PONCHATOULA, La. — The Ferriday Gators defeated an old nemesis in Alexandria to become Dixie Debs State Tournament champions in Ponchatoula, La. Tuesday night.

After falling to Alexandria in both the state tournament and World Series in recent years, the 18-and-under Gators made a statement by defeating Alexandria 6-1 in the state tournament finale.

“Alexandria is always good, and they came into this game probably averaging 15 runs a game,” head coach Rut Horne said.

The Gators scored two runs in the top of the first after Emily Howard led off with a base hit and Taylor Rodgers drove Howard in with a single. Katelin Temple drove in another run with a single of her own to give Ferriday the lead.

In the bottom of the first, Ferriday shortstop Brianna Henson corralled a line drive that bounced off of Bailey Book’s glove and threw out the Alexandria batter at first.

“It was a bam-bam play,” Horne said. “That one play right there, you could see them go, ‘Oh my gosh.’ It took the wind out of their sails.”

Paige Bryan got the win for the Gators, pitching five innings and striking out three batters. Marty Lewis pitched in the sixth and seventh inning, striking out three batters. Lewis, Michaela Hughes, Temple and Rodgers each recorded RBIs in the victory.

Up next for the Gators will be the World Series on Aug. 1. The Gators will play Mississippi at 6 p.m. at the University of Louisiana-Monroe softball complex.