Frank Scarbrough doesn’t have to beg his team to come to practice; they are ready and willing to get the job done.

The Troy 13-and-under Dixie Boys All Stars open the District Tournament in Troy on Monday and despite it being one of the hottest times of the year, Scarbrough feels the players are prepared for the long grind of the week-long tournament.

“We have players in the Pike County system, at Charles Henderson and at Goshen that are in the middle of summer workouts for football and other sports,” Scarbrough said. “That has really helped us as far as conditioning and from a mental aspect. These guys are lifting weights at seven or eight in the morning and then going outside to run for another 45 minutes to an hour. We are pulling them out of the house for the first time in the afternoon for practice.”

Troy opens the three-team, round robin style tournament Monday against Dothan. Enterprise received a bye through the first day of play, and Troy picked up the bye on the final day of pool play.

Scarbrough said the main focus during the week of tournament prep is to win the first two games.

“If anyone can make it through the first two games undefeated, then they are in the drivers seat,” Scarbrough said. “We need to take care of our business and not worry about things we can’t control.”

Scarbrough is using lessons learned long ago from Troy University coaches Mark Smartt and Bobby Pierce to remind his players of what is important.

“Coach Smartt and Coach Pierce always say that you can’t outhit your mistakes,” Scarbrough said. “No matter what age you are, you have to be able to throw strikes and make the routine play. That is what we have been working on and hopefully it roll on in to next week.

The first game of the tournament is set for a 6 p.m. first pitch Monday.