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 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 2012 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.

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.

2012 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/HS

Returning Berths: So Cal Athletics, Worth Firecrackers, OC Batbusters, Beverly Bandits, Explosion, Strike Zone, So Cal Choppers, Lady Magic, Corona Angels, Washington Ladyhawks, So Cal 3D, Texas Glory

Teams Attending: Wichita Mustangs, NW Bullets, Cal Grapettes, Jersey Intensity, East Cobb Bullets, Team North Florida, Sorcerers, Minors Gold, Victory USA, Tulsa Eagles, So Cal Pumas, Georgia Elite, So Cal Breakers, California Cruisers, Irvine Sting, Southern Force, Indiana Magic, Illinois Chill, TNL, TC Stars

16u

Returning Berths: Firecrackers, Texas Glory, San Diego Renegades, Cal Lite, OC Batbusters-Myers, So Cal Athletics

Teams Attending: Wichita Mustangs, NW Bullets, Corona Angels, Mizuno Pride, So Cal Pumas, Tropic Wave, Cal Cruiser-Harman, AZ Hotshots-Gatti, Lady Magic, Ohio Lasers-Black, Tennessee Fury, Power Surge, Wasco Diamonds, Louisville Sluggers, Cal Breeze, Birmingham Thunderbolts, Indiana Magic, Washington Ladyhawks, Team Mizuno, Beverly Bandits

14u

Returning Berths: OC Batbusters-McNee, Corona Angels-Lockman, Firecrackers-Sota, Cal Breeze, American Pastime

Teams Attending: Texas Glory, So Cal Athletics, Lady Magic, Victory USA, Sorcerers, Team North Florida, Illinois Chill, Wasco Diamonds, Georgia Impact-Bass, Ohio Lady Lasers, TC Smash, Salinas Storm, Birmingham Thunderbolts, Georgia Elite, East Cobb Bullets, Atlanta Vipers, Southern Force, Crown Point Bulldogs

12U

Invited Teams: OC Batbusters-Briggs, Firecrackers-Quarles, Corona Angels-Barroso

Teams Attending: Sun Devils, American Athletics McGowan, Artesia Punishers, Team Watley, Georgia Impact, So Cal Breakers, Birmingham Thunderbolts, Atlanta Vipers, Worth Cobras, La Mirada Firecrackers Hernandez, Case Batbusters, Power Surge 99, Firecrackers Davis, RR Gold - Miller, Mizuno - Garcia, Grapettes-Norwood, Central Cal Dirt Dogs, Indiana Raiders

Attending Qualifiers (Once Qualified or Invited)

Any team that has been granted a 2012 invitation and/or has earned a 2012 qualifying berth is ineligible to play in other 2012 PGF Qualifier Tournaments. If an invited/qualified team chooses to play in another PGF Qualifier they will forfeit their previous 2012 invitation or berth.