GALLIPOLIS - There wasn't much of a celebration after the final out was recorded. Members of the Gallia Academy High School softball team simply shook hands with members of the Portsmouth Lady Trojans, then headed to right field for their regular post game meeting.

In that meeting coach Jim Niday reminded his Blue Angels there is still much work to be done - judging from their reaction, they already knew.

Lindsey Niday hit two home runs, and the Blue Angels homered three times as a team, as Gallia Academy beat Portsmouth 11-2 on Friday - wrapping up an outright Southeastern Ohio Athletic League South Division title.

But that's just step one. The Blue Angels play host to the Marietta Lady Tigers from the North Division on Tuesday for the overall SEOAL championship, as part of the league's Day of Champions.

“Our goal right now is to beat Marietta, that's all we're thinking about, that's all we want to do,” stressed coach Niday. “It's a one-game series, basically, and we know we're one win away from winning our league in softball for the first time in 20-some years.”

It's been a magical season for the Blue Angels, who improved to 13-8 overall and 11-1 in the SEOAL. The 13-win total, reportedly, has already surpassed the school record for wins in a season.

Niday expressed how pleased he is with his club, but not just for the outstanding win-loss record.

“I couldn't be more proud of this bunch of girls - not so much for our record, but for the kind of kids they are and their attitudes,” he said. “Those kind of things are a lot more important than wins and losses in my book.”

The Blue Angels, who mercy-ruled Portsmouth in their previous two meetings, played sloppily early on Friday and didn't start to pull away until later in the contest. Portsmouth was within 3-2 after two innings, but Gallia scored four times in the third frame, then had two home runs in one inning in the fifth - when the dust had settled, it was a 10-2 Angel lead.

Lindsey Niday added her second homer in the sixth, a solo in-the-parker, to round out the scoring. Niday finished the game going 3-for-4 with two runs batted in. Amy Noe, also the winning pitcher, added the other home run to help her own cause.

Brittany Elliott had a double and single. Brittyn Saunders, Brittany Miller and Leslie Niday added singles for the winners.

Portsmouth batters reached Noe for six hits. Kendall went 3-for-3 and Drake added two hits for the Lady Trojans.

Noe struck out three, walked one in taking the decision. Her counterpart, Drake, surrendered four earned runs on nine hits, struck out six and walked four. Portsmouth did hamper its young sophomore pitcher my committing seven errors.

Coach Niday admitted that winning the South Division was a goal he felt was obtainable for this club.

“We thought we could do it, we just stressed having a positive attitude and playing one day at-a-time and being the best kids they can be and they've just really met those expectations,” he said.

Niday's club goes to Warren on Monday before facing Marietta in the SEOAL title game.

ANGELS 11, TROJANS 2

Portsmouth 110 000 0 - 2 6 7

Gallipolis 304 031 x - 11 9 2

Drake and Cooper. Amy Noe and Lindsay Ward. WP - Noe. LP - Drake. HR - GA 3: Lindsey Niday 2, Amy Noe 1.