Vidalia — The East Central Pre Majors tournament team will face Alabama’s Ozark in the opening round of the 2014 Pre Majors World Series Saturday in Chipley, Fla.

Head coach Sessions Vestal said the team is still riding high after its state championship win. Serving as his first season as head coach of any squad, Vestal, like the players he’s coaching, is enjoying the ride.

“I’ve never been a part of anything like this,” Vestal said. “This is the first time Vidalia’s Pre Majors have made it to the World Series, and we’re trying to get some good practices in to represent Louisiana well.”

East Central won’t be the only team representing Louisiana, though, as Monroe was granted the opportunity to make the trip after falling to East Central in the state championship game. Monroe entered the World Series after a team in Tennessee dropped out of the tournament, and because Louisiana had the most Dixie Youth teams — 86 total — the runner up in Louisiana was selected as a replacement.

Monroe, who had two players ejected from the championship game in the final inning, and East Central developed a rivalry in the state tournament, constantly nagging each other between plays.

“I know a lot of my guys don’t like the fact that Monroe is going, but I told them not to worry about our bad blood,” Vestal said. “We can’t overlook them, but I’m telling my guys that now you know that we can beat one of the teams in the tournament because we already have.”

East Central is practicing this week without Thomas and Daniel Garrity, who are currently on a mission trip in Virginia. Vestal said they brought a glove and ball and made sure to make time for practice this week before meeting back up with the team on Friday in Florida. They, like the rest of the players, share a mentality that won’t be denied victory.

“Our mentality from the last game has carried over into practice this week,” Vestal said. “I had four to five guys come up to me in that game and say, “I’ll play wherever you need me to. We’re not going to lose this game.’”

Vestal and his team will arrive in Florida for a banquet on Friday before playing Ozark at 2 p.m. Saturday.