The Lunenburg Girls Softball Debs All-Star team pulled away in the third inning against the Amelia All-Stars and never looked back on the way to an 11-1 mercy rule-abbreviated win during the Dixie Softball Debs State Tournament in Kenbridge on Saturday.

“I thought they did really great,” Lunenburg Manager Jimmy Ray Dalton said of his players. “Liked the effort on and off the field. They hit the ball well.”

The score was 1-1 after the first inning, the second inning was scoreless, but then Lunenburg put together five runs in the bottom of the third.

The bases were loaded with no outs when a sacrifice hit by Meri Agnes Dalton brought Ellie Richmond home. Ashley Franklin’s hit loaded the bases again, and then Jocie Epperson batted in Carrie Bailey and Kayla Anthony.

Later, Nikera Lee’s hit to right field scored Franklin and Epperson to make it 6-1.

Neither team scored in the fourth inning, but Lunenburg added five more runs in the fifth to invoke the mercy rule.

A hit by Franklin brought home Anthony and Dalton with no outs on the board. A sacrifice hit by Epperson scored Franklin, and Dolan ended the game with a hit to left field that allowed Lee and Molly Epperson to cross home plate.

Richmond played all five innings in the circle for Lunenburg, throwing four strikeouts.

“She did excellent,” Manager Dalton said, with Coach Tony Matthews adding that it was “probably the best game of her life.”

Dalton said, “I know by the end of the game, she was throwing harder than I’ve ever seen her throw.”

Dolan generated another defensive highlight in the game with her play in the top of the third. Playing first base, she got the runner out there, then threw a runner out at third for a double play. Shortly thereafter, she registered a catch to end that half of the inning.

At 1 p.m. on Sunday in Kenbridge, Lunenburg will face the Prince Edward-Farmville Youth Association All-Stars, who defeated the Amherst All-Stars 17-5 on Saturday afternoon.