Two area baseball teams, the Lincoln County Dixie Boys 14s andthe Dixie Youth Baseball AAA Wesson All-Stars begin play in statetournaments today and tomorrow. Wesson faces host Pascagoulatonight at 8 p.m. The Lincoln County 14s meet Laurel/Jones CountySaturday morning at 9 in the state tourney at Kamper Park inHattiesburg.

Both tournaments are double-elimination affairs. Joining Wessonand Pascagoula in the 10-year-old AAA tourney’s opening roundtonight are Petal versus Mendenhall, Wayne County versusHattiesburg, and Moss Point vs. McComb. Gautier received an openinground bye and faces the winner of the Wesson Pascagoula gameSaturday at 6 p.m.

Under a new playoff format this season, four district championsand four district runners-up are competing in South and North StateTournaments. The champs will then meet in a best-of-three series atPascagoula later this month to determine a representative in theDYB World Series.

“Our kids are really excited about the opportunity of playing inthe state tournament,” said Wesson manager Jerry Hood. “We know thecompetition is going to be tough but our kids are ready for thechallenge.

“Defensively, we are as good as any team in the tournament,”Hood pointed out. “If our pitching and hitting can hold up, whoknows what might happen?

“The kids are living a dream and I’m glad they are taking mealong for the ride.”

Wesson team members are Peyton Hood, Mac McQuage, Mack Smith,Connor Lowery, Colby Porter, C.J. Viramontez, Jase Alexander, JonahHenderson, Trent Nettles, Justin Boone, Bolon Tadlock, BrandonLumley. Assisting Hood with the team are coaches Ken McQuage andSteve Porter.

14s At Hattiesburg

The Lincoln County All-Stars have some large shoes to fill. Lastyear the Brookhaven Dixie Boys 14s won the state tournament andadvanced to the World Series in Grand Prairie, Texas.

The Lincoln Countians went unbeaten in three district games toqualify for state.

“The competition is pretty stiff,” said Lincoln County managerLee Barry. “Laurel/Jones beat us out in the 13s last year.”

Last year, Brookhaven was runner-up to Laurel/Jones.

Barry said he expects pitching depth to be decisive in thedouble-elimination tourney. The game should run through nextThursday if there are no weather delays.

“We have a real solid chance of winning again,” said Barry. “Ifour pitching holds up, we have a good shot. We will have to playseven games to win it.”

Lincoln County’s mound staff includes Tyler Case, ScottiePeavey, Bubba Keene, Garrett Greer and Travis Sorrells, JarrettTodd and Gabe Wilson. Other team members are Travis Keene, MarquisHayes, Cameron Barry, Zach Bowman, Calvin Robinson, JoelPatrick

“How deep your pitching is, should make the difference,” saidBarry. His assistant coaches are Ronnie Keene and Otis Bowman.