July 5, 2026
By Kyle Koso
AURORA -- Even if the 18u Athletics-Mercado softball team has been a little inconsistent in the field, the group has a funny way of still turning up in championship moments.
After prevailing in the Triple Crown Sports P5 Patriot Games title game last week, despite coach Dave Mercado's percolating frustration with the team's glovework, the Athletics had another batch of bright lights to face Friday in the 18u Power Pool TV bracket championship. Taking on Lady Dukes-Lamar at the Aurora Sports Park, the Athletics again saw mistakes in the infield create a major obstacle on the scoreboard.
But as is their habit, the Athletics dug in and responded with some high-quality at-bats and clutch pitching, enough to claim an 8-5 victory.
In the end, both teams had wobbly innings that affected the outcome. In the top of the second, the Athletics had a misplay at first on a sacrifice bunt attempt, and a later error in the frame at shortstop allowed the Lady Dukes to plate four runs.
But the Athletics changed the outlook when their first three batters walked in the bottom of the third, with all three later scoring. In one of the rarest plays one can imagine seeing, two runs came across on one sacrifice fly as the Lady Dukes outfielder got tangled up in the fence, and even baserunner Macai Johnson advanced from first to third. She later scored on a wild pitch, tying the score at 5-all.
"We've hit our way out of everything. It's a bit out of the ordinary for us to play as poorly as we have defensively, but the pitching has been good and the hitting has been great," Mercado said. "Defense, average at best. Hopefully, we'll tighten it up. It went back and forth, we gave them some and they gave us some."
With the game tied, the fourth inning ended up deciding the matter. Athletics pitcher Daniella Boccanfuso, who came in to relieve in the second, pitched around a double and closed the frame with two strikeouts. On offense, the Athletics got a single from Bree Carlson, with Avery Gehrke reaching on an error with her sacrifice bunt attempt, a wild play where Carlson ended up scoring the lead run.
Aubrey McLaughlin and Bailey Goldberg followed with RBI singles to close out the scopring.
"I feel we have the best lineup in the country. And no matter what happens out in the field, our bats are going to pick us up," said Goldberg, who reached base three times. "These girls have so much grit, no matter what happens, and we are always going to fight. We all believe in each other."
Boccanfuso allowed a solo home run to Kyndall Banks along with that double, but otherwise was peerless in the circle with five strikeouts.
"I just trusted my defense and my spin to get the job done," she said. "I just tried to keep my composure and trust in the girls. It's super fun, and all the grit we show has been there these past two weeks."
Kelsey Burden and Denae Lee eachhad RBI singles for the Lady Dukes.
