DELHI, La. — The Ferriday 12-and-under Ponytails got a great pitching performance out of Paige Bryan as they defeated Winnsboro 3-1 to win the district tournament.

The Ponytails will now advance to the state tournament, which begins Saturday, July 18 in Pineville, La.

Ferriday was undefeated in the district tournament, scoring 29 runs in five games while allowing only eight.

“We had strong pitching and good defense,” Ferriday coach Tommy Milligan said. “That’s been our forte throughout the entire tournament. Pitching and defense wins championships.”

Winnsboro scored a run in the top of the first to jump out to an early lead, but would not score again.

Ferriday scored two runs in the bottom of the second and another in the fourth to give Bryan all the run support she would need.

Bryan pitched a complete-game three-hitter.

“Paige pitched a very good game,” Milligan said. “And when they hit it, we made our plays, and didn’t make any errors.”

Karlee Woodruff led Ferriday at the plate with a triple. Taylor Rogers and Chelsea Richards had the other hits for Ferriday.

“I’m very proud of them,” Milligan said. “They’ve done a great job and are a great group of kids. We’re looking forward to the state tournament. They’ve put in the time and the sweat, and they’re ready to go.”

Ferriday Dixie Belles win

district tournament

JONESVILLE — The Ferriday 13-15-year old Dixie Belles team completed its romp through the district tournament, defeating Jonesville 14-3 in the championship game.

The Belles, who are the defending state champion, now advance to the state tournament, which begins July 18 in Winnsboro, La.

Ferriday jumped on top of Jonesville 5-0 in the first inning and kept the pressure on, scoring three runs each in the third, sixth and seventh innings.

For the tournament, Ferriday outscored its opponents 57-16 in five games.

Laura Perilloux was the winning pitcher for Ferriday.

Ellen Bairnsfather, Molly Devening, KeKe Collins and Kennedy Beard all had multiple hits in the winning effort.

Ferriday coach Rut Horne thinks his team has more offensive firepower than last year’s state champions did.

“Offensively we’ve been much more powerful,” Horne said. “Last year we played more small ball. This year we get runs in bunches. None of the pitching we’ve seen so far has shut us down.”

Horne also gave credit to his catcher, Taylor Morace, for keeping opposing runners honest on the basepaths.

“Usually the opponent will try her out time, and she’ll throw them out (trying to steal second),” Horne said. “She has gotten 100 percent of people who have tried to steal. That’s very important.”