GB 9's repeat as state champs
GBSA's 7s finish as state runners up
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Back to back The GBSA U9 All Stars blanked Fossil Park 14-0 to win the Dizzy Dean Florida State Championship July 9 at Shoreline Park. They are (front, from left): Julian Gordon, Sam Joyce, Matthew deMahy, Jace Amberson and Wade Niles. Second row (from left): Corey Nolan, Blake Fournie, Zane Gill, Nick Liebig, Bradley Proctor and Adam Colston. Back (from left): Coaches Tim Proctor, Jamie Colston, Jeff Gill and Terence Joyce. The Wave won the state title as 8-year-olds and finished fourth at the Dizzy Dean World Series.

For the second consecutive year, the GBSA 9-year-old All Stars won the Dizzy Dean state championship, hammering Fossil Park 14-0 July 9 at Shoreline Park.

Gulf Breeze outscored their three opponents by a combined score of 32-2. They'll play in the Dizzy Dean World Series, which starts July 27 in Southaven, Miss.

The then 8-year-olds took fourth at the World Series last year.

Zane Gill threw a four-hit shutout in the championship game, striking out four. He did not walk a batter.

Table for 11 The GBSA U9 All Stars celebrated their second consecutive state championship with a bunch of wings at Sidelines. The U9s will compete in the Dizzy Dean World Series next weekend in Southaven, Miss. Jason Thompson/ Gulf Breeze News

Gill also singled, doubled and tripled, drove in three and scored three runs. Jace Amberson scored three times, while Sam Joyce and Adam Colston both scored twice. Joyce also added a triple in the win.

Pinellas Park U7s 18,

Gulf Breeze 5

A four-run second inning got Gulf Breeze without 10-4 before Pinellas Park tacked on three in the third and five in the fourth to win the state championship July 9.

Matthew Hawkins went 2- for-3 and scored once, while Josh Hoffman was 2-for-2 and scored a run.

Gavin Mayes doubled and scored, while Jesse Grant and Jake Hering both singled and scored once.

The GBSA 11 year olds won two games in the losers bracket before being eliminated by Fossil Park 14-3 in their state tournament held in Lynn Haven. Gulf Breeze took fourth in the eight-team bracket.

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Grant Conner Thompson won first place for baserunning during the skills competition before the start of the U7 tournament.

Tallahassee Rangers 9,

Gulf Breeze 2

The Rangers broke a 1-1 tie with four in the third, then added three in the fifth.

David Alverson walked and scored in the third for Gulf Breeze, while Michael Hawkins reached on an error in the fourth and scored on a Conner Crooke single. The base hit was the only one of the game for Gulf Breeze.

Gulf Breeze 16, Perdido 6

Michael Neal's grand slam opened a seven-run first inning as Gulf Breeze rolled over Perdido.

Neal had six RBIs in the win, including a two-run single. Taylor Baynes went 3-for-3 and scored twice, while Aydelott had two hits and scored three times.

Crooke and Alverson both had two hits and two runs scored, while Ben Diaz had two hits and scored once. Ben Davis and Cooper Jones both scored twice.

Gulf Breeze 6, Grand Ridge 5

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Grant Matthew Hawkins took second place in the home run contest before the start of the U7 tournament.

Gulf Breeze needed a fiverun fifth inning to stay alive in the losers bracket.

Baynes got out of a jam in the bottom of the sixth, forcing a lineout to Neal at first base to end the game.

Neal went 3-for-3 and scored once, while Hawkins went 2- for-2 and scored once. Jones scored twice in the win.

Fossil Park 14, Gulf Breeze 3

A pair of home runs in a fiverun fourth ended the game for Fossil Park.

Andy Creech's two-run homer in the second scored Diaz, who reached on an error. Hawkins singled and scored in the third.

Baynes, Alverson and Diaz singled in the first, second and fourth innings respectively for Gulf Breeze.

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Grant Brent Williams was third in the baserunning contest before the start of the U7 tournament. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Grant Josh Smith shows off his home run ball he hit during the course of the Dizzy Dean U7 state tournament at Shoreline Park. The GBSA U7s finished second in the tournament.