Telegraph photo by TOM KING Nashua Babe Ruth 14U All-Stars coach Todd Holbrook feels his team will likely need to beat the Alabama and Oregon teams to advance out of pool play in the World Series that begins today in Demopolis, Ala.

The practices are done. The plane trip has been taken. The banquet’s been held, as well as the Home Run Derby.

Now it’s time for baseball for the Nashua Babe Ruth All-Stars at the Babe Ruth 14U World Series at Demopolis (Ala.) Sportsplex.

Later today Nashua will take on Eagle Pass, Tex., the Southwest Regional champion, at 4:15 p.m.

Nolan Mederios, who will be a sophomore this fall at Nashua High School South, will take the mound for Nashua.

The 10-team tourney format is pool play followed by single elimination. Pool play will last five days, into next Monday, Aug. 12.

The top three teams in each pool will then move on to the championship round beginning next Tuesday.

Nashua’s schedule is as follows:

Today vs. Eagle Pass, 4:15 p.m.; Friday off; Saturday vs. Phenix City (the Alabama state cham;pion) at 6:45 p.m.; Sunday vs. Southeast Region champ Fort Caroline, Fla. At 4:15 p.m., and Monday vs. West Linn, Ore. (Pacific Northwest champ) at 6:45 p.m.

Nashua manager Todd Holbrook considers the Phenix City and West Linn games as must wins, sizing up Eagle Pass and Fort Caroline as monumental opponents.

“I’m being told we play a very tough Eagle Pass team,” Holbrook said, “and Ft. Caroline is in our pool as well.

“Looks like we better beat Alabama and Oregon to advance to bracket play.”

Nashua is in the “Black Warrior” pool division with the four teams on their schedule. The other “Tombigbee” pool (they are named for Alabama geographic locations) has the host West Alabama team and regional champions Jeffersontown, Ky. (Ohio Valley), Wahpeton, North Dakota (Midwest Plains), Chandler, Az. (Pacific Southwest) and Broomall-Newton, Pa. (Middle Atlantic)

In single elimination championship play, the first place teams in each pool get a bye to Wednesday, Aug. 14, while the other four teams play Tuesday for the right to make the 4:30 and 7 p.m.semis. The championship game is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15.

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