By Ross Johnson

Sports Writer

­The Georgia Diamond Dollz are ready to prove they belong.

The Rodney Waldroup-coached softball team, comprised of seven local girls and four from Newnan, will be put to the test beginning today in the ASAFastpitch Southern National Championship, which is taking place at Shuford Fields in LaGrange.

The Diamond Dollz are one of 10 teams competing in the tournament, which features 12-and-under squads from Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Georgia.

Following the opening ceremony at 6 p.m. today, the Diamond Dollz will take on Baldwin County (Tex.) in pool play at 7 p.m.

Head coach Rodney Waldroup doesn’t know much about the opponents his team will be facing this weekend, but he knows the Diamond Dollz will be able to compete.

The Diamond Dollz earned their invitation to the tournament due to being in the host city, while most of the visiting teams won their way in through American Softball Association (ASA) tournaments.

“We really don’t know what type of teams we’ll see (in the tournament),” Waldroup said.

Because his Troup all-star team was able to play against Newnan earlier this summer, he was able to see the skill level the newcomers have.

Joined by Newnan coaches Terry Pealor and Jeff McClain, as well as Troup local Darren O’Neal, all Waldroup and the Diamond Dollz can do is prepare as well as they can.

“We’ve only been practicing a couple weeks with all 11 girls,” Waldroup said. “But the kids have started practicing since January.”

Waldroup said his team is sound in all phases of the game, especially at the plate.

“I don’t feel we’ll see a pitcher we can’t hit,” Waldroup said.

On the mound, four girls - Shelby O’Neal, Abby Waldroup, Lauren Robinson and Taylor Livingston - will see the majority of the pitching time in the tournament.

Those four girls help the Troup County 12-and-under all-star team, which was coached by Waldroup, win the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association state championship.

Waldroup thinks it’ll be tough to find a better group of pitchers in the tournament.

“They can all bring something different - a curveball, a changeup, a slider,” Waldroup said. “We haven’t been doing anything different in practice than we’d normally do. We just work on it all and let the girls take care of it.”

The four girls from Newnan were already familiar with the players on Waldroup’s Troup team, and that helped with the team chemistry as they began preparing for this weekend’s tournament.

Waldroup said many of his players had no problem giving up their previous infield positions to Newnan girls, which indicated a team-first attitude.

“They had no problem stepping aside and playing another position,” Waldroup said. “Most of these girls can play anywhere on the field. They all just wanted to help out the team.”

The tournament, which concludes Saturday, will likely feature some stiff competition for the Diamond Dollz.

With all the hard work and skilled players on the team, however, Waldroup is optimistic about their chances.

“They all bring something to the table,” Waldroup said. “These are 11 of the best kids in our area.”