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The Plantation-based Gold Coast Hurricanes, propelled by University of Alabama signee Leslie Jury, mowed through the first two rounds of winner’s-bracket competition without allowing a run Wednesday at the ASA 18U Gold National softball championship in Santee, Calif.

Jury pitched 7 2/3 scoreless, allowing only six base runners in the Hurricanes’ 14-0 demolition of the Worcester Hawks and then the 4-0 victory over the hometown San Diego Renegades.

In the rout of Worcester, University of Florida signee and American Heritage graduate Bailey Castro hit a two-run home run as part of a nine-run seventh inning. Castro is the 2010 and 2011 Sun Sentinel Broward small-school player of the year.

The Palm Beach Gardens Gators won their opening game, but were dropped into the loser’s bracket Wednesday night.

In their winner’s-bracket opener, the Gators’ Brianna Lohmann, from Glades Day High School, scored two runs and Palm Beach Gardens High star pitcher Kaylie Wallace allowed an unearned run in five innings on the 3-1 victory over the Georgia Impact.

In their nightcap, however, the Gators were pounded 9-0 by the Newtown (Pa.) Rock.

The Miami Stingrays, which feature Sun Sentinel Broward large-school player of the year Dani Heichen, were dropped into the loser’s bracket in their first game, a 2-0 loss to the Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., based American Pastime.

The Hurricanes continue their quest Friday at noon (Eastern Time) when they take on the Wichita (Kan.) Mustangs.

The Gators play at 1 a.m. Friday in an elimination game against the winner of the game between Voodoo (La.) and the Strike Zone Elite (Calif.).

The Stingrays play the Beverly (Ill.) Bandits at 9 p.m. with their tournament life at stake Thursday. A win would give them a 1 a.m. game against Firecrackers North (Calif.).