The Charleston Fighting Squirrels won their second straight Missouri Senior Babe Ruth championship Monday when they defeated the MABA Pirates 14-3. Photo by Chris Pobst

LEADWOOD -- After falling to a two-run deficit early in the Missouri Senior Babe Ruth State Championship game on Monday, the Charleston Fighting Squirrels went on a run scoring tear in the seventh inning, plating 10 runs to put the game out of reach and their second-straight state championship in their hands.

"We didn't execute our offense too well for the first four or five innings," Charleston head coach Michael Minner said. "We left too many runners on base. But, we finally busted out in the seventh inning. We played our tails off."

The Squirrels actually obtained a lead in the fifth inning, off of four singles to take a 4-3 advantage. But, the seventh inning is where plenty of insurance runs were scored.

Charleston's Colin Gilooly went 4-for-5 in Monday night's state championship game against the MABA Pirates.

Mark Freed and Blake Gaddis was the duo that put the Squirrels over the top. Freed hit a three-run triple and Gaddis sent a two-run shot over the left-center fence.

Charleston's Colin Gilooly led the Squirrels abundant offense with four hits. Freed was 3-for-3 and Tyler Whybark was 3-for-4.

Even though the offense came through in a big way for Charleston in the seventh, Steven Dooley was the Pirate stopper for the first six innings.

Dooley finished with 16 strikeouts in all seven innings and gave up only two hits with one being a three-run home run. He struck out every batter in the starting line-up at least once, except Ethan Sitton who was the opposing pitcher.

"(Steven) Dooley threw great," Minner said. "He only gave up two hits and one of those was a home run."

This was the Squirrels second Sr. Babe Ruth State Championship in two years and Minner said he was proud of his teams group effort.

"It was a nice group effort," said Minner. " Anytime we win a state championship its a big step for our club."

Next up for the Squirrels is the Midwest Regional Tournament that will start on Friday at 1:30 p.m. in Charleston.