The Kokomo Post Sports - Game of the Week: Alliance Fast-pitch Championship Series Unity Johnson VS. Texas Bombers Gold
The final day of the 14U National Championship in the Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series delivered a game that fans in Kokomo—and across the fastpitch world—won’t soon forget.
Held at Kokomo High School’s Softball Complex, the game was delayed an hour due to rain, leaving the turf and stands soaked. But the conditions didn’t stop Texas Bombers Gold and Unity Johnson from putting on a classic.
Texas Bombers Gold completed a two-game sweep with a thrilling 7–6 win to capture their second straight national title.
Unity jumped out early in the bottom of the first. Jules Jackson scored on a passed ball, and Laine Keefer followed with a two-run single to make it 3–0. The Bombers responded with four runs in the top of the second, highlighted by RBI singles from Reese Madden and Michaela Lander.
After a quiet third inning, Unity tied the game 4–4 in the fourth. In the fifth, Texas reclaimed the lead on a triple by Courtney Latronico and a run-scoring single by Lander. Unity answered again in the bottom half, with Kylie Holden and Sophia Strugar scoring to make it 6–5.
The final blow came in the sixth. With two runners on, Latronico ripped a shot to the warning track, scoring both and giving Texas a 7-6 lead. She was thrown out trying to stretch it into an inside-the-park homer, but the damage was done.
Unity threatened in the seventh, with Holden drawing a leadoff walk and advancing to second. But Texas successfully challenged that she left early, leading to a critical out. Maci Barnes came on in relief and shut the door with a strikeout and a flyout to end the game.
It was a high-stakes, emotional finish to an unforgettable tournament. A game—and a championship—these young athletes will remember for a lifetime.
