Baldwin County’s 2009 year in sports was marked by championships on the Eastern Shore and by the new faces that arrived in Fairhope, Foley and Gulf Shores.

Bayside Academy won its eighth straight volleyball state championship, rallying from one game down to beat Montgomery Academy 24-26, 25-23, 25-18, 25-21 in October at the 3A state tournament. Senior captain Savannah Simmons was named the tournament's MVP for the second straight year, finishing with 42 kills, 72 blocks, four aces and 12 digs. Her teammates Maggie Niemeyer and Virginia Pittman were also named to the 3A All-Tournament team. Bayside holds 18 state championships in volleyball, second only to McGill-Toolen Catholic.

Bayside volleyball coach Ann Schilling, who has coached the Lady Admirals to 15 state titles in 23 seasons, also surpassed the 1000-win mark this season. Her record stands at 1006-314.

Spanish Fort's track team and its cross country team brought home 5A state championships in the spring and fall. The Toro boys won the county's first track and field championship in Gulf Shores in May. This fall, the Toros won the 5A cross country title in Oakville. It was the school's first ever cross country title.

Bayside Academy senior Stewart Shoemaker brought home a 3A individual cross country title. Bayside's boys finished fifth in 3A.

The Fairhope Pirate soccer team brought home a 6A state championship in May. The Pirates defeated Mountain Brook 1-0 in overtime on a goal from Chad Dolan to win the title. Fairhope gave up just one goal, led by goaltender Tye Malugani, in the playoffs on the way to the championship. Senior Kyle Sherrin was named the 6A Tournament MVP.

Several new coaches were introduced this year. David Faulkner took over at Fairhope and promptly led the Pirates to a perfect 10-0 regular season. Faulkner's Pirates finished 11-1 with a loss in the second round of the 6A playoffs.

Mark Freeman took over at Gulf Shores, where he led the Dolphins to a school-best record of 9-3. The Dolphins made it to the 5A second round, where they fell to the LeFlore Rattlers. Gulf Shores won its first playoff game the previous week at Tallassee.

In basketball, new coaches are at the helm in South Baldwin County. Foley's boys are now led by Chad Anderson, who also coached the Lion volleyball team, while Foley's girls are now coached by Shane Jones. Gulf Shores has two new coaches as well, with Dru Powell heading up the boys team and Rhett Tranchina taking over as girls coach.

In junior college sports, Faulkner State Sun Chief basketball coach Jack Robertson was inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame. Robertson, who has coached the Sun Chiefs for 37 seasons, was 13th in NJCAA wins with 705 before this season started. His teams have won 20 games in 17 of his last 23 seasons.

In local sports news, seven-year-old Caleb Tate won a national grappling title. Tate, who lives in Fairhope, competed in and won the U.S. National Grappling Championship in Jonesboro, Ga. in the 49.9-pound division in March. He is the son of Mark and Christy Tate of Fairhope.

Eric Mann is the Sports Coordinator for Gulf Coast Newspapers.