It was after midnight when the matchup was set for this evening’s championship round in the 2021 Dixie Debs World Series softball tournament at the Ruston Sports Complex.

South Carolina fought its way back through the loser’s bracket, and capped that rally with a 14-4 victory over the host Ruston team early this morning.

The other squad left standing after a rain-delayed round of five games Monday: the undefeated Louisiana state champions, from Alexandria.

Louisiana rolled past defending champion Georgia 15-2 Monday night to earn the upper hand in today’s championship round. Louisiana is unbeaten (5-0) in the Series, thanks to its 9-8 nailbiter earlier Monday evening over Ruston in the winner’s bracket final.

South Carolina (4-1 in the World Series) stayed alive Monday by dispatching North Carolina 11-7, then overwhelmed Ruston. The local team beat state champions from Tennessee and Georgia over the weekend but fell twice Monday.

The World Series championship will be decided beginning at 6 this evening on Field 4 at Complex C.

If Louisiana prevails in that contest, the Series ends; if South Carolina survives, the crown will be claimed by the winner of an 8 p.m. rematch.

The finalists met Sunday. Louisiana took a hard-fought 6-3 decision then.

Dixie Debs competition involves girls ages 16-18. Tournament updates are being posted on the Dixie Debs World Series 2021-Ruston Facebook page. Admission for this evening’s action is $7.

TODAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY

6 p.m. – South Carolina vs. Louisiana (Alexandria), Field 4
8 p.m. – If South Carolina wins, South Carolina vs. Louisiana, Field 4

MONDAY’S SCORES

Georgia 14, Virginia 9 (Virginia eliminated)
South Carolina 11, North Carolina 7 (North Carolina eliminated)
Louisiana 9, Ruston 8
Louisiana 15, Georgia 2 (Georgia eliminated)
South Carolina 14, Ruston 4 (Ruston eliminated)

SUNDAY’S SCORES

Virginia 6, Alabama 1 (Alabama eliminated)
Texas 14, Florida 4 (Florida eliminated)
Louisiana 6, South Carolina 3
Ruston 9, Georgia 4
Virginia 13, Texas 11 (Texas eliminated)
South Carolina 9, Tennessee 3 (Tennessee eliminated)
Louisiana 5, North Carolina 0

SATURDAY’S SCORES

South Carolina 5, Virginia 4
Louisiana 16, Alabama 1
Georgia 24, Florida 2
North Carolina 14, Texas 3
Ruston 10, Tennessee 0

PHOTO:  by Mike Ehle, Imagine It Studios

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