Teams from across the southeastern portion of Alabama will converge on the Troy Sportsplex over the next few days to take part in the District Tournament for four different age divisions.

The Dixie Darlings, Angels. Ponytails and Belles will all crown District Champions at the conclusion of the four day tournament.

Troy has teams competing in the Darlings, Angels and Ponytails, and Zion Chapel will field a team in the Belles division.

The three Troy teams benefit by playing the District Tournament on the same fields that they played the recreation season.

Darlings head coach Jim English said that hosting the tournament is beneficial fo other reasons as well.

“It is great for us because we don’t have to ride in a car an hour, and then get loose,” English said. “They have played here all year, and plus the facilities here are the best around.”

Troy played host to the X-Play World Series last season, and several of the young ladies from Troy that finished runner-up to Mississippi, moved up to the next division, Ponytails.

Larry Rushing, head coach of the Troy Ponytails, echoed English’s sentiments.

“The fields at Troy are some of the best you can play on,” said Rushing. “The girls get to play on the same fields that that have seen all season long, and they know the lay of the land out there.”

The Dixie Angels, led by head coach Max Bundy. The Angels is the youngest age division that uses player-pitchers.

In preparation for the tournament, Bundy called on the services of former Troy University player Jo McAllister.

“They have learned a lot from Coach Jo,” Bundy said. “She can see things that others don’t see, because she has been around the game all the time.”

The Darlings, Angels open the tournament Friday night at 8 p.m., and the Zion Chapel Belles will play at 6 p.m.

The Ponytails received a by through the first round, and will play at 9 a.m. On Saturday.

Other teams in the tournaments include Greenville, Crenshaw County, Wicksburg, Taylor-Rehobeth, Enterprise, Ashford, Headland, Hartford, Geneva and Ariton.

The Belles Tournament begins at 4 P.m. Friday, and all others begin at 5 p.m.