AURORA — It doesn't matter how many state championships Bob Bledsoe wins. They'll always be special.

"No, it doesn't get old," the Erie softball coach said Saturday. "It's a different emotion every time."

Saturday afternoon, Bledsoe and Erie won their second straight championship - and ninth in 11 years - with a 6-0 win over Holy Family.

It was the fourth consecutive season Erie (21-2) and Holy Family (20-2) met in the finals. Erie is 3-1 in those games, losing only in 2006.

"I’m so excited. I’m really shaky," said Erie senior shortstop Ashlie Ortega, who was named the Rocky Mountain News’ 3A tournament MVP.

In the finals, sophomore Sasha Fong hit a three-run homer, second baseman Jordan Ruiz went 3-for-3, and Mariah Bledsoe pitched seven brilliant innings.

"Coming in together as a team, we all focused on doing the best and coming out and playing Erie Tiger softball," said Ortega, who went 8-for-11 with seven RBI and five extra-base hits during the tournament.

The two rivals met on Sept. 16, with Holy Family rolling to an 8-1 win. This was different, and that really wasn't a surprise. In 2006, Erie won during a regular-season matchup, but Holy Family won in the championship game that year. In 2007, and now 2008, Holy Family has taken the regular-season games, with Erie winning in the finals.

"Maybe there is something to the superstition," Holy Family coach Glen Ramos said. "I don't know."

Erie won its final 14 games of the year and was impressive throughout the state tournament. The Tigers outscored their four opponents at state, 34-4.

"There’s some extra oomph that comes with us when we come (to state)," Ortega said.

Fong certainly had something extra. She went 3-for-4 with a homer, two doubles and four RBI in Erie's 13-3 win over Platte Canyon in Saturday's semifinals. Then, her three-run homer against Holy Family was the big blow.

Erie led, 1-0, at the time, and Fong's shot over the left-field wall gave it the cushion it needed.

"It was the best feeling of my life," Fong said of her home run. "It was sweet spot, major, and it was just gone."

Mariah Bledsoe handled the Holy Family bats all day. After being tagged for eight hits and six runs in 2 2/3 innings against Holy Family in the regular season, she allowed just three hits in seven innings Saturday.

Ramos said Bledsoe pitched inside more this time, and Holy Family didn't make the adjustment.

Still, Holy Family couldn't have been much more pleased. The Tiger seniors advanced to the state championship game four times in four years.

"It's tough," Ramos said. "But, our seniors have had a fantastic four-year run."

Holy Family second baseman Lara Mathewson is one of those seniors. She's had a sensational career, both on a personal level and a team level.

"I can't ask for more than that," Mathewson said of playing in the finals four straight years. "I've been there every year, and not a lot of people get that chance, so I'm happy I got to do it all four. At least we got one."

Ortega, who is one of just two Erie seniors (Jessica Glick is the other), also got to play in four championship games, and she won three of them.

"You’re so happy for Ashlie and Jessica Glick," Bob Bledsoe said. "Every year it’s the seniors that you really hope (can win)."