What a difference a year can make.

Saxonburg's 7-year-old coach-pitch traveling all-star team did not win a tournament over the past seasons.

This season, it can't seem to lose one.

After winning its own tournament, Saxonburg has gone on to capture tourney titles in East Butler, Center Township and Middle Road. Of the 18 tournament games the squad has played, it has won 16.

The lone losses were one-run decisions to Center Township and Bakerstown. After both defeats, Saxonburg came back with lopsided victories.

"I've never seen a group of kids this young understand the difference between winning and losing and how important it is to play as a team," head coach Rhett Stobert said. "They've been incredible."

A 24-23 loss to Center Township was followed by a 22-9 victory over the host team in the Center Township Tournament championship game.

A 14-13 loss to Bakerstown in the first game of the Middle Road Tournament was followed by a 20-1 win over Zelienople and a 19-6 triumph over Penn Hills.

Runs are usually plentiful in coach-pitch baseball, but Saxonburg limited its opposition to fewer than 10 runs in 12 of its 16 victories.

By comparison, Saxonburg's offense produced at least 20 runs in nine of its 18 tournament games.

"In the entire East Butler tournament, our outfield gave up only one double," Stobert said. "Every other hit out there was held to a single.

"Nothing got by those guys and that's uncommon for a group of 7-year-olds."

Saxonburg outscored its competition in the East Butler tournament by a 90 to 19 margin over four games. Hunter Koller and Jeremy Frasier anchored the outfield defense.Nick Guercio has been a source of power for the team, hitting two home runs over the fence in the Center Township tourney. He also drilled three balls off the fence.Team captains are third baseman Addis Crouch, first baseman Matthew Corneti and second baseman Alex Stobert."Those are great players for their age, but you can go up and down our roster … All of these kids have contributed to a victory somewhere along the line," Coach Stobert said.Saxonburg has shown the ability to win close games as well. The team defeated DeHaven 14-13 in the Saxonburg Tournament championship game. It defeated Fox Chapel 8-7 and DeHaven 7-6 in the final two games of the Middle Road Tournament.Andy Bozzo, Mike Crouch, Dennis Cornetti and Bob Weleski are assistant coaches for Stobert."I don't know if any of us expected this type of success," Stobert said. "It just comes down to the determination of these kids. They believe in themselves and that's the difference."Saxonburg will compete in the Evans City Tournament this weekend.