Winnsboro Dixie Darlings earn state championship by Cody Futrell - posted Tuesday, July 27th, 2010 @ 1:21 pm  E-mail Story |  Print Story  The Winnsboro All-Star Dixie Darlings made history last week by winning the Louisiana state championship tournament and stamped their ticket to the Dixie Darlings World Series in Dennison, Texas beginning Saturday morning. The historic victory by the Winnsboro squad is the first time a Winnsboro team has claimed a state championship and consequential World Series berth since the 1950s. Winnsboro hosted the World Series tournament in 1984 and thus the team had a spot in the tournament by default. Coaches for the team include head coach Josh Martin along with assistants Scott Wilcher, Mark King, and Adam Wright. Winnsboro (16-0) will be competing at the Culpepper Softball Complex during their stay in the Lone Star state. The team took the crown after an 8-7 victory over Pine Prairie. Gracie King and Madison Wright lead the way at the plate for Winnsboro. The duo each went 3-for-3 with a double each. Kaylee Martin and Kara Wilcher were also deadly at the plate, each going 2-for-3. Martin picked up a pair of RBI doubles in the game for Winnsboro. On Sunday, Winnsboro bested Minden 12-3. Wright and Martin went 3-for-3 in the game. Rachel Phillips and Jayden Oliver each belted out a pair of hits to assist in the offensive onslaught by the home team. Mary Elizabeth Clark smacked a triple into the outfield and Wilcher hit a home run to secure the victory for Winnsboro against Minden. In the next round of the tournament, Winnsboro pounded away at Pine Prairie pitching as Phillips belted a homer in the fourth inning to give Winnsboro a 15-13 lead that would give them just enough for a 16-15 victory and force Pine Prairie into a winner-take-all championship tilt that evening. Wilcher doubled and Clark brought her home with a base hit for the final run of the game. Winnsboro then defeated the Madisonville All-Stars 7-5 behind the 2-for-3 hitting performances of King, Wright, Madison, and Phillips. Madison, Parker, Madison Thomas, and Morgan Pierce only got two plate appearances apiece in the game but hit singles each on their trips to the dish. Pierce also hit a double in the contest. It was not just offensive power that propelled Winnsboro to the championship, however. The Darlings also made several good defensive plays that kept them on track to head to the World Series this weekend. "Our girls played great defense," Coach Scott Wilcher said. "We had some big catches in the outfield by Madison Lowe and Mary Elizabeth Clark." The victory is fulfilling for a local coaching staff and players that have worked together each week to represent the parish well at the national level. "To me, I think what makes this team great is that everybody plays hard and everybody contributes," Wilcher stated. In the photo: The Winnsboro Dixie Darlings have plenty of muscle as they gear up for the World Series. Show from left to right are head coach, Josh Martin, and coaches Scott Wilcher, Adam Wright, and Mark King . The team is (top row left to right) Morgan Pierce, Kaylee Martin, Jayden Oliver, Kara Wilcher, Madison Thomas and Gracie King. Bottom row, left to right, are Morgan Cruise, Madison Lowe, Maddie Wright, Mary Elizabeth Clark, Madison Parker and Rachel Philips.