It took 61 years, but when Gardiner Area High School finally won another state championship, the baseball team did it in a way that will probably be remembered for another 61 years.

The players won the Class B title in Bangor on Saturday, beating Cape Elizabeth 10-0.

It didn't even take nine innings -- the 10-run lead after seven was enough to invoke the mercy rule.

It was the third consecutive play-off game where that happened -- where the Tigers ruled the game, at the plate, on the pitcher's mound and in the field.

There is nothing more you can ask from a team than that.

How did the Gardiner team get to be Red Sox-good?

A lot of the answer has to do with strong local programs for younger players, where good coaching produced some of the players that later became the Gardiner varsity.

Congratulations to the players and their coaches, current and past. And to all those dads and moms who put a baseball glove in the crib.

Saturday was the payoff.