The Louisiana state champions finished with a flourish Tuesday evening, claiming the crown in the 2021 Dixie Debs World Series softball tournament at the Ruston Sports Complex.
The team from Alexandria made a happy drive home down U.S. 167 after pounding South Carolina 13-1 in the championship game, finishing undefeated in six tournament games.
Only two were close: a 6-3 victory Sunday over the same South Carolina squad, and the most crucial, the winner’s bracket final Monday evening when Louisiana edged the host Ruston team 9-8.
The other wins before Tuesday came by scores of 15-2 (eliminating Georgia, the defending champion), 5-0 (over North Carolina) and 16-1 on opening day over Alabama.
After falling Sunday to Louisiana, South Carolina battled back through the loser’s bracket, and capped that rally with a 14-4 victory Monday night over the host Ruston team, which finished 2-2 in the World Series.
But Tuesday in the championship round, South Carolina just couldn’t measure up to the girls from Cenla.
A prestigious honor went to the Florida state champions. They were chosen to receive the Lisa Michelle Owens Memorial/James “Obie” Evans Sportsmanship Award.
Nine state champions from around the South, plus the host Ruston team, took part in the four-day, double-elimination World Series at the Ruston Sports Complex.
Dixie Debs competition involves girls ages 16-18. Ruston Dixie Softball was the host organization for the 2021 Dixie Debs World Series.
TUESDAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
Louisiana 13, South Carolina 1 (South Carolina eliminated, Louisiana wins World Series)
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 Eric Hull, Imagine It Studios.
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