Doug and Brandon Atkins have traveled a long, hard road together, but all of their hard work and dedication is continuing to pay off.

The twin brothers are integral members of the Copiah-Lincoln baseball team that is in Millington, Tenn., for the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II&160;World Series.

Co-Lin faces Iowa Central at 9 a.m. today.

The concept of winning is no stranger to the Atkins brothers. Doug and Brandon have won three Dixie Youth state championships, and taken several trips to the postseason playoffs with Adams County Christian School.. However, this postseason has a little more riding on it for them.

&uot;It’s still exciting,&uot;&160;Brandon said. &uot;I&160;mean, I love to win, and this year I’m ready to win.&uot;

Doug agrees with his brother, &uot;This whole season has been awsome,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s just a great feeling to play with so many good players, and against so many good players.&uot;&160;

Even though Doug and Brandon know that winning in the JUCO World Series isn’t going to be easy, they say they’re ready for it.

&uot;I’m ready, the whole team’s ready,&uot;&160;Brandon said. &uot;Coach (Keith Case) prepared us at the beginning of the season for this time of the year.

&uot;He let us know that our goal was to get to this point, and with the group of guys we’ve got here, we shouldn’t have any trouble,&uot; Brandon said.

&uot;We’ve got good, young pitching, and we’ve got a lot of good sticks up and down our lineup,&uot;&160;Doug said. &uot;I think everybody feeds off of everybody else, and if we can continue to do that, we’ll go a long way.&uot;&160;

Brandon attributes the success of the team to teamwork.

&uot;Playing as a team has determined how well we’ve played throughout the year, so if we can continue to play like a team, we’ll be just fine,&uot;&160;Brandon said.

The brothers have their own takes on the pressure that comes with the World Series..

&uot;Nothing’s routine about anything anymore,&uot;&160;Brandon said. &uot;I&160;feel a little bit more pressure now more than before, but as long as we’re all ready to play, then everything will be alright.&uot;&160;

Doug said the transition from high school to college wasn’t that difficult.

&uot;Our pitching coach has done a lot to prepare us for just this type of situation, so I know I’m ready,&uot;&160;Doug said.