HATTIESBURG — The Natchez Dixie Youth six-and-under T-ball all-stars were itching to get on the field Thursday night.

After their first attempt to play the state championship game was postponed due to weather, the team was forced to play the waiting game for a shot at the title.

“It was interesting having that much time in between games,” head coach Brandon Atkins said. “It gave us time to practice, though.”

The practice, along with the work the team had put in all summer, propelled them to a 24-16 win against St. Martin and earned the team a berth in the World Series.

“It’s awesome,” Atkins said. “We put in a lot of work and it feels good to get here. We are all very excited about it.”

Atkins said his team fell behind early, but a big inning during the game was the difference maker.

“We had the only inning with seven runs,” he said. “Once we got our seven runs and the inning was over, we were lights out from there. Doing that allowed us to put them away.”

Although the team had to wait, Atkins said he continuously reminded them of the importance of the contest.

“We kept stressing to them how big the game was,” he said. “We didn’t want them to come on the field like it was just another practice. We pounded them with the fact that this was for the state championship, and I think they realized it.”

The World Series begins tomorrow, and Natchez will play two games against teams from Arkansas and Texas.

“We may not leave world champions, but we are state champions and that is huge,” Atkins said. “It is a big honor.”