SHALLOTTE – So far, there has been nothing stopping the Columbus County Jr. Dixie Boys (age 13) All-Stars in state tournament play.

On Saturday, the Columbus County squad walloped Bladen County 13-1, and on Sunday it turned back Duplin County 11-5.

The toughest test to date comes tonight at 7:30 when the two-time defending state champion Columbus team goes against host Brunswick County at Shallotte Community Park.

The six-team double-elimination North Carolina Jr. Dixie Boys Baseball Tournament is scheduled to run through Wednesday or Thursday with the winner receiving a berth in the 2006 Jr. Dixie Boys World Series that will be held Aug. 4-11 at Grand Prairie, Texas.

In Saturday’s opening-round game, Rett Lee was the winning pitcher. Corey Sykes, Hunter Allen and Grayson Hoffman - the first three batters in the Columbus order - combined for 10 hits and Houston Barnes belted a home run.

In Sunday’s game, Columbus County held an 11-2 lead with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning when a heavy downpour hit the field. Duplin County managed to score three runs during the deluge before the final out was made.

Jeremy Bullock was the winning pitcher while Barnes, Sykes, Allen, Hoffman and Lee led the offensive attack.

The Columbus County team is coached by Roger Suggs, Kelly Hoffman and Robbie Allen.

Columbus County Jr. Dixie Boys All-Star teams have won nine of the last 10 state championships and won the 2001 Jr. Dixie Boys World Series championship.