The first time proved to be the ideal time for the Alle-Kiski Astros 14-and-under girls softball team.

Representing the Alle-Kiski fast-pitch league, the Astros had never entered the Keystone State Games before. They had never even attempted to qualify.

"As a league, we decided to get a team together and see how well we could do," said Astros manager Crystal Spreng of Saxonburg. "We weren't expecting to win anything."

They wound up winning everything.

The Astros won their qualifying tournament, winning five games in a one-day tournament June 12 in Saxonburg to qualify for the Keystone State Games.

"We only had nine girls who could make it that day, so no one got a break," Spreng said. "Chelsea Eshbaugh (of Lower Burrell) pitched every inning of every game."

The Keystone State Games' 14-and-under softball tournament consisted of 16 teams and was played Aug. 4 through 7 in Wilkes-Barre.

Again, the Astros didn't lose a game. They won by scores of 5-0, 6-0 and 10-1, then scored five runs in the sixth inning to pull out a 5-4 triumph over Cambria County in the semifinals.

Ali Harper of Saxonburg doubled home Bethany Nealer in the sixth inning for the only run of the championship game, a 1-0 victory over Bedford.

"We were the only team out there nobody knew about because the other teams had all been there before," Spreng said.

Eight of the 12 players on the team were from Saxonburg. Three were from Lower Burrell and one from Ford City.

Nealer, from Ford City, pitched five of the six games, striking out 59 and walking two.

"Pitching is 85 percent of the game in softball, and we had the pitching," assistant coach Bill Sheppeck said.

Karra White of Saxonburg was the catcher and joined Nealer as a team co-captain. Other Saxonburg players on the squad were Harper, Amber Spreng, Zoe Hughes, Melissa Balsiger, Jessica Masdea, Kirsten Brant and Amanda Sheppeck.

Brant homered in a game and was one of the Astros' more consistent hitters. Hughes had a strong tournament at the plate as well.

"We only threw this team together a month or so before the tournament," coach Sheppeck said. "I don't think we practiced more than six times together."

The Astros would be eligible to compete in the regionals next year in Oklahoma City, but most of their team members will be turning 15 shortly.

"A couple of them already have," Spreng said. "Our team is aged out, but we'll try to qualify this same group in the 16-and-under division next year."

The national tournament will be in California next year.

Spreng coaches a 15-and-under softball team in Saxonburg and helps out with a 10-and-under team.

"It was something watching these girls play," she said. "Even when they were down 4-0 in that semifinal game, … they just got their spirit back. They were not going to lose."