By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
DOTHAN – The Hartselle Debs (16-to-18-year-old) All-Stars earned a trip to the 2007 Dixie World Series by edging host Dothan 2-1 in the finals of the state tournament Sunday night.
They will compete for a national title against the best teams in an 11-state southeastern area in Marianna, Fla., beginning Saturday, July 27.
The Hartselle team blasted Elba 14-0 to get through the opening round, defeated Dothan 5-0 in the second round and then defeated Dothan for the second time in three games to claim the state title.
In the championship game Hartselle pushed across a run in the second inning and added an insurance run in the fourth. Dothan scored its only run in the sixth inning.
"It was awesome," said Kayla Orr who smashed a home run for Hartselle in the 5-0 win over Dothan. "I'm looking forward to the World Series."
Manager Keith Long said his team started out having fun and then stepped the momentum up a notch in Sunday's third game against Dothan.
"These girls are great," he stated. "I knew if they could give Breanna (Segars) a couple of runs she'd take care of the rest."
"It's great to get into the World Series," said coach Jeff Gray. "This is such a good group of girls to be around."
Segars pitched seven innings. She allowed one run on five hits, struck out six and didn't allow a walk. Hartselle was led at the plate by Kristy Pevahouse and Whitley Collins with two singles each. Orr, Segars and Lauren Drake each singled.
Dothan 5, Hartselle 3
In Sunday's second game, Dothan scored two runs in the first inning and added two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh. Hartselle tied the score at 2-all in the fifth and added a run in the sixth.
Hartselle 5, Dothan 0
Hartselle scored two runs in the first inning and took advantage of Segars' two-hit pitching to claim the win.
Orr homered for Hartselle's first run and Collins singled in a run. Hartselle added three insurance runs in the sixth. Two of those runs came on suicide bunt attempts with the bases loaded and one out.
Hartselle 14 , Elba 0
Hartselle banged out 13 hits and limited Elba to two to grab an opening game win.
Collins led Hartselle's attack with a home run, double and single. Orr had a double and single; Jessica Andrews doubled; Chandler Orr and Pevahouse each tripled and Segars, Haley Miller, Kelli Montgomery and Haley Barnett singled.
Barnett pitched three innings and was credited with the win. She gave up one hit, one walk and had four strikeouts.