The Goshen 15U Dixie Boys will represent the state of Alabama in the Dixie World Series in Independence Louisiana this July.

Goshen finished in third place in the state tournament in Eufaula, earning a bid in state tournament.

“It’s a pretty big deal,” said head coach Justin Sanders. “It will be the first time that most of these boys will get a chance to go to the World Series, if not the only time. It’s a big deal, especially for a small town like Goshen.”

Goshen’s roster consists mainly of junior varsity players from Goshen High School along with players from Pike Liberal Arts and Crenshaw Christian Academy.

Throughout the tournament Goshen has presented itself as a strong hitting team.

“We have really been a better hitting team, but our pitching has helped a lot,” Sanders said.

A lot of the players were strangers as they came together to prepare for the tournament, but with time Sanders has noticed that his players are beginning to come together.

“It has been a little slow,” Sanders said. “They finally started to gelling in the past week. In the state tournament they started to play as a team. When you start playing as a team you start to have more fun.”

Goshen will begin play in Independence beginning on July 20 and the tournament will run through the 23. Like his players, this will be his first experience with the World Series.

“I personally haven’t been so it’s going to be new waters for me,” Sanders said. “I am excited.”