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| Angel champs The East Columbus All-Stars won the District 9 Dixie Angels (ages 9-10) Softball Tournament at Burgaw with an unbeaten record to advance to this week’s state tournament in Lincoln County. Team members are, (seated front let to right), Kaitlin Jackson, Mackaela Smith, (kneeling) Danielle Hyatt, Jasmine Jacobs, Monica Revels, Brianna Graham, (standing) Magan Soles, Kendra Bowen, Lexus Dudney, Jamie Pridgen, Darian Formyduval, Alina Freeman and coaches (standing rear) Buddy Smith, Jimmy Jackson and Paula Smith. The East Columbus Angels also won the Sportsmanship Trophy in the district tournament. |
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| Darling champs The South Columbus All-Stars came away with the District 9 Dixie Darlings (ages 6-8) championship at Burgaw and advanced to this week’s state tournament in Lincoln County. Team members are, front row, left to right, Ariel Sykes, Aleyshia Givens, Kourtney Grainger, Taylor Turbeville. Second row, Lauryn Ray, Sadryne Jacobs, Lindsey Jones, Madison Spencer.Third row, Briana Wright, Brooke Dudney, Abigail Roberson, Hannah Hawes. Back row, coaches Chad Tubeville, Steven Suggs, Wendy Suggs and Ed Ray. This is the first year that Columbus County has entered teams in Dixie Darling tournament play. |
VALE – All three Columbus County entries in the North Carolina Dixie Girls Softball Tournament have made strong showings thus far.
Play in the Lincoln County tournment continues today.
Many of the games in the five-division tournament have been played in temperatures well into the 90s.
The South Columbus Dixie Darling All-Stars (ages 6-8) took a 16-3 victory over Perquimans in its first round game on Saturday and drew a second-round by on Sunday. The Columbus Darlings will take on Bunn tonight at 7 in third-round play.
The East Columbus Dixie Angels All-Stars (ages 9-10) defeated East Duplin 12-8 in Saturday’s opening round and came back on Sunday to thump Perquimans 16-2. The East Columbus Angels went undefeated in winning the recent District 9 tournament at Burgaw. They will take on Bunn tonight at 7 in a winner’s bracket game.
The defending state champion Columbus County Dixie Debs (ages 16-18) won their opening game with West Stanly 7-5 with a sixth inning home run by Kelly Strickland keying the victory. On Sunday, the Columbus Debs fell to Brunswick County 7-5 but they came back later in the day to defeat West Stanly 5-1. Columbus County will take on Brunswick County today at 6.
“The Columbus County teams have done a good job so far,” said District 9 director Julie Strickland. “The heat has been intense but everyone has done a good job.”
The winner of each division will advance to World Series play.
Dixie Girls Softball has been in existence for 31 years, with leagues in 11 states.