Two local teams will begin play in World Series competition on Saturday in Louisiana.

The Troy Belles, winners of six of the last seven state championships, will head to Alexandria, Louisiana, while the Troy 8U baseball team play in their world series is Ruston.

The Belles, after losing earlier in the state tournament, battled back to win their state championship at the Troy Sportsplex earlier this month.

The Belles will open up play on Saturday against North Carolina’s representative beginning at 9 a.m.

The Belles are looking to bring home their first world series title during this current run of success.

“It’s going to be a grind,” said head coach Scott Reeder. “We are playing the best of the best and we are going to have to be mentally prepared for the tournament.”

The Belles outscored their opponents 53-30. Reeder expects each game to go down to the wire.

“I think every game will game will go seven innings. The five-inning games are over because it’s the best of the best.”

The Belles tournament will last until Wednesday.

Unlike the Belles, this is new territory for the Troy 8U team. Coach Will Sanders’ team made it through the state tournament undefeated earlier this month. Troy went 5-0 in the tournament before knocking off Montgomery American in back-to-back games to secure the championship.

Now they turn their attention to the World Series in Ruston. Troy, representing not only the city, but the state of Alabama, will open up the tournament on Saturday morning against North Carolina in game one of pool play. They will then play South Carolina beginning at 3 p.m. After pool play concludes, the top two teams from each pool will advance to Sunday’s double-elimination tournament, which will conclude on Tuesday.

“I am confident that they will do well,” Sanders said. “I really expect them to go and be really competitive. We have played in a couple of really big games and this group of boys don’t get nerves too bad.”