The North Carolina champion Dixie Deb All-Stars will help kick off play in the 2007 Dixie Debs (ages 16-18) Softball World Series Saturday at Marianna, Fla. when they are scheduled to take on the Virginia champion at 9:30 a.m.

The 11-team, double-elimination tournament will run through next week.

It has been nearly a month since the Columbus County All-Stars secured the state tournament title at Shallotte, but head coach Joanna Currie said that most of the players have been involved with other teams in other league play during the layoff.

“We’re looking forward to the trip to Florida,” she said. “Some of the players on this team were with us when we went to the World Series two years ago in Alabama. Just about all of them have a lot of strong tournament experience.

The World Series tournament also includes state champions from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas as well as the host Marianna team.

Members of the 2007 North Carolina champion Dixie Debs are Courtney Long, Kelly Strickland, Yolanda McKoy, Joye Buffkin, Brandi Fowler, Marci-anna Pridgen, Morgan Patrick, Kayla McLean, Jessica McPherson, Caroline Newman and Samantha Smith.

Assistant coaches are Daylon Gore and Bobby McPherson.

The Columbus County All-Stars went through state tournament play, knocking off host Brunswick West 14-4 in the championship game.