DAN BISER

The Columbus County All-Stars departed by chartered bus Wednesday at midnight for the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and the 2006 Dixie Boys (ages 13-14) Baseball World Series in Grand Prairie, Texas.

“Raising funds for the trip in such a short period of time was quite an undertaking, but thanks to many businesses and individuals in Columbus County who have given us so much strong support, we are able to make it,” said Columbus head coach Curtis Andrews. “The support has really been tremendous.”

Columbus County, which won the 14-team state tournament last week at Shallotte, will take on Crosby, Texas, Saturday at 4 p.m. (CDT), in the opening round of the 12-team double-elimination World Series event. The tournament will run through next Thursday.

This marks the 21st year since 1976 that a Columbus County All-Star team has won the North Carolina Dixie Boys championship.

Other tournament entries are East Montgomery, Ala., Texarkana, Ark., W. Volusia, Fla., Columbia County, Ga., Bossier City, La., Brookhaven, Miss., Sumter, S.C., Dyersburg, Tenn., Bedford, Va., and the host Grand Prairie team. Games will be played on two fields at Grand Prairie’s Mike Lewis Park.

World Series opening ceremonies will be held Friday night.

The Columbus All-Stars won the North Carolina title with a 6-1 record in tournament play. It dropped its opener to Bladen County but battled back to garner six straight wins, including a two-game sweep of host Brunswick County in the best-of-three championship series. The state championship series was highlighted by a no-hitter and 19 strikeouts by righthander Kyle Hufham in an 8-0 shutout of the Brunswick County team.

Seven of the 13 players on the team competed on the Columbus County Jr. Dixie Boys team that tied for third in the World Series play last year at Muscle Shoals, Ala.

“There will be some very strong teams at the World Series, but I think we can make a good showing,” Andrews said. “If we keep stepping it up like we did after the first round of the state tournament, we’ll be okay.

“It will be a long trip for us, but once the ball is put into play, our guys should be ready.”

Team members are Mikey Watts, Laython Ward, Beret Proctor, Kyle Hufham, Kyle Canady, Jonathan Marvin, Jonathan Reynolds, Tommy Ranalli, Kenneth Reaves, Jared Stephens, Chris Beck, Stephen Congleton and Marcus Fowler.

Assistant coaches are Bobby Proctor and Randy Coleman.

Since first competing in North Carolina Dixie Boys Tournament play in 1976, Columbus County All-Star teams have won 21 state titles while posting a combined record of 127 wins and 18 losses in 30 state tournament appearances.

Columbus County Dixie Boys All-Star teams have had World Series runnerup finishes in 1999, 2001 and 2004. They are still looking for their first World Series championship.