Road trip.

Many Natchez baseball teams will be saying that phrase in the coming weeks, but the Natchez National All Stars, a team of 7- and 8-year-olds, will get to say it first. The team is headed to Pascagoula for one of the state tournaments this Friday and Saturday.

The team, which is coach pitch, advanced to the state championship event by defeating the Natchez National All Stars in Wesson, 19-5, in sub-district action last weekend. Overall, the American All Stars finished sub-district play at 2-2.

The first game of the sub-district was a little tougher for the team, as it fell behind 9-0 after three innings. In tourney play, the speed of the machine is bumped from 32 miles per hour to 36 mph. It was also the first time the players had played together. After some adjustments, the team came around to play some pretty good baseball.

&uot;It took a little of getting used to,&uot; said coach Al Hall. &uot;We started to come together in the fourth inning (of the first game). The boys woke up and started to hit the ball.&uot;

The Nationals lost the first game 9-8, but Hall added, &uot;If we had one more inning …&uot;

After dispatching the Natchez American All Stars, the team slipped by Crystal Springs, 12-11.

It lost the fourth game of the tournament to Brookhaven 10-6. The game was the second game of a doubleheader on Sunday in the afternoon sun. Brookhaven went undefeated in the four-team event.

&uot;It was real good baseball,&uot; said coach David White. &uot;The team really gelled.&uot;

The tournament in Pascagoula contains eight teams from the region.

&uot;We expect the boys to be a tough team to beat in Pascagoula, &uot;White said.

&uot;They play some fine baseball.&uot;

But what’s most important to Hall and White is that the team is having fun. &uot;We’re having a blast. I’m proud of all 13 players. They’re coming together as a fine team. And they’ve been fun to coach.&uot;