The Colquitt County Sliders, winners of the GRPA District III 10-and-under machine pitch softball championship last week, will play District I champion Lyons in their state tournament opener. The Sliders will play their state tournament opener at 5 p.m. next Thursday. The tournament will be held in Vidalia. In the other 5 p.m. state tournament-opener, District VI’s Walton will face tournament host Vidalia.

At 6 p.m. next Thursday, District IV’s Carrollton will face District II’s Ware County and Thompson will play District V’s Calhoun.

The Sliders won four straight games, including a 10-9 victory over Crisp County, to claim the District III championship last week in Cordele.

The team averaged nearly 12 runs a game in the District tournament.

The team includes Christin Hunnicutt, Amber Kling, Paris Sumner, Reagan Goforth, Kallie Gay, Allison Young, Lora Grace Bruce, Dakota Baker, Bailey Carter, Sydnee Dalton and McKenlee Coleman.

The coaches are Craig Baker, DeWayne Bruce, Ginger Hunnicutt, Angel Baker and Ted Schwarz.