We at The Herald commend and celebrate the Prince Edward- Farmville Youth Association (PEFYA) Debs All-Star team for winning the Virginia Dixie Softball Debs State Championship for the third consecutive year. It is an amazing thing when such a high level of success becomes a tradition, and the girls kept it going this year even when the going got tough.

In the previous two years, they went a perfect 5-0 at the state level, but this year they experienced a defeat that focused and motivated them significantly the rest of the way. And this time, they were able to showcase their skills on the diamond in front of the community they represent as the tournament was held at the PEFYA Field of Dreams in Farmville.

The Prince Edward-Farmville Debs All-Stars began their title defense Friday, July 13, with a 23-2 victory over the Brookneal All-Star team.

It was the next day that they faced the Powhatan National All-Star team and after going up 8-3, they ended up falling decisively, 20-8. PEFYA rebounded July 15, topping the Blackstone All-Stars 7-2.

In a July 16 game that pitted travel ball teammates against each other, the PEFYA Debs emerged with a 7-3 victory over the Buckingham County All-Stars.

The next day, Prince Edward- Farmville took on the Lunenburg County All-Star team, a group that had defeated Powhatan National 9-7 on July 15. PEFYA pulled away for a 17-7 mercy rule-abbreviated victory that propelled it into the championship round.

On July 18, the PEFYA All- Stars faced the Clarksville All- Star team for the state championship. After the host team went up 16-3 through four innings, Clarksville bounced back and made the score 16-11 going into the bottom of the fifth.

The Prince Edward-Farmville girls did not give Clarksville another chance to pile up runs, producing five more themselves for a 21-11 score that invoked the mercy rule and brought a community together in celebration all over again.