Gruell is close behind at .350, also with 48 hits. Kayla Montalvo is hovering around .308 with 40 hits. Once on base, the Magic runners are always a scoring threat. They have outscored their opponents 271-46 in 55 games. The Magic has won five of eight tournaments this season and placed second in two others.
Offense is only half the winning combination.
NorCal's defense has opponents stymied. Hunter boasts a 22-2 record with an ERA of 0.30. Together, they have struck out 27 batters and counting this season. The Magic tuned up for the Nationals by winning the championship at the 30-team Reno Summer Sizzler Classic recently. NorCal survived intense competition from western regional teams and a grueling schedule.