Tampa Mustangs TJ start slow at PGF National Championships

The Tampa Mustangs TJ are off to a shaky start in the 14U premier division at the Premier Girls Fastpitch National Championships, but the Bradenton-based travel softball team will still have a chance to bounce back during bracket play if it can rattle off a massive winning streak.

The Tampa Mustangs opened their week in Irvine, Calif., with a win Sunday against So Cal Chopper Fausett of Santa Clarita, Calif., at Harvard Community Park before dropping their final two games of Pool H, first to Universal Fastpitch 14U Garcia of Martinez, Calif., later Sunday and then to Kentucky’s Beverly Bandits Moran on Monday.

The Mustangs losing streak hit three games Tuesday with a 5-3 loss to California’s Corona Angles (Rogers-Edwards) in their bracket play opener. It’s a double elimination tournament, so Tampa isn’t done yet — the Mustangs will meet Texas Impact Gold National on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

The Mustangs, coached by T.J. Goelz and dotted with players from Manatee County high schools, are out in California one week after Lakewood Ranch High School alumnae Kinsey Goelz and Denali Schappacher competed in the 18U premier championships with Alabama’s Birmingham Thunderbolts 18 Premier. The Thunderbolts started off well, with an undefeated run through pool play before a second-round loss to Lil Rebels RC of Las Vegas in bracket play sent Birmingham into the losers bracket. The Thunderbolts extended their stay with two more wins before finally falling to So Cal Athletics Richardson, 6-0, while three wins away from getting back into the winners bracket.

Bradenton RBI splits to open World Series

Bradenton RBI is once again in the RBI World Series after winning the Southeast junior championship last week. The 2017 Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) tournament draw was a tough one, though, and Bradenton played a pair of one-run games Tuesday in Cincinnati.

The week opened with a shutout loss to Dominican Republic RBI despite a gem from Eli Thurmond. The pitcher tossed five shutout innings while limiting the Dominican Republic to only three baserunners. At one point, he set down 11 straight Dominicans.

Bradenton bounced back later in the day, scoring a 4-3 win against Rhode Island’s Boys and Girls Club of Pawtucket RBI.

This is Bradenton’s second appearance at the RBI World Series in the past three years and third appearance all-time. The RBI team also qualified for the national championships in 2015 and 2012. This year’s World Series continues Wednesday when Bradenton begins the day against Detroit Police Athletic League RBI at 9 a.m.

This story was originally published August 1, 2017 at 9:00 PM with the headline "Tampa Mustangs TJ start slow at PGF National Championships."