Vidalia — With tournament softball heating up in the Miss-Lou, several different age groups will be making their rounds in Louisiana, participating in state tournaments across the boot.

One team, however, the Miss-Lou Wave — comprised of 12 and under girls from Natchez, Vidalia, Ferriday and Monterey — will be heading to Panama, Fla. for the United State Specialty Sports Association World Series that begins Monday.

Wave coach Barry Iseminger said he only has three 12 year olds on the team, and this will be the first time he takes his team to this caliber of a tournament.

“We’re a young team,” Iseminger said. “We’ve been together for three years. We have multiple pitchers, though, and I think that will help us in the tournament.”

Another 12-year-old team will be traveling this weekend, as well. Leigh Anne Mason’s 11- and 12-year-old squad will play in the state tournament in New Iberia at 8 p.m. today.

Not enough teams participated to form a district tournament, so Mason’s team became district champions by default. Going into the state championship without playing in a district tournament doesn’t keep Mason up at night, but she does, however, worry about her team’s reactions to new positions.

“You don’t have players that play right field all the time,” Mason said. “It’s hard for an infielder to become an outfielder over night.”

Also playing in New Iberia will be Brent McCarthy’s 7- and 8-year-old team at 8 p.m. today. McCarthy said his team was sent back home after two games in the state tournament last year, but he’s hopeful for a better showing this time around.

“I feel pretty good about it,” McCarthy said. “We have a good group of girls, a bunch of second-year players and three first-year girls that are really good at driving the ball.”

McCarthy’s team enters the tournament fresh off of a district tournament win, while Hailey Guillory’s 7- and 8-year-old team will enter the state tournament as the runner up in an all-Vidalia district finale.

Guillory said unity is her team’s best strong suit.

“We came together in a short amount of time, and it was at the very end of the season,” Guillory said. “They have great heart and play hard.”

Meanwhile, Wesley McCarver’s 13- and 14-year-olds will defend home with the “fastest team” he’s ever had. Due to his talented roster, McCarver has high expectations for the tournament held at the Concordia Parish Recreation District 3 Complex. McCarver’s team will play at 8 p.m. today.

“So far, this has been a really good group,” McCarver said. “We’re playing at a high level, and we want to get to regionals. We have to win state before we start thinking about that though.”

Players on the Miss-Lou Wave are Annalyce Riley, Olivia Moore, Shyvlie Blaney, Allie Feltus, Harlie Murray, Madeline Smith, Sami Dulam, Haleigh Nunnery, Emma Whittington, Skylar Hawley, Fisher Iseminger, Andy Gray and Hailey Ellis.

Making up the the 11- and 12-year-old squad are Shelby Mason, Savanna Shear, Shelbi Cross, Sara Jane Gray, Avery Cupit, Sarah Cockerham, Tiauna Haney, Morgan Estis, Makenna Patt, Tiffany Brewer, McKenzie Watts and Megan Hawn.

McCarthy’s 7- and 8-year-old team consists of Marlie Hargon, Kay Kay Atwood, Rami Burks, Sophie Guillory, Lily McCarthy, Takiyah Walker, Graci Gamberi, Kinslee Young, Lily Crum, Sydney Burns, Georgia Martin and Lizzie Holland.

Guillory’s squad is comprised of Laine Peek, Leah Wilson, Natalie Ainsworth, Gracie McElwee, Pyper Brown, Emma Graves, Mason Thorpe, Cela Ponder, Alexia Bond, Mady Ainsworth, Hannah Hitt, Kendal Poole, Taylor McElwee and Antasia Robinson.

Players on McCarver’s team are Emily Rasco, Madison Johnston, Loren Cater, Kaitlin Dooley, Delicia Ceasor, Shaunueshia Crumpton, Lexi Hatten, Alyssa Howard, Angel Kenney, Baylee Graning, Bailey Yates and Harlee Martin.