The American Legion Post 70 19U finished the regular season with a 23-6 record and a tournament championship in Tennessee. Now, they head to the state tournament in Birmingham this weekend.

“I don’t know who is more excited the guys, or me,” said Post 70 head coach Rush Hixon. “They are just excited to get back on the field. This is what we have been working for all summer. They are tired of hearing about it from me. They are ready to see it for themselves.”

Post 70 will be one of six teams participating in the state tournament. After two games in pool play the top three teams from each pool will advance to a single-elimination round.

Post 70 has played in showcases and tournaments throughout the summer months, but the state tournament offers up a different opportunity for the team from Troy.

“There is a little more legitimacy to this tournament,” Hixon said. “If you lose now your summer is over. That is something that we haven’t faced all summer. I don’t want the guys to press, but at the same time it has to be in the back of you mind.”

According to Hixon, after a long summer of baseball you never know what you will see from other teams.

“This is when most teams peak and play their best baseball,” Hixon said. “In a situation like this you never know which team is going to get hot. For us to have success we have to bring our A game.”

Post 70 will look for their offense to get them through the tournament.

“We have to be able to swing the bat,” Hixon said. “If we hit well and keep the ball middle away we are going to be really tough to beat.”

If the offense lacks, Hixon believes the team has the pitching to be able to pick up the slack.

“I am confident in our pitching,” Hixon said. “We have had good pitching performances all summer. If we can put the bats with the pitching we should be a pretty tough team to beat.”

Post 70 will begin the tournament with a pair of games on Friday beginning at 1 p.m. against Bessemer and at 4 p.m. against Florence.