Like all the Troy All-Star teams the Ozone Rookie Team is busily preparing for the district tournament this weekend. But unlike every other team in the area, the Rookie Team’s District Tournament will look vastly different.

The Rookie Team’s original schedule had them attending district with four other teams: Luverne, Greenville, Enterprise and Eufaula. After the credential meetings with all the coaches both Luverne and Greenville dropped out of the tournament, leaving the Ozone team, Enterprise and Eufaula.

However, the shuffling wasn’t done. Due to penalties sanction against Eufaula, they were also not able to fill team, leaving the Troy Ozone team and Enterprise to play a best of three series starting Friday night in Troy. Games two and three if necessary will take place in Enterprise on Saturday.

“As far as coaching that goes, it has me a little worried, because of pitching” Ozone head coach Chris Huner said. “Normally in a Dixie Tournament you play one game a day and its spread out over five days. Now you’re playing a best two out of three spread over two days. On the other hand however, we will being playing closer to Troy, and we will have a home game.”

With a more compressed schedule, Ozone will have to rely on a deeper pitching to perform and pitch well to secure a win in the District Tournament.

“Usually what you’re faced with in the Rookie Team is a lot of players but not a lot pitchers,” Huner said. “With this group of kids I have seven kids on this team that pitched during the regular season. They weren’t their team’s number one starter but they pitched and got experience. I thin that will be my strength this year compared to last year because I have more pitchers.”

Although they have a deep pitching crew, according to Huner the team will have to work to stretch their arms out so they can last longer in games.

“We are trying to get their arms conditioned. We are hoping for not only low pitches but for a quick turnaround as well,” Huner said. “I try to do two innings at a time every other day that kind of gets their arms conditioned for tournament play.”

The Ozone Rookie team has practiced about 10 times over the last couple of weeks, and the main task for the coaching staff is to field a team both offensively and defensively that they believe will give them the best chance to win.

The offensive for the Ozone Rookie team has been there early on as well. After a slow start to their hitting Huner has noticed an upgrade in their performance with the bats. Now, he said, from the top of the lineup to the bottom the Ozone Rookie Team has players that can put the ball in play.

The members of the 2015 Ozone Rookie Team are: Brady Barron, KenCorius Boykin, Adrian Cardwell, Kase Chirico, Michael Dubose, Brady Huner, Coby Johnson, Skylar Kidd, Noah Prestwood, Laquavin Rodgers, Jeffrey Warrick and JD Wilson.

Daniel Wilson, and Sherman Williams will join Huner on the coaching staff.

Game one between the Ozone Rookie Team and Enterprise will take place at 6:30 p.m. Friday Game two will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday in Enterprise. If game three is necessary it will be played immediately following the conclusion of game 2.