Twenty-four teams. Two tournaments. Two berths to the World Series.

Dixie Baseball floods Beaufort County today. The Boys state tournament starts Saturday and ends July 26 at Beaufort's Burton Wells Park. The Junior Boys tournament runs Saturday through July 26 at Oscar J. Frazier Park in Bluffton.

A host Beaufort County team will compete in each tournament, each trying to climb to a bid on the national stage.

The Dixie Boys World Series will be held in Covington, Ga., the first week of August. The Junior Boys World Series will be played in Christiansburg, Va.

Each local team feels it has a shot.

Many of the Beaufort County Boys have played together the past five years, coach Darrel Gruel said.

"We're ready to play," he said. "They're getting attuned."

Much of the Junior Boys squad recently played on a travel team and has played together a lot of the summer, coach Mike Thorpe said. The team has been practicing three hours in the evenings, alternating between Beaufort and Bluffton, and recently added two-hour batting practice sessions in the morning.

"They've been putting a lot of time in practice and games," Thorpe said. "Now we've been going at it hard and hoping we can convince them to play hard and leave nothing on the field during this tournament."

Teams from both tournaments will participate in opening ceremonies tonight at Burton Wells Park, starting at 5 p.m. The events will include a home run derby. Then it's on to business.

Gruel said Aaron Brantley will probably start for Beaufort County Boys against Laurens at 7 p.m. He said at least eight of the the 14-year-olds played together in 2011 as Junior Boys.

Thorpe said either his son, Landon Thorpe, or Kyle Stavac would start for the Junior Boys against Dentsville at 7 p.m.

Part of the intrigue of the tournaments is that coaches and players don't know much about the teams they will face, other than the reputation of the area's Dixie program. Gruel listed Sumter, Aiken, Lexington and Georgetown as some teams to watch.

"Other than that, I don't know," he said.

Thorpe said he felt good about his team's bats and fielding, that he hoped his pitchers could last four or five innings until relief arrives.

"We're looking pretty strong," he said.

Dixie Boys State Tournament

What: District all-star teams from throughout the state compete for a chance to play in the Dixie Boys World Series in Covington, Ga.

When: Saturday through July 26

Where: Burton Wells Park, Beaufort

Beaufort County roster: Players-- Ethan Bennett, Aaron Brantley, Tyler Carroll, Connor Gruel, Ryan Lanning, Porter Mahan, Chandler Parris, Tyler Rentz, Logan Riley, Austin Saunders, Henry Schubert, John Sturgis. Coaches-- Darrell Gruel, John Mahan, Keith Riley.

Teams: Beaufort County, Summerville, Edisto, Aiken, Lexington, Laurens, Midland, McLeod Park, Sumter, Georgetown, Chester, Westminster

Admission: $7 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12. Children under 5 are free.

Details: Opening ceremonies will be held today at 8 p.m. at Burton Wells Park and include a home run derby. Volunteers are needed for the tournament. Contact Shannnon Loper at 255-6684 or email sloper@bcgov.net.

Saturday's games: Sumter vs. Aiken, 1 p.m.; Summerville vs. Georgetown, 1 p.m.; McLeod Park vs. Lexington, 4 p.m.; Midland vs. Westminster, 4 p.m.; Chester vs. Edisto, 7 p.m.; Beaufort County vs. Laurens, 7 p.m.

Dixie Junior Boys State Tournament

What: District all-star teams from throughout the state compete for a chance to play in the Dixie Junior Boys World Series in Christianburg, Va.

When: Saturday through July 26

Where: Oscar J. Frazier Park, Bluffton

Beaufort County roster: Players-- Landon Thorpe, Brice Adkins, Rome Wallace, Patrick Talbert, Kyle Stavac, Kyle Torrey, Kyle Lanning, Kenny Spurlock, John Ryan Goneke, Spenser Stewart, Andrew Eldridge, Jagger Trerotola. Coaches-- Mike Thorpe, Dean Adkins, Steven Stewart.

Teams: Beaufort County, Summerville, Conway, Aiken, Lexington, Dentsville, Midland, McLeod Park, Sumter, Anyor, Lancaster, York

Admission: $7 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12. Children under 5 are free.

Details: Opening ceremonies will be held today at 8 p.m. at Burton Wells Park and include a home run derby. Volunteers are needed for the tournament. Contact Shannnon Loper at 255-6684 or email sloper@bcgov.net.

Saturday's games: Sumter vs. Aiken, 1 p.m.; Summerville vs. Anyor, 1 p.m.; McLeod Park vs. Lexington, 4 p.m.; Midland vs. York, 4 p.m.; Lancaster vs. Conway, 7 p.m.; Beaufort County vs. Dentsville, 7 p.m.