Dillon’s Dixie Ponytails got off to a strong start on Saturday in the 2011 Dixie Softball Ponytails World Series, but faced a tough loss on Sunday morning before being eliminated Sunday night.

The 12U Ponytails faced a 12-team double-elimination bracket that included the state champions from 11 states across the Southeast, plus the host team of Pineville, Louisiana. The opening ceremonies were held on Friday, July 29, with the first game of the series kicking of on Saturday, July 30, at 9:00 a.m.

Dillon’s Ponytails played in game six, where they faced Mississippi’s West Jasper for a 5-3 win.

Tori Grimsley was the winning pitcher, striking out eight over four innings.

At bat, Johnna Rogers picked up two RBI, and Kirsten Hopkins broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI of her own.

Au’kiera Smiley and Macy Johnson each got two hits and an RBI.

But a strong start on Saturday didn’t guarantee an easy road on Sunday, as Dillon ran up against Spring Hill, Florida, in the first of two losses. The game came down to a pitching duel between Florida’s pitcher and Dillon’s Tiffany Dwyer, with Florida claiming a 1-0 win with the only run coming in the sixth inning.

The loss sent Dillon to the loser bracket where they took on Sabine Parish, Louisiana. It was another tough game, and one that Dillon ultimately lost 5-3 to be eliminated from the series.

Elsewhere in the series, Alabama defeated Virginia 13-8; Georgia fell to Louisiana 8-7; North Carolina shut out Tennessee 11-0; Pineville defeated Texas 8-2; and Florida defeated Arkansas 18-1.

In Sunday’s early winner’s bracket games, Alabama defeated Louisiana 15-5 and North Carolina defeated Pineville 13-1. In the late evening, Alabama was shut out 17-0 by North Carolina, setting up a winner’s bracket game between North Carolina and Florida on Monday at 8:00 p.m.

In the early Sunday loser bracket matches, Georgia eliminated Virginia 6-4; Texas defeated Tennessee 6-3; and Mississippi delivered an 18-1 loss to Arkansas. In the Sunday evening games, Georgia defeated Pineville and Mississippi defeated Texas, each game ending with a final score of 4-3.

On Monday, Georgia was scheduled to face Mississippi, while Alabama was scheduled to take on Louisiana.

Two of South Carolina’s other teams – the Hanahan Darlings and the Turbeville Debs – are also competing in Dixie World Series games in Louisiana.

In Pineville, the Hanahan Darlings won their first game on Saturday, but lost 12-8 to Enterprise, Alabama, on Sunday morning and 6-5 to Pineville on Sunday night to be eliminated from the series.

In Alexandria, Louisiana, Turbeville’s Dixie Debs have managed to stay alive in the Debs World Series, winning their first game on Saturday and earning a 2-1 win over Spring Hill, Florida, on Sunday. They fell 3-2 to Alexandria on Sunday evening, but still have a shot at the championship if they can get past Burgaw, North Carolina on Monday at 8:00 p.m.