RED SPRINGS - The District 2 champion Columbus County All-Stars opened play in the 2006 North Carolina Dixie Youth (ages 11-12) Baseball Tournament Saturday with a 6-1 victory over East Duplin.

In Sunday’s second round, the Columbus squad fell to Albemarle 13-7.

Columbus County will go against Charlotte South Park today at 3:30 p.m. in an elimination game.

The 16-team twin-bracket tournament will run through Friday or Saturday with the winner receiving a berth in the 2006 Dixie Youth World Series that is set for Aug. 14-19 at Goodlettsville, Tenn.

In Saturday’s opener, Ryan Sykes hit a home run and a single and Derrick Bracey also homered. Dillon Faulk knocked pair of doubles while winning pitcher Alex Batten had two hits. Also getting hits were Hyland Tyler, Allen Mitchell and Taylor Stevens.

Batten pitched a complete-game two-hitter. He struck out four batters. The only East Duplin run came on a homer by Paul Dail.

Columbus County jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run homer by Sykes and a two-run double by Faulk. Bracey blasted his solo home in the third. Columbus County got its final run in the fourth inning on hits by Sykes, Batten and Allen Mitchell.

In Sunday’s game, Albemarle scored 10 runs in the second inning to take a commanding lead.

The second inning was marred by a protest when Albemarle contended that the Columbus County catcher had caused interference on a force-out at home. The runner was initially called out, but the call was overturned after more than 30 minutes of deliberation.

Columbus County battled back with seven runs. Justin Ward had a double while Cody Wiggins, Josh Tedder and Ward had consecutive singles in a four-run fourth inning.

The Columbus County All-Stars team, coached by Kevin Wayne, Jesse Register and Jody Sykes, is making its 26th appearance in the North Carolina Dixie Youth Baseball Tournament.