SPANISH FORT, Ala. — After three years, the 12-and-under Spanish Fort Starz by July 13  won the Alabama State Championship for 2008.

“After beating Fairhope in our first game Friday night (July 11), we played a tough team from Auburn,” Coach Donny Scioneaux said.

“Knowing we would have a tough climb ahead of us, our girls buckled down and took it one play and one inning at a time,” he said. “Fairhope played us tough in that game and we squeaked away with a one-point victory.”

From there the team went on to play the Dirty Dozen from Alexander City. After a tight game, Spanish Fort sent the Dirty Dozen home with a two-point win.

After losing to Satsuma’s Tough Enough team four times this season, the Starz made its comeback with a three-point win.  

After redeeming themselves, the Starz went on to play Auburn’s Southern Force again. The event was postponed, mid-game, due to lightning. For the next game Spanish Fort eliminated Auburn and moved on to the championship round against Theodore. In order to win at this point, Spanish Fort would have to beat them twice.

Last year the team lost the second game in the district tournament and fought their way through the losers bracket. With another call from Mother Nature, the semifinal game was called off due to weather and rescheduled for the next day. Spanish Fort needed two wins against Theodore to win the district championship — and they got them.

“It seemed like everything came together at the precisely the time we needed it,” Scioneaux said. “I believe the most important thing that happened was our pitching really stepped up.”

The Starz team comprised 11 12-year-olds and four 11-year-olds.

The team had won the district championship in 2007 and placed second in the state tournament.

Scioneaux added that the biggest credit of the season goes to the girls. “They played their hearts out and gave it everything.”