The Natchez Ace Adams and Natchez Wallace All Stars are approaching the Dixie Youth 11-12 Sub-District Tournament with opposite philosophies and strengths.

The tournament begins Friday at Duncan Park.

Wallace League head coach Tim Foster believes how well his team pitches will determine the outcome, while Ace Adams League head coach Gus Perry looks for his hitting to carry his team through the tournament.

&uot;We feel that right now we’ve got a good group of hitters that have come a long way since our last game, and if they hit the ball like they’re capable, then we’ll be just fine,&uot;&160;Perry said. &uot;After we were shut out against the Wallace League the other day, the boys were kind of down, but we’ve put in a lot of hours, and now they’re ready.&uot;

Foster said he will be relying heavily on his pitching to get his team through sub-district.

&uot;Our hitting hasn’t exactly been blasting,&uot; Foster said. &uot;We actually hit four home runs in a practice game last week at Vidalia, but while our bats seem to be coming around, our pitching will tell the tale, I feel,&uot;&160;Foster said.

The Ace Adams and Wallace Leagues tangled last week in a one game City Championship with the Wallace League taking the victory 10-0 behind Timmy Foster’s perfect game, in which Foster struck out 10 of the 12 batters he faced.

Perry said his team is focused on getting to the finals of the tournament.

&uot;From what I&160;can tell, all the boys want to get to the finals, and they are all hoping if they get to the finals they will be facing the Wallace League,&uot;&160;Perry said. &uot;We’re just asking the boys to take the tournament, and the rest of the summer if we get that far, one game at a time.

&uot;We’ve asked them to set their own personal goals, and not to stop until they reach those goals. There’s only so far that coaching can take them. There comes a point where they have to take it upon themselves, and I think they’re ready,&uot; Tim Foster said.