COCHRANTON — Oh what a difference a year makes.

Last season the Saegertown 9 & 10 softball all-stars went two-and-out in the District 1 tournament.

This time around the French Creek Valley American all-stars are 4-1 with the town’s first 9 & 10 championship and a berth in the Section 1 tourney.

FCVA topped Cochranton 6-2 in the second game of the championship finals in Cochranton on Monday.

“We just worked so hard for this, this year,” assistant and former head coach Trisha Offi said after the big win. “They came out and won as a team, and it was awesome.”

FCVA defeated Mid-East and Conneaut Valley on the road to the winner’s bracket final. The girls then topped Cochranton in a tight-to-the-finish contest, 4-3.

Cochranton showed it still had some fight in the first game of the championship by taking a lopsided 12-3 tally.

But FCVA came out swinging and put up eight hits with just five strikeouts Monday.

“Last game we had four hits and threw the ball around,” head coach Rob Robison said. “I was waiting for the team to come out and finally hit as a team, and (Monday) they did that. I think the confidence level went up considerably.”

Leadoff Maile Chang reached on a double in the top of the first and became run No. 1 for FCVA after stealing her way around to the dish.

Cochranton evened the score in the bottom half when catcher Sami Kinter walked and scored on an RBI double by Katy Dunn.

Dunn was Cochranton’s only player with a hit — she posted both in a 2-for-3 performance.

FCVA substitute Alyssa Penfield was hit by a pitch to start the third inning. She scored four batters later when Felisha Offi drove in two runs with a single that went off the glove of second baseman Ariel Smith and into right field.

Makenna Robison counted as the other run scored on the play, and in effect the game-winner.

Robison had the offensive performance of the game, going 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.