The Gulf Coast Storm from Biloxi, MS won the 2008 14-U B-Class Fast Pitch Southern Nationals in Columbus, GA during the weekend of July 30 – August 2, 2008. The 14U Storm team, products of the Biloxi Girls Softball League and represents five different High Schools along the coast are the 2008 ASA Southern National Champions
There were 17 teams from 5 different states participating. In pool play the girls defeated Spring Klein Panther of Texas, 13 -0; and Fuzion from Theodore, AL 3 -2. Bracket play began on Friday August 1st with an early morning victory over Force from Katy, TX by the score of 8 -0. The girls earned their second win in the mid afternoon game against the Bandits from Cobb County, Georgia by the score of 7 -1. The 3rd game of the day with the Magic of Missouri City, TX was postponed due rain after 2 complete scoreless innings. This hard fought game resumed at 8:00 Saturday morning with an 8 inning victory by the score of 1 – 0. The 6th game of the tournament was with finals of the winner’s bracket against The Trouble Makers of Abilene, TX. The girls bats exploded with a 7 – 0 win
The championship game and 3rd of the day was a showdown match up between the girls of the MS Gulf Coast and the 2008 Dizzy Dean World Series Champions, The Rookies of Jasper, AL. Once again, the girls prevailed in a hard fought defensive battle by the score of 1 -0. The team batting average during for the tournament was .360 and the combined ERA was 0.333. As the ASA District, State and Southern National Champion, the team had a total record of 23 – 7, a 14 game winning streak and winners of 5 of 7 tournaments this summer.
Team members are Paige Lyons, Dana Barhanovich, Bri Newman, Jenifer Gary, Morgan Derouen, Madison Ulrich, Ashlyn Torricelli, Brittany Lang, Brittney Brown, Dani Craft, Crystal Ross, and Caitlyn Chapman. Coaches are Wayne Lyons, Mark Barhanovich, and Jeff Ulrich.