PGF 2019
The Premiere Girls Fastpitch (PGF) National Championship tournament every summer marks the end of the softball season and the conclusion of a very busy softball summer. It is a special tournament as the best teams in the country come together to crown a national champion and to provide some of the most amazing softball highlights of the year. For our seniors this is the final farewell to travel softball and the last opportunity to play with their Firecrackers Rico Weil teammates.
The Firecrackers Rico Weil team saved much of their best pitching, slapping, hitting, baserunning, and defense for this opportunity. The team went 6-2 overall in the tournament and rolled off 5 wins in a row over top teams from leading organizations. With a final finish in seventh place out of the seventy-six teams in the Premiere Division we could not be prouder of the fight, execution, and dedication of the team.
The tournament started off with a bang defeating Sorcerer Gabales 5-1. Next up for the Firecrackers was the highly regarded Beverly Bandits. This was truly an amazing softball game with lots of excitement and with both teams pressing each other with timely hits and execution on the bases. This game was hard fought down to the very last out.
A disappointing 3-2 loss to a very strong Bandits team did not discourage or disappoint our Firecrackers players as we went on to win the next five games over: Batbusters Brocamonte, Panthers Gold, East Cobb Bullets, Louisville Lady Sluggers, and LTG Lions. In the end we didn’t have enough to defeat the Tampa Mustangs TJ. What made the Tampa Mustangs game special is the team overcame a 4-run deficit in the first inning and battled back to trail just 5-4 in the 6th inning. This Firecrackers team epitomized the motto “Play with Honor” and fought until the last out.
It is difficult for this season to come to an end and have to say goodbye to eight amazing seniors. The leadership, commitment, and relentless effort demonstrated by our eight seniors will certainly position the Firecracker Rico Weil team for the 2020 summer run. While we will miss them terribly, we will welcome the many chances we get to watch them on TV and live during their college careers and look forward to the many ESPN highlights and plays of the day.
Finally, to the coaches and Firecrackers organization whose tireless commitment to the girls and this program, thank you for all that you do in providing this amazing opportunity to these athletes. Your contribution to their success and growth does not go unnoticed and is truly appreciated.