By kevin eckleberry

Daily News

It’s been a winning summer so far, and the Troup County 7-8-year-old all-stars are hoping the good times continue this weekend.

In the district tournament and state tournaments combined, Troup County is 8-0, and it has won most of the games in one-sided fashion.

Four of those wins came last weekend in pool play during the Dixie Youth Baseball state tournament in Cochran.

Troup County will be back in Cochran today for the double-elimination portion of the tournament, which features six teams.

The team that comes out on top, that is crowed the state champion on Sunday, will earn an invitation to the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series in Lumberton, N.C.

Troup County will face Cochran today at 6:30 p.m., and if it wins that game, it will play again on Saturday at 10:15 a.m.

If Troup starts 2-0, it would play again Saturday night, and the championship game is on Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

Troup County’s success has been based largely on its ability to make plays in the field, and that hasn’t happened by accident according to head coach Nick Burns.

“At any level, playing defense, making the routine plays wins, especially at this age,” Burns said. “There’s so much action. We’ll spend 65, 70 percent of our practice time just on basic defensive fundamental situations.”

Burns said he appreciates the commitment the players, as well as their parents have made this summer.

“That’s one thing we’ve had is parents who have committed,” Burns said. “When the parents commit, the child’s going to commit, especially at 8-years-old. You’re teaching them what commitment is.”

Troup began all-star season by going 4-0 in the district tournament, and it outscored those four teams 51-4.

It was much the same story in pool play.

There was one competitive game, with Troup outlasting North Macon 14-8, but the other three games were all blowouts.

Troup beat Baconton 17-2, Jones County 13-3, and it thumped North Macon 11-1 in a rematch in the final game of pool play.