GULFPORT, Miss. — The Southern Spirit Softball’s 14u team just completed it's first season of competition, winning the USFA (United States Fastpitch Association) Southern National Championship in Gulfport. The Souther Spirit team went 6-0 and beat the Louisiana Rippers 8-0 in the championship game. The runner-up Rippers finished the tourney 6-2. 

“Quite an accomplishment for a team that just started playing together in June,” said coach Coby Mackin.  “They went undefeated through nationals, winning the championship game 8-0 in 5 innings.”

Both the 10u and 12u teams also had a great finish to their first seasons. The 10u club finished tied for fifth and 12u finished tied for 7th at nationals.

Mackin — who supervises several collegiately-trained fastpitch coaches, including Haley Hopkins (South '12), Meghan Campbell (South '13), Hannah Campbell (South '14 senior pitcher), Alex Breeden (South '15 catcher), Amy Dennis (UAB '15 outfielder)— was also an All-American pitcher at the University of Mobile and coach at UM, Spring Hill College and the University of South Alabama.

She said the Southern Spirit Softball organization is expanding this fall to field two 10u teams, a 14u team, and a 16u team that is playing in college exposure tournaments. “Many of our players on the 14u team are moving up and are already being recruited,” she added.  10u tryouts are Sunday, August 18 at 2 p.m. at Trione Park in Daphne.

Anyone wishing to be considered for older teams will need to contact SouthernSpiritSoftball@gmail.com to setup a time for an independent evaluation.

For more information on the USFA visit: USFastpitch.com