State Debs champions

The Columbus County Dixie Debs (ages 16-18) All-Stars defeated West Brunswick 14-4 in Monday’s championship game of the North Carolina Dixie Debs Softball Tournament at Shallotte. The North Carolina champs will play in the 2007 Dixie Debs World Series that is scheduled to begin July 27 at Marianna, Fla. Team members are, front row, left to right, Joye Buffkin, Yolanda McKoy, Sam Smith, Bri Jacobs. Middle row (leaning), Courtney Long, Morgan Patrick, Kelly Strickland, Caroline Newman, Jessica McPherson. Standing, Marci-anna Pridgen, Coach Joanna Currie, Kayla McLean, Coach Bobby McPherson, Coach Daylon Gore. Not pictured, Brandi Fowler.

By DAN BISER
Sports Editor

SHALLOTTE - Aside from some proud smiles, some high-fives and few hugs, there was little of the wild on-the-field elation and celebration usually associated with winning a state tournament championship.
That’s because coming out lower than first had evidently never entered the realm of possibility for 12 girls from Columbus County.

“We’ve felt all along that we’ve had the team to win it,” said Columbus County All-Star coach Joanna Currie. The team had thumped host West Brunswick 14-4 Monday for the North Carolina Dixie Debs (ages 16-18) Softball Tournament championship. “We knew it was our tournament to win if we played up to our capabilities. We’re really happy, but there is still more for us to accomplish.”

The Columbus squad won the championship game in overwhelming fashion, scoring nine runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. The game was halted in the fifth inning by the 10-run rule.

It marked the Columbus Debs’ fourth straight win in the state tournament and gave them a berth in the 2007 Dixie Debs World Series that will open July 27 at Marianna, Fla.

With an experienced line-up featuring many of the top high school players in Columbus County, Currie said she feels this team has the potential and maturity to be as strong a contender as North Carolina has ever had in a Dixie Debs World Series.

“This is a very close-knit team and the chemistry has been there from the start,” said Currie, who is assisted by Daylon Gore and Bobby McPherson. “Most of our girls have played three or four years at the varsity level in high school. Several will be playing softball on college teams next year.”

The championship win was dampened when starting pitcher Brandi Fowler suffered a severely sprained ankle in the fourth inning while sliding into second base.

Columbus County jumped to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning behind a two-run single by Yolanda McKoy.

Singles by Bri Jacobs and Courtney Long helped bring in two more Columbus runs in the second inning for a 5-0 lead.

Brunswick County battled back in the top of the fourth inning, scoring four runs behind a double by Heather Carter and singles by Amber Rontero and Emily Gore.

Jessica McPherson relieved Fowler in with two outs and retired the side.

Columbus County sent 13 batters to the plate and put the game out of reach with nine runs.
Sam Smith paced the onslaught with a two-run homer. Morgan Patrick had a double while Marci-anna Pridgen, McPherson, Jacobs and Long also had hits.

Brunswick got two runners on base in the top of the fifth inning, but McPherson retired the next three batters to end the game.

It marked the Columbus County Dixie Debs’ second state tournament championship in three years.
Columbus County had opened the tournament by slipping past North Brunswick 8-7 and then overwhelmed Kings Mountain 19-0 in the second round. In third-round play, Columbus County defeated West Brunswick 12-7.

In other state Dixie Girls Softball play on Monday, the South Columbus Dixie Darlings (ages 6-8) and East Columbus Dixie Belles (ages 13-15) suffered their first tournament losses.

The South Columbus Darlings bowed to North Stanly 16-9, and the East Columbus Belles were overwhelmed by South Stanly 13-0.