Joe Culpepper/Gulf Breeze News Ginny Coady (holding trophy) and her teammates celebrate the Lady Dolphins' district title - the first since 1998. The year was 1998 - the country was entralled by the efforts of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa as they chased what was (then) the singleseason home run record. It was also the last time the Lady Dolphin softball team had won a district championship - that was, until last week. thatwas,untillastA d r i aCulpepper made in the top of the seventh, then drove in the gamewinning run in the bottom half as the Lady Dolphins edged Navarre 3-in the District 1-4A title game Thursday at Washington. The Lady Dolphins clinched their first playoff appearance in seven years two days earlier with an 11-0, five-inning win over West Florida in the semifinals.

"That was one of the most intense games I've ever been a part of - in any sport," coach Sean Tomey said. "It was a lot of fun, especially when you come out on top. I'm just proud of the girls."

Navarre (13-13) was hoping the third time would be the charm for the second time in three days. The Lady Raiders knocked off second - seeded Milton 3-0 to advance to Thursday's final. The short-handed Lady Panthers beat Navarre twice during the regular season.

Joe Culpepper/Gulf Breeze News Outta there! Adrian Culpepper waits for Navarre's Shelby O'Brien to slide into a tag that ended the top of the seventh inning last Thursday. Thursday's title game was a game of two starting pitchers who didn't have their best stuff but were able to wiggle out of several jams with minimal damage.

Alison Milam allowed five hits, but walked four and hit a batter. She threw 114 pitches in the win (67 strikes) and struck out six.

Navarre's Bri Risner also allowed five hits, but walked six and hit a batter. She threw 111 pitches in the loss (61 strikes) and struck out one.

GBHS struck first with one in the first. Deannette Zuniga drew a leadoff walk, stole second and reached third on a throwing error. After Risner recorded a pair of outs, Culpepper drew a walk. Instead of staying on first, Culpepper broke for second, intentionally getting caught in a rundown long enough to score Zuniga.

Photo courtesy of Sandy O'Neal Rosie Atkinson forces out Navarre's Bri Risner at third base in the district final Thursday. Gulf Breeze added another run in the third inning. Claire Koontz bounced one through the infield for a one-out single. Zuniga then doubled to left center, putting runners on second and third. Atkinson hit a ball back to Risner, who threw to third to get Koontz. Milam followed with an infield single that scored Zuniga.

The Lady Raiders cut the deficit in half with one in the fourth. Chandler Bridges, the ninth batter in the lineup, singled to drive in Meaghan Redalieu, who was hit by a Milam pitch.

Navarre tied the game in the fifth when Risner drew a walk, moved to second when Shelby O'Brien hit into a fielder's choice and scored on two wild pitches.

Navarre had first and second with no outs in the second, second and third with no outs in the third, the bases loaded in the fourth and first and second with no outs in the fifth. They scored only two runs in those innings. Milam ended three of those four innings with a strikeout.

GBHS also had prime scoring chances in the game. The Lady Dolphins had runners on second and third with one out in the third, first and third with one out in the fourth and the bases loaded in the sixth. They scored a total of one run in those situations.

With two outs in the seventh, O'Brien hit a deep double to center field. Katelyn Stone followed with a single, but Kellie Krueger came up throwing, firing a multi-hopper to Culpepper, who put the tag on O'Brien to end the inning.

Milam hit her second single of the game to lead off the seventh. She stole second, then moved to third on a wild pitch. Culpepper hit a shallow fly ball that was dropped, allowing Milam to score the game-winner.

Lady Dolphins 11, West

Florida 0 (five innings)

Kara Brown threw a no-hitter, striking out seven and facing only one more over the minimum as a 10-run first inning helped the Lady Dolphins clinch their first postseason berth in seven years with a semifinal win over the Lady Jags.

GBHS' first six batters reached base and scored in the first. Culpepper, who had two hits in the inning, singled to score Zuniga, while Anndrea Marsh's single scored Rosie Atkinson, who also singled. Atkinson drew a bases loaded walk to score another run.

Milam singled and scored in the inning, while Lyndsey Wright and Koontz both scored after reaching on errors. Zuniga scored two runs off walks in the inning, while Kori Ewens, running for Brown, scored after reaching on a walk.

Milam, who went 2-for-3, singled in the third inning to score Atkinson, who doubled. Atkinson went 2-for-2 and sored three times in the win.

West Florida's Kiana Rosario was the Lady Jags' lone baserunner after getting hit by a pitch with one out in the fourth.

Brown needed only 62 pitches to get the win. She got to three balls on only two batters - she struck out both.

The Lady Dolphins hosted Arnold in a Region 1-4A Quarterfinal Tuesday (after the News' deadline).