One week from today, the Andalusia 8-and-under and 12-and-under All-Star fast-pitch softball teams will compete in the 2009 Babe Ruth Southeast Regional Tournament in Varina, Va.

The regional tournament will start on July 16 and the 8-and-under teams will compete in a pool play format while the 12-and-under teams will play in a double elimination format.

Teams from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida will also compete in the tournament.

The teams are advancing to the southeast regional tournament because both won the state tournament last week in Alexander City by defeating Alexander City two times apiece.

For the 8-and-under team, the regional tournament is the final leg of the season because that league does not have a World Series tournament.

The 12-and-under team, if it wins, will qualify for the Babe Ruth World Series that will be held in the first week of August in Wilson County, N.C.

“We’re just excited about these kids’ success,” Andalusia director of leisure services Dwight Mikel said. “We hope this is just a building block for better things in the future for these teams.”