There’s no doubt Troy will have their work cut our for them but head coach Sam Kitchens feels his team is up for the challenge.

“You’ve got to beat good teams to get to the World Series; I think our boys are ready to play.”

Troy opens with host Enterprise in the Dixie Junior Boys State Tournament on Saturday.

“They’re a lot better than your average host team; we’ll have our hands full,” he said.

Troy defeated Dothan and Ozark in the district tournament.

They would then face Dothan again in the championship game falling 14-1.

With both teams having a single loss, a second championship game was needed. Troy beat Dothan 10-6 to advance to Enterprise.

Drew Starling pitching the final game for Troy and turned in a gem allowing just one run on four hits.

Troy picked up an early 1-0 lead on Marquese Christian’s RBI single that scored Hunter Blackmon.

The district champs would strike again in the third when Keigan Simmons doubled home two runs. Catcher DeAndre Pitts singled in Jerrell Lawson in the fourth making the score 4-0.

Dothan would edge out a run in the fourth after a Troy fielding error.

Troy got doubles from Lawson, Starling, and Ty Witherington in the sixth to help stretch the lead to 10-1.

Dothan would not go quietly, however. The host squad chalked up five runs on five hits in the final frame to make it interesting. Lawson pitched out of the jam for Troy to preserve the win.

“We were tested in Dothan,” Kitchens said. “We were lucky to advance but we’re ready for state.”

Pitts started two of Troy’s four games in district allowing four runs in 10 innings of work.

Other members of the team include: Jerrett Jordan, Eric Lee, Hayes Lee, Cole Roberts, Cole Sanders, and Morgan Sullivant.

Troy’s game Saturday is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.