Latta’s 12U Dixie Ponytails advanced undefeated through the first three games of the 2014 Dixie Ponytails World Series in North Myrtle Beach but fell to Virginia on Wednesday afternoon.

Opening ceremonies were held on Sunday, August 3, with softball action getting underway on Monday. Latta defeated West Monroe National, Louisiana, 11-4 in their opening round game, while Columbia County, Georgia, defeated Natchez American, Mississippi, 14-7 and Halifax County American, Virginia, defeated Paxton, Florida 3-1. Winnsboro, Texas, sent Wayne County, Tennessee, to the elimination bracket with a 9-4 win and Lumberton, North Carolina, shut out North Myrtle Beach 10-0.

Tuesday started with elimination games, with Florida shutting out Tennessee 3-0 and Louisiana eliminating North Myrtle Beach 10-0. Latta defeated Georgia 7-2 in the winners’ bracket, and Lumberton defeated Alabama 14-4 to advance while Virginia defeated Texas 17-3.

On Tuesday evening, Georgia knocked off Alabama 5-2 and Texas edged Mississippi 11-10 to stay alive in the tournament. Florida eliminated Louisiana 10-4, and in the only winners’ bracket game of the evening, Latta defeated Lumberton 9-7.

But on Wednesday afternoon, Latta fell 8-7 to Virginia in the final inning. In the elimination brackets, Georgia defeated Texas 5-3, and Lumberton knocked off Florida 6-3.

Latta’s Jimmy Haselden said that the Latta girls could use all the help and support they could get through the rest of the tournament.

Latta will face Georgia again on Thursday morning for a shot at the World Series championship. The two teams were scheduled to play at 9:00 a.m. Virginia remains undefeated and will face Lumberton at 11:00 a.m. The winners of both games will advance to the championship game at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, August 8.

UPDATE: Latta fell 2-0 to Georgia on Thursday morning. Georgia will advance to the World Series championship.