By DAN BISER
Sports Editor

The last time Kevin Wayne was a coach in a Jr. Dixie Boys Baseball World Series, his team won it all.

In 2001, Wayne was an assistant for the Columbus County Jr. DB All-Star squad that claimed the World Series title at Sulphur, La. That remains the only Dixie Boys World Series title for a North Carolina team. That team, under head coach Mitch McCleney, included current college players Ryan McCleney, Daniel Britt, Scott Stephens, Dustin Williamson and Dustin Medlin.

“That was a special team, and everything seemed to come together that year,” said Wayne, who is now head coach of the 2007 Columbus East Jr. Dixie Boys All-Stars, who went unbeaten in five games to win the state tournament title last week at Southport.

On Saturday, the Columbus East squad will take on the Arkansas champion from Texarkana at 7 p.m. (CDT) in the opening round of the 2007 Jr. Dixie Boys World Series at Muscle Shoals, Ala..

The 12-team, double-elimination tournament will run through next Thursday.

The team departed for Alabama this morning.

“We’re really looking forward to taking this group to the World Series,” Wayne said. “They are a great group of kids. They work hard together and are just a fun crowd to be around.”
Players are Derrick Bracey, Hunter Smith, Manuel Figueroa, Alex Batten, Frank Ciamillo, Justin White, Taylor Stevens, Forrest Wayne, Jermal Davis, David Michael Bridgers, Tanner Reynolds, Jacob Long and Jeremiah Jacobs.

“All of our guys did a great job in the state tournament,” said Wayne, who is assisted by Robert Gurkin and Gary Smith. “Our pitching held up well, and everybody did a good job with the bats.

“The World Series will be a big challenge, but I think we have a team that can step in and do a good job,” he added.

This will mark the 10th time in 12 years that a Columbus County all-star team is carrying the North Carolina championship banner into the Jr. DB World Series.

Columbus East defeated host Brunswick County 7-5 in last Thursday’s state tournament championship game at Southport’s Smithville Township District Park. The Columbus team also took wins of 14-1 and 7-5 over Montgomery County, 9-0 over Duplin County and 11-8 over Bladen County to advance to the championship round.

Justin White pitched two wins in the state tournament while Derrick Bracey pitched one win and got a save. Hunter Smith and Forrest Wayne each pitched a win. Bracey, Smith, Manuel Figueroa and Alex Batten turned in strong hitting performances during the tournament, and Jermal Davis provided some spark from his centerfield position as well as at the bat.

“It’s tough to single out any particular player or players because they have all done a great job,” Wayne said. “Our main objective is to play hard and have fun, and I think this team has been able to do that pretty well.”

A win by the North Carolina champions in Saturday’s opening round would have them playing the winner of Sumter, S.C., and host Muscle Shoals teams on Sunday at 7 p.m. A Saturday loss would pit the N.C. team against the South Carolina-Muscle Shoals loser on Sunday at 4 p.m.

Saturday’s other opening-round games will have Columbia County, Ga., meeting Bossier City, La.; Panola County, Texas taking on Hueytown, Ala.; Okeechobee. Fla., squaring off with Oak Grove, Miss,; and Halifax County, Va,; facing Goodlettsville, Tenn.

Muscle Shoals, located in Alabama’s northwest corner, has a population of approximately 12,000.

Opening ceremonies for the World Series event will be held Friday night.