The South Coast’s 14-year-old prep all-stars enter this week’s regional Babe Ruth tournament knowing they reached the tourney by knocking off one of the region’s toughest squads in Josephine County — twice.

So the South Coast team understandably is confident after winning the Southern Oregon State Babe Ruth Tournament in Grants Pass last weekend, in a run that included 5-4 and 8-7 victories over Josephine County. The squad plays well together, due to the fact that it’s basically identical to last year’s 13-year-old team, just a year older.

“They’re just hitting the ball well, from one to nine. And the unity — they get along so well,” said South Coast coach John Qualman.

The team is comprised mainly of players from the Bay Area, with one Myrtle Point addition and four players from Florence, the latter of which form the backbone of the team.

“That Florence infield is the core,” Qualman said.

It includes the team’s top two pitchers, Alex Snow and Ryan Smith, who combined to pitch literally every inning of the state tourney. Snow said he knew coming in the team had a good chance to advance to regionals.

“I wasn’t really surprised, because we have a good team,” he said. “I knew if we tried hard and played well, we had a chance.”

Snow and Smith got plenty of help last weekend. Myrtle Point’s Matt Miranda smacked a go-ahead three-run homer to give the team an 8-5 lead in the fifth inning of the title game.

“It was a fastball right down the tube,” Miranda said. “I was halfway to first when I saw it go over (the fence). I knew it was solid when I hit it.”

The South Coast squad’s pitching staff has had defensive support to go with the offense, as well.

Josephine County rallied in the seventh in the title game Sunday, drawing within 8-7 with runners on first and second. But South Coast third baseman Josh Iabichello backhanded a groundball, tagged third and made the throw to first for a game-ending double play.

“It felt good, because it was such a close game,” he said of the double play. “We’ve been playing really good defense.”

South Coast hopes to continue its hot batting, stingy pitching and solid defense when the ballclub opens pool play at 4 p.m. on Monday in Moscow against Montana’s state champions. Pool play continues throughout the week in the 10-team tourney, with the top four teams advancing to bracket play on Saturday, Aug. 8.

“These kids are a really solid team,” Qualman said. “We need to be there to play every day ... But they seem to have more focus now than they did prior to the tournament.”