It took them until the bottom of the sixth and last inning with two outs, but a single by Juliet Barber scored Caitlin Orlando and Nicole Lapin, giving Mineola a 6-5 win in the championship game against Glen Oaks.

"It was one of the most exciting games I've ever seen," Coach Jim Bruno said.

This win capped a perfect season by the team, the first time in their very short history they have gone undefeated. In fact, the team's only been around for two years.

The Mineola Athletic Association originally ran sports programs of boys' and girls' soccer and boys' baseball. Girls were allowed to join the baseball team, but Coach Bruno said that had a detrimental affect, since it was "not something that was getting them ready for high school" and "the next level."

But in 1997, that changed when the MAA decided to create a girls' softball league. The team, made up of 11 and 12-year-olds, is sponsored by Windsor Fuel and is part of the Merillon Girls Softball League. They play 11 regular season games against nearby towns, such as New Hyde Park and Port Washington, and up to three elimination play-off games. The Merillon league consists of 10 teams.

Coach Bruno, with assistant John Raffetto, were able to prepare the team to the differences between this league and others that the girls may have experienced. Bruno explained that this league is similar to middle and high school leagues, which include fast pitching, bunting, and stealing. Though the league had certain regulations, Coach Bruno was able to use the rules and constant reinforcing as a learning experience.

"We were only allowed two successful bunts and two successful steals each inning and we did it every inning," he said, adding in the end, "every one of our girls could bunt and steal bases."

Through it all, Coach Bruno had only the highest praise for the way his team played.

"It was a special group of girls," he said. "They pulled together and played like a team. They hit the ball and made the plays. We had double plays like you couldn't believe. They were glad to be there and they had fun. The girls really took to it."

Even though this is just the second year for the team, Coach Bruno explained that this year's team was a vast improvement over the one last year. The team ended its inaugural season only two games over .500, and was plagued by inner problems.

This year, the team lost all but eight of its experienced players, but gained six new girls. Coach Bruno said that this infusion of new talent brought in a change of attitude.

"This year, they were very receptive," he said. "They were a good wholesome group of girls."

Leading the team was Caitlin Orlando, who hit an astonishing .769, and led the team with 25 runs scored. Juliet Barber led the home run category with three.

To cap their season, the coaches are throwing a special party on Aug. 18 for the team, and will hand out trophies. Coach Bruno explained that this is because the league is unable to have a celebration for the girls. Also as an added bonus, the girls and coaches received tickets to a Mets Game, courtesy of Pepsi and its "Takin' it to the Field" program.