VIDALIA, La. &045; Vidalia Minors All-Stars head coach Tam Winston said his team hasn’t gotten but a sprinkle of rain during the last week or so of practice.

On the other hand, Ferriday head coach Ken Hedrick can’t keep his team out of mud.

Either way, both teams will be lucky to avoid what seems to be a never-ending cloud of rain this weekend in the Dixie Youth District 6 Minor League sub-district tournament that starts today and runs through Wednesday at Vidalia.

The local forecast doesn’t bode well for baseball as inclement weather is forecasted for the next six days. The Weather Channel has forecasted afternoon thunderstorms with a 40-percent chance of rain today and isolated thunderstorms with 30-percent chance of rain today through Thursday.

&uot;You know how good a shape we’ve got the fields in over there with the people we have over there,&uot; Vidalia DYB commissioner Mike Bowlin said. &uot; If we don’t get a lot of rain, we’ll be in good shape. They’re going to cover the minor league field with tarps. The best thing about the minor league field is the outfield drains rally well.

Looking to repeat as champions for the second year in a row, Vidalia will have the comfort of playing on their home field, and according to Winston, there’s something to be said for that.

&uot;We played well last year, and I think playing at home gives us the odds-on advantage to win it again this year,&uot; Winston said. &uot; But with that said, we don’t want to build it up too much.&uot;

Vidalia, who will take on the Catahoula All-Stars at 5:30 today, returns five all-stars from last year’s tournament and sub-district tournament championship team. Starting pitcher Jake Winston, who also fills at shortstop, will take the mound today and will receive help from a solid infield and talented centerfielder.

&uot;We’ve got a great group of kids who really practice hard for their age,&uot; Winston said. &uot;We also return five all-stars, and because of what they’ve done they’ve got to be my leaders.&uot;

Hard-hitting first baseman Devin Barnes, second baseman Cory Williams, third baseman Tucker Bruce and centerfielder Matt Souderes round out the all-stars that provide a solid core of players that are surrounded by good nucleus.

Meanwhile, Ferriday head coach Ken Hedrick sees no reason why his squad can’t dethrone Vidalia and hopes to use the rain and a good corps of coaches to his advantage.

&uot;It’s been tough with the rain. We’ve really been catching the devil,&uot; Hedrick said. &uot; We’re used to playing on a muddy field so that’s an edge if it rains, I guess.&uot;

He also compliments his two coaches, Pascha Cater and Stephen Cowan.

&uot;They’re both great coaches who really know how to teach the kids the game,&uot; Hedrick said.