The Prince Edward-Farmville Youth Association Debs All-Star team, representing Virginia, fell 11-6 to North Carolina during a rainy contest Saturday morning that helped open play at the 2017 Dixie Softball Debs World Series in Alexandria, Louisiana.

North Carolina jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and extended it to 7-0 after two innings. Virginia started a comeback in the third, making it 7-2, and then it continued the rally in the fourth, bringing the score to 7-6, aided by a three-run home run from Caroline Seal.

Rain during the game became significant enough to prompt a 15- to 20-minute delay between the fourth and fifth innings.

The fifth was a scoreless inning, but North Carolina was able to add four more runs in the sixth.

Virginia Manager David Schmidt indicated it is likely the vast majority of the talented North Carolina squad is the same one that advanced to the World Series championship game last year.

Despite the loss, Virginia had solid pitching from Hannah-Gray Schmidt, Shauneice Beasley and Sierra Wharam.

On offense, Alexis Gayles went 3-for-3 at the plate.

Virginia will play Sunday at 10 a.m. EST against Alabama.