CITRONELLE – The Spanish Fort American League All Stars won the District 7 AAA (Minors) Dixie Youth championship Saturday in Citronelle.

After the final game, which went down to the wire, Matthew Lipham could hear his victorious teammates chanting, "This is for you Matthew! This is for you! Get well soon! We love you Matthew," into the phone held by head coach Jon McLeod.

"We couldn't have done it without you. Because we wouldn't have gotten here if it hadn't been for you," McLeod said to Lipham who is recuperating from an illness that forced him to miss the district tournament after helping lead his team to qualify at sub-district.

"After the sub-district, Matthew's illness was agitated and they had to admit him into the hospital," McLeod said. "We called Austin Linton in to take his spot and Austin's done a great job. And every night this week, after every win we had, we called Matthew to tell him."

The team wore Lipham's No. 9 on their wristbands throughout the district tournament and plan to again at the state tournament in Troy.

For the complete story, see Wednesday's edition of your local Gulf Coast Newspaper.