MANCHESTER – For a bunch of first-time all-stars, they made a fine account of themselves.

The Troup County National 7-8-year-old all-star team participated in the Dixie Youth Baseball District 1 tournament in Manchester over the weekend, and it made a run at a championship.

Troup National reached the championship game before falling to Thomaston, and it did enough to qualify for the state tournament that will also be held in Manchester.

The Hogansville 7-8-year-old team also played in the district tournament, and it lost both of its games.

For nearly all of the Troup National players, it was their first time playing in a tournament, and most of them hadn’t even been involved in a game where the score was kept.

Troup National coach Charles Mosley said the players handled that pressure well.

“They had fun,” Mosley said. “A lot of guys, that was their first time playing competitive (baseball). They were nervous to start. That first game, they played the National Anthem, and they announced your name. None of them had done anything like that before. But they did well.”

Troup National got two wins over Manchester, and it lost both of its games to Thomaston.

“Thomaston, they’re a strong team,” Mosley said. “They hit the ball really, really well.”

The players will get another opportunity to experience tournament baseball this weekend.

The top teams from the different district tournaments across the state will get together in Manchester to determine a state champion.

The tournament will be held Friday and Saturday.

“They’re excited about it,” Mosley said.

Reach Kevin Eckleberry at (706) 884-7311 or on Twitter @lagrangesports