NATCHEZ — Two of the local All-Star teams will begin their quest for a state championship today.

The Natchez coach pitch and 9-year-old All-Star teams begin their sub-district tournaments tonight.

The coach pitch team plays against Wesson at 6 p.m. in Gloster while the 9-year-old team plays against Pine Hills at 6 p.m. in Summitt.

The sub-district champions advances to the district tournament while the top two teams in that tournament advance to the state tourney.

Coach pitch coach Josh Hargon said he likes his team’s chances as they head into sub-district tournament play.

“I feel very good about the team,” Hargon said. “We had a really good practice Thursday, our best practice yet. We’re getting much better on defense. It was kind of shaky but we’ve really improved on that.”

While the defense is improving, Hargon said batting and base running is still the team’s strengths.

“We’re still hitting the ball real well,” he said. We’re in good shape there.”

While hitting and base running might be the team’s strengths, the best thing about the club might be their ability to bounce back from misfortune.

“These kids just don’t get down on themselves,” Hargon said. “Even if they swing and miss or make an error, they know they’re going to come back and make a play.”

The Natchez 9-year-old All-Stars are trying to win another state championship.

Last year, as coach pitch players, they won the first coach pitch state championship in Natchez history.

This year, as 9-year-olds, they are hoping to translate that success into another title, this time without the help of the coach tossing the ball.

“They’ve got the talent to do it,” league commissioner Porky Smith said last week. “With this age group, it all comes down to the man on the hill.”

Head coach Gary Farmer also thinks this team could make another run at a championship.

“I think they’ll gel and go a long way again this year,” he said at a practice last week. “Hopefully we’ll go all the way to state. A repeat, that’d be sweet, but I don’t know.”