By Kevin Eckleberry

They’ve conquered the state, now they’ll try to get the best of teams from the rest of the country.

The Dixie Boys Baseball and Dixie Youth Baseball World Series will kick off over the next two weekends, and a trio of teams from Troup County will be represented.

Next weekend, the Dixie Boys Baseball World Series begins in its different age divisions, and a pair of Troup County teams will join in the fun, competing in tournaments in Alabama and Virginia.

The Dixie Youth Baseball World Series, meanwhile, begins Aug. 7, with one Troup County team taking part.

Each tournament involves 12 teams, which includes 11 state champions and one host team.

On Saturday, Troup County’s 13-year-old team will be in Dothan, Ala. for the start of the World Series for that age group.

Troup will get its tournament stay started with a game against Halifax County, Va. at 4 p.m.

The double-elimination tournament continues through Aug. 4 when the championship game will be played.

Troup’s 13-14-year-old all-star team will be in Christianburg, Va., and it will also lock horns with a team from Halifax, Va., with the first pitch set for 7 p.m. on Saturday.

That tournament, which also features a double-elimination format, runs through Aug. 4 when the champion will be decided.

Troup’s 11-12-year-old team, which wrapped up its state title on Friday, will be in Gonzales, La. for the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series.

Troup will face the Texas state champion at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 7, and it will try to advance to the championship game on Aug. 12.

The 11-12-year-old team features several players who were on the 9-10-year-old team that won the World Series a year ago.