ADAMS TWP — Call it the team that refused to lose.

Mars’ 8-year-old coach-pitch baseball tournament team finished 29-0 this season and has won all 11 of its tournaments over the past two years.

“This really is an amazing group of kids,” third-year coach Edwin Palmer said. “They play great defense for players at that age.”

Mars turned three double plays in one game this season.

Over the past two years, Mars is 55-1 in tournament play, outscoring the opposition 765-229.

The 11 players comprising this year’s team included Colin Boyle, Cole Cenci, Nick Crowley, Alex Heavner, Nolan Kush, Brett Palmer, William Ray, Teddy Ruffner, Jordan Smolinsky, Max Totzke and Jonathan Wetherholt.

“Other than a couple of players, that’s been the same group of kids both years,” Palmer said.

The team won the Upper St. Clair 8-year-old tourney last year as 7-year-olds and returned to win it again this season. Along with winning its own tournament twice, Mars has won tourneys in Center Township, Scott Township, Middle Road, Erie, Cleveland, Norwin and Cranberry Township over the past two years.

“We won the championship game at Norwin, 7-6, beat South Fayette 2-1 with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning ... We’ve won some close games along with winning by big scores.”

In coach-pitch tournaments, coaches pitch to their own players. The batters get three swinging strikes or seven pitches to put the ball in play.

“Kids are different,” Palmer said. “Some know how to wait for their pitch and others are free swingers who will hack at anything you throw up there.

“This was a balanced team that worked hard to play the game well.”