LAGRANGE – The road to the World Series begins today.

The Dixie Youth Baseball 9-10-year-old District 1 tournament gets under way today at the Harris Baseball Complex, and Hogansville and Troup County are among the four teams fighting for the top spot.

On Saturday, the 11-12-year-old District 1 tournament begins in Thomaston, and Troup County and Hogansville are a part of the four-team field.

Also today, the Dixie Youth Baseball 7-8-year-old coach-pitch tournament starts in Manchester, and Troup County and Hogansville will have teams competing.

On the line for all of those teams is a trip to the state tournament, and the state winners will qualify for the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series in August.

In the four-team 9-10-year-old tournament, there will be a showdown between the two local teams to kick things off.

In today’s two first-round games, which will both be played at 6 p.m., it will be Troup National taking on Hogansville, and Thomaston playing Manchester.

Then at 8 p.m., the two winners of the early games will play, while the losers will meet in an elimination game.

There will be one game on Saturday at 11 a.m., and the tournament will conclude on Monday with the championship game.

The top two finishers will both advance to the state tournament.

In the 11-12-year-old tournament, there will also be a Hogansville vs. Troup National showdown to get things started.

The tournament begins on Saturday with Thomaston and Manchester playing at 6 p.m., and Troup and Hogansville will play the late game at 8 p.m.

Hogansville coach Scott Thompson said the players are looking forward to facing their county rival right off the bat.

“We got the draw we were hoping for,” he said. “We’re starting out Saturday night under the lights. It’ll be fun.”

Then on Monday, the two winners of Saturday’s games will play at 8 p.m., while the two losers will meet at 6 p.m. in an elimination game.

The tournament continues through Wednesday when the final two teams will meet, and there is the possibility of a game on Thursday if two one-loss teams remain.

In the 7-8-year-old tournament, which features four teams, there will be two games at 6 p.m. today.

Troup will open its tournament against Manchester, and Hogansville will play Thomaston.

At 7:30 p.m. today, the two winners of the early games will meet, while the two losing teams will play an elimination game.

The tournament will wrap up on Saturday.

For many of the players, it will be their first time playing a game where the score is kept, which will be an adjustment according to Troup coach Charles Mosley.

“This is all of their first time playing any type of all-star tournament,” Mosley said. “We have three that play travel ball, but this will be most of their first time playing in a competitive game.”

Mosley said the players have performed well during practice games leading up to the tournament.

“We’ve had a couple of scrimmages, and we’ve played really well,” Mosley said. “Hopefully it translates.”

Mosley said it was a great moment for the players when they got their Troup County uniforms.

“They love it, he said. “Most of them will probably sleep in their uniform.”

Reach Kevin Eckleberry at (706) 884-7311 or on Twitter @lagrangesports