NATCHEZ — Tournament ball for Concordia Parish Dixie Youth is winding up for a fever pitch.

Beginning today with a 9 year old district tournament in Monroe, Arin Rushing enters his Concordia Parish tournament team in a four-team bracket with Winnsboro, East Ouachita and West Monroe North. The top team in this pool will qualify for state and advance to play in the district championship Sunday against the top team that emerged from the other pool.

Rushing said he’s hopeful for a championship run this weekend with his “well-rounded team.”

“We have a good core group of kids,” Rushing said. “Eight of them have been together for three years now, and from last year, the progress looks pretty good.”

The 9-year-old all-stars are Kameron Carter, Ethan Ellingburg, Brantley Evans, Austin Geoghagen, Blake Grayson, Tyrin Jordan, Chase McGraw, Bryce Roberts, Gabe Rushing, Jake Spears, Michael Williams and Luke Williamson.

The 10-year-old Concordia Parish all-stars will host a district tournament on Saturday, and Concordia Parish will play at 5 p.m.

The top two teams will advance to state, and head coach Dr. Justin Gregg is optimistic is hard-hitting bunch will have a strong showing.

“We’re extremely versatile,” Gregg said. “We have some power hitters on this team. We’re very versatile. My roster doesn’t have a best or worst hitter.”

The 10 year olds’ roster includes Ethan Clark, Adam Eames, Tyler Gregg, Xander Harveston, Preston Higgins, Bryan Johnson, Trace Miller, Ty Ty Milligan, Garren Patt, Devin Polk, Bradford Prunty and Peyton Roberts.

On the following week, Nikki Walsworth will take her group of 11 year olds to Haughton, La. from July 11-13 for the state tournament.

Walsworth said her squad will be playing under “O”Zone division rules, but the team will still be under the Dixie Youth umbrella. “O”Zone rules have a few differences, including balks, leading off, steals and the usage of barrel bats.

Because not enough teams in the district were playing under “O”Zone rules, the 11 year olds were automatically qualified for the state tournament.

Walsworth wasn’t worried about skipping a tournament and didn’t believe it would factor in greatly on the 11 year olds performance.

Walsworth’s team has Brandon Bozeman, Drew Brown, Eli Brown, C.J. Chapman, Tripp Cotton, Peyton Fort, Ethan Heard, Dylan LaPrairie, Rhett McDonald, Matthew Parnham, Caleb Smith and Brett Walsworth.