Welcome to Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF)
**MISSION STATEMENT**
The mission of Premier Girls Fastpitch is to provide a national platform on which fastpitch softball players can demonstrate their individual and team-enhancing skills, competing against the Best of the Best players and teams. The objectives include upgrading those skills through the ultimate developmental step of games and showcasing those skills at the highest possible level of competition, so that both players and college scouts are afforded the most viable evaluation of their talents with bat, ball, and glove. The Premier offers a competitive stage for players at ascending age levels. Teams are invited from around the country to the national games on the basis of proven performance, and/or, qualifying tournaments. Premier employs a championship format, which tests player and team endurance and capability, and is a vital preparation for the college years to come. Premier pursues a standard of excellence on and off the field, for players, coaches and umpires.The team and players which stand on the top tier of this competition as national champions are truly the Best of the Best.
As you all know the PGF Directors, Dan Hay and Gary Haning, along with PGF Committee members, Bill Conroy, Bruce Richardson and others, invited a number of teams to the 2011 and the 2012 Premier National Tournament. We felt that it was necessary to continue extending these invitations in order to insure the stability and success of Premier Girls Fastpitch. The 2013 PGF National Championship will remain a mixture of invited and qualified teams, in all age divisions.
Beginnning in 2012, PGF National Berths will be awarded as follows:
1) 18HS Division - 1st Place thru 9th Place finishes, from the previous years PGF National Championship. Since this would include ties it would mean a total of twelve (12) maximum berths from this age division.
2) 16U & 14U Divisions - 1st Place thru 6th Place finishes, from the previous years PGF National Championship. Since this would include ties it would mean a total of six (6) maximum berths from each age division.
3) Returning Berths are attached to the PGF National Championship Designated Head Coach of the previous year. The Designated Head Coach will be identified as the person listed as such, on the previous years PGF National Championship Official Roster. This Official Championship Roster will be your official team roster that you present to a tournament official at check-in before participating in the previous years Championship event.
4) Returning berths are only valid for that age division. The Designated Head Coach may not bring the berth to an upper division and may not assign the berth to another coach within their organization. The berth will follow the designated head coach if he leaves to coach at another organization
5) The 18U/HS division will now be age-restricted. Players must be no older than 18 as of January 1st of the current playing season. Players who have worked-out, practiced or played with any JC or college team are not eligible.
6) The Champion of the 2012 PGF National Championships in each division, will receive free entry into the 2013 PGF National Championships, provided they are still considered a team in good standing, based on our PGF Rules and Regulations.
2013 Returning Berths and Invitations
The berths and invitations listed below are based on last year's order of finish and/or an official invitation from the PGF. Most, but not all of these teams, have accepted the berth. Any berths that are not accepted will be filled through the National Qualifying Tournaments or by At-Large Berths based on summer play.
18U Premier Division:
Returning Berths: So Cal Athletics, Worth Firecrackers, Arizona Storm, Beverly Bandits, Washington Ladyhawks, Cal Cruisers Phil/Lyn, OC Batbusters, Georgia Impact (formerly EC Bullets)
Invited Teams: Corona Angels Tyson, Explosion, So Cal Choppers, Texas Glory, Sorcerers Phil, Team Mizuno Stith, Birmingham Thunderbolts, East Cobb Bullets Schnute, Team North Florida, Wichita Mustangs, NW Bullets, Cal Grapettes, Jersey Intensity, Minors Gold, Irvine Sting, Illinois Chill, TNL, KC Peppers Eakin, NC Lady Lightning, Louisville Lady Sluggers, New Jersey Inferno, San Jose Sting Perales, Gold Coast Hurricanes, Virginia Legends, Texas Bombers and All American Sports Academy
18U Platinum Division:
Invited Teams: Bullsox Academy, Wasco Diamonds, Lil Rebels, Minnesota Gold,Ohio Lady Lasers, Homer Hawks, Spokane Crash, Texas Glory RWB, Louisiana Voodoo, Colorado Quicksilver
16U Division:
Returning Berths: TX Mizuno Impulse
Invited Teams: Beverly Bandits, OC Batbusters Myers, So Cal A’s Smith, Birmingham Thunderbolts, Wasco Diamonds, Irvine Sting, Texas Glory Naudin, Corona Angels Tyson, Cal Lite, Georgia Impact Bass, Wichita Mustangs, Ohio Lady Lasers, St Louis Chaos Beatty, East Cobb Bullets Sutter, Atlanta Vipers Loveless, NC Lady Lightning, SC Elite, Minnesota Sting, Firecrackers Olmos, Tropic Wave, OK Gametime Stars, KG Hitters, NW Bullets, WA Ladyhawks, Jersey Intensity, and the Texas Peppers.
14U Division:
Returning Berths: OC Batbusters McNee, Nor Cal Firecrackers (Formerly TC Smash)
Invited Teams: Beverly Bandits, Indiana Diamonds, Corona Angels Martinez, So Cal Athletics Quarles, Sorcerers, Team Mizuno Campbell, Birmingham Thunderbolts 99, Cal Thunder, Georgia Elite Sanders, NJ Nightmare Giampalo, Ohio Lady Lasers Saibene, NC Lady Lightning, So Cal Choppers Shipman, Power Surge Scott, Texas Glory and Virginia Legends. Qualified: Austin Stars, Texas Bombers Prospects, NV Lil Rebels, OC Batbusters McGowan, Team Mizuno Granado, Team Seattle, East Cobb Athletics-Daniels, Texas Magic, So Cal Choppers Castillo, Team Mizuno Briggs, Cruisers Sievers, Firecrackers Acton, Suncats
12U Division
Invited Teams: OC Batbusters Moore, So Cal Athletics Tidd/Ornelas, Firecrackers Araujo, Corona Angels Tyson, So Cal Breakers Steele, Birmingham Thunderbolts, Vienna Stars, Salinas Storm, MN Renegades, Irvine Sting 00. Qualified: Texas Bombers 00, Texas Bombers 01, Team Mizuno Briggs, Artesia Punishers, Courage, AZ Hotshots Elite Mabrey, Cal Thunder, CV Synergy, Lady Magic, AZ Suncats, OC Batbusters 00, Wichita Mustangs, Corona Angels Martinez,
Attending Qualifiers (Once Qualified or Invited)
Any team that has been granted a 2013 invitation and/or has earned a 2013 qualifying berth is ineligible to play in other 2013 PGF National Qualifier Tournaments. If an invited/qualified team chooses to play in another PGF Qualifier they will forfeit their previous 2013 invitation or berth.