By Ross Johnson

Sports Writer

It all starts today.

The 13-14 Troup County all-stars will hit the diamond against North Carolina at 1 p.m. in the first round of the Dixie Boys Baseball World Series in Seneca, S.C., and it’ll be a dog fight the whole way.

Troup, which won the state title earlier this month, has lots of previous World Series experience, and that should help the team as it navigates the bracket filled with other state champions.

Of the 12 teams, only the host team didn’t win a state tournament.

“We’re not nervous. We’re excited,” said Cord Carson, a pitcher who played in the 13-year-old World Series last year. “Now, some of us know what to expect.”

Added pitcher Chase Smith, who’ll be making his first World Series trip: “I’ve heard it’s a great experience. We want to have fun, too. You’ve got to have fun playing baseball.”

It’ll be a tough road for Troup.

A team from Montgomery (Ala.) won the 13-14 championship last year, and according to Troup head coach John Alise, most of those players return.

Gonzalez (La.) also returns a boatload of players from last year’s World Series run.

“There’s typically a lot of stength and talent (at the World Series),” said Alise, who was an assistant coach on last year’s 13-year-old team. “I know (Alabama and Louisiana) are two teams I’m going to look out for.”

Kane Keith will likely get the start in today’s game against North Carolina.

Keith started Troup’s first game in the state tournament, and although he came away with a no-decision, his solid performance helped Troup win.

Keith also pitched a complete game in Troup’s tournament-clinching win over Columbia County.

Keith, Smith, Carson and Josh Alise will be the primary pitchers, but others will also see plenty of action.

“I feel confident in them, and I think they’re confident in themselves,” Alise said. “We’re deeper than those four, and they’re all healthy and well-rested.”

One area that Troup has emphasized since winning the state title is hitting, and the team notched plenty of practic time at LaGrange High’s batting facility in preparation for the World Series.

Alise said the team’s lineup has “come through” in key situations, and that’ll have to be the case during the tournament.

“We get one hit, and then another comes, and we just get more and more excited,” said center fielder Nick O’Berry. “And then our pitching just comes and mows them down.”

Hitting will definitely be the key in order for Troup to win the World Series.

“(We’ve got to) just be a team, and just try our best and we can win the World Series,” said outfielder Dalton Hadley. “We’ve been doing pretty good, we just have to pick up our hitting a little bit.”

BROADCAST NOTE: Troup’s games will air live on WTRP AM-620.