The Prince Edward-Farmville Youth Association (PEFYA) Ponytails All-Star team that swept the state tournament last year on its way to the World Series re-emerged this year as a Belles All-Star team, facing a new level of competition while still showing the fiery resolve that made it a champion before and could do so again in future years.

The Ponytails division is intended for 11- to 12-year-old girls, while the Belles division is meant for 13- to 15 -year-old girls.

The 2018 PEFYA Belles finished with a 2-2 record at the Virginia Dixie Softball Belles State Tournament in Farmville.

“It was a growing experience, because we’re still young,” PEFYA Belles Manager Larry Conwell said. “We played against older girls, and (we) competed with them.”

Conwell noted the Halifax American All-Stars went to the Belles World Series last year. His team played Halifax twice in the state tournament this year, winning 4-3 on Saturday and falling 13-10 on Monday.

The Saturday game was a back-and-forth contest. PEFYA led 1-0, then 2-1, and Halifax grabbed a 3-2 lead late in the game before Prince Edward-Farmville came back to win.

Conwell said the key to the comeback was his players’ attitude.

“I think they just started cheering each other on, and they played as a team,” he said.

He praised Alyson Lucas for pitching the whole game and pitching well.

PEFYA made a big statement in its opening game, defeating the Bedford All-Stars 20-1 on Friday.

On Sunday, Prince Edward-Farmville suffered its first loss, 13-2 to the Powhatan National All-Stars.

“We beat ourselves,” Conwell said, citing errors.

Despite Monday’s elimination game loss, he praised his team’s hitting and the pitching of Lucas and Kyla Edmonds.

As for the PEFYA Belles overall, “they’ll all be back the next two years,” Conwell said.