By: Madison Feldhahn
Top Gun Events collaborated with USA Softball of St. Louis to host the Cardinal Invite this past weekend. The two day event featured age groups 14u, 16u and 18u.
In the 14u age group, 5 teams finished pool play undefeated – Wisconsin Lightning Eichholtz, The Hitting Center Clayton, Top Gun Strange 13u, St. Louis Chaos Premier Gill 14u, and Iowa Elite Force. Both Wisconsin Lightning Eichholtz and St. Louis Premier Gill 14u scored 43 runs this weekend. The Hitting Center Clayton and Top Gun Strange 13u scored 39 runs, and Iowa Elite Force scored 34.
There were several large margins of victory in the 14u age group. Wisconsin Lightning Eichholz beat Top Gun Rains 14u 16-0. St. Louis Chaos Premier Gill 14u beat KC Rebels 2027 National – Olsen 11-0. St. Louis Chaos Premier Gill 14u beat MO Fury 2010 Henkelman 10-0.
The 16u age group had just one pool. Select Fastpitch Alvarado finished pool play undefeated. The team scored 38 runs and allowed just 3 runs against them. Louisville Lady Sluggers Clark 16u finished pool play 2-1-1.
In the 16u age group, there were a few dominating victories. Naturals Regional Wigger defeated Midland Bandits 08 Thompson 16-9. Select Fastpitch Alvarado beat Missouri Mariners National 10-3 and beat Midland Bandits 08 Thompson 14-0.
The 18u age group also had just one pool. St. Louis Heat Gold and Louisville Lady Sluggers Arnold finished pool play 3-0-1. St. Louis Chaos 16u National Roth, Defiance Elite Herweck/Romeril, and MO Bombers Veselske were all 3-1-0 through pool play.
Large victories in the 18u age group include a 16-4 win by Defiance Elite Herweck/Romeril over STL Comets Beatty and a 14-6 win by Louisville Lady Sluggers Arnold over St. Louis Heat Stitching.
Bracket play took place on Sunday. This was a single elimination tournament.
The 14u champion was Wisconsin Lighting Eichholz. They defeated ROI Fastpitch Hull to win their age group. The Lightning started off bracket play with an 11-0 win over MO Fury 2010 Henkelman. They had another impressive victory over Top Gun Strange 13u 8-0.
The 16u champion was Select Fastpitch Alvarado. The team topped Missouri Mariners National 13-3. They defeated Naturals Regional Wigger 10-0 in their first bracket play game.
St. Louis Chaos 16u National Roth defeated St. Louis Heat Gold to become the 18u champion. The team had key victories over Louisville Lady Sluggers Clark 18u, 6-3, and Louisville Lady Sluggers Arnold, 4-1.
Thank you to all of the teams who joined us!
