kylee Magee struck out eight en route to a shutout victory to send the Angels back in the winner's bracket.

Oregon-commit Paige Sinicki went 2 for 4 with an RBI double, Cal State Fullerton-commit Kaitlyn Humphreys went 1 for 3 with a two-run double and Louisville-commit Korbe Otis went 2 for 4 with two RBI for the Angels.

“I just had to make sure my change-up and riseball were working,” Magee said. “I already pitched today and just had to make sure I was consistent.”

Emily Levett threw five innings for Athletics Mercado.

Indiana Magic-Rudd 5, Iowa Premier 1

Chole Parks went 3 for 4 with a two-run home run to put the Magic back in the winner's bracket. Kentucky-commit Erin Coffel went 1 for 3 with a three-run home run and Tennessee-commit Amber Linton threw a complete-game one-hitter with seven strikeouts for the Magic.

“We just kept working hard,” Parks said. “We didn’t give up and always kept our energy up despite getting tired. We tried our best. We came together as a team and we picked each other up.”

Margaret Tobias went 1 for 3 and Josey Marron threw six innings for Iowa Premier.

Corona Angels-Slye 4, So Cal Choppers-Fausett 3

A seventh walk-off single from Marissa Gonzalez that sent Sinicki home kept the Angels alive. Otis went 2 for 3 and Cal-commit Jordin King threw a complete-game three-hitter for the Angels.

“We had to work together as a team,” King said. “We knew everyone would have everyone back. I knew my pitching had to be on. I know I gave up that home run, but I knew my team would have my back and score behind me.”

Allie Enright went 1 for 3 with a two-run home run and Desiree Smith threw 6.1 innings for the Choppers.

Indiana Magic-Rudd 5, Oklahoma Athletics-Madden 1

Coffel went 2 for 2 with a double, a home run and three RBIs to help advance the Magic. Addi Baker went 2 for 3 with a solo home run and Indiana-commit Macy Montgomery threw a complete-game four-hitter for the Magic.

“We just had to play as a team,” Coffel said. “Our pitching, hitting, and defense are all on right now. If we continue to play as a team, we will continue to roll."

Hannah Morales went 1 for 3 with an RBI and Grace Anderson threw six innings for the Oklahoma Athletics.

So Cal Choppers-Fausett 7, Tampa Mustangs-Maguire 2

Rebekah Durazo's three-run home run was part of a seven-run fifth inning in the Choppers victory. Enright went 2 for 3 with a double and Mia Franco went 1 for 3 with a double for the Choppers.

South Carolina-commit Maddie Gallagher went 1 for 4 with an RBI and Florida State-commit Krystina Hartley went 1 for 3 with an RBI for the Mustangs.

Corona Angels-Slye 2, So Cal Athletics-Briggs 0

Magee threw a one-hit shutout to keep the Angels alive. Iowa State-commit Angelina Allen went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and Cal State Fullerton-commit Kaitlyn Humphreys went 2 for 3 with a double for the Angels.

Malia Valenzona went 1 for 2 and Colorado State-commit Sydney Hornbuckle threw six innings for the So Cal A's.

Indiana Magic-Rudd 3, Tennessee Mojo-Lewis 2

Thanks to a three-run first inning, the Magic survived and advanced. Montgomery went 2 for 3 with a double and Linton struck out seven in 5.2 innings of relief work for the Magic. Jessie Blaine went 2 for 4 with an RBI double for Tennessee Mojo.

Oklahoma Athletics-Madden 1, Texas Dirt Divas 0

McKenna Johnson's seventh-inning double sent Kinlee Rylee home. That was all North Texas-commit Janie Worthington needed to advance the Athletics. Worthington struck out nine batters in a complete-game victory for the Athletics.

Stephen Austin-commit Amanda Carden went 2 for 4 and Louisiana Tech-commit Caleigh Mullican struck out nine and gave up three hits en route to a complete game.

In the PGF 16U Platinum national championship game:

Monarchs Gold 3, Orland Park A’s 1

Taylor Caudill struck out 10 en route to a two-hit complete-game victory to lead the Monarchs to a 3-1 victory over the A’s to take the 16U Platinum national championship on Friday afternoon at Bill Barber Park in Irvine, CA.

Caudill drove in the game's first run in the opening inning with a single that sent Western Michigan-commit Jillian Nguyen home. Alison Steinker added a second run with a single to drive in Jaden Hill. Maddi Sherrill added the third run on a single that drove in North Dakota State-commit Reann Rudd.

Katie Stewart drove the A’s only run in the fourth inning that sent Rylie Hartman home. Stewart went 1 for 3 with the RBI double while Abigail Bukantis threw six innings for the A’s.

16U PREMIER PGF NATIONALS SCOREBOARD

WINNER'S BRACKET A

SIXTH ROUND

Texas Bombers Gold-Jones 2, Iowa Premier Gold 0

WINNER'S BRACKET B

SIXTH ROUND

Beverly Bandits-Conroy 4, Athletics Mercado-Greg 0

LOSER'S BRACKET A

SEVENTH ROUND

Oklahoma Athletics-Madden 1, Texas Dirt Divas 0

Indiana Magic-Rudd 3, Tennessee Mojo-Lewis 2

EIGHTH ROUND

Indiana Magic-Rudd 5, Oklahoma Athletics-Madden 1

NINTH ROUND

Indiana Magic-Rudd 5, Iowa Premier Gold 1

LOSER'S BRACKET B

SEVENTH ROUND

So Cal Choppers-Fausett 7, Tampa Mustangs-Maguire 2

Corona Angels-Slye 2, SoCal Athletics-Briggs 0

EIGHTH ROUND

Corona Angels-Slye 4, SoCal Choppers-Fausett 3

NINTH ROUND

Corona Angels-Slye 7, Athletics Mercado-Greg 0

SEMIFINALS

Texas Bombers-Jones 2, Iowa Premier 0

Beverly Bandits-Conroy 2, Indiana Magic-Rudd 0

PGF NATIONALS SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, JULY 27 AT BILL BARBER PARK, IRVINE, CA

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

16U PREMIER: Texas Bombers Gold-Jones vs. Beverly Bandits-Conroy at 8:30 a.m.

18U PREMIER: Georgia Impact-Lewis vs. Athletics-Mercado/Smith at 12:30 p.m.

PGF HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICAN GAME: East vs. West at 4:30 p.m.