The 2013 Dixie Debs softball tournament came to a close on Tuesday in Dillon with Pee Dee defeating Georgetown twice to claim the championship title.

The tournament, which began with eight teams, was down to four on Monday night when Lewisville took on the undefeated Georgetown while Pee Dee and Clarendon County faced elimination in the loser bracket.

Neither Pee Dee nor Clarendon could score in the first inning of the elimination game, but Pee Dee broke loose in the bottom of the second. Pee Dee hit a grounder by third followed by a perfect bunt to advance a runner to third. With #31 at bat for Pee Dee, the runner stole home to put Pee Dee up 1-0. Pee Dee’s #31 reached base on balls, and the next batter hit a grounder between the shortstop and third for a base hit and a RBI. The next batter flew out, but Pee Dee’s #41 hit one over second for a double and two RBIs to put Pee Dee ahead 4-0. Pee Dee’s #53 hit a three-run homer to leave Pee Dee ahead 7-0 at the end of the second.

Clarendon got two outs in the top of the third before they ground out, and Pee Dee’s batters got two outs on a bunt and a slow grounder in the bottom of the inning, with the third batter striking out to end the third.

Clarendon singled in the top of the fourth but couldn’t get anything going. Pee Dee reached on a walk and a grounder in the bottom of the inning before #59 hit another three-run homer to put Pee Dee up 10-0. Pee Dee’s #53 followed up with a double, but the Debs couldn’t score again in the fourth. Clarendon went to bat again in the top of the fifth, but got three quick outs to end the game 10-0.

Georgetown and Lewisville faced off next with Georgetown’s Katie Lumpford hitting a triple and Kelsy Bauchmann hitting a low one to second for the score. Morgan Marlowe walked, but Bauchmann scored on a missed ball to put Georgetown up 2-0. After a hard foul over third and a ball four that was called back by the umpire, Georgetown’s Elise Grace hit to center for a double and two RBIs to put Georgetown up 4-0 heading into the bottom of the first.

Georgetown dominated the rest of the game for an 11-5 win and advanced to the championship game on Tuesday morning.

The first game on Tuesday was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning. Pee Dee’s #43 walked to load the bases, and #60 hit to third but the runner was tagged out at home. With two strikes and the bases loaded, Pee Dee’s #20 popped one to first to score a runner, but #6 lined one to the pitcher for the third out to leave Pee Dee ahead 1-0.

Georgetown’s first batter struck out and the second hit one to center for out number two. Georgetown’s Becca Prosser reached, but Graham popped out to first to end the top of the sixth. Pee Dee’s #41 was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the inning and #59 flew out to short center, but #53 popped one over first for a single and a RBI with two outs. Pee Dee’s #52 struck out watching to end the sixth with Pee Dee up 2-0. Georgetown ground out in the top of the seventh and the next two batters both struck out to end the game with Pee Dee’s win forcing a second game to determine the championship.

Pee Dee took a 5-2 lead by the top of the sixth inning in game two. Pee Dee popped up twice to send Georgetown to bat, but Georgetown went out on a grounder and a foul and the next batter struck out watching to end the sixth.

Pee Dee’s next batter walked in the top of the seventh, but the next batter popped up to second. Pee Dee’s #45 and #41 both walked, and #59 hit one over the shortstop to bring in two runners for a 7-2 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Georgetown’s Grace ground out, but Ashley Cox reached first safely only to be called back by the umpire. She flew out to right on her next swing, and the next batter flew out to second to end the game.

Awards were presented after the game with South Carolina state umpire John Hester and Naomi Carmichael presenting trophies to the winners and runner-up. Lewisville received the Sportsmanship award, and Pee Dee’s #53, Chelsea, was also presented cupcakes for her birthday.

Pee Dee will advance on to the World Series to be held in Alexandria, Louisiana.

Photos by Johnnie Daniels/THE DILLON HERALD.