Baseball is a game of streaks, and the one that the Spanish Fort Toros are on right now is arguably one of the best the state of Alabama has ever seen.

The Toros have won three straight Class 5A state championships and will play the Hartselle Tigers for a fourth this weekend in Montgomery. A remarkable feat, especially considering this year’s team returned just four starters from last season and also has a new head coach in Brent Boyd.

Baseball is a “streaky” sport at every level of play. As of Thursday morning three Major Leaguers had 14-game hit streaks (Joe Mauer, Matt Kemp and Marco Scutaro). Three college teams are currently on 13-game win streaks (Vanderbilt, Louisville and Seton Hall). In high school ball Russell County, the team Spanish Fort beat in the 5A semifinals last week, had won 34 straight games before visiting The Hill on Friday. My son’s tee-ball team is currently on a two-game win streak after facing a tough six- or seven-game slide in the middle of the season.

So how does Spanish Fort’s baseball championship streak stack up against the rest in the state?

It isn’t the best streak in state history. Vestavia Hills can claim that with an amazing run of nine state championships in the 1990’s, including seven straight from 1994-2000.

Hokes Bluff also had an impressive streak, winning five straight titles from 2003-07. the Eagles won two 4A championships in 2003-04 then won three more in 3A.

This season the Toros aren’t even the only team trying to win a fourth-straight championship. The Shoals Christian School Flames have won three Class 1A championships in a row and faced St. Luke’s this week in Montgomery in the title series.

Also in Class 1A, the American Christian Academy Patriots won three in a row from 2004-06, and G.W. Long won six straight in 1A and 2A from 1997-2002. And Sidney Lanier won six straight from 1950-55.

Spanish Fort’s championships have come against some of the state’s best baseball powers like Cullman and Hartselle. The Toros have twice defeated state powerhouse Russell County in the playoffs and beat No. 2 Faith Academy this season in the third round. In the 2010 series the Toros beat the defending champion Hartselle Tigers, winners of seven championships since 1990.

While Spanish Fort’s streak might not be the best ever in Alabama, it is remarkable because of what else the school has been able to do in its short existence. Since the school opened in 2005 the Toros have won state championships in baseball (3), football (2), track and field, cross country, girls soccer and boys tennis, reached the AHSAA Elite Eight in softball and made deep playoff runs in volleyball and basketball.

So, I think, it doesn’t really matter where the Toros rank among the state’s baseball powers. They very well may win this weekend and catch up to G.W. Long and Sidney Lanier and eventually to Vestavia Hills.

Win or lose this weekend, the Toros have set the bar high for high school athletics in the state.