Whiteville Optimist All-Stars
2007 District 2 Dixie Youth AAA champions

RIEGELWOOD - The Whiteville Optimist All-Stars won their first District 2 Dixie Youth AAA Tournament championship (ages 10-and-under) since 2003 with a 12-4 victory over three-time defending champion Columbus County in last Wednesday night’s final round.

The Whiteville squad will make the 3-1/2-hour trek to Eden to open play Saturday in the 2007 North Carolina Dixie Youth AAA Tournament. The winner of the 16-team double-elimination state tournament will receive a berth in the 2007 Dixie Youth AAA World Series, which is set for Aug. 5-11 at Madison Heights, Va.

Whiteville’s win in the championship round was its fifth straight in the seven-team double-elimination tournament, including its second over Columbus County. It also had a semifinal win over South Columbus and had opened the tournament with wins over Nakina and host Riegelwood.

The Whiteville All-Stars are coached by Dale Reaves, Willie Wilkins and Adam Best. Players are Bronson Alexander Best, Whitson Delane Buffkin, Nicholas Edward Ciamillo, Cary Daniel Hammonds III, Byron Craig Leggett, Zachary Edwin Pait, Bryce Keaton Parnell, Jeremy Lynn Rasberry, Austin Lee Reaves, Kendal Allen Reynolds, William Bryan Wilkins and Steven Dylan Williams.

Whiteville Optimist AAA All-Star teams have won 15 District 2 championships since 1980. The last time Whiteville Optimist won a AAA state championship was in 1997 when the tournament was held at Troy.

Whiteville also won state titles in 1994, 1992 and 1989,

The Columbus County All-Stars had won six of the last eight District 2 championships and 12 district titles overall, and also won the 1993 state AAA championship.