Michael Young - Sports Editor

Ciara Gooding andthe Darling All-Stars advance to the state finals.

Michael Young - Sports Editor

K.K. Holden scoops up a grounder singlehandedly during an inning.

Michael Young - Sports Editor

Outfielder Katie Boyles collects a ball and a grimace during the Midland Valley game.

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The Barnwell Darling All-Stars (7- to 8-year-olds) made an impressive run through the Dixie District 4 softball tournament June 19-24 at the Batesburg-Leesville sports complex.

The Barnwell Darlings steamrolled the competition before emerged as champions with a 14-9 victory over Midland Valley in the title game.

The game was close through the first three inning with the score tied at 8-8. However, after that point, Barnwell pulled away, scoring six runs over the next two innings for a 14-8 advantage.

For Barnwell, Sims Ragsdale and Mckenzie Jackson fueled the scoring with RBI doubles. Others providing runs in the innings included Ciara Gooding, Katie Boyles, Kearsten Phillips and Shaley Gooding.

Offensively, Barnwell's batting proved to be the difference in the championship game with the team collecting 13 hits. Ciara Gooding was the top batter with three hits, including two doubles and three runs scored.

Others producing at the plate were Rebecca Fogle, Boyles, Phillips and Ragsdale with two hits each.

Barnwell completed the Dixie District 4 tournament 3-0 while outscoring its opponents by a 39-22 margin.

The victory advances the Barnwell Darlings to the Dixie state finals July 10 in Columbia.

The Barnwell Darlings said its a great feeling to be going to state.

"I'm really happy we won this game. Now I feel like a professional ball player," Ciara Gooding said.

"Its exciting for us to be going to state," Kiley Bridgmon said. "We played good today and I think we can win again at state."

Barnwell coach Jason Gooding said the girls play really well together.

"I think we have a very good team," Gooding said. "These girls' attitude are great. I think we a good all-around team. We can field the ball and swing the bat well at the plate."

In other tournament action, Barnwell eliminated Edisto by a score of 15-11 June 22 in the semi-finals.

Barnwell took command at the start in the game, scoring seven runs in its first at-bat. Players scoring in the inning included Ciara Gooding, K.K. Holden, Boyles, Fogle, Phillips, Shaley Gooding and Bridgmon.

After the Edisto rallied to cut lead to 10-9, Barnwell answered with five runs in the fourth inning to seal the win. Fogle highlighted the inning with a two-run RBI double. Also scoring in the inning included Boyles, Shaley Gooding, McKenzie Jackson and Holden.