By Ross Johnson

Sports Writer

It’s Troup County vs. Mississippi again, although the stakes aren’t quite as high this time.

A year ago, Troup County and Mississippi met in the championship game of the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series in LaGrange, with the Mississippi team getting the upper-hand.

Troup County National’s 9-10 all-star team will try to turn the tables today when it faces the Mississippi state champion in the opening round of the World Series.

It’s not the same Mississippi team - this year’s Mississippi squad is from Hattiesburg - but it’ll surely bring back memories for coach Jay Anderson and three of his players, who were all involved in last year’s No. 2 finish.

“(Mississippi) is almost the home team,” said Anderson, who said his team’s hotel is in Hattiesburg, but the tournament will be played in nearby Laurel. “I think it helps us having been in it last year.”

Three Troup players, Matthew Anderson, Ben Anderson and Jake Farrar, were on the last year’s squad that finished second in the World Series.

They’re joined by nine other players who have helped Troup blow the competition away in district and state play.

Troup has only played six full innings in two games this summer, with the rest being called early due to the 10-run rule.

Anderson doesn’t expect the victories to come quite as easily this week, though.

“There will be a lot better pitching,” Anderson said. “They’ll throw it harder and we have to respond to that.”

Troup’s hitting has been potent all summer, with nearly every player contributing at crucial times.

In the state tournament, Farrar hit five home runs, including two in the championship game.

Anderson said most Dixie teams at this age have a solid first seven or eight in the order, but the talent level normally falls off after that.

Troup, however, is loaded.

The 12 players who will hit in today’s game each poses a potent offensive threat.

“I think our depth is what makes us able to win these games,” Anderson said. “Our guys, one through 12, can hit the ball and contribute.”

On the mound, Farrar was the winning pitcher in the deciding game at state, while Dylan Johnson got the victory in Game 1 of the championship series against Lee County.

Matthew Anderson, meanwhile, won two games in the World Series last year, and Ben Anderson pitches as well.

Whoever is pitching is the beneficiary of a defense that usually comes through.

“That’s how we have to win it is through pitching and defense,” Anderson said. “It’ll keep you in every game.”

Farrar, who won Friday’s home-run derby, figures the key for Troup will be to just keep doing what it’s been doing all summer

“If we play our same game, I expect to win it,” Farrar said. “We just have to play good baseball.”