VIDALIA — Fundamentals and discipline led the Vidalia 14-and-under Little League All-Star team to a 3-0 sweep of the Louisiana State Tournament last weekend.

The Vidalia girls traveled to Winnfield, La., and brought home wins of 16-0, 8-3 and 13-12 to win the state title.

“Patience (was big),” Vidalia head coach Donald Bertelsen said. “We drew a lot of walks and, defensively, we played well.”

Bertelsen said his team hangs its hat on defense, and that is what will win games in the regional tournament that begins Aug. 3 in Santé Fe, N.M.

“Our strength is our defense,” he said. “Our hitting is coming around, and our pitching is coming around.”

Pitching coach Jenny Watson said Vidalia uses Daley Jordan, Cassie Gonzales and Elizabeth Smith as its main pitchers.

Smith said she has been strong early in games, but she hopes to improve her stamina during the next week and a half of practice.

“When I’m on, I’m on, but when I’m not it’s everywhere,” Smith said. “It depends. Usually in the first couple of innings I am good.”

Smith said she also hopes to work on more pitches during practice, and she hopes Vidalia is ready for the regional tournament.

“There are going to be a lot of really good teams,” she said.

The regional tournament will have teams from Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Arkansas.

Bertelsen said the team will have to be prepared to face top competition, and he is hoping to use the next two weeks to get his team ready.

“We are preparing them mentally and physically,” he said. “They have to get used to the heat, and we want to focus on fundamentals.”

Bertelsen said Vidalia lost two games in district but still managed to make the state tournament. Those two losses motivated his team in the state tournament, he said.

Tatum Turner led the team offensively in the state tournament, and she said one reason the team has been successful is unity.

“We’re all one,” Turner said. “We all get along.”

The team is made up of girls from several different schools in the Miss-Lou, but all the girls play in the Vidalia Youth Softball League.

Bertelsen said along with preparing his team for the tournament, he would also spend the next week trying to raise money to get all the girls and their families to New Mexico.

Bertelsen said donations are welcomed. Anyone interested in donating to the team can contact assistant coach Brent Smith at 318-481-3073 or Greg Young at 601-870-6003.